Make-up tips to hide and heal sunburn

Uh-oh, look who’s ended up looking like a lobster after a day at the beach!

We’re sure you’re already in enough pain, so don’t worry we won’t scold you about the importance of wearing sunscreen today (you’ve learnt your lesson right?).

Instead, we’re going to give you a few helpful make-up tips for hiding your sunburn. Because the only thing worse than a sunburnt face, is a sunburnt face right before an important event.

#1 Soothe your skin

First things first, you should calm your skin by applying an aloe vera gel, moisturiser or something like Key-Sun Zinke Cooling Mist. To really cool down your burn, apply a layer and then fan your face while it’s still moist for an intense cooling effect (sitting face first in front of a pedestal fan will feel like heaven). Once it’s absorbed, apply a soothing moisturiser with SPF to protect your skin from any further burning.

#2 Apply a green concealer

If you’ve never used colour correcting concealers before, getting sunburnt will allow you to see first hand just how well they work. A green shade of concealer is your best bet for hiding redness. The green hue will help to neutralise the red, which will (hopefully) make it waaaaay less noticeable once you apply your foundation. For sunburn in particular try the MOMMA Color Corrector – it’s a mineral make-up which means it’s formulated with natural ingredients and will feel comfortable on your already-sore skin. For sunburn, we recommend using the powder version so you can dust it softly over your entire face, but for something more targeted there is also a cream formulation.

#3 Use a high coverage foundation

Even with a green-based concealer, you’re still going to need decent coverage to truly disguise your sunburn. We recommend using something creamy with buildable coverage, like Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Foundation or L’Oréal Paris Infallible Liquid Foundation and layering it over your skin using a soft tool like the Manicare Flawless Complexion Sponge. Use a gentle dabbing motion and try not to drag or rub your skin while it’s sensitive.

#4 Avoid blush, but still use bronzer

As your cheeks are already flushed with colour, there’s not much need for blush. But surprisingly, bronzer can work to your advantage. Just make sure you’re using something matte with a yellow undertone, rather than pink (bh recommends: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder). Use it to lightly dust the high points of your face, disguising your sunburn as a sun-kissed glow.

RELATED: 9 of the best bronzers

RELATED: The right way to apply bronzer

#5 Keep your lip neutral

You’d think a bold lip would help detract from your burn, but unfortunately if it has a pink or red undertone it can end up doing the opposite. And because it’s summer, a vampy, dark lip might look out of place, so to be on the safe side opt for a nude shade like Colour by TBN Moisturising Lipstick in a Kiss Is Still A Kiss. You can always draw attention to your eyes instead with a smoky eye, coloured liner or sky-high lashes look.

Have you had a sunburn mishap recently? What’s your best make-up tip for hiding redness?

Keep reading