We’ve all been here. You’re fooling around with your significant other, and next thing you know, you’ve got that enormous bruise-like mark on your neck. So, what do you do now? How are you possibly going to cover up this massive spot on your neck and go back to your everyday life? You could always blame it on your curling iron and call it a burn, but here are a few tips and tricks to hide your hickeys so no one will notice a thing. 

Hiding Hickeys With Makeup

Color Corrector

After discovering you have a hickey, one of the first things you’ll likely think about is covering it up with concealer and powder. This can be a very effective way to hide your hickey, if you do it right. The first step for an effective cover-up is with a color corrector. Hickeys are typically a mix of blues, reds and purples, so opting for a color to counteract these hues is a great foundation for covering it up. Try adding a coral or orange color corrector to the hickey to tune out some of the blue and purple tones. 

Concealer

Once you’ve applied your color corrector, the next step is to cover it with a high coverage concealer. When picking your concealer, make sure it matches the shade of your neck, not your face, to prevent bringing attention to the makeup on your neck. 

There are plenty of options to choose from, but my go-to concealer is the infamous Tarte Shape Tape concealer, which has helped me out of quite a few hickey situations. If you’re looking for a mid-range concealer to cover up your hickeys, try the Huda Beauty Overachiever Concealer, which has a matte finish and is packed with heavy-duty coverage. 

If you’re looking for a more affordable and more accessible drugstore option, try the Maybelline Instant Age-Rewind Concealer or the L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer. These concealers are fan favorites and have enough coverage to cover any hickey. 

Setting Powders And Sprays

The final step to ensuring your hickey is completely covered all day long is applying powder and setting the concealer. My recommendation is baking the concealer with a loose powder and a beauty blender. My go-to is the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, which is extremely longwearing, lasting up to 16 hours. If you prefer pressed powder, try the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, which is a very inexpensive yet extremely effective product that adds a bit of coverage. Finally, set your concealer and powder with the setting spray of your choice to help the products blend in with your skin and look more natural, while also making the product last all day long. 

Hiding Hickeys Without Makeup

Fashion

There are a couple of ways to hide your hickeys through strategic fashion choices. An infamous option is the classic turtleneck. While this might be difficult to pull off on a warmer day, turtlenecks are a huge trend this fall and will be a popular fashion choice. This makes it easier to rock a turtleneck to work or class while hiding your hickeys at the same time.

If you don’t have a turtleneck on hand, try a shirt that has a slightly higher collar. For warmer weather, try a polo shirt with the collar pointed up. Polo shirts are making a comeback and there plenty of ways you can dress this look up with a cute pair of jeans while still covering your hickeys. For cooler weather, you can opt for a jacket with a high collar to help keep you warm while hiding your hickeys. 

If you don’t have a top that has a turtleneck or a high collar, you could try wearing a top that will distract others from the hickey on your neck. This one is a bit of a gamble, but a busy, fashionable top could possibly trick the eye of your peers so they won’t even notice your hickey.

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Accessories

If you want to opt for an accessory to cover your hickey, a scarf is a very fashionable and wearable option. A scarf will likely look the most normal during the fall and winter, and looks great when paired with a sweater or jacket. If the weather is a bit warmer, you could try a lightweight scarf with form fitting dress or jumpsuit for a chic look for a day on the town.

At Home Hacks

There are several at-home tricks you can try to reduce the appearance of your hickey, but they won’t make your hickey completely disappear. To help stimulate blood circulation, try applying something cold to the area, such as ice, a chilled spoon or a cold compress. This will also help reduce any swelling from the hickey. Leave the cold object on the hickey for ten minutes multiple times per day for the best results.

Another way to improve blood circulation is by massaging the hickey. Be sure to use light and gentle motions, as heavy physical touch can actually make the bruising worse. This can be done with your hand or a brush a few minutes per day to speed up the healing process. If you want to get even more circulation from your massage, try adding peppermint essential oil to your fingertips. This can help stimulate additional blood circulation, which will lead to your hickey healing quicker. 

You can also add some topical creams and gels to help reduce the appearance of your hickey. Vitamin C is a great option to try, as it helps boost your skin’s collagen production and strengthen the skin tissue around your blood vessels. You can also try an aloe vera gel, which carries anti-inflammatory properties, which could help a quicker healing process.

While there are ways to cover up hickeys on your neck, there are a few ways to prevent having to cover up a hickey at all. Have a conversation with your partner or significant other about instilling a “below the collarbone” rule. That way, you can still experience the intimacy of receiving a hickey without having to worry about ways to cover it up afterwards. Whether you end up rocking a turtleneck or spend a few minutes covering your hickey with makeup, choose the option that works best for you and helps you feel the most confident.