Everyone with a tattoo experiences a moment in their life where they are asked to cover it up. Maybe it’s a job interview or a special family event; whatever it is, sometimes choosing certain clothing for coverage isn’t an option or simply won’t cut it.
Having tattoo cover up makeup on hand will make this stressful situation much easier. Some items on the market really get the job done, so we’ve rounded up our favorites that will give you the full-coverage you need.
Quick glance at the best tattoo cover up makeup:
- Mehron Tattoo Cover Makeup - Our Pick!
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation
- Dermablend Professional Quick-Fix Body
- MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
- KVD Beauty Lock-It Full-Coverage Liquid Foundation
Table of Contents (clickable)
Best Tattoo Cover Up Makeup Reviews
Mehron Tattoo Cover Makeup - Our Pick!
Mehron is a phenomenal brand that is used by professionals in film and on broadway. This specific blend is formulated specifically for tattoo coverage, which means it is infused with tone correctors for those stubborn blues and reds in your ink.
It comes with five different shades in one pack which helps you mix to find the tone that’s best for you. The full-coverage formula is buildable if you need it, and can give you many hours of complete coverage. It offers the most opaque coverage on our list and can be topped with a regular concealer that better matches your skin tone, if needed.
While it does take some time to apply, it’s worth it because it will completely cover your ink. Professionals love it, saying, “Because I do theater I must cover this tattoo every time I'm on stage. This is the best coverage I have found. [. . . ] it stay[s] on throughout the hours you will need coverage for. I'm extremely happy with this product. ”
Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Methicone, Dimethicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Alumina, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Fragrance, Water, Sucrose Palmitate, Benzyl Benzoate, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Linoleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Bht. May Contain (+/-): Yellow 5/Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Pros:
- Full-coverage
- Completely covers your tattoos
- Can be paired with normal foundation
- Used by professionals
- Inexpensive
- Can be covered with standard concealer
Cons:
- Only five shade options
- Needs to be paired with other products for a seamless application
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation
This product is used by Victoria Secret models to cover up those tattoos in the most hard to reach places. With 20 shades to choose from, you’re sure to find a tone that will give you the perfect coverage for your skin.
This stick format makes application an absolute breeze. It glides on smoothly, and a little goes a long way for it’s full-coverage formula. It’s also buildable which means you can add layers depending on the intensity of coverage you need.
It looks natural and doesn’t feel sticky or thick upon application.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cera Carnauba/Cire de carnauba, Talc, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearyl Alcohol, Fragrance (Parfum), Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool.
Pros:
- Full-coverage
- Matte finish
- 20 shades available
- Easy-to-apply stick format
Cons:
- Very expensive
Dermablend Professional Quick-Fix Body
Tested by dermatologists, Dermablend’s Quick-Fix Body is made specifically for coverage of skin imperfections and tattoos. It’s a non-comedogenic formula (which means it won’t clog your pores) that gives you full-coverage in an easy-to-apply format.
It not only has buildable coverage in 12 different shades, it also has SPF 25, which means it helps protect your tattoos from sun damage in the process of wearing it.
Individuals with tattoos who have tested this product are quite amazed by how effective it is, saying, “I purchased Dermablend on recommendation and I am astounded at how well it covers and how long it lasts. It needs a setting powder and to be layered- patience is rewarded. It also didn’t feel cakey or heavy at all. It covered my tattoo for a formal event- came off a little when bumped into - but lasted 12 hours! So happy with my purchase. ”
Ingredients: Araffinum Liquidum /Mineral Oil, Talc, Cera Alba / Beeswax, Isopropyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Stearyl Stearate, CI 77713 / Magnesium Carbonate, Carnauba / Carnauba Wax, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Allantoin, Lauroyl Lysine.
Pros:
- Full-coverage
- Matte finish
- 12 shades available
- 16-hour wear time
- SPF 25
Cons:
- May rub off on clothing
- Expensive
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
We loved this cover up makeup for a few reasons. It has a lightweight formula that glides on and is buildable, allowing you the amount of coverage you need without feeling cakey or thick. It guarantees 24-hour wear with a non-fading and non-streaking formula, and has SPF 15 protection. It is also sweat and humidity resistant.
With an absolutely mindblowing selection of 63 different shades, you’re guaranteed to find a Studio Fix Fluid that gives you the coverage you need, matching your skin tone with perfection.
Ingredients:Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 2. 50%, Titanium Dioxide 1. 00%Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Algae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Methoxy Amodimethicone/Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Laureth-7, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Peg-10 Crosspolymer, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sorbic Acid, Chloroxylenol, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288)] <ILN36878>.
Pros:
- 24-hour wear
- 63 shades
- Non-comedogenic
- Non-fading and non-streaking
- Sweat and humidity resistant
- Full-coverage that is buildable
- Lots of product for larger tattoos
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
- You need to watch application videos for this product to learn how to us it most efficiently
KVD Beauty Lock-It Full-Coverage Liquid Foundation
If you’re well-versed in tattoo culture, chances are that you’ve heard of Kat Von D. Kat created the KVD beauty line to satisfy her passion for make-up while also creating products that will give full-coverage to tattooed skin.
This liquid formula is buildable and provides a matte, skin-like finish. All of KVD Beauty products are also vegan and cruelty free. A little goes a long way with this formula, making it a great option for bigger tattoos that need to be hidden. With 26 different shades to choose from, you’re likely to find the tone you need.
People love this product for their tattoo coverage, saying, “This product was recommended to me and I'm so glad I took the suggestion. The coverage is great and lasts all day. I tried it for a week-long film shoot in Utah where the sunny heat was close to 100 degrees everyday. ”
Ingredients:Dimethicone, Aqua/Water/Eau, Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isododecane, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Methicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Calcium Carbonate, Trihydroxystearin, Polysilicone-11, Potassium Sorbate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methylpropanediol, Talc, Disodium Edta, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499).
Pros:
- Full-coverage, long-wear
- Vegan and cruelty free
- A little goes a long way
- 26 shades
- Created by a tattoo professional
Cons:
- Complaints about the formula being cakey
- Expensive
Our Pick - Mehron Tattoo Cover Makeup
While Mehron doesn’t offer the skin shade selection that is available from the other items that topped our charts, it offers the deepest, longest-lasting, and most natural-looking coverage on our tattoos. Even if you are not able to use it to create a skin tone color that matches yours perfectly, it still offers a thorough and opaque base for your coverage needs which can then be layered with a foundation that is closer to your skin color.
At a fraction of a price but with significantly better results, it's clear why Mehron Tattoo Cover Makeup is used on stage and for film. It covers even the darkest and deepest of tattoos. Though it takes a while to apply the product with careful efficiency, it’s worth the time investment if you are looking for the most natural coverage for your ink.
Unlike some of the other products on our list which require an application of color corrector prior to applying the cover up, Mehron Tattoo Cover Makeup gets the job done properly with its all-in-one formula. You just need to follow these simple steps:
- Wash your tattoo using one of our recommended 6 Best Antibacterial Soaps For Your New Tattoo.
- If you are not using a primer, we recommend moisturizing your skin with cream beforehand.
- Use a brush to outline the tattoo with the product; begin with darker colours and layer with lighter colours if necessary.
- Apply the product from the outside in.
- Apply the product in layers for buildable coverage, and use setting powder between each layer.
- If required, use a regular foundation over the product to better match your skin tone.
- Complete with a setting powder or setting spray.
Mehron even put together a how-to video to assist in applying your cover up: [yt vid="F62_l-MHRX4"]
What We Consider When Selecting Cover Up Makeup For Tattoos
If you’re looking for cover up makeup for your tattoo, we know you need something that will get the job done. It’s for that reason that we keep a few factors in mind when selecting what tops our list.
Full-Coverage
When you’re looking to cover up a tattoo, you need something that will be far stronger than your standard everyday face concealer. It needs to be opaque enough to cover even the darkest of blacks, or the brightest of colors. We only selected items that allowed buildable to full-coverage so that your ink doesn’t stand a chance against the formula.
Natural Finish
People cover up their tattoos for a variety of reasons: photoshoots, stage productions, job interviews, family events, etc. And the last thing you need is for the spot where your tattoo used to be looking cakey, thick, cracking, or unnatural. The products that made our list had a natural, matte finish that maintained a skin-like look throughout the duration of wear.
Long-Lasting Wear
Considering the amount of time some of these products take to apply, we tested how long the formulas withstood our wear. We wanted cover up that would at least make it through a work day, and we love items that withstand heat, humidity, and perspiration.
Shade Selection
Every skin is different, and it’s for that reason that we included options that offer numerous shade lines. While our preferred selection (Mehron) offered the least amount of skin tone options, it’s recommended that you use this as a base cover and use a standard concealer over top, so it still meets our blended, natural tone needs.
Various Formats
Everyone has a favourite cover up format, whether it’s stick, solid, or liquid makeup. We feel the same way, and find that different formats meet different application needs, such as the size of the tattoo or its location. Our list has a variety of options so you can choose the format you’re most comfortable working with.
Our Final Thoughts
Proper tattoo cover up takes careful time and precise application, so we recommend researching application tips for whatever product you choose to go with. When it comes to coverage, we selected the most opaque and natural-looking products on the market for covering up your tattoo.
It may take trial and error to discover which item from our list is easiest for you to work with and works best with your skin and shade. Don’t be afraid to experiment ahead of your event and let us know which product you loved most for your tattoo cover up!
