Best methods on how to hide stretch marks
Stretch marks are one of life’s most common conditions. In fact, a growing number of people are happy to wear their stretch marks with pride. If you’ve got stretch marks, you shouldn’t be afraid to show off your hips, thighs, and stomach. But if they do bother you and you’d feel more confident without them, read on for how to hide stretch marks.
What are stretch marks, anyway?
Stretch marks form when your body grows too fast for any reason — this could be due to pregnancy, puberty, weight gain, or weight loss. Because your skin can’t stretch enough to keep up, long, thin, rippled marks form. You can get stretch marks virtually anywhere on your body. And once you get stretch marks, they’re permanent.
The simplest way to prevent stretch marks from forming in the first place is to lose or gain weight slowly over time. Moisturizing your skin on a regular basis can also help to prevent stretch marks from forming.
Can stretch marks go away?
Once you develop stretch marks, they are permanent. But treatments like micro-needling can help build collagen, improving the texture of the skin. Stretch marks will become significantly less noticeable if the color and texture are blended to better match the surrounding skin. And as a general rule, young stretch marks are easier to treat than older ones.
How can I make my stretch marks less noticeable?
For quick and temporary options, you can easily and effectively cover up stretch marks using a few beauty tricks! Here are two ways:
Concealer
You should select a concealer designed for the body that matches the shade of your stretch marks. But don’t choose a concealer that’s too light — it’ll end up making the stretch marks appear more visible. Pick a concealer that won’t slide off as well. Using a small makeup brush, apply the concealer to stretch marks. You’ll want to use small, gentle strokes patting the concealer in light layers. Dust loose powder over the concealer to set it in place. Lastly, apply some pearly cream to indented marks, which will reflect light so the stretch marks aren’t as visible.
Self-tanner
Moisten a washcloth and then rub your skin with it using circular motions — this will exfoliate your skin so it’s easier to apply the self-tanner evenly. Make sure to dry yourself off well before applying self-tanner. Then apply the self-tanner to your entire body, and rub the product in well with circular motions. Extend the self-tanner from your ankles to feet, and your wrists to hands, which will make the blending look more natural. If your stretch marks are white or light in color, paint a thin layer of self-tanner over each mark and repeat until stretch marks look less noticeable. Allow the self-tanner to dry before putting any clothing on, and avoid any activities that’ll cause sweating for several hours.
Flaunt your bod
Almost everyone has stretch marks, and they shouldn’t stop you from sporting what you’ve got. But if you’d rather not rock your stretch marks, you can easily reduce their appearance with these simple steps above.
References
- “7 Things You Need to Know About Treating Stretch Marks,” Prevention, May 13, 2016.
- “How to Hide Stretch Marks,” Livestrong, July 18, 2017.
- “How to Hide Spider Veins, Stretch Marks, and More This Bikini Season,” Allure, May 22, 2013.
