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Does it bother you to see acne scars, sun damage, melasma, rosacea, or birthmarks on your complexion?
I hear you. It bugs me, too.
You might be wondering which is the best makeup to cover discoloration.
That’s why I’m reviewing the best foundations and concealers for hyperpigmentation.
I’ve included a couple of options for other parts of your body besides your face. They can disguise varicose veins or tattoos.
Let’s begin by talking about color correction.
Contents
The best way to hide hyperpigmentation is to correct the color before you do anything else.
The idea is to neutralize the discoloration so that your foundation doesn’t have to work so hard.
For example, red blemishes are less noticeable after you’ve treated them with yellow or green concealer (1).
Then you can cover up with your regular concealer and foundation.
Use a brush or blending sponge for a flawless finish.
Getting the color right may be a process of trial and error. Test out the different color correcting shades under the type of light where you spend the most time.
Don’t expect that they will make the problem go away completely. They usually only tone down the color so that the makeup looks natural.
You may get more mileage out of your makeup if you apply a primer first. Then finish up with a setting powder so that everything stays put for as long as possible (2).
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
You’ll hear that green primer or concealer cancels out the red of rosacea. This is generally true, but it might make your complexion look dull or grayish.
Instead, try yellow.
Next, dark skin can benefit from orange. It eliminates undereye circles. Use lighter orange on dark spots.
If you have fair skin and struggle with dark circles under your eyes, try salmon or peach depending on your tone (3).
Peach may also help age spots look less noticeable.
At any rate, once you’ve applied the color-correcting concealer and allowed it to set, put a flesh-toned concealer over the top. Stick to a color that’s close to your own.
Blend well, then apply foundation. Check to see if you need more flesh-toned concealer. In the end, apply powder and let it sit for a couple of minutes before you brush off the excess.
One last note: choose the texture of the concealer as carefully as you select the color.
For example, use cream concealers for dry skin and liquid once for oily skin. If you have combination skin, you might need both kinds depending on which part of your face you’re covering.
Now, let’s get into reviews of the best makeup for hyperpigmentation.
Dermablend is the most highly-recommended full-coverage makeup I’ve discovered.
There are multiple versions to meet various needs like dry or oily skin.
Most importantly, the makeup is available in a wide range of shades. Plus, you can blend two shades together for the ideal match.
Let’s begin with the Smooth Liquid Foundation. It’s specifically made for sensitive, dry skin and will cover up rosacea, and redness.
The formula has sunscreen (SPF 25) and moisturizing ingredients.
It doesn’t have the most intense coverage, but it’s buildable.
Also, if you set it with the Dermablend powder, it becomes long-lasting and stays up to 16 hours without smudging or transferring.
Allure presented Dermablend with a Best of Beauty Award in 2018 because of this liquid foundation.
The Flawless Creator is perfect for oily, acne-prone skin. It won’t clog pores, and it’s free of oils and water. There are no parabens in it, either.
Just one drop goes a long way – but please remember to shake it before you use it.
It sets to a silky but not shiny finish and provides full coverage.
The Cover Creme foundation feels a lot lighter on the skin than you’d guess by looking at its texture.
It lasts for up to 12 hours and hydrates the skin throughout the day. Plus, the velvety smooth finish doesn’t cake or crease.
Dermablend’s powder foundation offers medium to full coverage. It’s best for oily skin as it minimizes shine without clogging pores.
It comes with an applicator sponge that’s free of latex.
Set it with the Dermablend Power-Setter spray to look good all day long.
Even if you don’t want to spend the money on foundation, try Dermablend’s liquid concealer.
The only problem is that it comes in just five shades, from fair to cocoa.
It’s easy to blend and never looks caked-on.
If you have a tattoo, varicose veins, scars, or something else you want to hide, try Dermablend’s body makeup.
If you set it with their powder, it endures up to 16 hours. It won’t melt off if you sweat, smudge if it rains, or rub off on your clothes.
It also has sunscreen.
Here’s another version of body makeup from Dermablend.
It has buildable medium to full coverage.
The easiest way to remove it is to use Dermablend’s Makeup Dissolver.
After mentioning it so many times, I wanted to show you the setting powder.
This is a professional formula that’s translucent but mattifies the skin.
Even just by itself, it minimizes the appearance of pores.
Let’s switch to Dermacol, one of the best foundations for melasma.
It was invented in Europe and made its way to Hollywood. That’s because it’s 50% pigment and very good at hiding imperfections.
It disguises anything from undereye circles, acne, tattoos, and post-surgical bruising.
It shouldn’t clog pores or cause reactions in sensitive skin.
Moreover, it’s long-wearing and waterproof. You can sweat or stand out the rain, and it won’t slide off.
You may need an oil-based cleanser to remove it. Some users recommend wiping it off with rosehip seed oil before cleansing.
Jolie’s Kamaflage makeup is made to conceal everything from burns and scars to bruises and stretch marks. That includes spider veins and varicose veins, too.
Users have commented that it won’t wash off even with soap once it has set. Jolie sells an Indelible Makeup Remover to remove it.
On the downside, there are only four shades. And it sets to a “powder finish,” which may look too dry on some people.
Jolie’s concealer stick is a creme foundation with buildable coverage. A light layer looks almost sheer. But if you layer it on, it hides imperfections like age spots.
Another bonus is that there are many colors to choose from.
It has a small amount of sunscreen (SPF 8) and it’s conditioning, not drying. If you have oily skin, apply powder to keep it matte throughout the day.
The L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation looks good on oily and combination skin as long as you don’t have any excessively dry patches. If you do, apply this to your T-zone and use the Pro-Glow foundation on your cheeks.
It lasts up to 24 hours and provides lightweight to full coverage depending on how you apply it. If you layer it over the Infallible concealer, you should end up with a nearly flawless complexion.
There are twenty-two shades available.
My favorite cheap makeup is Infallible Total Cover Foundation. It’s the best drugstore foundation for hyperpigmentation.
It’s full coverage but feels weightless. Plus, it lasts up to 24 hours.
There are twelve shades total.
But there is something you need to know.
While it’s not advertised as a matte finish, it will emphasize dehydrated skin. The solution is to use a richer moisturizer underneath or add a tiny amount of moisturizer to the foundation before you apply it.
Here’s the Infallible foundation for dry skin. It lasts up to 24 hours and provides a little bit of sunscreen.
Here is the best drugstore concealer for hyperpigmentation. If you’re reluctant to buy the foundation, get the concealer first and try it.
It comes in 25 shades, so there’s a color for every skin tone.
Blend it into your skin, and you’ll be shocked at how much it does to hide imperfections like age spots.
Of course, it wears up to 24 hours.
My final pick from L’Oreal’s Infallible collection is the color-correcting kit.
It features peach, yellow, green, and purple concealer to neutralize everything from dark circles to redness and dull skin tone.
Just like Sally Hansen, Joan Rivers has makeup for your legs. It will make it a lot easier to wear shorts or a mini dress with confidence.
There are few shades, but you can blend them. The finish holds up well.
Physicians Formula makes tinted moisturizer with good coverage. But for hyperpigmentation, what you really want is their concealer.
It wears up to 12 hours if you use foundation and powder.
Like other makeup products from this company, it’s tested to be safe for sensitive skin and eyes.
Maybelline’s Super Stay Foundation is excellent for all skin types. It wears well and won’t irritate acne-prone skin.
The performance is impressive for a drugstore brand.
Maybelline also makes a stick foundation that doubles as a concealer. It’s creamy but sets to a demi-matte finish.
Unfortunately, there are few shades.
Can a powder foundation provide full coverage? Yes, this one can.
It works well if you take the time to apply a little concealer first.
It’s lightweight and packed with color-matching pigments. Plus, it wears up to sixteen hours.
Happily, it’s available in a dozen shades from Classic Ivory to Java.
You need to know that Maybelline also makes a series of color-correcting concealers.
Each stick is waterproof once it bonds with your skin.
Some of the tones available are yellow, green, beige, and white.
e.l.f.’s liquid foundation is surprisingly good at concealing hyperpigmentation for a liquid formula. But if you’d like your freckles to show through, blend it with a little lotion for sheer coverage.
On the bright side, it feels very lightweight and instantly brightens skin tone.
On the downside, some users say it’s essential to use concealer to achieve full coverage.
NYX’s liquid foundation is waterproof and highly-pigmented. The matte finish lasts up to 24 hours, especially if you set it with the powder and spray.
Another bonus is that it comes in 45 shades that encompass every skin tone.
NYX’s color-correcting concealer palette has orange, yellow, neutral, yellow, warm, and beige shades.
Use it for correcting discoloration and highlighting.
The coverage is medium but buildable.
Covergirl’s full-coverage concealer is matte, but it doesn’t cake and crease. It comes in 30 shades.
Vichy’s Dermafinish concealer disguises dark circles, broken capillaries, and acne without faltering. It endures up to 14 hours straight.
It comes from a brand that tests their makeup products against common allergens to protect sensitive skin. The formula is fragrance-free and it won’t clog pores.
IT Cosmetics covers all the bases with its highly-pigmented concealer.
Not only does it disguise blemishes, but it also improves your skin’s health.
While you wear it, it rejuvenates your complexion with peptides, antioxidants, vitamins, and collagen. We recommend you try IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation or CC Cream as well.
Feel comfortable in your own skin when you use foundations and concealers for hyperpigmentation.
This makeup minimizes and hides the blemishes that you hate to see.
If you discovered a new foundation or concealer today that helps you smile into the mirror, tell me about it in the comments below.
Also Read: Best Foundations for Prom Makeup: Reviews & Buying Guide
Sources:
1. https://lifehacker.com/the-best-way-to-conceal-dark-spots-and-blemishes-1825998099 by A.A. Newton, published May 15, 2018, accessed November 21, 2019
2. https://www.wikihow.com/Hide-Acne-With-Makeup by Laura Martin, published November 19, 2019, accessed November 21, 2019
3. https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Color-Correcting-Concealers by Laura Martin, published August 20, 2019, accessed November 21, 2019
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