I may have been a ballet dancer at one point in my life, but I'm still a total klutz. I'm always finding bruises and scratches from running into the edge of my bed or tripping over my feet. Sometimes, I don't even know how I got the marks on my arms and legs—I just wake up that way. In the wintertime, I can hide my clumsiness with sweaters and black tights, but during the summer, I don't have that luxury. I asked makeup artist Susie Sobol, who spends a lot of time covering up the marks on models' legs backstage at fashion shows, how I could cover my bumps and bruises with the makeup I already own.
Color is key. "For foundation to look natural on your legs, it needs to have both yellow and pink undertones," says Sobol. "We all have both undertones in our skin, and without a mix of both, the foundation will look too dark or too green." Sobol uses M.A.C. Face & Body Foundation on both herself and the models backstage. "I've used it to even out the color of my legs for years and have never had a problem with it transferring or rubbing off."
Skip the body lotion. "When I'm backstage, I like to go straight in with a water-based foundation. I find if you apply lotion beforehand, the makeup becomes a slippery, streaky mess."
__Get your hands dirty.__Rub a dime-size amount of foundation into your skin with your hands. "The key to applying body makeup is using the right amount and really blending it into the skin," she says.
Spot treat. For dark bruises that need more coverage, Sobol suggests a thick, waterproof concealer from a brand like Kevyn Aucoin, Lancôme, or Estée Lauder or any theater-makeup company, such as Kryolan, Ben Nye, or Graftobian. In this case, don't use your hands. "Stipple the concealer over the area with a thick, flat brush to ensure complete coverage," says Sobol. "And make sure you're using a warm-colored concealer that's a shade darker than your skin tone to match the spot you're trying to cover." For scratches and scrapes, dip a clean, angled liner brush into your concealer and trace over the area.
Avoid powder. "Setting body makeup with powder may help, but I think in any situation where the skin is raised or bumpy, it's best to keep the surface as smooth as possible."
RELATED LINKS:
• View From the Red Carpet: Victoria's Body Makeup Secrets