Even if you have as many as singer Paris Jackson, a combination of nifty makeup techniques means that, if you want to, you can completely conceal a tattoo. We ask two celebrity makeup artists to tell us how to perform this kind of magic...
Tattoos are having a moment: a quarter of Brits are inked, according to YouGov - with 11% boasting a visible one. Yet, there are still times when you might want or need to cover up: whether on a regular basis, such as for work, or on a one-off occasion - like the singer Paris Jackson, who worked magic with the Cover FX team to turn her whole-body tattoo art invisible, under the striking cut-out black Celine dress she wore at the Grammys, earlier this year.
Indeed, using the right type of makeup and the best application techniques means you will end up concealing perfectly, rather than making your tattoo look more obvious, and quite frankly, rather odd - plus, ensuring that you avoid the dreaded makeup transfer onto your clothes.
The makeup artist Lisa Caldognetto, who boasts a bunch of tats herself - over her chest, arms, stomach and legs - is a pro at this. "I love my tattoos, but sometimes there are times when I need to cover them up: for example, at a client's request for work, or for other events like weddings. If I'm wearing a pretty dress or if I am the only bridesmaid with tattoos, I don't want to feel out of place."
The good news is, as she explains: “Nearly all tattoos can be covered up. It involves a bit of colour theory know-how and taking your time to layer up products and apply them in the right way. The only time it can be tricky is if it’s a badly done tattoo, which has lots of scar tissue - as no matter what you put on top it will show the outline, and you won’t be able to get rid of it.” But if your tattoo looks great, then follow these top tips to cover up flawlessly...
1. Start with colour correctors
Applying concealer straight over the top of your tattoo won’t do a great deal so colour theory prep is key. Colour theory is the concept of certain colours being able to neutralise others. “By using colour theory you can diminish the colours of the tattoo and then go over the top with concealer,” says Lisa.
If you can’t remember your colour theory from school art lessons, Caldognetto has a quick reminder for you. “Red neutralises green, purple neutralises yellow and blue neutralises orange. These can be applied as a wash rather than a solid block of colour,” she says. So whichever colours you are trying to conceal you pick the correct colour corrector, apply it and watch some disappearing magic happen.
If your tattoo is a block design with just black ink, celebrity makeup artist Paulina Siembor also recommends going in with a red colour corrector, “it’s the best shade for taking out the intensity in the pigment.”
In terms of how to apply a colour corrector, Lisa recommends stippling, dabbing and patting them into place. And if you don’t want to commit to buying a specific colour corrector then she recommends trying coloured eyeliners instead, avoiding any with metallic or shimmer.
But if colour correctors sound like something that you need in your makeup bag immediately (they’re also great at reducing dark circles under eyes and neutralising redness in skin) then Caldognetto has a few she recommends. Nars Radiant Creamy Colour Corrector, £26.50 comes in four shades with different undertones, so you may need a bit of colour know-how to find the perfect one for your tattoo. Mac Pro Palette Studio Finish Skin Corrector, £32 is a handy palette containing six creamy colour correctors you can use individually or blend together. However, perhaps the most straightforward and easy to use are the Elf Camo Colour Correctors, £4 each which come in five different shades including blue, yellow, green and orange.
2. Go in with concealer
Once you’ve taken out the brightness of the colour of the tattoo, it’s time to start concealing it with a product that matches your skin tone exactly. Again, Caldognetto recommends lightly stippling, dabbing and patting the concealer in and working in light layers, building the coverage up slowly but surely. “Remember to also blend the concealer into the skin around the tattoo, not just on the tattoo itself so it looks completely natural,” she adds.
Creams are the best consistency to use as they’re the easiest to blend and work into the skin - and regular, high-coverage concealers will do the trick perfectly. Caldognetto recommends Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, £24.30 which comes in 24 shades. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, £34 , is a handy option because it comes with two shades in the one palette, one slightly darker than the other. Or the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, £9.99, which comes with a handy sponge applicator that makes it easy to dab on. Another option is the Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation, £34.92, which Paris Jackson used in her prep for the Grammy Awards.
If you want to get quite serious with your tattoo coverup routine, or you're doing it frequently, then Siembor recommends the all-in-one Jordane Total Tattoo Coverage Original Cream Formula Palette, £43.50. “It really is the best product out there. I use it on TV commercials all the time because it can be used to cover up and camouflage any skin problems such as blemishes, birthmarks, pigmentation, scars, under-eye shadows as well as tattoos. It’s quick-drying, smudge-proof, waterproof and it stays put no matter what.”
3. Lock-in with powder
To help the layers of colour corrector and concealer stay put you need to apply a powder to lock them in place. While it may be tempting to use a skin-toned powder for extra concealing prowess, Caldognetto advises reaching for a translucent one instead, such as Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, £21.50. “A clear powder will prevent the area that you’ve worked so hard on oxidising and going darker.” Swirl your brush - a small eyeshadow blending brush is a great size to use - tap off any excess, and gently and lightly tap over the concealer.
4. Seal with sprays
Finishing off by misting a sealing spray over the top provides a final step of protection for the concealer and colour corrector underneath, to ensure that it doesn't rub off on your outfit. You can buy dedicated tattoo makeup setting sprays, but Caldognetto says a regular hairspray like L'Oreal Hairspray by Elnett for Normal Hold & Shine, £3.25 works well and will prevent the concealer and colour correctors from transferring and moving. For less of a glossy effect, she also suggests dusting some more setting powder over the top to finish - "it's a powder sandwich!"
However, if you really need to lock your handiwork in, Siembor recommends Ben Nye Matte Final Seal, £25.20 which creates a matte finish but is sweat-proof, water-resistant and smudge-proof and is used on lots of film and TV sets. (And, if you're curious about the secret to Paris Jackson's top-to-toe concealer not rubbing off on her black ballgown, then give the Cover FX High Performance Setting Spray, £24.96, a whirl.)