Yes, Selena Gomez gets acne and has spoken openly about breakouts. She told Vogue in its September 2020 Beauty Secrets video that her breakouts concentrate in her T-zone, the oilier forehead-nose-chin area, and her skin runs dry overall with oily patches Vogue Beauty Secrets video.
She has called breakouts part of her skin. She told Vogue, via BANG Showbiz, that stress and getting lazy with her routine make her break out more. This article explains her pattern, her unfiltered posts, and her spot-treatment choices.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- Where does she break out?
- What has she shared unfiltered?
- How does she handle pre-event pimples?
- What is worth copying?
Where does she break out?
Gomez describes her skin as combination. That means some areas stay dry while the T-zone turns oily. She has said her acne usually appears in that central zone. Her stated triggers are familiar to many adults.
She notices more breakouts during stressful periods. She also notices them when she skips steps in her skincare routine. For readers with the same pattern, the takeaway is zone-specific care. Keep the T-zone clean without over-drying the rest of the face. Keep the routine steady during high-stress weeks.
What has she shared unfiltered?
Gomez has left visible pimples in makeup-free posts. Entertainment Tonight reported that on February 1, 2023, she posted three unfiltered Instagram selfies captioned "Me," leaving a pimple under her nose unedited unfiltered selfie report. Pinkvilla reported a similar moment on October 22, 2024.
While promoting Emilia Pérez, Gomez posted an Instagram Story selfie showing chin acne. She captioned it "Even my skin is over me rn." Those posts matter for a skincare audience. Chin and upper-lip spots are common sites for adult hormonal breakouts. Seeing them unedited normalizes them without making them a treatment claim.
How does she handle pre-event pimples?
Gomez has said she has no perfect fix before a shoot. In a 2016 Elle interview, reported by Cosmopolitan Philippines, she said she has no troubleshooting hack because "life is life." She relies on Photoshop for photoshoots and makeup for close-ups. She has also kept a Disney Channel-era habit. The List reported in June 2021 that she still puts toothpaste on pimples.
She demonstrated it during her Vogue night-out makeup routine using Rare Beauty products. Toothpaste is not a reader-safe takeaway. Dermatology consensus generally does not recommend it because it can irritate skin. Makeup coverage is less risky for a one-night event than drying pastes or picking.
What is worth copying?
Her more recent choice points to a better option. Bustle reported that in a June 16 Instagram Story, Gomez appeared barefaced wearing a yellow SpongeBob Starface pimple patch under her bottom lip Starface patch photos. These patches are hydrocolloid stickers, small covers that protect the spot and absorb fluid.
Her arc favors consistency over quick tricks. Stress-linked breakouts respond better to steady cleansing, sleep, and hands-off care than to harsh spot products. Patches also stop picking during the day. Swap toothpaste for a hydrocolloid patch overnight and keep the area clean.
- Keep cleanser, moisturizer, and treatment steps steady when stressed
- Cover a surface whitehead with a hydrocolloid patch instead of toothpaste
- Use makeup to camouflage for photos, then remove it fully at night