How to Conceal Red Bumps on Your Face
Last weekend, I had an allergic reaction two days before I was to be part of a project where I would be filmed. This was a problem because I didn’t request a makeup artist for the day since I wanted to sleep in and planned to do my own makeup. Now I needed a makeup artist because all the welts on my face and arms were very red, huge bumps.

Red bumps on your face like roscea will need green cover-up concealer to calm the redness. (Photo: Sarah Jagger)
I couldn’t email last minute to get a makeup artist because it would have been a diva move, not to mention impolite. So I had to get my best makeup products out. I wouldn’t be able to simply dab them on (to conceal blemishes like I would if I was running to the grocery store), but would actually have to do a great job since I would be in front of the camera.
The best thing to do to cover up any type of red bump (hives, cystic acne, roscea, etc.) is to first take away the redness. The red is what attracts people to look at it in the first place. To do that, you will need a concealer that is sticky and waxy because it will stick to your skin as you are rubbing and dabbing it around the areas.
The concealer should be green like NYX’s green Full Coverage Concealer, because the color green cancels out red. So the redness will be cooled down. Don’t forget to make this the first step before you put on foundation. Your face needs to be washed and moisturized beforehand, but should be dry before applying the color-correcting concealer. If your face is too wet, the concealer will not cover up that well so don’t spray on facial moisturizers after cleansing if it is going to be a cover up kind of day. You should put on a very light, fast absorbing facial primer instead.
After you have put on the concealer, you will need to use a heavy-duty or double-wear foundation. This will make sure that the concealed spot doesn’t look too obvious and will help keep the concealer in place, but also be blended nicely into your skin. A good foundation for heavy-duty wear is Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation because it is oil-free and won’t cause acne, but is also buildable so that you can really focus on covering up those red bumps. This foundation also feels surprisingly light, although it is heavy-duty coverup.
The last step is to apply finishing spray so that the spot will stay concealed all day. If you won’t be able to redo your makeup during the day, you can use mineral powder as your touch-up to keep your red bumps covered. Mineral powder will give you that air-brushed look and will blend nicely over the makeup you already have on. Use the makeup products in this order and your red marks will be almost invisible.