Camouflage Makeup

MARVIN G. WESTMORE

Insert from: Camouflage and Makeup Preparations

Camouflage makeup is an opaque, cream/wax-based product. It is also known as corrective makeup or concealor. It should be matched in color to the area on the face that it will cover.

There are several brands of camouflage makeup on the market. They all have the same goal—to diminish, conceal, and disguise unsightly skin discoloration or disfiguring scars. There are many causes of such discoloration: aesthetic surgery, chloasma, or other hyperpigmentation problems; acne scars, lupus, telangiectasia, tattoos, hemangioma, scleroderma, nevus, vitiligo and other hypopigmentation problems; rosacea, varicose veins, traumatic scaring—the list is almost endless.

Wherever there is skin discoloration, camouflage makeup is designed to diminish or completely mask the problem, leaving the person with a normalized appearance.

Because of the unique needs of the postaesthetic surgery or laser skin resurfacing patient, there are some specific characteristics that camouflage makeup products must provide:

1. Colors. Camouflage makeup must match all ethnic skin tones and skin nuances.
2. Opacity. Camouflage makeup must have the ability to conceal or mask all types of skin discoloration.
3. Waterproof. Camouflage makeup must be wash-off resistant for wearability in the rain, while swimming, or when active in sports.
4. Holding power. It must be able to adhere to nonporous tissue of laser-resurfaced, chemical-peeled, or dermabraided skin without sliding off.
5. Longer wear. Because of the nature of the use of this product, it must provide the personal security of being long-wearing and easily repaired if necessary.
6. Ease of application: Camouflage products should not be difficult to apply. Complicated application will discourage their use.

These products are used as an aid to normalize an individual’s appearance when it has been negatively altered due to skin discolorations that naturally and normally follow some forms of aesthetic surgery and laser skin resurfacing.

These products are considered specialty products, as they are not beauty, glamour, or fashion-oriented makeup products. They are designed to diminish or conceal skin discoloration for all people regardless of age or ethnic or cultural origin.

Camouflage products are highly pigmented, opaque, and formulated with a vehicle that will allow them to adhere and hold to all types and textures of porous and nonporous skin, thus enabling them to diminish or conceal skin discoloration regardless of origin. They are waterproof when powdered thoroughly with setting powder. There are many skin matching shades to choose from.

Camouflage products are best applied with a foam rubber or synthetic sponge in a patting motion. The patting motion applies the product to the surface of the skin and does not clog the pores, which allows the skin to retain its natural breathing characteristics. The setting powder used should be colorless and translucent so the camouflage product does not change color.

Camouflage products are best removed with a watermiscible or water-soluble cream type makeup remover. Alcohol or acetone based removers are excessively drying and irritating to sensitive skin. Apply the remover liberally to emulsify the camouflage makeup and then wipe it off with cotton pats. Then wash the face with a mild, glycerin soap and rinse off thoroughly with tepid water and pat dry. This can be followed by any preferred moisturizer or emollient for sensitive skin. Emulsifying breaks up the makeup to wipe it off, and the glycerin soap cleans the skin.

It is difficult to discuss makeup preparations and camouflage makeup without bringing into focus makeup myths and the Pre- and Postaesthetic surgery makeup protocols.