How to Cover a Tattoo with Makeup

Co-authored by Grant Lubbock

Last Updated: April 2, 2024 Approved

Sure, you love showing off your awesome tattoo to your friends and peers, but you know that if your great-grandmother ever saw it, she'd go into cardiac arrest faster than you can say, "It's only temporary!" Whether you want to hide your tattoo from conservative relatives, cover it up for a wedding or special event, or look more professional in your next job interview, you can quickly and easily cover a tattoo with makeup if you know what approach to take.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Regular Makeup

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1
Cleanse your skin. Before you begin, it's a good idea to cleanse your tattooed skin with a wipe or a little facial wash. If you have a large tattoo, take a shower or bath. This prepares the skin to receive the makeup.
- Keep in mind that you shouldn't attempt to cover a tattoo with makeup unless it's fully healed, otherwise you could ruin the ink or develop an infection.
- Tattoos can take as long as 45 days to heal completely. Don't attempt to cover a tattoo that is fresh and hasn't peeled yet.
2
Apply a light concealer. Take a heavy coverage liquid or cream concealer that's several shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Alternatively, use a color-correcting concealer.
- Use a makeup sponge or stippling brush to apply the concealer to the tattoo. Try to dab or blot the concealer onto the skin instead of rubbing it. Rubbing simply pushes the product around rather than adding coverage.
- As a result, blotting will also help you to avoid wasting too much of your concealer. Once you've coated the tattoo in an even layer, wait a minute or two for it to dry. Don't worry if the tattoo is still visible.
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3
Add foundation. Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly. Spray foundations are the easiest to work with and provide the most even coverage, but liquid or cream foundations will also work.
- If you're using a spray foundation, give the can a good shake then hold it approximately 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 cm) away from the tattoo. Spray the foundation in spurts, rather than spraying in a continuous stream. This will prevent you from being too heavy-handed with it. Spray until you have evenly covered the tattoo, then give it 60 seconds to set. ^{[1]
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- If you're using a liquid or cream foundation, use a makeup sponge or stippling brush to apply the product, using the same blotting technique you used with the concealer. If necessary, use your fingers to smooth out the top layer and blend around the edges.
Use a large powder brush to apply a layer of translucent powder over the foundation. This provides a matte finish. ^{[2]
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When you are done layering the foundation, concealer, and powder, finish with a light spritz of makeup setting spray. This sets the coverage and will prevent the makeup from rubbing off onto any clothes or furniture. Allow the area to dry before touching it or attempting to cover it with clothing. ^{[3]
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If you plan on covering up your tattoo for a specific event such as a job interview or wedding, it's a good idea to do a trial run beforehand. This will give you a chance to practice your technique and ensure that your makeup is the right color for your skin tone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying Specialized Products

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1
Use tattoo cover-up. There are many products on the market designed specifically for covering up tattoos. These products are highly effective, due to their heavy coverage and broad selection of colors, which can match nearly any skin tone. The only downside to these products is their cost. Some of the best products include:
- Tattoo Camo: This tattoo camouflage brand provides a complete kit for covering your tattoo. The product comes in a tube which can be rubbed directly over the tattooed skin with no need for brushes or sponges. The kit also provides a special cleanser for removing the product. The kit is available from their website.
- Dermablend: Dermablend is a fantastic product which was originally designed by dermatologists to cover up scars and skin conditions. It is hypoallergenic, making it an excellent option for people with sensitive skin. It can last for up to 16 hours. It is also available online.
- Covermark: Covermark Tattoo Removal is another tattoo removal kit, which is available in variety of shades. The kit includes a skin primer, a liquid foundation, a matte powder, and a special applicator.
2
Try stage makeup. Stage makeup provides extremely heavy and long-lasting coverage and is good for tattoos covering large areas of skin. You can use a color-correcting concealer underneath the stage makeup to hide the tattoo.
- It's possible to buy stage makeup in a variety of skin colors, but you can also use plain white makeup to cover up the tattoo, then use your regular foundation on top to match your skin tone.
- Some of the most popular and widely available stage makeup brands include Killer Cover, Ben Nye, and Mehron.
3
Get an airbrush tan. If your tattoo is quite small or light in color, it may be possible to cover it up with an airbrush spray tan. These spray tans not only darken the skin but also even out skin tone and cover imperfections.
- Call into your local tanning salon to see if they offer airbrushing services. Show them your tattoo and ask them if they think the treatment would effectively cover it up.
- At-home spray tan products such as Sally Hansen airbrush legs can also be used to try to cover up small, light-colored tattoos.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How long does it take for a tattoo to be permanently removed?

Grant Lubbock
Tattoo Artist & Co-Owner, Red Baron Ink
Grant Lubbock is a Tattoo Artist and Co-Owner of Red Baron Ink, a tattoo salon based in New York City. Grant has over 10 years of tattooing experience and he specializes in neo-traditional, black/grey, and color tattoos. Red Baron Ink's main goal is for each tattoo coming out of their studio to be one of a kind custom pieces that will look good throughout a lifetime.

Grant Lubbock

Tattoo Artist & Co-Owner, Red Baron Ink

Expert Answer

If you're going to a laser removal clinic, which is the best way to remove a tattoo permanently, the answer depends on the size of the tattoo, the amount of pigmentation, and how many colors are present in the tattoo. On average, it probably takes 4-6 treatment sessions at the laser removal clinic to remove a tattoo, although larger pieces may take up to 10 sessions.

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Question

Where can I find Tattoo Camo around Pretoria and for how much?

Kiara Hamed
Tattoo Artist
Kiara Hamed is a Tattoo Artist based in Dallas, Texas. She has over nine years of tattoo designing experience. She received her Tattoo Artist Certification in 2010 and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Clark University Atlanta in 2013.

Kiara Hamed

Tattoo Artist

Expert Answer

Try buying these products online if you can't find any in makeup stores or costume stores.

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Question

What herbal ingredients can be used effectively to remove tattoos or break down ink pigments?

Kiara Hamed
Tattoo Artist
Kiara Hamed is a Tattoo Artist based in Dallas, Texas. She has over nine years of tattoo designing experience. She received her Tattoo Artist Certification in 2010 and a BS in Computer Information Systems from Clark University Atlanta in 2013.

Kiara Hamed

Tattoo Artist

Expert Answer

Ingredients like lemon, honey, salt, and aloe vera can be used to lighten tattoos and dark marks or scars.

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Tips

Tattoo artist Kat Von D has a great line of hihg-pigment coverup designed especially for concealing tattoos.

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Warnings

Don't get a tattoo of a boy/girlfriend's name because if you break up, you're stuck with it.

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Do not attempt to cover a tattoo with makeup unless the tattoo is fully healed. A fresh tattoo, or one that is just a week or 2 old, demands great care and good hygiene. Introducing makeup or excessively touching a new tattoo can irritate the area enough to harm your hard-earned artwork and cause infection.

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