The past half dozen years has witnessed a literal explosion in the numbers and kinds of in-office, non-surgical procedures performed for rejuvenating the face, neck, decollete and hands.

Some of today's most popular "Lunchtime Beauty Fixes" (a term I coined many years ago) for dealing with wrinkles, furrows, jowls, sagging, blotchy skin discolorations and "broken blood vessels" include Botox, dermal fillers and volumizers, mild chemical peels, microdermabrasion, Fraxel lasers, laser epilation, and radio wave treatments.

While these techniques offer the advantage of little "downtime" away from work or social activities, as compared to aggressive surgical procedures, you can still reasonably expect to see little needle prick marks, some redness, and swelling, mild bruising, and fine scaliness of the skin for at least a day or two or sometimes even for a few days afterward. 

However, with the proper choice of camouflage cosmetics, these minor post-treatment problems can be easily masked until they clear on their own, allowing you a return to your normal routines immediately after you step off the treatment table.

Once upon a time, there were less than a handful of companies that produced coverup cosmetics. The products were expensive, could often be purchased only at special department stores, and tended to be thick and greasy. In addition, they required a significant learning curve to master the fine points of effective application and often gave the appearance of "pancake" theater makeup upon close inspection.

Happily, these days there are many varieties of concealers and camouflage makeups. Also known as corrective cosmetics or complexion correctors, they run the whole gamut of price ranges to fit your budget, are relatively easy to apply, and come in a choice of bases to fit most skin types and preferences.

For all-day coverage, concealers are designed to be water-resistant, heat-resistant, sweat-proof and smear-proof. Daytime products also provide a significant degree of sun protection. Some, particularly wax stick concealers, can be used as stand-alone products, while others require the addition of a pressed powder to set them and ensure all-day coverage. In general, you may use your own foundation and makeup over them to blend your entire skin. A number of them can even be applied directly over polyurethane wound dressings.

Whichever brand you select, there are some basic guidelines to follow to ensure that you make the proper purchase for your needs. Of course, you should check with your doctor first. But, in general, if you have dry, sensitive or irritated skin, or if your skin is scaling following microdermabrasion or a mild chemical peel, you should look for a product with a thick, creamy or waxy base. I would also suggest sticking to fragrance-free items that are less likely to provoke irritation or allergy.  On the other hand, if you tend to oily skin and acne, you would do well to seek a non-greasy, lighter liquid coverage.

Naturally, when it comes to camouflage, selecting the right color for your particular situation is of paramount importance. An incorrect choice can sometimes make matters worse by highlighting a problem, rather than concealing it. For example, a heavy, dark-colored foundation can actually make wrinkles, crinkles, and crepey-looking skin more apparent.

Since green plus red makes beige, reddened and flushed areas are best neutralized with green-tinted cosmetics. Green may also be useful for bags, small blue veins, and brown spots. Yellow works well for covering purplish bruises because mixing yellow with purple produces a flesh-colored brownish hue. Certain birthmarks, stretch marks and tattoos can also be concealed with yellow camouflage. Beige concealer provides good coverage for dark circles under the eyes, brown spots, and old scars, although yellow is worth a try here, too.

The take-home message is that with today's camouflage cosmetics you can have your cake and eat it: quick, no downtime rejuvenation with no one else needing to be the wiser.

For a consultation or appointment, call us at (212) 772-9300.