Best Tattoo Cover Up Makeup: My Top 5 Products

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You love your tattoos. Why wouldn’t you? You paid a lot of money and endured a fair amount of pain to get them. Unfortunately, there may be moments where you’d want to hide them.

Maybe you’re getting married and you don’t like the look of your tattoo with your wedding dress? Maybe your boss doesn’t like your tattoos being visible when you go meet clients? Whatever the reason may be, doing a good job of covering up tattoos requires the best tattoo cover-up makeup you can get your hands on. 

Thankfully, we’re spoilt for choice and there are various products on the market that will do a stellar job. 

So, without wasting any more time, let’s look at my top 5 products to cover your tattoos. 

5 Best Tattoo Cover Up Makeup Products Overview

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5 Best Tattoo Cover Up Makeup Products

1. KVD Lock-It Tattoo Foundation: High-End Option

If you’ve been a tattoo enthusiast for even a short while, you’ve probably heard about Tattoo Queen Kat Von D. As a professional tattoo artist, she knows exactly what is needed in a product to achieve a look of natural, tattoo-free, skin. Since she started her own brand of makeup, she had all the tools needed to create a foundation perfect for covering tats. 

All her products are vegan, free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. That’s a really fancy way of saying it is good for your skin. This foundation to cover tattoos has a matte finish and promises long-lasting wear of up to 24 hours. 

I especially like the fact that it is buildable—wonderful news if your tattoo has bold black lines or a solid black patch somewhere. The formula is creamy and easily applied with a brush or makeup sponge. It also comes in different shades to accommodate the various skin tones out there. 

Although this product is somewhat on the expensive side, it is definitely worth the price if you look at the results you get. 

What makes KVD’s Lock-It Tattoo Foundation the best tattoo cover-up makeup?

  • It’s vegan. 
  • It’s made by a professional tattoo artist. 
  • It’s long-wearing. 
  • It’s buildable. 

2. Dermablend Professional Cover Creme: Highly Pigmented

When it comes to innovation, Dermablend is the leader of the back. This tattoo cover-up makeup uses CamoPigments® technology that aids in making tattoos disappear. As a cream, it is highly pigmented that is easy to blend without it looking cakey. (That’s makeup speak for thick and textured). 

This tattoo cover-up makeup comes in eighteen colors, so no matter your skin tone, you’ll be able to find your perfect match with little trouble. What’s more, it doubles as a sunscreen with an SPF 30 and I’m sure you know how important it is to protect your tattoo from the sun to keep it nice and vibrant! 

As if that isn’t enough, those with sensitive skin can apply this product without worrying about irritation. It is fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and allergy-tested. If you dab on some setting power on top, you’ll have transfer-resistant coverage that will last for 16 hours. 

Why choose Dermablend as the best tattoo cover-up makeup for you?

  • Highly pigmented. 
  • Doubles as sunscreen. 
  • Lightweight but high-coverage. 
  • Perfect for sensitive skin. 
  • Has a wide range of shade options. 

3. Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer: Top Pick

Laura Geller is a popular makeup brand. The founder has dedicated her life to formulating high-quality products, and there’s no doubt that she achieved success with the Real Deal concealer. 

What makes it one of the best tattoo concealers is its full coverage—one pass and your tattoo will be gone. One of the reasons why it covers so well is the fact that it is a silicone-based concealer. This also gives it a lot of slip and makes it easy to blend into the skin. 

This is an oil-free concealer, so if you have any face tattoos to cover, you don’t have to worry about any breakouts afterward. It’s also water-resistant, which makes it perfect for any areas where you sweat a lot or for days next to the pool

It comes in three shades that you can mix and match to get your skin tone. Since it is buildable, you don’t have to worry about it looking cakey. I suggest you start with a small amount; this product is thick and super pigmented, so a little really goes a long way. 

Why go with Laura Geller’s Real Deal Concealer?

  • It’s super pigmented.
  • It applies smoothly thanks to being silicone-based. 
  • It’s water-resistant. 
  • It’s oil-free. 
  • A little goes a long way. 

4. Glossiva Tattoo Concealer: Skin Tone Matching Technology

This tattoo cover-up concealer matches your skin tone. So, if you struggle to match makeup to your skin, then this is the product for you. Glossiva is the top-choice for covering up any dark spots, blemishes, vitiligo, and, of course, tattoos. You can even apply it to hide any unsightly scars.

Since it is waterproof, you won’t have to worry about it melting due to sweat or water, ultimately exposing your tattoo. 

You get a light and dark paste to mix and then match to your skin tone, but don’t worry if you don’t get it perfect, this tattoo concealers advanced technology will do the rest for you. 

Although this is a concealer, it applies as smoothly as a foundation.

What makes Glossiva the best tattoo cover-up makeup?

  • It matches your skin tone. 
  • Highly pigmented. 
  • Easy to apply. 
  • Waterproof. 
  • Brand offers a money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy. 

5. Dermablend Makeup Setting Spray: Recommend Add-On Product 

No, this is not a foundation or a concealer, but I highly recommend using a setting spray. It will make even the best tattoo cover-up makeup last longer. In fact, using a good-quality makeup setting spray can keep you tattoo covered for a bonus two to three hours. 

This setting spray has been given the all-clear for use on sensitive skin. It has been dermatologically tested, is fragrance-free, doesn’t contain triclosan or phthalate, an is non-comedogenic. 

Also, if you suffer from acne, you don’t have to worry about it causing breakouts or aggravating any other skin conditions.

Why buy this product?

  • It prolongs the wear of foundation and concealer. 
  • It’s been approved for use on sensitive skin. 
  • It doesn’t contain any nasty ingredients. 
  • It won’t cause acne flare ups. 

How To Cover Your Tattoos 

Now that you have a few products to choose from, you may be wondering if there are specific tricks when it comes to covering up a tattoo. Well, the answer is yes and no. It depends on the product you’re using.

If you’re using a highly pigmented tattoo concealer straight out of the tube, then your approach will be different from when you have to mix two tones together. I do, however, suggest that you grab two shades of tattoo cover-up makeup to increase the level of coverage. 

Tools

  • Makeup sponge or beauty blender. (You can use your fingers too)
  • Makeup brush. 

Application

  • You always want to start with clean, dry skin. 
  • First, blot on the lighter shade. Don’t go too thick! You don’t want it to take ages to dry and look cakey in the end. 
  • Wait for the first layer to dry. 
  • Optional: Brush on some translucent powder to increase the coverage. 
  • Now it is time to apply a layer of the darker shade. It is even more important when you use a darker shade to not apply it too tickly. Blend until smooth. 
  • Allow to dry. 
  • Optional: You can add some more translucent powder. 
  • Continue to alternate light and dark layers until your tattoo is completely covered. 

4 Tips to Tattoo Cover-up Success 

  1. Don’t try to rub in the tattoo cover-up makeup. All this will do is move the product around. Instead, blot it onto the tattoo. 
  2. The number of layers you’ll need to do depends on the product you’re using. Concealers tend to require fewer layers and foundations more. That being said, there are some high-coverage foundations out there that covers tattoos in just one layer. 
  3. Don’t forget to use a setting spray to make your tattoo cover-up makeup last longer. If you don’t have a setting spray on hand, hairspray will work too! 
  4. Practice a few rounds and techniques to find one that works best for you. 

Conclusion 

Although tattoo enthusiasts wear their tattoos with pride, there are moments in life where they may need to cover it up. Depending on the size, age, and color of the tattoo, this can be a difficult feat.

However, there are products on the market that can help you achieve a tattoo-less look. Some of these products aren’t meant for tattoos, but since they’re known for their high coverage, people have been using them as tattoo cover-up makeup. 

In this article, I listed three of my tried-and-tested and favorite foundations and concealers that cover tattoos in no time. I also shared with you a makeup setting spray that will make your tattoo cover-ups last longer. Of course, there are other products you can use—translucent and fountain powders are too examples. 

Whatever you decide to use, test it first. Take time to find out what works best for you. I know I like applying concealer and foundation with a beauty blender or makeup sponge, while others use only brushes. Only time will tell what you prefer to use to cover up your tattoos. 

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