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How to Cover Up a Scab on Your Face Download Article Co-authored by Daniel Vann
Last Updated: February 24, 2025
Download Article
Covering a Scab with Makeup
|
Reducing a Raised or Inflamed Area
|
Expert Q&A
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Daniel Vann. Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator. This article has been viewed 199,509 times.
No matter how much you think a scab damages your appearance, it can be covered with makeup. First, moisturize the scab to make it look as normal as possible. After it settles, spread a little bit of foundation and concealer over the area to make the scab vanish. Be gentle though, since a sore spot is harder to cover than an ordinary scab. With a little bit of treatment, no one will even notice you’re hiding a scab.
Things You Should Know
Wash your hands before you get started to avoid spreading germs.
Cover the scab with a layer of thick concealer that matches your skin tone.
Blend with a clean sponge and dust with translucent powder to set the makeup.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Covering a Scab with Makeup
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1 Wash your hands before touching the scab. Dirty hands mean bacteria, which can cause an infection. Wash your hands with soap and water first. Afterwards, wash them again to prevent spreading germs in your makeup.
2 Dab a small amount of moisturizer onto the scab. Break out your normal skin moisturizer and use your finger to dab a little bit over the scab. Let it sit on the scab for a few minutes as you get the rest of your makeup ready for use. Doing this first softens the scab so it doesn’t look dry and scaly later. Advertisement
3 Swab off excess moisturizer with a cotton ball. When you’re ready to begin covering the scab, remove the remaining moisturizer. A cotton ball is soft enough that it won’t disturb the scab. Dab it on the area until it feels clean. Many moisturizers have oil in them that can ruin makeup, so it's important to make sure the scab is dry.
4 Cover the scab lightly with foundation. A good foundation is one that matches your skin tone. Load up a small amount of the foundation on your finger and dab it onto the scab. Be gentle, as damaging the scab leaves you with an angry-looking sore that’s more difficult to cover.[1]X Expert Source Daniel VannLicensed AestheticianExpert Interview
5 Top the scab with a small amount of thick concealer. A thinner concealer won’t hold your makeup in place, so opt for a thick and creamy one. Again, put a small amount on your finger and dab it on top of the foundation. If the concealer is the color of your skin tone, it should do a great job of hiding the scab.[2]X Expert Source Daniel VannLicensed AestheticianExpert Interview
For large scabs, you can try two shades of concealer. First apply a white concealer. When it dries, cover it with your normal concealer.
You can also choose from a few different types of concealer, including liquid, stick, and cream products.
Reader Poll: We asked 216 wikiHow readers about their preferred type of concealer and 55% of them agreed that liquid concealer works best for them. [Take Poll] So, you may want to try a liquid concealer first!
6 Blend your makeup with a small sponge or brush. Foundation and concealer brushes are generally too large for scabs. Instead, opt for a small makeup sponge, lip brush, or eyeliner brush. Dab it around the edges of the scab to blend the makeup until it looks natural.[3]XResearch source
7 Dust the scab with translucent setting powder. Dip a small brush or finger in the powder and dab it over the scab. Only apply a thin layer so that it doesn’t cake. When done right, the translucent powder won’t be visible, but it’ll hold your makeup in place all day.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 2:
Reducing a Raised or Inflamed Area
Download Article
1 Stop picking at the scab. Scabbing is a healthy recovery mechanism for skin, so leave it alone! Picking makes the situation worse. Instead of a scab, you’ll end up with a nasty red sore or an infection. These are more difficult to subdue with makeup, so don’t let the situation get that far.
2 Apply a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itchiness. To prevent picking, pick up a tube of anti-itch cream from a drug store or similar location. Gently rub a little bit of the cream on top of the damaged area. It’ll prevent that maddening desire to itch, so you won’t feel tempted to disturb the scab and makeup covering it.
3 Reduce the swelling with ice. Wrap an ice cube in a damp face cloth or ice pack and hold it to the area until the swelling abates. Hold the ice in place for ten minutes. To fully reduce the swelling, do this three times an hour.[4]XResearch source
Make sure you disinfect the cloth or ice pack so they don’t infect open wounds.
4 Treat an open sore with a topical antibiotic. For swelling that refuses to go away, use an antibiotic such as Neosporin. First wash your face, then apply a small amount of the antibiotic to your sore spot. It’ll take at least a day, but it’ll kill the bacteria and make covering up the scab a lot easier.[5]XResearch source
5 Apply eye drops to reduce redness. Now that the swelling is gone, reduce the redness so you can cover the spot with your ordinary foundation. Check the packaging on the eyedrops to make sure they’re designed to treat eye redness. They’ll work on inflamed skin too, so add a drop to a cotton swab and hold it over the area. After a minute, it should look much better and can be covered easily with makeup.
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Expert Q&A
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Question Can I put makeup on a scab? Daniel Vann Licensed Aesthetician Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator. Daniel Vann Licensed Aesthetician Expert Answer Yes, but don't use too much. This can irritate the skin and slow healing, which will only make the scab more prominent or make it last longer. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 13
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Tips
Always reduce a red or swollen area as much as possible before applying makeup. It’ll make the scab much less noticeable. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Try to match the makeup to your skin tone so the scab blends in. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Popping acne causes messy scabs and should be avoided. Instead, reduce the swelling first and then cover the area with makeup. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 0
Advertisement
Things You’ll Need
Covering a Scab
Moisturizer
Foundation
Creamy concealer
Translucent powder
Cotton ball
Small makeup sponge or brush
Reducing Redness or Inflammation
Hydrocortisone cream
Ice
Ice pack or cloth
Topical antibiotic
Eye drops
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References
↑ Daniel Vann. Licensed Aesthetician. Expert Interview
↑ Daniel Vann. Licensed Aesthetician. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Daniel Vann Licensed Aesthetician This article was co-authored by Daniel Vann. Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator. This article has been viewed 199,509 times. 16 votes - 69% Co-authors: 7Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 199,509 Categories: Skin ConditionsArticle SummaryX
While a scab on your face might seem impossible to cover up, you can hide it from the rest of the world with some makeup. Before you start applying any makeup, wash your hands and dab a small amount of moisturizer onto the scab. This will soften the scab so it won’t look scaly later on. After the moisturizer has sat for a few minutes, wipe it off with a cotton swab then cover the scab with a foundation that matches your skin tone. Once you’ve covered the scab with foundation, apply a thick concealer. Then, gently blend your makeup with a small sponge, blending around the edges to make it seem natural. To hold your makeup in place, dust the area with a small amount of translucent setting powder. For more help form our co-author, like how to reduce your scab’s inflammation, read on.Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Dess Clark
Nov 4, 2018
"My doctor diagnosed several lesions on my face as precancerous. She sprayed a freezing lotion on them to stop growth. I have scabs healing well, but I'm also starting a brand new job Monday. I don't want to 'scare' people at my new worksite. This wikiHow was wonderful for easing my mind. I was afraid to try covering the scabs. Now I know how to do it safely. Thanks!"..." more Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Daniel Vann Licensed Aesthetician 16 votes - 69% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 7Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 199,509
Dess Clark
Nov 4, 2018
"My doctor diagnosed several lesions on my face as precancerous. She sprayed a freezing lotion on them to stop growth. I have scabs healing well, but I'm also starting a brand new job Monday. I don't want to 'scare' people at my new worksite. This wikiHow was wonderful for easing my mind. I was afraid to try covering the scabs. Now I know how to do it safely. Thanks!"..." more Rated this article:
Anonymous
Oct 1, 2018
"I tried this and it worked. Thanks, wikiHow!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Daniel Vann Licensed Aesthetician This article was co-authored by Daniel Vann. Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator. This article has been viewed 199,509 times. 16 votes - 69% Co-authors: 7 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 199,509 Categories: Skin Conditions Article SummaryX
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1 Wash your hands before touching the scab. Dirty hands mean bacteria, which can cause an infection. Wash your hands with soap and water first. Afterwards, wash them again to prevent spreading germs in your makeup. 
2 Dab a small amount of moisturizer onto the scab. Break out your normal skin moisturizer and use your finger to dab a little bit over the scab. Let it sit on the scab for a few minutes as you get the rest of your makeup ready for use. Doing this first softens the scab so it doesn’t look dry and scaly later. Advertisement 
3 Swab off excess moisturizer with a cotton ball. When you’re ready to begin covering the scab, remove the remaining moisturizer. A cotton ball is soft enough that it won’t disturb the scab. Dab it on the area until it feels clean. Many moisturizers have oil in them that can ruin makeup, so it's important to make sure the scab is dry. 
4 Cover the scab lightly with foundation. A good foundation is one that matches your skin tone. Load up a small amount of the foundation on your finger and dab it onto the scab. Be gentle, as damaging the scab leaves you with an angry-looking sore that’s more difficult to cover.[1] 
5 Top the scab with a small amount of thick concealer. A thinner concealer won’t hold your makeup in place, so opt for a thick and creamy one. Again, put a small amount on your finger and dab it on top of the foundation. If the concealer is the color of your skin tone, it should do a great job of hiding the scab.[2] 
6 Blend your makeup with a small sponge or brush. Foundation and concealer brushes are generally too large for scabs. Instead, opt for a small makeup sponge, lip brush, or eyeliner brush. Dab it around the edges of the scab to blend the makeup until it looks natural.[3] 
7 Dust the scab with translucent setting powder. Dip a small brush or finger in the powder and dab it over the scab. Only apply a thin layer so that it doesn’t cake. When done right, the translucent powder won’t be visible, but it’ll hold your makeup in place all day. Advertisement 
1 Stop picking at the scab. Scabbing is a healthy recovery mechanism for skin, so leave it alone! Picking makes the situation worse. Instead of a scab, you’ll end up with a nasty red sore or an infection. These are more difficult to subdue with makeup, so don’t let the situation get that far. 
2 Apply a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itchiness. To prevent picking, pick up a tube of anti-itch cream from a drug store or similar location. Gently rub a little bit of the cream on top of the damaged area. It’ll prevent that maddening desire to itch, so you won’t feel tempted to disturb the scab and makeup covering it. 
3 Reduce the swelling with ice. Wrap an ice cube in a damp face cloth or ice pack and hold it to the area until the swelling abates. Hold the ice in place for ten minutes. To fully reduce the swelling, do this three times an hour.[4] 
4 Treat an open sore with a topical antibiotic. For swelling that refuses to go away, use an antibiotic such as Neosporin. First wash your face, then apply a small amount of the antibiotic to your sore spot. It’ll take at least a day, but it’ll kill the bacteria and make covering up the scab a lot easier.[5] 
5 Apply eye drops to reduce redness. Now that the swelling is gone, reduce the redness so you can cover the spot with your ordinary foundation. Check the packaging on the eyedrops to make sure they’re designed to treat eye redness. They’ll work on inflamed skin too, so add a drop to a cotton swab and hold it over the area. After a minute, it should look much better and can be covered easily with makeup. Advertisement 
Daniel Vann Licensed Aesthetician Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator. 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.