Hiding scars with makeup is a great way to boost confidence while allowing your skin to heal. The key is using products that offer good coverage, are easy to blend, and stay in place throughout the day. Here are some little secrets and tips to help you effectively conceal scars, whether they’re from acne, surgery, or other causes:
1. Prep Your Skin Properly
Before applying makeup, it’s important to prep your skin so that the makeup adheres smoothly and lasts longer.
- Hydrate: Use a lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. This helps create a smooth base and prevents makeup from clinging to dry patches around the scar.
- Prime: Choose a primer with a smoothing or pore-filling formula. Primers that contain silicone (like Smashbox Photo Finish Primer or Benefit POREfessional) help create an even canvas for makeup, filling in texture and making scars less noticeable.
2. Color Correct First
Color correction can help neutralize any discoloration in the scar before applying foundation.
- Redness: If your scar has a red or pinkish hue, use a green color corrector to neutralize it. You can find green-tinted primers, or simply use a green concealer. Gently tap it into the scar with your ring finger or a makeup sponge.
- Darkness: For dark or hyperpigmented scars (like those from acne), use a peach or orange corrector to cancel out the dark spots. These colors help balance the uneven tones before you apply foundation.Tip: Be sure to blend the color-correcting product well so it doesn’t show through your foundation.
3. Use a Full-Coverage Foundation
To effectively hide scars, you need a foundation that offers good coverage but still looks natural. Full-coverage foundations tend to give the most seamless results for concealing scars.
- Best Choices:
- Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup – Long-lasting and offers full coverage.
- Too Faced Born This Way Foundation – A great option for full coverage that still looks like skin.
- Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation – Offers a smooth, buildable coverage.
Tip: Apply foundation using a damp beauty sponge (like the Beautyblender). This helps you build coverage gradually without making it look cakey, and it can help press the product into any textured scars.
4. Conceal the Scar
For areas that need extra coverage (like raised or deeply pigmented scars), use a high-coverage concealer. A full-coverage concealer can help you layer coverage where needed.
- Best Concealers for Scars:
- Tarte Shape Tape – Offers full coverage with a smooth, matte finish.
- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer – Great for blending into the skin while still covering scars.
- IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye – A thick, hydrating concealer that offers great coverage.
Tip: Use a small, precise brush to apply concealer directly onto the scar and tap it in with your finger or sponge to blend.
5. Set with Powder (Lightly)
After applying foundation and concealer, set your makeup with a lightweight, translucent powder. This helps lock everything in place and prevents your makeup from settling into the scar, which can make it more noticeable.
- Best Setting Powders:
- Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder – A cult favorite for its finely milled texture and flawless finish.
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder – This powder has a slightly radiant finish to it and works well for dry skin.
Tip: Avoid baking or applying too much powder directly onto the scar, as this can emphasize texture. Instead, lightly dust it over your entire face with a fluffy brush, focusing on areas where you tend to get oily.
6. Build Coverage as Needed
Sometimes, scars can be stubborn and may need extra attention. Instead of piling on more product in one go, build coverage slowly:
- Layering: Apply a thin layer of foundation, then a light layer of concealer, and finish with a second layer of foundation if necessary. Let each layer set before applying the next one.
Tip: To avoid a cakey look, always use a beauty sponge to blend each layer. This prevents the makeup from looking too heavy or unnatural.
7. Focus on Texture
Some scars, particularly raised ones, can be more challenging to hide because of their texture. Here are some tricks to smooth things out:
- Avoid heavy cream products: Thick cream blushes or highlighters can sit on top of scars and draw attention to their texture.
- Use a matte finish: Matte products (such as matte foundations and powders) are often better at smoothing out the appearance of scars than dewy or high-shine products.
Tip: If you’re using highlighter, opt for a very subtle sheen or powder highlighter to avoid drawing attention to raised scars.
8. Set Everything with Setting Spray
To make sure everything stays in place and your hard work doesn’t fade throughout the day, set your makeup with a setting spray.
- Best Setting Sprays:
- Urban Decay All Nighter – A cult favorite for keeping makeup in place all day long.
- Morphe Continuous Setting Mist – A lightweight mist that keeps everything fresh without making your makeup look heavy.
Tip: Hold the setting spray at arm’s length and spray lightly to avoid disturbing your makeup.
9. Optional: Add Texture to the Skin
If your scar is slightly raised or has an uneven texture, adding some texture to the rest of your skin can distract from it.
- Subtle Shading: Use a matte bronzer to lightly contour your face. This will add depth to your overall look and create a more even texture across your skin.
- Soft Focus: Lightly dust a soft highlighter along the high points of your face (like your cheekbones and nose bridge) to add radiance, but keep it subtle. This draws attention away from any scars.
Quick Recap: The Key Steps to Conceal Scars with Makeup
- Prep your skin with moisturizer and a smoothing primer.
- Color correct any redness or dark spots with green or peach color corrector.
- Use full-coverage foundation for an even base.
- Conceal scars with a high-coverage concealer.
- Set with a light layer of translucent powder to prevent makeup from sliding.
- Build layers of coverage if necessary—don’t overload the skin with product.
- Use setting spray to lock everything in place.
With these steps, you can achieve a flawless look while concealing scars with ease. And remember: the goal is to enhance your features and boost your confidence, not to mask your beautiful skin!
