Concealing a Tattoo

Tattoos have become a part of most cultures around the world and they are a good way of communicating individuality. Even those of you who love your body art occasionally ask me how to cover it up, whether for work purposes, a formal function, your wedding day or a visit to family who might not approve. If clothing won't meet your cover-up needs, then it's time to learn how to artfully apply makeup to disguise your ink.
The Right Product

Normal concealers and foundations will work to hide under eye circles and small blemishes, but they won't provide the full and lasting coverage of a specialty product.

Look for a product that is completely opaque, heavy, and creamy, not one of the "liquid-to-powder" foundations. Any product with the phrases "sheer" or "light" in the description will not do the trick for this cover-up job! Most tattoos use a blue-based ink, so a yellow concealer will help to counteract the blue tones. Also, make sure that the concealer matches your skin tone exactly. When applying body makeup, even the slightest variation between the makeup and your skin tone is just as obvious as the tattoo itself. If necessary, purchase several shades and mix to match your skin tone.

From my research, there are numerous heavy-duty concealers on the market, but I have found that Kryolan does the job nicely.  It is available in a wide range of skin colours so it is suitable for all skin types and it contains several emollients to help moisturise and condition the skin. It delivers professional looking results that meet the exacting standards of beauty photography and is ideal for perfecting the face and body.

Application

With body makeup, long-lasting coverage is vital. Many cream concealers and foundations will leave traces of makeup on your clothes, or worse, on other people's clothes! The last thing you want after carefully disguising your tattoo is to have the makeup smudge or disappear, revealing your ink. Practice with your makeup ahead of time to make sure that it lives up to its promises.

Step 1:

For lasting results, you must first begin with a clean and dry surface. Cleanse your skin as usual, and then use a toner to wipe away any traces of dirt, oil, and makeup. Rinse the area and pat dry.

Step 2:

Apply the makeup. If you happen to have two shades, use them both. Apply the colour that counteracts the colour in the tattoo. For example: If the colour is green you need to choose the opposite on the colour wheel, so it has to have red in it to neutralize the tone. Apply the second colour, this one should match your skin tone exactly. Blend the outer lines perfectly to completely disguise the tattoo and makeup.

Step 3:

Apply powder on the tattoos. Although a brush will work, a pad is much better. Press the pad firmly into the compact before dabbing evenly and gently across the concealer. Powder seals the makeup making it more long lasting.