How to Use Makeup To Cover Scars According to Our Expert
When scars appear, it can feel like getting tattoos you didn’t ask for. Little souvenirs from that pimple you picked last summer or the eyebrow ring from high school you thought you’d keep forever. They can be temporary post-acne hyperpigmentation, fading over time, or become permanent parts of your body. While facial scars are common (we all get them!) and you should never feel obligated to hide them, using makeup to cover scars is totally normal.
However, it’s important to know what you’re working with and adjust accordingly—aka dabbing a full coverage concealer won’t always do the trick. “Makeup can sometimes accentuate the scar even more, if the wrong color or texture is used,” says celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh. Depending on the shape, texture, or color of the scar you’re trying to cover, you may need to employ specific techniques like adequate skin prep or color correcting to neutralize redness. Luckily, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide to help you cover scars with makeup like a pro.
About the Expert:
May Quynh is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles. Her clients include Riley Keough, Nicole Richie, Ali Wong, Melissa McCarthy, and more.
How to Cover Scars With Makeup
1. Prep skin with lots of moisture.
“I always like to start with hydrated skin, whether it’s the face or body,” Quynh tells us, noting that incorporating moisturizers with gentle exfoliants (like AHAs or BHAs) can help fade scars and make for easier makeup coverage down the line. Once moisturizer has been applied, give it a few minutes to absorb before moving on.
2. Add a bit of primer.
Adding a primer isn’t always essential depending on the type of scar you’re dealing with (more on that below), but a small amount can help create an even canvas for makeup application. It’s also important to the lighting environment you’ll be in when choosing your finish. “If the rest of the skin is glowy and dewy and the scar being covered is too matte or opaque, then you will probably see it in flash photos,” explains Quynh. So if you’re going to be at an event with flash photography (like a wedding), opt for a mattifying primer.
3. Apply a creamy concealer first.
Concealer before foundation? Quynh is a fan of this reversed method (known as underpainting) as it can help create a more natural finish on textured or uneven skin. “I always apply a full coverage cream concealer to dark spots before foundation and apply the concealer densely with a synthetic brush,” says Quynh.
4. Gently blend your foundation.
Once you’ve completed your concealer step, it’s time to go in with a light hand for your foundation. Quynh recommends grabbing a foundation brush to apply a medium-to-full coverage foundation, using soft, stippling motions to create a skin-like finish.
5. Set in place with powder.
Finishing with a setting powder is crucial for long-lasting makeup. A light dusting of a translucent setting powder will help keep your makeup from sliding off your face throughout the day.
Does the Type of Scar Matter?
While the steps above are general rules for using makeup to cover scars, the type of scar will dictate the type of product and application technique you use.
Depressed, Atrophic Scars
With scars that sit below the skin’s surface, topical fillers can help to fill out the recessed area with silicones to create an even surface. However, makeup artists often prefer using two shades to create an optical illusion of evenness—one shade that is your natural skin tone and one that is a half-to-full shade lighter than natural. “Use the skin tone color to blend the edges of the scar and use the lighter shade in the hollow area,” says Quynh. “You want to also layer the skin tone shade on top of the lighter shade to help blend it in and not look so obvious.”
Raised, Hypertrophic Scars
Playing with concealer colors is just as beneficial in obscuring the look of scars that sit above the skin’s surface—just in an opposite order. “Apply the skin tone shade along the edges and then the darker shade on the raised area,” Quynh says. Then, use your skin tone shade to help blend the two edges together.
Red-Colored Scars
If your scar is a bright or dark red, you may need to bring in a color corrector. “Anything with a green hue will be helpful,” adds Quynh. This can be applied before your normal concealer step to help neutralize the redness and even the skin tone.
The Best Makeup to Cover Scars
1. Best Full Coverage Creamy Concealer: TARTE™ Double Duty Beauty™ Shape Tape™ Concealer
Beloved by makeup artists (Quynh counts herself a fan too), this full coverage concealer boasts a formula that lasts for a whopping 16 hours without caking or creasing. Conditioning butters like shea and mango help retain moisture, letting the concealer move and bend with your skin throughout the day.
2. Best Matte Primer for Overall Scar Coverage: FIRST AID BEAUTY’s Hello FAB Pores Be Gone Matte Primer
A skincare-meets-makeup primer is always a good idea and this pick from FIRST AID BEAUTY is no exception. The mattifying formula helps create a uniform finish to help draw attention away from scarred areas and blur large pores. Plus, it’s got salicylic acid to help minimize those pores too.
3. Best Translucent Setting Powder: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Loose Setting Powder
It’s popular among Ipsters and pros alike for good reason. The oil-absorbing formula uses ultra-fine mica particles to lock your hard makeup work into place and leave your skin with a soft-focus, photo-ready finish.
4. Best Full Coverage Foundation: KOKIE PROFESSIONAL Full Cover Foundation
It’s important to use a foundation that will seamlessly blend with your concealer using as little as possible—building up layers could disturb your scar coverage. This full coverage formula from KOKIE PROFESSIONAL is silky, smooth, and slightly matte, so it’ll play nicely with your primer and powder.
5. Best Silicone Filler for Deep Scars: DERMAFLAGE The Hollywood Topical Filler Starter Kit
This TikTok-popular newcomer has a bit of a learning curve, but it can be a total game changer for ice pick scars. A small amount of the “topical filler” is dispensed into the depressed scar tissue and once it’s fully set, you can continue your makeup routine as normal.
Want to get products tailored to your skin (scars and all!) and its needs? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your own IPSY beauty subscription. Already an IPSY member? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @IPSY.
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