Having a hickey is never fun. Whether it’s from a lover or an unfortunate peck in the night, nobody likes to have them. Unfortunately, though, this happens to a lot of people. Hickeys happen! But what you can do about it — or around it — is completely up to you (or your makeup skills). Thankfully, there are actually some great tips and tricks you can use to cover hickeys with makeup. I’ll even give you a few suggestions on how to do some at home — so no need to run straight for Sephora just yet!
Apply a flesh-toned eye shadow or concealer with a small pointed brush to cover even the smallest spots.
When you’re trying to hide a pimple, it’s tempting to try to cover it with a pound of concealer. But that can make the pimple look worse.
The key to covering up an acne blemish is to use the least amount possible and blend it well so that it looks natural.
Apply a flesh-toned eye shadow or concealer with a small pointed brush to cover even the smallest spots. You’ll find this at any drugstore or beauty supply store. It comes in shades such as light pink, dark taupe, flesh and white.
Don’t apply too much! Dab just enough on your finger to cover the blemish; then apply it to your face using small strokes on top of each other until the blemish disappears into your skin tone. If you have trouble blending it in well enough, try buffing gently with your fingertips afterward instead of wiping off any excess product with a tissue or cotton ball (which will leave behind fibers).
Try using the brush to draw a (faint) dark shade of pink over the hickey.
If you’re looking for a way to cover up a hickey, there are a few options. But before you go out and buy a product, it’s best to make sure you have the right kind of mark.
“If it’s an area that’s been kissed or sucked on, usually they’re going to be red, but if they’re dark purple or black, those are usually caused by blood vessels rupturing,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. “I would avoid using any kind of product that contains alcohol because it could cause additional irritation.”
If your hickey is red or purple, try applying a dab of concealer over it with your finger and blending it out with a brush. You can also try applying foundation and then setting it with powder if you want more coverage. If your hickey is black or dark purple, try using concealer first — but be careful not to use too much because that could just make the discoloration worse.
If you’re trying to cover up an old mark that’s still visible under makeup, consider using color-correcting concealers like green or yellow instead of regular concealer. These colors will help neutralize any discolorations in addition to concealing them.
Cover the whole thing with a light pink lip gloss!
If you have a small tattoo, you can cover it with a band-aid or gauze. The skin around the tattoo will look darker and thicker than the rest of your arm, so it’s important to cover it up.
Be careful not to get any ink on your band-aid or gauze as this may stain!
If your tattoo is larger than just a few inches, you should consider covering it with makeup instead. You can use concealer to cover up small areas of color or even use a foundation that matches your skin tone. Any type of makeup works for this purpose, but liquid foundations are easier to apply evenly over large areas of skin like arms or legs.
Be sure to blend the concealer into your skin with a sponge or brush so that there aren’t any lines between where the tattoo ends and your regular skin begins. You don’t want anyone noticing that something is different about your arm!
Apply foundation over everything.
This is the best way to get a smooth, even finish. It even works if your skin is naturally dry or oily because of how rich the formula is.
Apply foundation over everything. You don’t need to be a makeup artist to know this trick: Foundation should always go on before any other products. This way, you’ll get an even application and avoid messing up your concealer or eyeshadow by putting it on top of something else.
Apply primer over everything. If you want your foundation to look good all day — not just when you first put it on — then you need a primer that will stick around and not fade away in the heat or under your eyes during a long day at work.
Blend out any harsh lines and blot excess oil with blotting paper. Blotting paper isn’t just for making yourself look less shiny; it can also help minimize any lines that form around the perimeter of your face after applying foundation or concealer (which tend to be very thick). It’s also great for absorbing excess oil throughout the day — usually without ruining your makeup!
The final step is to apply a tinted moisturizer over your entire face, so all your makeup matches.
I like using Revlon’s ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup, which comes in 30 shades for $14. It has SPF 15 and contains vitamins A, C and E to help improve the appearance of skin.
You should also use a foundation primer before applying foundation so that it goes on smoothly and blends easily without blotches or streaks. The Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation Primer is a good choice because it goes on clear and helps makeup stay put longer by preventing rubbing off or smearing. The 1-ounce bottle costs $28 and will last a long time because you don’t need much product to cover your entire face.
This is just one of many ways to use makeup to cover up that hickey.
You can also use a concealer stick or liquid concealer. You can apply it with a brush or your fingers.
If you’re using a cream concealer, dab some on the spot and blend it in with your finger or a brush. If you’re using a powder, brush some over the hickey and blend it in with your finger or a brush.
If you want to cover up the hickey completely, try using some foundation or tinted moisturizer first, then dab on your concealer. That way, if someone looks closely at your face, they’ll see skin instead of makeup!
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