How To Cover Age Spots On The Face With These Pro Tricks

Have you ever wondered how to conceal the age spots on your face completely? Whether it’s large areas of hyperpigmentation or just a small patch of discolouration, it’s no secret that age spots can be challenging to cover up. We spoke to celebrity makeup artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis, to find out her top tips on how to disguise them once and for all – whether it’s for a special occasion or everyday life. Plus, we give you the low down on what age spots are, what causes them, and how you can remove them.

What are age spots?  

Age spots appear on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, shoulders, and arms. People may call them sunspots, liver spots, and solar lentigines. Although they can appear at any stage of life, age spotsare most common in middle-aged or older fair-skinned people, especially those who spend a lot of time in the sun. 

What causes age spots? 

The overproduction of melanin causes age spots, which can happen after too much sun exposure and the use of tanning beds, amongst other factors. You can also be genetically predisposed to age spots, so you are more likely to develop them if your family has them. 

What do age spots look like? 

Age spots are flat dark areas on the skin that come in a variety of sizes. They can be brown, grey or black and may get darker after sunlight exposure. 

What’s the difference between freckles and age spots? 

Although they look similar, freckles and age spots do have some differences. Freckles are usually found in cluster shapes across larger skin areas, like across the cheeks, nose bridge or forehead. Age spots typically pop up as a single spot by themselves or close to one or two others. An easy way to tell the difference? Freckles are likely to become more prominent in the summer and fade in the winter, whereas age spots do not fade. 

Are age spots dangerous?  

Age spots are harmless. However, Healthline recommends that if you notice the size, shape, or appearance of your age spots has changed over time, you should consult your doctor or dermatologist. Look out for spots that: 

• have a very dark pigmentation 
• get bigger, quickly 
• develop an unusual combination of colours 
• bleed, itch, or feel tender 
• have irregular edges or borders 

How to get rid of age spots  

Although they pose no health threats, some people want to say goodbye to their age spots for good due to their appearance. Here are your options for removing or reducing unwanted age spots. 

Medical procedures 

There are a few medical treatments that you can have to remove or reduce age spots, including:  

• Laser Removal Treatment 
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment 
• Freezing (cryosurgery) 
• Chemical Peel 
• Dermabrasion  
• Microdermabrasion 

Speak to your dermatologist or doctor to learn more about these options and if they suit you.  

Prescription medications 

Doctors can prescribe bleaching products such as tretinoin to combat age spots over several months.  

Skincare 

You can buy skincare products that target and prevent the development of age spots and discolouration – such as Bright Plus Dark Spot Targeting Treatment Essence, £38 or Bright Plus Advanced Brightening Dark Spot-Targeting Serum, £59. 

There are plenty of other skincare tips that can help fade age spots.

Read Next: Dermatologists Explain How To Treat Post-Summer Age Spots On Your Face.  

How to remove age spots naturally 

If you want to go down a more natural route to remove your age spots, you could try the following: 

1. Potato: cut into thin slices, apply a little eater, and place over age spots for around 10 minutes daily. 
2. Lemon juice: squeeze a lemon into a bowl with equal parts water. Use a cotton ball to apply the liquid to age spots, then leave it for 20 minutes. Then rinse with water (don’t use soap) a couple of nights a week. 
3. Oatmeal: combine 3 tbsp oatmeal with 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp milk in a bowl and mix into a paste. Apply it to your age spots around three times a week. 
4. Cucumber: slice a cucumber, rub the juice on your age spots, and leave it on for around 20 minutes. Rinse off and use daily. 
5. Honey: apply raw or organic honey to your age spots using your fingertips and leave it on for 20 minutes daily. 
6. Orange peel: the next time you have an orange, put the peel directly onto your age spots and let the juice dry for around 20 minutes before rinsing. 

How to cover age spots  

Now that you know about age spots and why you get them, you can cover them up with the proper skincare routine and makeup. 

Prep your skin 

“Preparation of the skin is essential when concealing age spots,” says Nguyen-Grealis. “Using a natural, gentle face mask, skin peel or exfoliating product before makeup application can help to elevate the skin and provide the best canvas possible for your makeup,” she continues. 

Use a primer 

Lan recommends using a primer before applying your base products. “A silicone or mattifying primer is great for smoothing the skin’s surface before makeup application and will also help it to stay put for longer,” she explains. “A brightening primer or liquid highlighting primer is also good for evening out any skin discolouration, reducing redness and adding hydration.”  

Apply colour corrector and concealer 

“Use a colour corrector on any discoloured areas,” Lan advises. For fair to light skin tones, opt for a peach-toned corrector. For medium skin tones, reach for a bisque tone, and stick with an orange shade for deeper skin tones. “Layer the colour corrector onto your skin using a concealer brush, and apply your usual concealer afterwards with your finger, gently tapping it into the skin to blend and being careful not to remove any product.” 

Quick tip: A peach primer will help diffuse age spots on fairer tones, while orange or more red-based primers help darker skin hues.  

Try: Clarins SOS Primer, £28.50 

For smaller sun spots, conceal with a tapered brush: 

Try: Morphe Tapered Concealer Brush, £12 

For larger sun spots apply using a fatter brush: 

Try: Sephora Pro-Airbrush Concealer Brush, £19.99 

 

Apply your foundation 

“Before applying your main foundation, use a tinted moisturiser or CC cream to create an even base and to cover minor blemishes,” Lan adds. “Then, add another layer of your chosen foundation, giving more coverage if needed. The best foundation formulas for covering age spots on the face are products with thicker consistencies – such as a stick or cream foundations – as these tend not to wear off as quickly as liquid formulas.” 

Try: Clarins Instant Concealer, £23 

Set with a powder 

“To set everything in place, use a pressed or a loose powder to maintain the coverage. If you need more coverage, apply a thin layer of powder on age spots and another layer of your concealer before setting everything in place again. This will add more staying power,” says Lan. 

Try: Clarins Ever Matte Compact Powder, £30 

Next read: Anti-Ageing Skin Care Ingredients: The Actives To Invest In Now