Body concealers have a slightly different ingredient list than facial concealers and foundations. Not only are body concealers formulated to be long-lasting, they’re also designed to wear on the body. The skin on your face is much thinner and more delicate than the skin on your body. The skin on your body has a completely different level of moisture and amount of hair, and it even scars differently.

While full-coverage foundations and concealers offer buildable coverage on your face, they’re still far too sheer for your body. As a result, body concealers often have thicker, more opaque formulas to adhere to the body better and last longer. The best formulas are still breathable and non-comedogenic, however.

Body concealer hides hyperpigmentation, whether it’s from birthmarks, scars, acne, tattoos, vitiligo, spider veins, stretch marks, or psoriasis. Coverage is buildable, so you’ll need a few layers and a bit of tweaking to achieve the coverage you want. Darker colors, like black tattoos or purple bruises, require more concealer. Mild discolorations, such as light acne scarring, may be effectively covered with one or two strokes and a bit of blending.

Like facial concealer and foundation, body concealer comes in several different formulas.

• Liquid: Liquid body concealers are best applied with brushes or beauty sponges. They’re ideal if you prefer building coverage or intend to cover large areas like the arms and legs.
• Stick: Body concealers in stick form have a waxy consistency that makes them thick yet smooth enough to blend and spread. They’re ideal for spot coverage and touch-ups, and they’re ideal for traveling or taking on the go.
• Solid: Solid body concealers typically come in pots, often with their own spatulas for easy dispensing. These concealers are ideal for targeting small areas with a brush, especially individual scars or birthmarks.

• Spray: While harder to find, spray body concealers are ideal for covering large areas, like your chest, arms, and legs. They’re most often used to give the appearance of a tan, though they’re also popular for minimizing the appearance of stretch marks and spider veins.

Matching body concealer to your skin color is the main challenge you’ll encounter when shopping. You’ll need to find a brand that carries shades that match your skin tone, and not every brand has a wide assortment. Those who are very fair or very deep will have the greatest difficulty finding their match. However, given the consumer demand for more shade choices, manufacturers have taken note. As a result, brands are regularly expanding their shade selection to be as inclusive as possible.

Remember to also take your skin’s undertone into account when selecting a shade. Those with warm skin will want to pick yellow-based body concealers, while those with cool skin will be better served by pink-based concealers. Neutral skin tones should look for body concealers with a neutral undertone, an equal mix of yellow and pink tones.

You’ll need to choose an appropriate applicator to get the most out of your body concealer. For the most part, liquid and cream formulas do well with brush and sponge applicators, while stick and solid formulas fare best with brushes or fingers. Spray application is obviously the easiest, though you may need a spray tan mitt to evenly spread out the product.

Color correctors can be used separately or in conjunction with body concealer. At first glance, color correcting palettes look like cream eyeshadows, with colors like green, purple, yellow, and orange. But what they really do is neutralize opposite colors on the color wheel.

• Green offsets redness. It’s ideal for covering rosacea or acne-related redness.
• Yellow and orange offset purple and are ideal for covering veins, bruises, and dark undereye circles. Yellow is best for fair skin, while orange is better for darker skin tones.
• Purple offsets yellow. It’s ideal for sallow skin and brightening the complexion.
   

If you have a dark purple scar on your leg, you can layer body concealer until kingdom come, but a faint discoloration will probably remain despite well-built coverage. In this case, if yellow color corrector is applied over the purple bruise, the colors neutralize each other. When color corrector is followed with body concealer, the bruise will be nearly indetectable.

It’s not unusual to find deluxe body concealer sets that include color correctors. These sets are ideal for those with multiple pigmentation concerns as they’re a cost-effective way to cover all your problem areas with a full range of colors. You’ll also need less body concealer when you layer it over a color corrector.

• Brush sets: EcoTools 360 Ultimate Blend Kit and Travel Perfecting Blender Value Set
  You’ll need the right tools to apply body concealer. We like this deluxe set from EcoTools, which includes a blender sponger as well as three brushes for blending cream and liquid foundation. This cruelty-free vegan set is made from top-quality recycled materials, including renewable bamboo brush handles.
• Makeup removers: Dermablend Makeup Remover Dissolver for Face and Body
  Stay-put body concealer calls for a heavy-duty makeup remover. We like this one from Dermablend, which is specially formulated to dissolve and remove full-coverage makeup. It’s even ideal for sensitive skin as its ingredients are fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and allergy-tested.
• Color corrector palettes: Stila Correct & Perfect All-in-One Color Correcting Palette
  Work smarter, not harder to cover skin discoloration with a color correcting palette. We like this seven-color cream set from Stila, which offers buildable coverage with a natural finish. Not only does it neutralize pigmentation, its formula also helps minimize the appearance of pores and texture.

For $10 to $20, you’ll find some standalone color correcting palettes and travel-size body concealers. Coverage and quality will vary, and these body concealers are likely best for those who only have mild pigmentation concerns.

Body concealers between $20 and $40 include effective concealers with a reputation for full coverage and long wear times. They mostly come from special brands dedicated to camouflaging discoloration as well as high-end beauty brands with dedicated lines for face and body coverage.

If you spend between $40 and $60, you’ll get the best body concealers out there. These include standalone coverage products as well as deluxe sets that include color correctors, primer, and setting powder.

• Watch tutorials. If you’re new to using body concealer, watch online tutorials on application methods to learn tips and tricks from the pros.
• Apply in the direction of hair growth. When applying body concealer over an area of your body with hair, apply it in the same direction as the hair grows. If you apply in the opposite direction, it will make hair or stubble stand on end and give you a less-than-smooth finish.

• Match your body, not your face. To find the right shade of concealer, match your body instead of your face. Skin tones generally vary between the face and the rest of the body, so your best bet is to apply body concealer to your arm to find an appropriate shade.

Q. Are all body concealers waterproof?
A. No, only some brands offer waterproof body concealers. With that said, there are a number of body concealers that are designed to hold up to moisture exposure. These are often marketed as “sweatproof” or “pool-ready.” They won’t necessarily last through full immersion in water, but they will take some rubbing and soap for total removal.
 

Q. I got a tan, and now my body concealer doesn’t match. What are my options?
A. If you frequently self-tan, it’s a good idea to invest in a body concealer shade to match your tan shade. As your tan fades, you can blend your darker shade with your lighter shade so that you always have your perfect match.
 

Q. My body concealer shade was discontinued, and it was a perfect match. Now what?
A. Contact the manufacturer. They may be reissuing the shade under a new name for marketing purposes. If not, they can help you choose the closest shade in their current collection. You can also try jumping ship to another brand to find a sister shade.