I’ve struggled with melanoma (an area of dark skin on the forehead or around the eyes, also known as the mask of pregnancy) for several years now. It came about as a result of hormonal changes related to pregnancy and was exacerbated by a case of adrenal fatigue. In many people, it clears up after pregnancy, but I’ve had a hard time getting rid of mine. I’ve had to become creative in how to cover it up.

If you have melasma, dark spots, discolorations, or hyper pigmentation, these tips can help cover the discoloration and even out your overall skin tone. It’s a fool proof method I’ve used with great effectiveness for quite a while.

Here I’ll share with you the products I use to cover my melasma and how I apply them.

Concealer

I’ve tried several concealers over the past couple of years to cover my melasma. Some have worked better than others. The two concealers I have found most effective concealers are Benefit Erase Paste and Maybelline Instant Rewind Concealer.

Generally, I dot the concealer over the darkest spots, then blend it lightly onto the skin with my finger. The Benefit Erase Paste is a peach-toned color correcting concealer that evens out darker skin discolorations. It’s perfect for wearing underneath foundation. It does a very effective job of covering melasma, especially on the forehead. I do find that it tends to crease a bit on the under eye area, but setting it with a translucent powder helps keep it from creasing a lot.

For the under eye area, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind is very effective. It’s a lighter formula than Erase Paste, so it doesn’t have the same tendency to crease. The applicator makes applying and blending super easy. Plus, because it’s a drugstore product, it is fairly inexpensive.

Foundation

My all time favorite foundation also happens to have the best coverage for skin discoloration issues. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ is the foundation I wear nearly everyday. it has amazing coverage and it so easy to apply, blend, and wear. The staying power is impressive and the look it gives is flawless. Its formulation is perfectly suited to covering up skin discoloration issues. I highly recommend it.

For a drugstore foundation option, Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation is a great choice. The coverage is excellent and it’s very build able. It’s creamy and easy to apply.

Setting Powder

It’s always a good idea to set the T-zone and under eye areas with some powder, especially when covering discolorations in those areas. I like to set my foundation with a translucent pressed powder. My favorite powder to use for this purpose is Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless translucent powder. it is inexpensive and extremely effective. It’s nice and light, so it won’t settle into fine lines like a heavier powder might.

Ultimately, I realize that finding ways to deal with the root cause of my melasma will be the most effective way of dealing with it. However, until I find a way to clear it up, I know that I have found a method that works to smooth out my skin tone and make the discoloration less noticeable.

This method can work for several types of skin discoloration issues, including hyperpigmentation, age spots, and even dark circles. Hopefully, these tips and recommendations are helpful if you are dealing with the same sorts of skin discoloration issues such as I am with my melasma.

Do you struggle with skin discoloration issues? Do have any additional suggestions on how to deal with it? Please share in the comments.