These Transfer-Proof Body Concealers Are Like Liquid Pantyhose

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Not to be dramatic, but discovering body makeup this summer has kind of changed my life… or, at the very least, saved me a couple of hours and probably $500 in what I would have otherwise spent on professional spray tans.

A few summers ago, I developed a spray tan habit my bank account simply couldn’t support.

By the beginning of this summer, a relapse felt imminent until, in a rare act of financial benevolence, TikTok put body concealer on my radar.

Body makeup is exactly what it sounds like: long-wearing, transfer-resistant concealers and foundations designed to cover more surface area than their facial counterparts, including the legs, chest, arms, and anywhere else you’d like a little extra coverage.

Unlike sunless self-tanners , however, these imperfection-blurring formulas wash right off at the end of the day and are generally much easier to apply.

And while adding some color is certainly an off-label use, bronzing isn’t necessarily the primary goal.

The best body makeup can blur the appearance of veins, bruises, redness, cellulite, scars, and uneven skin tone in minutes.

In fact, that’s precisely why I’ve always loved a good spray tan.

Beyond making me look slightly less translucent, a fresh faux glow can subtly camouflage veins, bruises, cellulite, and flushing (I often get anxiety-induced rashes on my neck and chest, and having a veil of pigment over those areas makes me feel less self-conscious about it).

Unfortunately, I don’t always have four hours to marinate in a self-tanning formula while it develops, crossing my fingers that I won’t emerge with a streaky, tangerine-hued finish.

I also don’t particularly enjoy smelling like a musty, burnt biscuit for the next few days.

That distinctive yet elusive self-tanner scent is largely due to dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the active ingredient that reacts with the skin to produce a temporary pigment.