Kendall Jenner's Acne Journey, Go-To Makeup and Best Family Advice | Beauty Secrets

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In her latest appearance for Vogue’s ‘Beauty Secrets,’ supermodel Kendall Jenner offers an intimate look into the evolved skincare and makeup routine that keeps her glowing, both on and off the runway. Four years after her initial ‘Beauty Secrets’ debut, Jenner reveals a significantly updated regimen, heavily influenced by her personal journey with acne-prone skin and a preference for natural, dewy finishes. Her candid insights, product choices, and lifestyle adjustments provide valuable lessons for anyone navigating similar beauty challenges or simply aiming for a refined, natural aesthetic.

Kendall Jenner’s Skincare Philosophy: Nurturing Acne-Prone Skin

Kendall’s approach to skincare is deeply rooted in managing her acne-prone skin, a struggle she’s openly discussed since her teenage years. Her routine emphasizes gentle care, strategic hydration, and natural ingredients, creating a balanced defense against breakouts and environmental stressors.

1. DIY and Cold Therapy: The Foundation of Care

One of the most striking aspects of Kendall Jenner’s skincare routine is her reliance on a homemade avocado mask. This blend combines an avocado (rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamins E and C, known for moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties), oatmeal (a natural exfoliant and soothing agent, often recommended for sensitive skin), superfood honey (renowned for its antibacterial and humectant qualities), and organic lavender oil (often used for its calming aroma and purported anti-inflammatory benefits).

**Avocado:** Studies suggest avocados are packed with antioxidants and healthy fats, promoting skin elasticity and reducing inflammation.
**Oatmeal:** Colloidal oatmeal, a finely ground form, is recognized by the FDA as a skin protectant, effective in soothing irritation and dryness.
**Honey:** Its natural antibacterial properties can aid in preventing acne, while its humectant nature draws moisture into the skin, ensuring hydration.

Following her mask, Kendall incorporates a Puregenex collagen mask, which she keeps chilled in the refrigerator, along with facial rollers. The application of cold masks and rollers is a technique widely used to reduce puffiness, stimulate circulation, and provide a temporary firming effect. This cold therapy can be particularly beneficial during periods of stress or fatigue, such as fashion month, when skin can act up due to heavy makeup application and environmental changes.

2. A Targeted Skincare Regimen for Acne Management

Kendall’s journey with acne began around age 14, leading her to become “OCD” about her skin. Her regimen reflects this diligence:

**Gentle Cleansing:** She uses Christie Kidd’s ‘Clean’ cleanser, highlighting the importance of a non-stripping formula that effectively cleanses without irritating sensitive, acne-prone skin. Dermatologists often recommend gentle, pH-balanced cleansers to maintain the skin’s natural barrier.
**Daily Sunscreen:** Kendall emphasizes the critical role of sunscreen, opting for Elta MD Clear, a popular choice among those with acne-prone skin due to its non-comedogenic and lightweight formula. Consistent daily SPF application is vital for preventing sun damage, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation, especially important for those with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne. Research consistently links daily sunscreen use to a significant reduction in skin aging.
**Potent Serums:** She mixes four to five drops of a SkinCeuticals serum with her sunscreen. SkinCeuticals is known for its scientifically-backed formulations, often featuring antioxidants like Vitamin C which can protect against environmental damage and improve skin tone.
**Hydrating Mist:** The Mario Badescu Green Tea Cucumber Aloe Spray serves as a refreshing pick-me-up, providing an additional layer of hydration throughout the day.

3. Diet and Hydration: Internal Skincare Support

Kendall’s skincare evolution extended beyond topical products to her diet. After struggling to identify the cause of her breakouts, she discovered a significant link to her diet:

**Dairy Reduction:** She “decided to cut out dairy,” noting it “helped me so much.” While not entirely dairy-free (she admits her love for cheese), reducing dairy intake is a common recommendation for individuals experiencing acne. Some studies suggest a correlation between dairy consumption and acne, possibly due to hormones present in milk or an inflammatory response.
**Consistent Hydration:** Drinking “tons of water” is another pillar of her internal skincare. Adequate hydration is crucial for overall health and skin function, helping to maintain elasticity, flush out toxins, and support the skin’s barrier. The American Academy of Dermatology highlights the importance of staying hydrated for healthy skin.

Mastering the Natural, Dewy Makeup Look

Beyond skincare, Kendall’s makeup routine focuses on enhancing her natural features with a dewy, bronzed finish. She openly shares that her skills evolved from playing around as a “tomboy” to learning from professionals during her modeling career.

1. Prepping for a Flawless Canvas: Lips and Hydration

Before any makeup application, Kendall prioritizes lip care:

**Lip Exfoliation:** She uses exfoliating makeup wipes to scrub off dead skin, ensuring a smooth base for lip products. This step is essential for preventing lipstick from settling into lines and achieving an even color application.
**Lip Mask:** A Kylie Skin Lip Mask is applied during her makeup application and wiped off before lipstick. This provides intense hydration, plumping the lips, and creating a soft, supple canvas.

Her final skincare step before makeup is a luxurious La Mer Cream, chosen for its deep moisturizing properties, which further supports her desired dewy look.

2. The “Less Is More” Foundation Approach

Kendall prefers a natural, light coverage look:

**Chanel Foundation:** She uses a Chanel foundation, applied with a soft brush and then a Beautyblender. The goal is light coverage that allows her skin to breathe and its natural texture to show through, rather than a heavy, masked effect. This philosophy aligns with current beauty trends favoring natural, radiant skin.

3. The Art of Layered Bronzing and Highlighting for Dewiness

If there’s one area Kendall dedicates significant effort to, it’s achieving her signature bronzed and dewy glow. She attributes her mastery to years of observation and practice:

**Cream Bronzer First:** She starts with a creamy bronzer, specifically the Kendall by Kylie Cosmetics stick, applied directly to the face and then blended with a stiff brush. Cream bronzers are excellent for achieving a seamless, skin-like finish and contributing to a dewy look.
**Strategic Cream Blush and Highlighter:** A creamy blush is applied, followed by the Marc Jacobs creamy highlighter, dabbed on with her finger for a natural, luminous sheen. She admits highlighter and bronzer would be her two desert island makeup products, underscoring their importance in her routine. Creams melt into the skin, providing a more natural radiance compared to powders.

4. Targeted Powdering for Long-Lasting Glow

To maintain dewiness while setting makeup, Kendall uses powder strategically:

**MAC Pressed Powder:** She applies this only to areas prone to shine—under the eyes, around the nose, on the chin, and forehead—using the accompanying sponge. This technique ensures that the T-zone is mattified, while the rest of the face retains its dewy finish.
**Layered Bronzing Powder:** She then uses Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess powder, layering it over the creamy bronzer to intensify the warmth and provide a long-lasting effect. This method of layering cream and powder products creates depth and longevity. Her mother’s advice about avoiding magnifying mirrors, given their tendency to cause over-picking, is a valuable reminder about maintaining a healthy perspective on skin imperfections.

5. Eye and Brow Definition

Kendall’s eye makeup remains simple and soft, enhancing her features without overpowering them:

**Subtle Eyeshadow:** She uses the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess powder or, for a deeper shade, Serge Lutens bronze powder on her eyelids, blending it in small circles. This creates a soft, diffused bronze wash that complements her bronzed face.
**Brown Pencil for Definition:** A Kevin Aucoin brown eye pencil is used to lightly smudge along the lash line, creating subtle definition without a harsh line.
**Lash Curling and Mascara:** She curls her long natural lashes, a technique she’s “mastered” herself due to her lashes’ tendency to be “wacky,” and then applies Armani mascara.

6. The Signature Plump Lip

Kendall admits her lip routine has evolved dramatically, moving from rarely wearing lipstick to considering it essential for a complete look:

**Lip Liner Concoction:** Her “secret concoction” involves mixing Kevin Aucoin Medium and Giorgio Armani Number 12 lip liners. She slightly overlines her lips for a “plumpie” effect, filling them in with the liner before applying other products.
**Lip Blush and Gloss:** A Kendall by Kylie Cosmetics Lip Blush is dabbed in the middle of her lips for an even tone, followed by another Kendall Kylie product, a thick and long-lasting gloss. Glosses are known for making lips appear fuller and adding a luscious finish.

Finally, a last sweep of the KKW Beauty bronzed and shine palette solidifies her commitment to a deeply bronzed and luminous complexion, demonstrating her knack for layering and ensuring a cohesive, radiant finish for her “natural glam” look.

Kendall’s Personal Beauty Confessions: Your Q&A

What is a key focus of Kendall Jenner’s skincare routine?

Kendall Jenner’s skincare routine is largely focused on managing her acne-prone skin, using gentle products and natural ingredients to prevent breakouts.

Does Kendall Jenner use a DIY face mask?

Yes, she uses a homemade avocado mask containing avocado, oatmeal, honey, and lavender oil, which helps moisturize and soothe her skin.

Why does Kendall Jenner emphasize using sunscreen daily?

She uses sunscreen like Elta MD Clear daily to protect her skin from sun damage, prevent premature aging, and reduce hyperpigmentation, especially important for acne-prone skin.