How To Cover Up Scars With Makeup in 5 Easy Steps

Scars come in all shapes and sizes and aren’t always something we want to showcase. Luckily, with the right makeup products and techniques, you can easily hide your scars for a flawless appearance. Whether your scars are large or small, old or new, covering them up is possible with just a few cosmetic products and steps.

In this blog, we’ll teach you how to cover up scars with makeup. While scars may never entirely disappear, you can make them less noticeable with the proper makeup. We’ll walk you through color correcting, layers of coverage, application techniques, and recommended products that work wonders to hide discoloration, uneven texture, and other scar characteristics.

What is a Scar?

A scar on the face is skin damage that has healed but left behind a visible mark or discoloration. Facial scars can vary in size, shape, and severity based on the extent of the original injury or wound. Various accidents and incidents, including cuts, dog bites, burns, severe acne, piercings, surgery, etc, can cause scars on the face. 

Can Makeup Cover Scars?

Makeup absolutely can be used to conceal and cover up scars. Even severe scars can be hidden with the best cosmetic brands' products and application techniques. While makeup cannot permanently remove spots, it provides an effective illusion of clear and flawless skin. Specialized concealers and color correctors are designed to neutralize discoloration, while full-coverage foundations and setting powders work together to create a smooth canvas.

Great makeup artists often use techniques like layering to cover up scars. Using multiple thin layers of products provides better coverage than one thick coat. Overall, with the right makeup techniques,  it is possible to minimize the appearance of scars for a flawless look.

How to Hide Scars with Makeup in 5 Steps

Scars come in different textures, colors, and severities, but the right makeup techniques and products can help minimize their visible appearance. Follow these 5 key steps to conceal scars for a flawless look:

1. Prepare Your Skin with a Primer or Concealer

Color-correcting primer or concealer is the first step for hiding scars with makeup. Color correctors neutralize discoloration and minimize the appearance of red, purple, brown, or other toned scars. Applying a primer or concealer can help cancel out the scar's color before layering on the foundation and concealer. For example, green-toned color correctors help reduce the appearance of red scars. The green pigment helps neutralize and conceal the red tones. So proper color correction is the first critical step in the makeup process for hiding and minimizing the look of scars.

2. Foundation to match your skin tone

Applying a full-coverage foundation is a critical step for hiding scars with makeup. Full coverage foundations provide more pigment than lighter formulas, helping to mask discoloration and uneven textures completely. When using a full-coverage foundation to hide scars, it's important to find a formula that matches your exact skin tone. 

3. Set with finishing powder

After applying foundation and concealer to conceal scars, it's important to set the makeup with finishing powder. The powder absorbs excess skin oils and sets the liquid makeup in place. This prevents creasing and makeup shifting over time. The finishing powder seals the liquid powder and makes the coverage last longer without fading. Setting powder is the final step to sealing flawless coverage over scars all day.

4. Add concealer for better coverage

With a small concealer brush or sponge, pat thin layers of concealer directly onto the scar. Building up layers slowly helps match your natural skin tone for a perfect finish. Let each coat dry before adding more concealer. The fuller coverage helps hide any remaining discoloration.

5. Finish with setting spray

The final step to hide scars with makeup is using setting spray. After applying color corrector, foundation, powder, and concealer, mist a makeup setting spray on your entire face. Hold the bottle about 8 inches away and close your eyes to distribute the spray evenly. The spray prevents the caking and fading of makeup over time. The setting spray provides a strong finish that seals in coverage over scarred skin.

Things to Avoid While Covering Scars With Makeup

Using makeup to cover scars can help boost confidence, but there are certain things to avoid for best results. Here are some tips on what not to do when covering scars with makeup:

Don't Use Thick and Heavy Products

The thick and heavy products will look unnatural and draw more attention to the scarred area. Choose lightweight liquid formulas that blend seamlessly. The lighter texture sits smoothly over the area, providing coverage without highlighting the scar.

Don't Apply Foundation Directly to a Scar Without Color-Correcting

When working to hide scars, it's important to only apply liquid foundation directly to the scarred area after first using a color-correcting primer or concealer. Without color-correcting, the discolored tones of scars will flash with the foundation, preventing you from achieving an even skin tone. 

Don’t Overdo Concealer

While liquid or stick concealers provide fuller coverage for hiding marks, too many layers can make scars appear more noticeable. Excessive concealer often looks heavy, cakey, and unnatural. 

Remember to Set Liquid Makeup with Powder

It’s essential to set your foundation and concealer with powder. Liquid makeup alone will eventually crease, cake, and transfer on textured scar tissue. The powder finish keeps makeup flexible and comfortable as you go about your day. Skipping this step often leads to visible wear and fading of coverage. Take the time to set the foundation with a light finishing powder.

Conclusion

Every scar tells a story, but that doesn’t mean you want them to show. Hiding scars with makeup takes skill, patience, and the right products. Following the above-mentioned techniques, you can learn to cover up scars with makeup. Finding the correct color correctors, concealers, and setting powders for your skin tone and scar type may take some trial and error. While makeup cannot magically erase scars, it can effectively minimize their visibility and create a smoother, more even skin tone.