Trying to cover up a blemish with makeup can lead to what is known as (at least by us) the Vicious Concealer Cycle — it seems the more you apply, the more apparent the blemish becomes. Since the whole point of concealer is to, well, conceal, clearly we were doing something wrong. Turns out, smearing a wad of makeup on top of an already irritated spot might not be the best course of action in this scenario. Shocker, we know.

No, the trick to making a blemish less noticeable comes down to three easy steps: prep, pat, and powder. Want to master this makeup move once and for all? Watch the lovely Rachel as she shows you everything you need to know about making those spots disappear.