If you’ve got body blemishes that have you feeling self-conscious or tattoos you’d rather not share with the world, these top body makeup picks will help you score your smoothest skin.
MORE: Get Skin Solutions with our Body Skin Guide
1Dermablend
The gold standard of body makeup, Dermablend’s expertise was put to the test in a viral campaign when “Zombie Boy” used Leg & Body Cover to completely cover his full-body skeletal-theme tattoos. Apply with a patting motion on the area you want coverage, and blend the edges with fingers or a sponge. Finish by patting on setting powder.
2Skindinavia
“One of the biggest challenge with body makeup is making sure it stays in place,” says celebrity makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor. Before applying coverup to the body, he first spritzes Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray, which uses oil-absorbing particles to keep the skin’s surface dry, and then applies makeup and spritzes again to seal. Lady Gaga and Britney Spears have both used the sweat-resistant spray on tour.
Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray, $19-$39
3Make Up For Ever
You can use this waterproof, water-based gel that dries to a natural finish on both your face and body. When applying to the body, “Apply a fine layer, let it dry for three minutes, and then blot the excess with a tissue before getting dressed,” advises brand founder Dany Sanz.
4Cover FX
A favorite of makeup artists, Cover FX’s cream foundation offers full coverage in a fragrance and oil-free formula. “To cover scars and birthmarks, I suggest applying the foundation with a tapping motion, to layer it up and build coverage as needed,” advises Sotomayor. The pot also doubles as a strategic spot concealer for the face.
5Gleam by Melanie Mills
Created by “Dancing With The Stars” makeup artist Melanie Mills, this soft shimmer lotion blurs skin with a glow. “With all that skin showing, I needed a product that would help hide imperfections like spider veins, bruises and discoloration,” says Mills. Light Gold is yellow-based to counteract redness, Rose Gold is the classic golden original, Bronze Gold is ideal for medium to deep tones and Deep Gold is a chocolate soufflé for the most melanin-rich skin tones.
Gleam by Melanie Mills, $15.
6M.A.C.
For areas of intense pigment like tattoos, moles and birthmarks that demand opaque coverage and a perfect shade match, M.A.C.’s Studio Finish concealer provides dependable, emollient-based coverage made with silica, which absorbs oils for water-resistant wear. “Avoid applying lotions containing mineral oil or petroleum beforehand, which will dissolve makeup you apply over it,” says Sotomayor.
7Laura Geller
“My favorite technique for covering up body issues is using a light-reflecting product to diffuse flaws and still make skin look healthy and dewy,” says celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow. Laura Geller’s collection of Baked Body Frostings feature a liquid to powder formula in an oversized compact that is baked on a terracotta tablet in Italy for 24 hours. The swirled mélange of color deposits warm color, and is just the right touch for lighter imperfections.
8Exuviance
Developed by the dermatological NeoStrata Company, this line of full coverage makeup is infused with anti-aging alpha hydroxy technology, as well as antioxidants, and is well-tolerated by sensitive skins. To make opaque body makeup look more natural, “Use a shimmer lotion mixed with tinted moisturizer and smooth over skin as a base,” says Turnbow. “Then spot conceal where needed, and pat it in.”
