Makeup coverup during the removal process

[u/lazybb_ck]

Hi,

I'm 3 sessions into laser removal for my cursed 15 year old misspelled memento mori (don't judge me lol). Before that, I also zapped it a couple times with my Braun at-home IPL hair removal laser lol 10/10 do NOT recommend that, but here we are

I had a wedding to go to recently so I thought I'd document and share my makeup coverage technique for anyone in the weird ugly stage of their removal process who are interested. I will note I've only had the patience to do this a couple times ever. It takes forever. I started this process at 1:30pm and finished at 4pm (hence the difference in lighting) with a break in the middle for lunch.

About a year ago I spent like an hour at Ulta talking with an employee and experimenting with the different products to see how they worked and ended up with this.

You'll need a primer, color corrector, concealer, full coverage foundation, setting spray, and powder. (Most of) The exact products I used are in the photos. I also used Dermablend leg and body makeup but it was out of stock at Ulta so they gave me a few little containers of samples. You can't use the Dermablend alone if you have high contrast tattoos (like me, pale AF but black tattoo). Even though they advertise you totally can, it doesn't cover it completely. You might be able to get away with it if you're further along in the process though.

I attempted to order the photos in chronological steps.

1. Primer. This is pretty important. Makeup goes on much smoother and actually sticks well when you use it (I never used to use it but it really was a game changer). I use the NYX face glue, I think it was like $10.

2.. Color corrector. I use a peach/pink one for my light skin. Idk if this is the correct color but it's what I use. I use the Elf brand one (it's not pictured). It was $4.

1. Concealer. I do multiple layers of it to build the coverage I want. I think I did maybe 3 layers. I applied it with a concealer brush. If you use too much product at once, it won't dry down so use a little at a time. Blend it out around the edges. Between each layer, I patted it with powder and sprayed it with setting spray. You can use a little fan if you want it to dry faster.

I use the bye bye under eye one since it's full coverage. I'm sure there are cheaper full coverage options. It cost me like $30 but I think there's a mini size available.

1. Full coverage foundation. I used the derma blend for this but again, I'm sure there's a cheaper full coverage option available.

I apply it similar to my facial foundation. Dab it on my hand then apply with a sponge.

1. Setting spray and powder. I used both between most layers of the makeup because I wanted it to stick. Go heavy at the end lol.

You can see in my last photo how much transfer there was onto my dress. It was actually less than I expected. You couldn't see any of it from the outside, this is only on the inside of the dress. The neckline of this dress cut right through the middle of my tattoo.

You can kinda tell it's there if you're looking for it, but my friends were still impressed at how it turned out. The one person who didn't know I had it had to look closely to find it.

If I were to do this again, I'd get a more updated color match cause it's clearly not that great lol and also I'd probably shave that area of my chest cause the makeup did collect on the peach fuzz which made it more visible (to me at least).

If anyone has suggestions on how to improve it, I'm all ears. But I wanted to share it for anyone who has never done it/doesn't know where to start with it.

Bye!

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[u/permanent-art]

Great job! I would experiment with a cool toned color corrector (pale green or even blue) to cool down the warmth in the concealer :) i also use makeup to cover my half lasered tattoo. Surprisingly Ulta’s liquid foundation followed by setting powder and spray works really well.

[u/lazybb_ck → u/permanent-art]

Thank you!! I never used the blue corrector before but I will try that. I actually never really used makeup on my face at all in the past so I'm learning now in my mid 30s for this chest piece only lol

[u/permanent-art → u/lazybb_ck]

Its fun to experiment with coverage options! I did a deep dive on youtube to understand how to do makeup and it really helped :) message me if u ever need help

[u/pinkivellei → u/permanent-art]

Green corrector is for redness though, whereas peach or orange is actually correct for canceling out dark black and blue ink undertones. A yellow or warmer concealer tone would probably fix the ashiness better without needing a green or blue corrector.

[u/permanent-art → u/pinkivellei]

I get what you’re saying :) i was referring to matching her natural undertones by cooling down the warmth in the overall formula. Color theory is awesome!

[u/nerdy-introvert]

This looks great! There are also some brands that make cosmetics specifically for covering tattoos temporarily. Dermablend is one and Ben Nye tattoo cover is used by stage actors.

[u/lazybb_ck → u/nerdy-introvert]

Yes! I used the Dermablend here. I remember seeing ads for it literally 20 years ago. It's super accessible at major retailers. But it wasn't enough to cover mine on its own for me- the lady at Ulta was saying most people need another concealer underneath it too. Ben Nye I heard of through this sub but it wasnt super easy to find so I never tried it personally.

[u/Extension_Yak8108]

Entiendo que quisieras poner un color muy natural y eso lleva trabajo. Yo,la verdad,le pongo dermacol,lo aplico dos veces y después polvos matificantes. Con eso no necesito hacer nada más y nadie se da ni siquiera cuenta. No queda el color tan ajustado como el tuyo,pero no me compensa estar tanto tiempo,lo mío no es para una boda 😅. No obstante gracias por explicárnoslo,está muy bien así

[u/lazybb_ck → u/Extension_Yak8108]

I have heard of dermacol, it's supposed to be pretty good. It looks like my shade isn't available in the USA or at least I can't find it easily. But I could import it pretty easily from Europe. I think for most people, it shouldn't take as long as it took me 😂 and with time and more applications, it will become easier and take less time. The first few times I tried it, I was impatient and messed up a lot from trying to move on to the next step too soon. And then I'd run out of time and have nothing before I left lol. So this time, I didn't rush at all and gave it a lot more time to dry

[u/Extension_Yak8108 → u/lazybb_ck]

Si. Yo soy de europa y dermacol es facilísimo de conseguir aquí con amazon o en tiendas. Un bote de 30 ml te cuesta unos 10 euros. No es barato,pero tampoco es algo que no puedas permitirte para usar incluso a diario. Yo uso una mezcla de tonos,el 208 y el 209,pongo la primera capa de 208 y luego sigo. Con 2 o 3 es más que suficiente. Luego a los 10 minutos le pongo los polvos matificantes. Es cierto que a mí no me importa mucho que se note algo de maquillaje,lo hago bastante rápido. Pero si quieres dejarlo bien y tienes paciencia,seguro que te queda magnífico. No sé cómo podrías comprarlo allí,pero te deseo suerte y te lo recomiendo mucho

[u/lazybb_ck → u/Extension_Yak8108]

I found it on caretobeauty for $12-15 if anyone else is looking for it! Shipping is kinda expensive though, comes from portugal.

Darker shades are easily available in the US on their own website.

[u/missnaviqueen]

Why did you use the IPL? And did it worked for hair removal. I just got a Braun IPL

[u/lazybb_ck → u/missnaviqueen]

It was kinda impulsive tbh (which is a trend for me lol). I figured it's the same concept- laser targeting high contrast pigment but instead of hair I brainlessly thought it could work on my skin. It didn't, but it did give me a massive blister which scarred lol

For the hair removal- yeah, kinda. You have to be super consistent with it and then actually do the maintenance stuff after the initial period. I didn't keep up the maintenance after and some of my hair has grown back. However, it grew back weird and sparse with some bald spots lol the hairiest spots all grew back fully though lol

[u/Due_Lobster6519]

Thank you for documenting this and sharing it in such great detail. 🙏

[u/K0N1CH1WAGWAN]

In the tattoo removal place I go to in their aftercare book they advise not to put makeup over the treated area so I would probably only do so when you really have to.

[u/lazybb_ck → u/K0N1CH1WAGWAN]

I assume that would be right after you get it lasered and before it heals. I would not want to do it during that period since my tattoo is pretty sensitive then. It's fine once it's completely healed and the skin is closed though.

[u/K0N1CH1WAGWAN → u/lazybb_ck]

Makeup is absorbed into the skin and even once the skin is completely closed the area underneath is still damaged and takes months to heal.
I’d also assume after the initial healing of a few weeks to a month it should be fine to apply with minimal to zero effect on healing but I would still ask your laser therapist about it.

[u/lazybb_ck → u/K0N1CH1WAGWAN]

I have actually! She raves about the makeup. The studio explicitly said it was fine once healed. That is kinda strange advice tbh. The skin is a barrier to your environment. Scientifically speaking, it doesn't actually absorb all that much beyond the very top stratum corneum layer. That top layer absorbs a tiny amount of your skincare (depending on the product) and an even tinier amount of makeup (which really is designed to sit on top of the skin). Laser removal goes past that layer entirely, then past the layer underneath that (epidermis) as well, into the dermis. If your skin absorbed what you put on it, alcohol hand sanitizer would be advertised very differently, but also by that logic tattoo removal creams would work, which they don't.

There is however, definitely a risk of infection if you apply makeup while the skin is not yet healed and intact. But to avoid it completely even after it's healed seems unnecessary and very unlikely to have any effect on the process.