9 Best Tattoo Cover-Up Makeup Products That'll Hide Your Ink, Tested and Reviewed in 2023
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Listen, if you've invested time and money into a tattoo, you should absolutely be showin' it off. After I got my first small tattoo, I knew there might be a day when I found myself in a sitch where I wanted to cover it up temporarily. I've gathered together the best tips and tattoo cover-up makeup products (hi, peach color-correctors, full-coverage foundations, and heavy-duty concealers for all skin tones) to hide your ink until you're ready to show it off again.
According to celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen, covering up a tattoo is easy, and it all comes down to color correction. But it's important to invest in a product you know will have enough coverage while canceling out the tones of the tattoo you're looking to conceal. That's why I consulted Allen for the expert tips and tricks, as well as tested these products on my own tattoo to truly find the best on the market (as well as some secret hacks!), below.
Our top picks for the best tattoo cover-up makeup in 2023:
Ready to jump down the rabbit hole? Great, keep scrolling to discover some expert tips from Allen and the best tattoo cover-up makeup products on the market, according to reviews and my personal testing.
Pros
- Includes color correcting and skin tone shades
Cons
- Testers note that if you apply too much, it can feel heavy at times
If you want a fool-proof product that you know will work to cover up a-n-y-thing (hi, scars, dark spots, TATTOOS!), pop the MAC Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette (which, FYI, have been vetted by makeup pros for years) in your cart. There are six shade ranges comprised of four concealers and two correcting colors, giving you every option in the book to conceal your ink.
- Coverage: Medium to full
- Finish: Matte
- Formula: Cream
Glowing Customer Review: "This concealer has been my best friend for years! Look no further—this is it. I use this as an all-over product. I use mid-peach daily on dark areas of my face that are due to melasma and it is great. I add a foundation over it and it works so well."
Pros
- Affordable price and available via Amazon Prime
Cons
- Some testers note there is a stronger smell which is not appealing
We all know the grip Amazon beauty products have on us consumers. (Who can blame us when fast shipping, affordable prices, and thousands of vetted reviews exist?!) The Mehron Makeup Tattoo Cover Palette is one of those five-star Amazon favorites for hiding discoloration, birthmarks, and tattoos. Users swear by this five-shade palette that makes your tattoo ~vanish~ upon application thanks to the super full coverage and natural finish.
- Coverage: Full
- Finish: Natural
- Formula: Cream
Glowing Customer Review: "I used makeup brushes to apply it, and translucent powder between coats. I gently patted it on my tattoo, patted on powder next, and repeated until the finish was flawless. You'd never know that underneath lies a tattoo!"
Pros
- Super affordable creamy color-corrector that layers super well with concealer or foundation
Cons
- Orange and peachy shades will only work for darker/black tattoos
Celebrity makeup artist Brandy Allen swears by color-correcting in order to get the best possible outcome when you're hiding a tattoo. If your ink is blue or black—or if it was recently done—you should be using an orange or peach-toned corrector that will cancel out the dark tones in your tattoo. Apply the correcting shade on your tattoo, then wait about a minute to ensure it's totally dry, and top it off with your favorite full-coverage concealer from this list.
- Coverage: Full
- Finish: Satin
- Formula: Cream
Glowing Customer Reviews: "Tried this product on my sister who has more of a pink undertone and it completely covered the tattoos on her arm!!" one tester writes. "I love the E.l.f. brand products because they offer the same quality that high-end premium products offer, and I say that as a former professional makeup artist that usually only uses premium makeup brands," adds another.
Pros
- Truly a game-changer for long-lasting, smooth coverage
Cons
- You'll need an additional product to provide actual coverage
This pick is not a full-coverage concealer, color-corrector, or foundation; in fact, it's a waterproof mixing medium that actually happens to be my secret lil trick for concealing my tattoo. Though it's meant to turn powder formulas into long-lasting, waterproof makeup, it's also genius for all-day tattoo coverage. I apply the formula directly to my tattoo, allow it to fully dry, and then top it off with a concealer. The Aqua Seal creates the most perfect base for full-coverage products to apply easier, smoother, and stay on all day long.
- Coverage: N/A
- Finish: Matte
- Formula: Liquid
Glowing Customer Review: "I applied Aqua Seal 20 minutes prior to covering up my tattoo. It worked like a charm. I felt like as time went by instead of the makeup wearing away as it should have, it just kept doing its job! It is an amazing product."
Pros
- Can work anywhere on the body
Cons
- Some testers with oily skin noted that it left a dewy finish so they needed to set it with a powder to mattify
When any beauty product goes viral on TikTok, it becomes the next big thing—which is why you may have heard of this concealer TikToker @torirobot raved about. As demonstrated by @torirobot, you can see how this multi-use concealer is applied all over the tattoos, completely covering them in a matter of seconds. *Drops mic, adds to cart*
- Coverage: Medium to full
- Finish: Matte
- Formula: Liquid
Glowing Customer Review: "Easy choice, completely hid a tattoo during a photo shoot. I also tested it over my wrist tattoo to see just how good the coverage is; it took a couple of layers, but it did cover my tattoo nicely."
Pros
- Includes multiple shades for different purposes
Cons
- Not available for purchase at mass retailers
This incredible palette by Sian Richards is the ultimate must-have for those with tattoos on deep skin tones. The Hydro Proof 4k Longwear Cream palette has colors for your entire face—including contour, color correcting, cheek, and lid tones—and shades that'll handle all your tattoo coverage needs.
- Coverage: Sheer to full
- Finish: Natural
- Formula: Cream
Glowing Customer Review: "I started with Ether to try it out, and used it to cover tattoos—easy ;), then to cover scars, and once I used it was hooked. It does exactly what they say it does, is versatile, and easy to use."
Pros
- Quicker, more effective way to conceal larger tattoos
Cons
- May take a few layers to truly cover your tattoos up
Do you have a ton of ink all over your body? Instead of opting for a concealer that would take literally years to apply to every single tattoo, use a foundation intended for your body, like this full-coverage one by Dermablend. Though it may take a few layers to really cover everything up, it's definitely a much quicker and more effective way to cover larger areas.
- Coverage: Medium to full
- Finish: Natural
- Formula: Liquid
Glowing Customer Review: "This leg and body foundation is perfect since it allows me to easily cover any tattoos or bruises. The look is incredibly natural...it looks as close to possible to natural while still concealing. This stuff works wonders!"
Pros
- Results in a beautiful skin-like finish
Cons
- Most expensive option on this list
If you find yourself covering tattoos often (actors, makeup artists), it may be smart to invest in an airbrush makeup system. "I like to use waterproof airbrush foundation like the Temptu Air because it creates a seamless finish. In just one application, you can cover a tattoo, and it’s self-setting," says Allen.
- Coverage: Sheer to full
- Finish: Natural
- Formula: Liquid* (*airbrush)
Glowing Customer Review: "The makeup lasts all day, through sweat and tears and heat and humidity. I’ve seen it hold up during hours of dancing and in 90-degree temperatures in near 100 percent humidity for hours."
Pros
- Cult-favorite product that feels super lightweight
Cons
- Needs to expand its dark shade options
There's nothing like having a product in your beauty arsenal that can do it all. The Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation lives up to its name—it really does work all over and is a great option for tattoo coverage, too. I love this formula because, unlike super heavy, full-coverage options, this foundation provides the same amount of coverage while still feeling lightweight.
- Coverage: Medium
- Finish: Natural
- Formula: Liquid
Glowing Customer Review: "For buildable medium coverage foundation (although looks like it could be full coverage), and great for hiding tattoos! There’s a lot more fluidity to the foundation than I was expecting, but not a bad thing. Super lightweight and lasts all day."
How to choose the best tattoo cover up makeup
Know which colors to use
The most important thing when it comes to covering up a tattoo is that it requires color-correcting (don't worry, we've got a guide for that!). As an overall tip, "red is a good neutralizing color to start the process of covering a black tattoo," says Allen. However, she adds, when she's covering a black tattoo for a wedding or red carpet, she likes to first use one thick coat of a slightly deeper concealer (maybe 1-2 shades deeper), and then go over it with a foundation or concealer that matches the skin tone.
Consider the event
If you're covering up your tattoo(s) for an event or occasion, consider what you'll be wearing and what you'll be doing. "Be sure to try out the products beforehand to make sure they don't transfer to your clothes and ensure that the formula is waterproof," says Allen.
Meet the expert:
- Brandy Allen is a New York and Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist. Her clientele includes Doja Cat, Rachel Lindsay, Skai Jackson, and many more.
Why trust Cosmo?
Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty, with over three years of experience writing in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces. She’s an expert at researching and writing makeup stories, like the top eyelash curlers and why hair gel on your eyebrows is the ultimate beauty hack. She regularly tests and analyzes tattoo cover up makeup on her own tattoo for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top makeup artists to assess new brands and products.
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