The Best Camouflage Concealers for Scars and Tattoos (2024)

We're all for being your authentic self on your wedding day and part of that is of course showing off your tattoos in style. If however, you have an old tattoo you don't love, or you're a groomsman or bridesmaid and the couple has (very nicely) asked you to cover it and you're okay with that, then you might be in the market for a good full-coverage camouflage concealer to do just that.

These products are also great for covering scars as well, especially if there's a mark that you'd like to conceal. We know concealer can cover up dark spots and breakouts,but for scars that are deep in colour or tattoos with black or blue ink, a camouflage concealer is your best bet, once you know how to apply it. Higher in pigment than a normal concealer, longwear and transfer-resistant, camouflage concealer can be used on the face, hands and body, and it's easy to do yourself.

Read on for our best buys and how to use them!

What is Camouflage Concealer?

When we use regular concealer we are usually hiding medium-level discolouration caused by dark circles or redness. A colour-correcting concealer helps to neutralise this discolouration so that it matches the rest of your skin. However, camouflage concealers are needed for higher-level discolouration like tattoos, birthmarks, and sometimes scars.

These can be professional makeup products designed to hide scars and tattoos, but some beauty brands also have great products to correct skin issues. And while all offer full cover for hiding scars and tattoos, it's really important to get colour matched correctly.

Ideally, you would go to a beauty counter to get advice, but if it's a drugstore buy, here's a hack: If the area you want to cover is on the body, apply your wedding day self-tan and match it. If it's on the face or neck, match your foundation shade.

The Best Camouflage Concealers For Dark Tattoos & Scars

See Also

The Best Concealers, Foundations, Color Correctors & Makeup Products for Covering Tattoos - E! Online

We Like:

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup, €47: The crowd-pleaser, Estee Lauder's maximum cover concealer is for the face and body, has SPF15, and lasts 12 hours without budging. Developed with surgeons, this makeup is safe for acne and surgical scars, birthmarks, sun spots, varicose veins and tattoos.
• KVD Beauty Good Apple Lightweight Full-Coverage Concealer, €27.45: Who better to create a concealer for covering up tattoos than a tattoo artist? Kat Von Dee has had huge success with this concealer and its foundation. Hugely longwear, there are 21 shades available and it offers hydration with zero creasing.
• Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Camo Concealer, €30: Lancôme has a few concealers for different levels of coverage, but this is perfect for scars and tattoos. Available in 12 shades and suitable for all skin types, it's best applied with a small brush or beauty sponge.
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, €32: MAC's Pro Longwear concealer is a makeup artist's favourite, and comes in 16 shades. Highly pigmented and water-resistant, it lasts for 24 hours and won't settle into creases.

How to Use Camouflage Concealers

Due to the intense pigments in camouflage concealers, there's a knack for using them correctly. Make sure the skin is cleansed before starting, and if you like to use primer apply that first. You will want a natural finish, so the best way to spread them more thinly is to pop a little on the back of your hand to warm the product. Take a makeup brush and apply where needed until you get the desired effect. For small areas on the face or body, use a small brush and for larger parts, a medium-sized concealer brush. Keep working until you're happy with the concealed area and set it with powder.

A longwear powder for the face and body will set the concelaer, but a regular translucent loose powder will also suffice. Apply a heavier layer than you need, and allow it to sit on the skin for 10 minutes. After this, use a large powder brush to sweep away the excess. If you prefer a sponge to a brush, use that instead to buff the camouflage colour into the skin and follow with powder. For extra security and durability, use your favourite setting spray to seal the makeup into place for longer.

Your Tattoo & Scar Cover Up To-Do List

1. Get a consultation for the perfect corrector concealer at a beauty counter.
2. For body tattoos make sure your concealer matches your skin tone if using self-tan.
3. For face or neck tattoos your concealer should match your foundation.
4. Apply primer to the area and allow it to absorb into the skin.
5. Use small and medium makeup brushes to cover the tattoo or scar.
6. Powder the area with a loose setting or translucent powder.
7. Seal the area with a layer of setting spray and allow it to dry before dressing.

How to Use Correcting Concealer for Minor Scars & Discolouration

Not everyone needs camouflage concealers to completely blank out an area of skin. For hiding scars and discolouration that aren't extreme, you can rely on regular concealer and foundation. To avoid drawing attention to scarring use matte makeup to soften the look of marks and eliminate any shine. Anything labelled radiant, dewy or luminous will bring light to the skin and emphasise the scarred area.

A touch of highlighter can always be added to the higher points of the face later. Talk to your wedding day makeup artist if you have scarring, discolouration or a problem area you want to conceal, so you can trial concealers and foundations before the wedding. If you're doing the cover up yourself, practice makes perfect!

The Best Correcting Concealers for Minor Scars & Discolouration

We Like:

• NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, €34: This soft and matte concealer blurs and softens the look of blemishes, scars and redness. Available in 16 shades, oil-free and longwear, it can be applied with a small brush or ring finger.
• Clarins Everlasting Concealer, €29: One of our favourites for persistent dark circles, this is a skincare/makeup hybrid. Longwear and very durable, it contains horse chestnut to encourage microcirculation. It also has organic oat sugars that firm the skin.
• L'Oreal Infallible More Than Concealer, €12.95: A fantastic budget buy, that is everything-resistant. Creamy and easy to blend, it can be used on targeted areas or larger areas. Available in 15 shades and pocket-friendly.
• Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer, €30.50: Benefit recently repackaged Boi-ing, but it's still the OG concealer inside. Six shades are available in this full-cover makeup, and it's still one of the best matte concealers for hiding scars, dark circles, blemishes and more.

We have plenty more hair, makeup and fragrance ideas for your big day as well as best antiperspirants, the best anti-chafing sticks, and the best SPFs.