OUT, DAMNED POX

February 10, 2012 5:27 PM

Is it possible to mask dark spots and scars from the chicken pox without looking like I'm wearing makeup?

Four weeks ago, I had the chicken pox. The symptoms are mostly gone and I'm not contagious any more, but some scars and dark marks are lingering on my face. The doctor says they may fade, eventually.

I have work events on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday which involve meeting, greeting and working with large numbers of people. I've never been particularly vain about my appearance, but I must admit I'm self-conscious and uncomfortable with how many dark spots remain on my skin. They're on the tip of my nose, my forehead, my cheeks, neck and chin. And I feel like they're really obvious. At first glance, the blemishes look like I'm having an acne breakout. I'd like to look my best. These events are important to me professionally.

I'm a guy. Have never worn any sort of acne concealer or makeup before. Does anything exist that I could put on these spots which will make them less apparent and won't be obvious to people I'm speaking with?

Basically, I'd like to know if there's anything I can put on them that won't make me look like like I'm trying out for the cast of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Help?

posted by zarq to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (23 answers total)

Jeez. Probably not. Most make up makes you look made-up. But I think your best bet to look natural and try to at least lessen the marks would probably be a dusting of Bare Minerals. You can buy it at Sephora. Don't use the bronzer that comes with it, or anything - that would make you look really made up. But it's worth a shot, I guess!

That sucks! I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Maybe someone will come along and have a better answer.
posted by functionequalsform at 5:37 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh, and if you decide to try it (no promises), get the Original and not the Matte. Matte has a more powdery finish. Not what you're going for.
posted by functionequalsform at 5:39 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I don't like Bare Minerals, I could never find a good shade match, and it didn't work well with my normal-to-dry skin.

I would go to Sephora and get a couple samples (bonus: samples are free!) of MUFE HD (that's Make Up For Ever High Definition) foundation. I find that it looks very natural when applied, though up close it isn't actually invisible - I don't think that any makeup is. Get the two colors that look closest in the store, then try it out at home in natural light. A sample pot should last you at least 5-10 applications - you need only a little tiny bit. You can apply it with your fingers.

I think that you're going to have a harder time if you opt for concealer - since it's more opaque, you need a closer color match, and since it sounds like you have a lot of darker spots, you'd need to carefully apply it to many places on your face. Foundation just sounds like the easier option.
posted by insectosaurus at 5:47 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Here's a [self-link] blog post I did on my favorite foundations, including MUFE HD. Here's a direct link to a giant close up of my chin with MUFE HD foundation applied. I did apply it with a brush, but it will look similar if you use your fingers.

I have a red spot on my chin in the post, so you can see how well it covers it (not completely, but it does help), and how natural the foundation looks (pretty natural, in my opinion).
posted by insectosaurus at 5:51 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage is the most natural-looking and effective concealer I've ever used, especially because you can custom-match both your skin's undertone and its color, even as they differ slightly over your face.
posted by scody at 5:57 PM on February 10, 2012

Lisa Eldridge has the answer. She always does. I would go to Sephora and find a concealer, not a foundation, and follow what she does. This requires buying a brush, usually an eyeliner or lipliner. Only apply to the spot and blot with a finger. This takes practice. Watch Lisa's videos and look for the relevant parts. Doing this avoids putting makeup in any place other than the problem areas.
posted by oflinkey at 5:57 PM on February 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Seconding scody on the Laura Mercier.
posted by oflinkey at 5:57 PM on February 10, 2012

Definitely see a professional at Sephora or a department store counter. They can tell you if the spots could benefit from color-correction (say, green concealer to cancel out redness, or yellow to cancel out blue tones). These are often used under a skin-toned concealer for a more natural look. This page has links to the various colors that can be used, and details of what each color can do.
posted by mireille at 6:19 PM on February 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

I'm a chick and I love Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer. The main reason I love it (and which is pertinent to your situation) is that I have been told (by men and women alike) that they wish they had skin that looked so healthy naturally! (I do fess up...) Even my BFF didn't know that I'd been wearing the stuff for the past six months until I told her. She was like, "I just thought you were drinking more water or something."

YMMV but it may be worth a shot. You can get it at Sephora.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 6:23 PM on February 10, 2012 [7 favorites]

I was just coming here to suggest Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer, but I see I was beaten to it! It's very subtle and just evens things out. You can mix it with the additional moisturizer of your choice to lighten up the coverage, too.
posted by jess at 6:38 PM on February 10, 2012

The thing about Sephora employees is that they aren't really professionals—nor are they experts at any singular brand of cosmetic*. They're hired as retail salespeople, not specifically as pros. Generally.

If you're going to go try a bunch of different stuff - which is a good idea - go to a Macy's or Bloomingdales. I still wouldn't exactly call them "pros," (like editorial or theater, or the like) but they are dedicated staff assigned to a single brand. In other words, they know their assigned brand better than the generalists at Sephora.

But do this! Good idea! Go try some stuff and talk to some people.


*Not true in every case. I've met some badass Sephora folk. Talking generally.


(One more thing about the Bare Minerals skin tone match - I can't find a single color to match me either! So I mix. Yeah, it doubles the price, but it's worth it. And believe me—I wanted to dislike this stuff too.)
posted by functionequalsform at 6:51 PM on February 10, 2012

If you feel weird about going to a make up counter, you could always ask the lady that cuts your hair. You want someone to match a concealer to your skin. It isn't always easy.

Make up for this week but after that, you need to find a great dermatologist. There are all kinds of great products out there that lighten spots. A dermatologist will direct you to one that works for your skin type and may be able to recommend a skin peal or laser treatment to even things out quickly. Do not try to save money by doing any of this on your own. Dermatologists are worth every penny.
posted by myselfasme at 7:18 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I find that alpha hydroxy acid [danielkern.com/acne.org] helps me de-pigment from acne scars and bruises and other skin trauma faster than they normally would.

It's not an overnight thing, but instead of weeks/months of ugly pigmentation, it might help drop down to a week or two (or three or four... fucking acne scars. I've barked both of my shins really badly once at the same time, decided to try treating one and not the other. Started treating once the skin fully healed but was badly discoloured. Treated shin went mostly back to normal in a couple of months, the other was still seriously discoloured. Started treating the other shin).

I'm not affilitated with the link, just really happy with their product. It's a lot less expensive than other AHA stuff from the drug store.
posted by porpoise at 7:21 PM on February 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Just to underscore what a couple people have touched on: whatever you go with, the best way to apply concealer is with a brush. (Specifically: you start with the brush at the center of the spot you want to cover, then dab/blend outward. Once it's covered, you tap/blend lightly with your finger to even out what remains.) It doesn't have to be really fancy or expensive; the concealer brushes at Sephora all run in the $20-and-up neighborhood, but a regular drug store brand (look for a lip brush, if you can't find a concealer brush) will do just fine, and it will cost a lot less.
posted by scody at 7:22 PM on February 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I think it depends on what color the scar is, as you need to use the appropriate color corrector to hide the scar.

For example: I have a scar on my face that's sort of a bluish/gray in some places and reddish in others. I use a concealer brush [ELF] to pat a yellow concealer [Benefit Lemonaid] on the grayish section and a green concealer [by Maybelline] on the reddish section. I overlay that with a tattoo concealer [Hard Candy Glamoflauge] and use a regular kabuki brush to pat a mineral foundation over it to blend it in. This pretty much hides the scar completely.
posted by oxfordcomma at 7:37 PM on February 10, 2012

in terms of healing, I've got some bad scars from acne. but i always moisturize with 100% aloe (don't get the green stuff! but clear ONLY or get a plant). it helps heal them awesomely. its worth a try (and unscented!)
posted by fuzzysoft at 7:55 PM on February 10, 2012

This will sound obvious but go hit the makeup counter at MAC or the like and tell them what you just told us. Buying makeup is easy but applying it to achieve what you want takes practice. Learn from the pros. For something like this, I'm sure they'd love the change of pace. They might tell you no and that will save you time a frustration of applying makeup poorly.
posted by chairface at 8:14 PM on February 10, 2012

I'm going to go against popular opinion here and say makeup looks like makeup. Especially in strong light (and if you're going to be in weak light, it won't be especially visible anyway). I don't think I'd recommend anything stronger than either a tone-balancing moisturizer like Aveno Advanced Radiance (not sparkly, but has a slight bit of luminescence to fool the eye), and/or a primer. With primers you can go cheapish or expensive, I like Cover Girl's primer fine but you can spend $50 if you want. Either of those will make you look a little dewy, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

I don't know if it's safe enough yet for you to exfoliate, and it may be too late to get a lot of benefit from it anyway. In lieu of that, you could try a dab of OTC hydrocortisone cream on your spots for the next couple of days.

It sucks, but I promise you see it much more than other people will.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:04 PM on February 10, 2012

I suffer from dermotillomania, so I've found a lot of things that work for me - but then I'm female and so wear a full face of make-up at work and such. I'm also very pale which limits my choices - if you aren't, you might have more luck and/or be able to find something more natural. You're in NYC as I remember - it would be a good idea to go to Sephora - not only do more men wear make-up to cover imperfections but I'm sure they'll be sympathetic and helpful in a way that makes you feel comfortable. The trick is to get as close a match to your actual skin as possible.

Benefit Bo-oi-ng concealer is very good at covering marks and redness in my experience. It comes in three shades. I really just use this sometimes on big marks and it does the job, plus it blends in naturally. L'Oreal has a cheaper alternative which is no good for my skin but may match you.

I also find that Bare Minerals is really good. I tried it out at a department store recently when I saw my face in the mirror and realised how red it looked. It covered everything, so impressively that I bought it on the spot. You can get small pots and it really is very natural looking if you learn how to put it on. There are lots and lots of mineral make up companies out there (Every Day Minerals will send you samples through the post for very little cash) but most of them are internet based so not much use to you right now.

Dermablend is the stuff used for serious scarring. However, it is expensive and, in the UK at least, tricky to get hold of at actual shops.

If you can get BioOil in the US, this will help you with healing. The other option, of course, is to remember that nearly everyone has had chicken pox and they'll be familiar with the scarring - do you really need to hide it? You might feel less self-conscious than you think.
posted by mippy at 6:38 AM on February 11, 2012

It can be done, I learned how, but it took me seven years of obsessive practice. Even then it depended on availability of the right product.

Does Prescriptives still exist in your country? If so, go to a Prescriptives counter even if you have to take a plane to get there. They will choose a foundation, concealer and powder for you.

With the foundation, put a Smartie-sized dot on forehead, ball of nose, apple of each cheek, eyelid, and chin. Take a cosmetic sponge and blend outwards until invisible. Be extra careful around the jawline and in the cracks.

Now take an eyeshadow or lipstick brush and carefully blend the concealer over any marks. Check in daylight to make sure the blend is seamless. This may be very difficult as scar tissue is slick.

Take a big powder brush and fluff powder all over your face, brushing in the direction of the hairs on your skin. Comb it out of your brows and lashes with a lash comb.

If you have dry skin apply Cetaphil Daily Advance moisturiser 10 minutes before you do this. If you have oily skin take your supplies with you and be prepared to retouch at lunchtime and in the evening.

Cosmetic counters can help you only to buy their products, which may not suit you. The path to enlightenment, for me, is strewn with the bodies of sales assistants who lied to me and stole my money over the years.

A lot of people will tell you to stop trying to solve this problem. I know how maddening that can be. However, this kind of delicate trick, if you get it wrong, will just look terrible. If you are a man, looking terrible because of bad makeup is going to get you talked about. In addition, it's likely that the non-raised or pitted scars will fade over time. I think you should not risk trying to cover this up. If things haven't improved in a year, maybe there is some kind of dermabrasion or laser treatment that could help.
posted by tel3path at 8:17 AM on February 11, 2012

You might also try a cream/gel/treatment/whatever that has hydroquinone. Here is one example -- I don't have experience with skin lightening products, but I believe 2.5% is the highest level of hydroquinone you can get, and that example has 2%. You can read reviews of other skin lightening products on MakeupAlley like this -- just click the links in the search result.
posted by Houstonian at 10:22 AM on February 11, 2012

Best answer: This is, I believe, exactly what Dermablend is for. Even heavy coverage with Dermablend can end up looking very natural.
posted by KathrynT at 12:25 PM on February 11, 2012

My wife works as an Aesthetician at a spa. She recommended setting up a makeup session with a professional. You can make an appointment and explain on the phone what you're looking for. A salon or spa with makeup services is likely to have a more private area to work in. You can set up an application, get taught what to do, then buy the products right there. You could consult at a makeup counter as well but that wouldn't be as private. My wife has done all sorts of makeup lessons and applications for various skin issues, something you would be less likely to find at a counter. Good luck!
posted by j03 at 6:41 PM on February 11, 2012