Even though we all try to avoid sun damage, it still happens to the best of us occasionally. If you find yourself sporting a fiery pink glow after a long day at the beach, here's how to cover up sunburn with makeup. I've also included my favorite tip to help quickly heal a burn and turn it tan overnight!
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Here's how to cover sunburn with makeup, plus a simple way to speed up the healing process with natural ingredients! Click To TweetFTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small referral fee from purchases at no additional cost to you. You can read our affiliate policy here.
How to Cover Up Sunburn with Makeup
Before I go any further, I want to repeat something I always mention here on the blog: Always wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30+. It's the best thing you can do for your skin! I wore sunscreen the day I got burned in my video below, but then I fell asleep and didn't reapply like I should have.
Face Mask: DERMAL | Vinegar: Bragg | Cream: Drunk Elephant | Primer: Benefit or NYX | Foundation: Too Faced | Concealer: NARS | Blush: Milani | Powder: bareMinerals | Highlight: Swamp Queen | Mascara: Maybelline
NOTE: Tarte's Swamp Queen palette was limited edition and is no longer available. If they ever re-release it, I recommend putting it in your cart immediately. It's my favorite palette I've ever owned.
After Sunburn Skin Care Steps
- Apply a green tea face mask to skin to soothe and encourage faster healing. Green tea contains powerful anti-oxidants that help heal and protect skin from environmental damage.
- Thoroughly apply apple cider vinegar using a cotton ball. TIP: Buy apple cider vinegar *with the mother*. It'll be listed on the packaging (or just get the one I use to be sure). It's always worked best for me!
- Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30+ if you plan to spend any time at all outdoors. Be sure to cover your neck and ears!
- Moisturize thoroughly with a cream (preferred since it's more moisturizing) or lotion.
Makeup Tips to Cover Up a Sunburn
- Use a color-correcting green primer or regular primer. (NOTE: I haven't been using green primers lately, but I have used them before to cover redness. You can see a great example in this video at the 2:12 minute-mark.)
- Apply a medium to heavy coverage foundation. I like my Too Faced foundation because it covers well without looking like a mask. (Carry the foundation down your neck if your sunburn extends to that area.)
- Spot conceal where necessary to further reduce redness or conceal blemishes
- Set with translucent powder. (Always use translucent powder over concealer before adding any bronzer, otherwise the concealer will soak up the bronzer and make blemishes more apparent!)
- Apply powder blush (optional/if needed)
- Apply bronzer to help cancel out some of the red undertones.
That's it! I hope these tips for covering a sunburn are helpful. Remember not to skimp on the sunscreen! Find a cute hat and wear it anytime you're venturing out with skin that's already showing signs of sun damage.
Related: The Best Concealers for Acne (& More!)
Pin It for Later: How to Cover Sunburn with Makeup (Video Tutorial!)
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This post came at the right time! I just came back from a trip and I got sunburned all over just spending half a day outside. I’ve never had any luck with green concealers but I might just have to give them a go again to cover up the redness. Awesome tips!!
Haha I wish I had this tutorial a couple weeks ago when my entire side was burned. I have also used some makeup to cover up sunburns on other parts of my body, not just my face! Thanks for this!
This is a very useful post for me because I’m Irish, which means I never tan! I burn and then I peel and my sunburns are always hard to cover up! Pinning!