Makeup That Will Definitely Cover A Hickey

Love bites, aka hickeys, were the emblem of my youth, not to mention a marker of my early 20s as well. But as a semi-professional adult, I've had to learn how to cover up my hickeys. Figuring out what makeup will cover hickeys the best has been a crucial component of that. As proudly as you may have displayed your hickeys as an adolescent — in the words of Rizzo, "A hickey from Kenickie is like a Hallmark card, when you only care enough to send the very best!" — they're arguably not really something you should be showing off as soon as you're over the age of 16.

So if you, like me, aren't willing to let go of the fun of hickeys (and who can blame us?), and you're not the kind of human who will run and ice their neck immediately after coitus, then finding the best makeup products to hide those pesky love bites is an actual must. Unless, you know, you want to wear a scarf or turtleneck through the seasonal heat, which will always be the easiest way to hide any part of your neck that might be flying the hickey flag high.

If you value neck ventilation, on the other hand, here are the best products to buy to help hide those hickeys.

1. Make Up For Ever

Five Camouflage Cream Palette, $54, Amazon

Bustle writer Aly Walansky spoke to Jennifer Trotter, owner and artist at Lip Service Makeup, about how to cover up a hickey. Makeup-wise, she explained in detail, "If it's purple toned, use a yellow concealer to cover. If it's more red, then use green, if it's healing and has turned yellowish, use peach."

But that's not all. She continued, "Once you've blocked out the purple or red tones, you're not done yet. You need to cover with a concealer that matches your skin tone! Remember, this is your neck, it's usually slightly lighter or darker than your face, so match accordingly."

This cream palette by Make Up For Ever offers all the colors that Trotter recommended.

2. NYX

Color Correcting Palette, $14, A mazon

If you, like me, aren't willing (or actually able) to drop $40 on a makeup palette specifically for covering hickeys, this cream palette by NYX will offer the same concealer colors you need for less than a third of the price of most higher-end brands. If you're interested in color-correcting your skin tone in general, this is also a great starter palette to play with before investing in a more expensive brand.

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3. Kat Von D

Lock-It Concealer, $45, A mazon

Lock-It Foundation, $49, Amazon

If Kat Von D's Lock-It Concealer can perfectly hide her facial tattoos, it will definitely work on covering any pesky hickeys that haven't healed over the weekend. Hell, it may even be worth investing in her Lock-It Foundation, too, depending on the size of your bites. (Or, you know, just to get flawless coverage on your actual visage.)

4. Estée Lauder

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer, $24, Amazon

Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup, $38, Amazon

If you haven't already tested this foundation, please go get a sample from your nearest Estée Lauder counter immediately and prepare for your life to change. This is my all-time favorite foundation and I promise you, it works. The concealer is equally good and will cover your hickey with no problem. Just be sure to blend the makeup out on your neck, so there's not an obvious patch of flawless foundation between your chest and face.

Whether you go the color-correction route, or use a heavy hand with a strong concealer, covering your hickey should be easy peasy. If all else fails, though, just tell people you fell on your neck at a very specific angle. Nobody's going to accuse you of lying, are they?

Images: Paramount Pictures (1); Courtesy Brands