Birthmarks can fall under 2 main classifications. There are vascular birthmarks, these occur when blood vessels don’t form correctly and can lead to birthmarks like port wine stains. There are also pigmented birthmarks, when there is an overgrowth of cells that create pigment (melanocytes). Both can be covered by make up if you choose to. The choice to wear make up is both powerful and personal. You are powerful when you choose to wear make up and powerful when you choose not to wear it. At Dermablend, we have both the products and expertise to assist when and if you want them.

When covering birthmarks there are actually a number of options at Dermablend so you can choose your coverage based on your overall skin’s needs or your general makeup preferences. Cover Care Concealer is a full coverage liquid concealer with a doe foot applicator that has 30% high performance pigment. The XL applicator even has an angled edge with a reservoir to hold and perfectly dispense your coverage so it’s never been easier to cover in one coat. The creamy hydrating formula gives you 24h care as it’s packed with vegetable glycerin, and gives you up to 24h wear with its waterproof and fade resistant coverage. If your priority is long wear, hydration and easy full coverage this is ideal. It is also a great multi-purpose concealer for dark circles, acne, hyperpigmentation and even highlighting & contouring. Quick Fix Concealer is a maximum coverage cream concealer with a stick application. Cream formulas are often the preferred choice for make up artists as they offer opaque coverage where you need it and then blend out easily into the surrounding skin for a seamless finish. The high density of pigments means you get maximum coverage in one swipe so it eliminates the need for color correction. This can really simplify birthmark coverage as it becomes an easy 2 step cover and set process. The stick application means you can apply directly onto the skin, but also works well with small flat brushes for a precise or controlled application. Its super creamy hydrating formula will give instant coverage, and when set with Loose Setting Powder you can get up to 16 hour smudge and transfer resistant wear. If your priority is creamy, easy to blend maximum coverage this is the choice for you. It also makes for a great coverage on the go or touch up product and is amazing for many other concerns like dark circles or discoloration so it will always have place in your make up routine. You can partner both of these concealers with your favorite primer and foundation combo. We love Insta-Grip Jelly Primer, its especially helpful if the birthmark texture is different to the surrounding skin, and Flawless Creator, as the zero weight full coverage formula blends beautifully with either concealer and is great for any skin type, tone or condition.

If you opt to cover your birthmark with foundation instead of a concealer Cover Crème is the perfect choice. Its combination of coverage, skin benefits and protection give it a huge advantage over any other option. As with Quick Fix Concealer , the creamy formula is best for smoothing over different textures and blending out to a seamless skin-like finish. It’s a perfect balance of maximum and natural coverage. From the coverage perspective it has a whopping 40% high performance pigments, these pigments are packed into a formula that has 0% water which means you retain 100% of that coverage, so a little goes a long way and it lasts and lasts. Its skin barrier repair claim really sets it apart. Its proven to help prevent trans epidermal water loss which is a key factor in skin barrier function and its ideal for sensitive skin. Finally it also has a broad spectrum titanium dioxide SPF 30 that has zero flashback, so you are protected from sun damage. For the perfect coverage routine, pair your cover crème, with Insta-Grip Jelly Primer, and Original Loose Setting Powder .

When using coverage options that have a very high density of coverage you will usually not need traditional color correction. You often see green, red, orange, yellow and even purple based correcting pigments on the market. These are great for neutralizing visible discoloration when paired with regular coverage formulas. With a foundation like Cover Crème, which has 40% high performance pigments, this type of correction isn’t needed. However, depending on the difference in tone from the birthmark and the rest of the complexion it can be helpful to have two shades of foundation or a combination of concealer and foundation that will both neutralize and blend into the overall complexion. If you are covering a birthmark like a port wine stain with a significant amount of red or plum tones the most common mistake is to over correct with green. This eliminates all red tones in the skin (including natural blood flow) and so the area can look flat or lifeless. This is especially apparent in fair to medium skin-tones. It’s much better to correct with a neutral or yellow toned concealer and then follow with your natural foundation match for an overall look that still has the vibrancy of your overall complexion. If you do notice your coverage looking flat, while it may seem counter-intuitive, adding a small amount of pink or red tones to your coverage will bring it back to a more natural tone. If you are covering an area where there is a significant jump in tone it can be helpful to use a second shade to bridge the gap between both tones. This technique is similar to that for balancing vitiligo or scarring with large tonal shifts. For a tan to deep toned complexion with fair to medium tone area its best to balance the complexion by using orange/red toned concealer or foundation over the fair area which adds depth and then overlay a natural foundation match to bring balance to the complexion. This makes it much easier to achieve an even coverage, and also improves how the color correction photographs. For a fair to medium toned complexion with a tan to deep area its best to balance with a peach/orange tone concealer or foundation to neutralize the depth of color before applying a natural foundation match. This will stop the foundation choice looking ashy over the deeper areas.