We love to decorate our bodies. We do it in multiple ways, but only one is the most widespread — tattoos. Tattooing is a beautiful and odd form of art, very interesting and more expressive of sentiment than any other thing. It’s more fascinating than costly jewelry, and can’t be lost, stolen, or forgotten. It is a memento we can keep through life and retain after death. While decorating our bodies with tattoos is a marvelous expression of our true selves, we can’t stop but wonder: Are you willing to cover up your authenticity for a day of “basic” life? If yes, then we have the best solution for you.

Sometimes You Just Got to ‘Fit In’

Tattoos are a way for people to express themselves through art and color, showcasing their personalities through drawings and words. People are so devoted that they even put them in the most painful tattoo places ever. But very often we find ourselves in a situation where you have a meeting to attend, formal function, or your job simply doesn’t permit you to have these tattoos. Then what do you do? You cover them with makeup, of course.

How to Cover up a Tattoo With Concealer — Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Cleanse

The skin needs to be cleaned off of any excess oils or dirt, so the products that are applied on top can have their full effect.

Step 2: Moisturize

Use a generous amount of oil-free hydrating moisturizer all over the area and massage it using circular motions.

Step 3: Prime

Take a pea-sized amount of a pore minimizing primer and pat it onto the tattoo. The primer will smoothen the skin, prep the area for any products that you will be applying on top, and ensure that the makeup stays all day long.

Step 4: Correct

Just like a corrector is a tool used to cancel out pigmentation and discoloration on the skin, it can also be used to cancel out the color of the ink in your tattoo. Use a small concealer brush to dab the corrector onto the tattoo and lightly blend the edges. Start off with a little product and continue to build it as needed. If your tattoo has been drawn on only with black ink, a pink-colored corrector is enough to cancel it out, but for those of us that have colored tattoos, each color needs to be neutralized accordingly. The color wheel can help you. It will show you how green and red, yellow and purple, all neutralize one another.

Step 5: Conceal

For tattoo concealing, make sure you pick a heavy-duty supply with a thick long-lasting consistency. Using a slightly larger concealer brush, pat the concealer into place above the corrector to completely cover the pink or any bits of the tattoo that might still be showing through. Using a fluffy brush, blend out the edges.

Step 6: Foundation

Use a foundation that is full coverage, matte and oil-free. Pick a color that is closest to your skin tone, to ensure that it blends seamlessly. A kabuki brush is the best tool to pack in the product if you want maximum coverage. After you finish that step, use a beauty blender or your makeup sponge to get rid of any harsh lines around the edges.

Step 7: Powder

If you need more coverage, use a foundation powder that matches your skin tone. Another tool that you can use to set the makeup in place is a translucent powder. Take a fluffy powder brush to pack on the product and buff it into place. This step will ensure that your makeup stays transfer-proof and smudge-proof all through the day.

The Best Products to Cover up Your Tattoos With

Congratulations! You are now an expert at covering up tattoos — and an expert deserves only the best supplies. So without any further ado, let’s check them out.

Cleanse: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Face Wipes $11.96
Moisturize: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water $18.98
Prime: Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer $5.46
Correct: L.A. Girl Pro Conceal Set $9.15
Conceal: Maybelline Multi-Use Concealer $9.99
Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation $7.99
Foundation Powder: L’Oreal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear Powder Foundation $11.95
Transluscent Powder: Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder $6.99
Small Concealer Brush: Wet n Wild Small Concealer Brush $1.17
Big Concealer Brush: Energy Concealer Brush $15.99
Fluffy Brush: e.l.f. Fluffy Blender Brush $4.00
Kabuki Foundation Brush: Keshima Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush $20.00
Beauty Sponge Blender: Aesthetica Cosmetics Beauty Sponge Blender $3.97
Powder Brush: Am Rong Magic Super Large Mineral Powder Brush $6.28

Don’t get overwhelmed by the long list. Many of these supplies you may already have at home. Plus, a handful of these items are currently on sale. All in all, the estimated cost to fully cover up your tattoo and most importantly stay fixed is around $130.

Final Thoughts: If You Don’t Get It, It’s Always Going to Be Weird

Tattoos are one of the only things you take to the grave. Having tattoos does not make you a delinquent or a thug — it’s an art! Art is about self-expression and creativity. Some people hang their art, we wear ours — just look at the Japanese tattoos and you’ll understand everything better. Still, no matter how good of an art form it is, there are places and people that still consider tattoos inappropriate. Are they worth it to cover your tattoos for them? We’ll let you be the judge of that.