Help! I want to hide my tattoo

by Sophie Forte

Do you know of any make-up brands that will cover up a tattoo?

answer

A cosmetics line called Dermablend is the market leader in make-up designed to cover everything from tattoos to scars, birthmarks and spider veins. There are various consistencies available - from the original Compact Cover Crème (in 10 shades to match the palest to the darkest of skins) to the Leg and Body cover (in 9 shades, this is slightly less thick but will cover larger areas).

What sets Dermablend cover-up apart from full-coverage foundations is that its long-lasting, really opaque coverage formula really 'masks' the skin imperfection or tattoo. It is vital to match the shade exactly to your skin - this may well require buying two shades and mixing them for a customised colour, so be prepared to spend some time applying the product if you want the disguise to be really foolproof.

If your aim is to never see that tattoo again (rather than just occasionally cover it up), I'd strongly suggest laser removal. While relatively expensive (all cases are obviously individual, but most tattoos will take several treatments) it is the only way to permanently get rid of a tattoo. The latest Q-switched lasers work by pulsing light onto the tattoo inks, causing a reaction that breaks them down into tiny particles that allows the pigments to be dispersed (and then flushed through your system).

Why not chat to other iVillagers about tattoos on the Beauty Talk message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

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Help! I want to hide my tattoo