Which Makeup to Hide Scars: Conceal your Skin's Imperfections
You can wear a scar like a badge of honor. There's nothing you have to cover. However, if you're feeling insecure, there are several things you can do to cover up or reduce the appearance of scars.
We all know foundation and concealers can even skin tone and cover up blemishes, but using these cosmetics to cover a scar can seem intimidating. You usually need to put a little more work into concealing a scar than you do a minor imperfection. The last thing you want to do is draw more attention to it by not covering it correctly.
We will go over everything you need to know about scars and give you tips to cover them so you can feel more confident. You don't need to be a makeup artist to be able to hide a scar well. However, there are some specific techniques and products you should know about before getting started.
What Are Scars?
Before we go any further, let's go over the different types of scars and how they form so you know what you're dealing with.
How Does Scarring Happen?
Scarring occurs after you have been injured and is a natural part of your body's healing process. The size of your injury and where it happens on your body will affect scarring. Your age, genetics, and sex can also affect scarring.
Common Scar Types
Acne Scars: These are some of the most typical scars we see on someone's face. These scars can be deep-looking pits or small divots, depending on how bad the acne was. They are also associated with pigmentation issues.
Keloid Scars: These scars happen when your body responds aggressively to the healing process. A keloid is often a raised scar with a flat surface, and the color usually darkens over time. These can get pretty large and may be troublesome.
Hypertrophic Scars: These are also raised scars but are usually red. Like keloid scars, they occur when your body goes into overdrive during the healing process.
There are several treatment options for scars depending on which type you have. There are also ways to cover and conceal them.
Using Foundation To Cover Scars
Foundation can be great for covering more minor scars that don't need as much coverage. Similar to concealer, the key is making sure your foundation is the perfect match for your skin tone.
When choosing a foundation, it's essential to get a formula that will provide all-day coverage. You'll be reassured knowing that your scar will remain covered throughout the day.
As far as covering acne scars, you want a foundation that is medium to full coverage. A liquid foundation is ideal because it can fill in the texture and help smooth the scars' appearance. A high coverage foundation can do a lot for your complexion. It hides redness and an uneven surface.
However, before you apply your foundation, you should prime your skin. A primer will also help flatten out any indentations.
When covering scars, you want to avoid foundations labeled as dewy, glowy, or radiant. A foundation with a high level of luminosity will emphasize your scars instead of concealing them. Go for a matte foundation because it will absorb the light and soften the appearance of your scar. They won't attract any attention to the area.
HIDE Premium Foundation is long-lasting and is easily buildable, so you can easily cover your scars. It's also lightweight and breathable, so your skin will feel comfortable all day long.
Using Concealer To Cover Scars
Concealer is a great product to use to cover any scar. Its high pigmentation covers any discoloration and matches it to your natural skin tone.
Finding the concealer that matches your skin tone is even more critical when covering scars. With all that extra pigment in the scar, you need to choose correctly. If you can't find your exact shade, you may want to buy more than one and mix them to get the perfect match.
Before applying concealer, make sure the area is clean. You can use a thin layer of powder over the scar to make sure there's no excess oil. Depending on what kind of scar you have, you may have to go over it with several layers. You want to make sure the layers are thin, so the area doesn't look cakey. You can lightly dab the layers on, waiting in between for them to set.
You can use this layering method with our concealers with any type of scar you have. It also works if you want to cover tattoos as well.
HIDE Premium Concealer is great for covering scars anywhere on the body. It's waterproof and transfer-proof so that it won't get on clothes.
Tips To Hide Scars
The biggest tip is finding a high coverage concealer and foundation that matches your skin tone, which we already went over.
There are some other tips and tricks to hiding scars.
Neutralize the Color
You can also use different color correcting concealers to offset the discoloration of your scars. You should pick a color on the opposite side of the color wheel to cancel it out. For example, a green concealer will cancel out redness, and an orange concealer will neutralize blue.
If you have a concealer that isn’t high coverage and you put it over redness, it may end up looking pink. If you use a color correcting concealer, you will still need to go over the area with a product with a natural skin-toned product. Otherwise, you will just have colored spots on your skin.
Raised Scars
When covering a raised scar, you should stay away from using light-colored concealers. The concealer you use under your eyes, for example, is probably too light. You will end up drawing attention to the scar instead of concealing it. Try using a concealer that is the same color as your skin.
Things To Avoid
Always make sure your scar is covered or protected when it is going to be in the sun. Safeguarding scars from sun exposure is especially important when it's still in the healing process.
We all know too much sun is harmful to our skin, but it can also weaken our body's immune response. When you're in the healing process, it's crucial to keep your immune system in check.
You also want to make sure you are using products that won't irritate your skin. Even if something is all-natural, it doesn't mean it's good for your skin.
HIDE products are very pigmented, so you don't necessarily need a corrector. We also make them with ingredients that shouldn't bother your skin.
Hiding Scars Q&A
Let's go over and review how to hide scars by answering a few simple questions.
What should I use to cover up scars?
Depending on what type of scar you have, you can either use a foundation, a concealer, or both. A concealer will offer you the most coverage, but both HIDE products are highly pigmented and work great for covering scars.
What if I don't know how to find my exact shade?
Never fear, the shade finder is here! You will need to have another concealer or foundation product that you own and matches your skin tone. If you do, you simply find the product in our shade finder, and we will tell you what shade you need!
Should I exfoliate?
If you are finished healing, then you can gently exfoliate your scar. Exfoliating before makeup application can be beneficial, especially when dealing with scars. Removing the dead skin cells will allow your makeup to go on smoother and last longer.
How do I hide a scar on my face?
You can completely cover scars on your face with HIDE foundation and concealer. If you have done this step but still feel like your scar is all you see, try taking attention away from it with a bold lip or highlight another area of your face like your eyes.
Can coverage last all day?
Yes, you can expect your HIDE foundation and concealer to last for 12+ hours.
In Summary
A scar on your face or a prominent part of your body can negatively affect your confidence. Luckily, there are steps you can take to cover them.
First, try to identify which type of scar you have. Once you know what you're dealing with, you can look at how to cover it the right way with the right products.
Always prep your skin before makeup by removing any extra oil or dirt for a flawless finish.
HIDE foundation and concealers are great at covering all types of scars. You can use our makeup on your face or anywhere else on your body. Our products are buildable so that you can customize your coverage.
HIDE foundations and concealers are long-lasting and transfer-proof, so you don't have to worry about them rubbing off on your clothes.
Sources:
Scar Treatments: Types of Scars and Their Treatments | WebMD
What are keloids? | family doctor.org
Color & The Color Wheel | ISFDN
Skin immune systems and inflammation: protector of the skin or promoter of aging? | NCBI