The 8 Best Body Makeup Products of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
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Dior's Backstage Face and Body Foundation was the clear winner
People / Jessica Juliao
Full coverage makeup shouldn’t have to stop at the neck. Whether you're looking to cover things like hyperpigmentation, scars, or tattoos, or just want an even skin tone all over, body makeup can transform your skin, creating a smooth, airbrushed finish.
Even Schitt’s Creek makeup artist Lucky Bromhead previously told PEOPLE that she uses body makeup on the actresses in the show, “extending the sun-kissed look on Catherine O’Hara’s shoulders and arms” to create balance on the skin. Kim Kardashian also revealed in an Instagram post that she uses body makeup to help cover her ongoing psoriasis, saying “I bruise easily and have veins and this has been my secret for over a decade.”
We tested 18 different body makeup products to see which felt the best on our skin, covered the most effectively, and stayed on (despite contact with clothes and water during our tests), all factors that pros suggest you look for when making a purchase. “When it comes to buying body makeup — long wearing, transfer resistant, waterproof, and buildable coverage are some definite attributes to look for,” MAC senior national makeup artist Keri Blair tells PEOPLE.
Out of all the body makeups PEOPLE Tested, these eight are the ones we’re adding to our beauty stash.
Best Overall: Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
Pros
It feels smooth and extremely lightweight after applying.
It stayed in place with no creases or smudges and did not transfer.
There are more than 40 shades in warm, cool, and neutral undertones.
Cons
We wish there were more shades for darker skin tones.
Designer doesn’t always guarantee high quality, but in the case of Dior’s Backstage Face & Body Foundation, paying a little more does get you a better value. Earning a flawless 5-star rating in every single test, this body makeup provided full coverage that felt airy on the skin and stayed locked in place.
We believe it compares favorably to the popular Fenty body foundation. It's smooth and extremely lightweight. We love that it’s available in so many shades (more than 40!), and provides full coverage. It covered our arm, veins, and everything in between. It comes in neutral, warm, and cool undertones to suit most skin types. We just wish there were more options for darker skin tones.
During the resistance tests, this body makeup didn’t transfer any product to a white towel when rubbed against it, and didn’t come off even when sprayed with water. It felt like we were wearing a powder, but there was no transfer. We were very impressed that it completely stayed in place with no creases or smudges. And with regards to the water test, water beaded up on the product as suspected, but everything stayed in place with no streaking, running, or transfer.
Overall, we think this is an ideal body makeup because a little goes a long way, and as a medium coverage foundation, you can apply it lightly or build it up for a fuller coverage look. Though the price is higher than some on our list, this makeup is a good value for what you’re paying. There’s absolutely nothing we would change about this pick.
Price at time of publish: $40
Coverage: Medium, buildable | Formula: Liquid | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Shades: 40 | Size: 1.6 oz / 50 mL
Best Budget: BLK/OPL TOTAL COVERAGE Face + Body Concealer
Pros
The product is lightweight, talc, and paraben-free.
It has a highly pigmented formula for maximum coverage.
It remained intact after applying and spraying with water.
Cons
As this is designed for melanin-rich skin, it is not suitable for all skin tones.
Developed by a dermatologist, this concealer from Black Opal is designed for melanin-rich skin and provides a rich coverage. While it's a matte formula that's even capable of covering tattoos, we found that the product didn't feel feel too heavy. It's lightweight, but you can still feel something is on the skin. Infused with nourishing minerals, this product feels as good as it looks.
The ultra-pigmented formula covered everything, but the shade range could be a little more varied and offer more skin tones. During our resistance tests, this body makeup did not transfer onto the towel or come off when sprayed with water. Considering its durability, smooth finish, wide availability, and budget-friendly price, we think this is a great product.
Price at time of publish: $13
Coverage: Full | Formula: Liquid | Skin Type: All skin types, darker skin tones | Shades: 7 | Size: 0.5 oz
Best Full Coverage: Dermablend Leg and Body Makeup Foundation
Pros
It doesn’t feel greasy, heavy, sticky, or chalky.
It provides ample coverage for masking veins, scars, and more.
It includes SPF 25 sun protection.
Cons
A small amount of the product transferred onto a towel when we rubbed it firmly.
As one of the most popular body makeup brands, Dermablend’s Leg and Body Makeup Foundation is ideal for covering tattoos, scars, veins, stretch marks... you name it. With SPF 25, this formula also provides sun protection throughout the day. And if you're worried about something full-coverage drying out your skin, it's actually packed with moisturizing ingredients to nourish your complexion while it sits.
We loved the feel of this product, which didn't feel greasy, heavy, sticky, or chalky. We were able to run a hand across our arm with ease. We found a perfect shade match with this product and were able to build and blend the makeup up to full coverage. We could still see a faint trace of veins and scars, but found the makeup blended seamlessly onto our arm.
We noticed little to no transfer when we brushed against the white towel, but when we heavily wiped our arm there was some transfer. However, when you use this makeup in tandem with the Dermablend Setting Powder, it should set more thoroughly and have less risk of transfer. The makeup did not run at all when we spritzed it during the water test. With a near perfect score, good coverage, and durability, this product is a good pick for covering any unwanted marks.
Price at time of publish: $37
Coverage: Full, buildable | Formula: Liquid | Skin Type: Normal | Shades: 12 | Size: 3.4 fl oz / 100 mL
Related: The 12 Best Full-Coverage Foundations for a Flawless Base
Best Sheer Coverage: Fenty Beauty Body Sauce Body Luminizing Tint
Pros
It’s lightweight and has a velvety feel on the skin.
It stayed in place and during the water and wipe tests.
It evens out skin tone and blends easily.
Cons
It didn’t fully cover a tattoo.
While Rihanna’s glow might come from the radiance of supreme talent and charisma, we can try to replicate it through Fenty beauty — and this Body Sauce Luminizing Tint is a good place to start. It felt smooth, lightweight, and velvety on our skin.
Made with a blend of babassu oil and vitamin E, this formula also acts as a form of skincare — helping with inflammation, surface wounds, and certain skin conditions. The coverage is sheer, so it didn’t entirely cover our tattoo, but it blended beautifully, evened our skin tone, and covered our arm in a fine shimmery glow. This makeup passed our resistance tests with little effort, locking into place without smudging or wiping away. It transferred very little to the towel and stayed on our skin. We think it would come in handy for those who sweat a lot, and it’s easy to apply.
It doesn’t have a huge shade range, and the price is a touch high, but it delivers on the promise of smooth glowing skin.
Price at time of publish: $52
Coverage: Sheer, light | Formula: Liquid | Skin Type: All skin types | Shades: 7 | Size: 3.21 oz / 95 mL
Related: You Can Now Shop Rihanna's Entire Fenty Beauty Collection at Ulta
Best Long Lasting: Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Foundation
Pros
The product was long-lasting thanks to superior water resistance.
It felt lightweight and dried to a matte finish.
It contains additional ingredients that provide skincare benefits.
Cons
The shade range isn’t very diverse.
For a body makeup that will last all day, look no further than Estée Lauder’s camouflage foundation. Made with a blend of aloe leaf extract, soybean oil, and linoleic acid (known to help inflammation), this makeup also provides some of the nourishment of skincare products.
We found that this body foundation was pretty lightweight and dried to a matte finish when brushed on the skin. In one pass, it covered our arm tattoo. This product thoroughly passed our resistance tests, proving its durability against contact with materials like the white towel and water via our spray bottle. We were impressed with this product’s water resistance. Despite soaking our arm, the body foundation did not budge.
The only caution is that while the product comes in 15 shades, there aren’t many options for darker skin tones. We had a hard time finding a shade that matched our warm undertone. We also found it was best to apply this product using a dense brush since the it is rather thick.
Price at time of publish: $42
Coverage: Full | Formula: Liquid | Skin Type: All skin types | Shades: 15 | Size: 1 oz
Best for a Radiant Glow: Lux Unfiltered N°10 Blurring Body Glow
Pros
It has a lightweight feel and turns clear when it dries.
It has good coverage and a little goes a long way.
It did not transfer or run when put to the test.
Cons
There is only one "universal" shade and it's slightly shimmery, which might not be for everyone.
This is not a typical body makeup product, so if you're looking for something with actual coverage, this is not for you.
If you’re looking for a subtle bronze glow, this tint will be the first thing you reach for. It doesn’t have a shade range, but rather one bronze-toned "universal" shade that has a shimmery finish and is very lightweight on the skin (it's virtually undetectable once it dries). We used a conservative amount and it covered about half of our forearm. It didn’t transfer at all on the white towel; only when we applied pressure did a small amount come off. It also didn’t run when we spritzed our arm with water.
With ingredients like shea butter, squalane, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin C, this product is extremely moisturizing, which only adds to the glow effect on your skin. If there was anything we would change, it would be to name it a shimmer instead of glow, due to the level of sparkle in this product, which might not be for everyone. Regardless of what it’s called, this body makeup will give you the subtle bronze glow of summer all year long.
Price at time of publish: $44
Coverage: Sheer | Formula: Liquid | Skin Type: All skin types | Shades: 1 | Size: 6.8 fl oz
People / Jessica Juliao
Best Shade Range: MAC Studio Radiance Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation
Pros
It gave our skin a nice glow.
It comes in a diverse shade range.
The product has a lightweight, breathable feel.
Cons
It became greasy when exposed to water.
This sheer foundation acts more like a tint upon first application, but can be built upon to add extra coverage. We loved the super lightweight, breathable feel, and noticed very little transfer during our tests. “It offers a glowing natural skin like finish that can also be set with powder depending on what type of finish you are looking to create,” says Blair.
“As a professional makeup artist that has worked on countless bodies backstage for well over 20 years — one of the most versatile products I carry with me is MAC Studio Radiance Face & Body Foundation,” Blair says. “It’s a water-based product that contains various types of silicones which create excellent skin adhesion as well as long wear. It also is extremely buildable — upon initial application, it provides a veil of coverage, however the more layers you apply, the [more opaque] the coverage becomes.”
Though advertised as waterproof, when sprayed with water, it took on a somewhat greasy consistency (so maybe just don’t wear this one to the beach!). However, once it dried, this body makeup went back to its original consistency and didn’t run at all. We love the diverse shade range for a variety of skin tones, we only wish there was slightly more opacity. You can build this one, it just might take a few extra layers.
Price at time of publish: $39
Coverage: Sheer | Formula: Liquid | Skin Types: All skin types | Shades: 30 | Size: 1.7 oz
Best for Travel: Dermablend Quick Fix Body Foundation Stick
Pros
It has a creamy and lightweight feel on application.
The product is transfer and water-resistant.
The ultra-pigmented formula provided good coverage.
Cons
There aren’t many dark shades.
If you’re planning a getaway and still want your skin to look smooth and even while you travel, then this body makeup stick should be the first thing you pack. It's perfect for touching up small areas (like the "concealer" name suggests) or spot-treating throughout the day. Like the previous Dermablend product, you can enjoy up to 16 hours of transfer-resistant staying power so long as it's set with the brand's setting powder. On top of its portability and longevity, the overall application is incredibly smooth. We also noticed how creamy the application is and how lightweight it feels.
We did struggle with finding a seamless shade match, and of the existing 10 shades, there is only one that errs on the darker end of the skin tone spectrum. However, as far as coverage, the ultra-pigmented formula did completely veil arm tattoos.
During the transfer test, this body makeup held up as well, staying in place and looking just as great after exposure to water. It also didn’t transfer to the towel at all. Overall, this is a good product for travel needs as its small size and stick design makes it easily portable.
Price at time of publish: $30
Coverage: Full | Formula: Cream stick | Skin Type: All skin types | Shades: 10 | Size: 0.42 oz
Things to Consider Before Buying Body Makeup
Coverage
Body makeup, like face makeup, can have a totally different appearance depending on how much product you use. “Coverage relates to the amount of light or skin you can see through the product. Think about how nylons look on the legs versus tights,” says Blair. If you’re looking for a complete coverup of imperfections such as tattoos, scars, veins, or acne, you’ll want a full coverage formula that's buildable. Our picks from Dermablend, Estée Lauder, Black Opal, and Dior will provide ample coverage for unwanted marks. For a lighter option that evens out skin tone and provides a glow or sheen, the winners from Fenty, MAC, and Lux Unfiltered would be a better choice.
Ingredients
When looking at any makeup products you should keep in mind how the ingredients will interact with your skin. If you’re looking for body makeup to cover up acne, then products with oils might perpetuate the issue. Comparatively, to cover skin conditions like psoriasis, you want to make sure there aren’t any ingredients that will further irritate the skin or cause flare ups.
Shades & Texture
Not unlike the face, when you apply body makeup, you want it to look natural and blend well with your skin tone. “When you are putting together an entire look, the face, shoulders, decolletage, arms, and legs should all have a similar texture,” says Blair. She reflects on the '90s trend of a “flawless matte face up against exposed skin with a natural skin finish” and how it gave an appearance of “a floating head or mismatched body parts.”
In order to create a seamless finish, you have to be consistent with shades and texture. In terms of shades, Blair says, “When it comes to shade matching, often our bodies are a bit darker than our face.” But in order to create a balanced tone, she suggests mixing some of the body foundation in with your facial makeup to bring some additional color to your face (which might not see as much sun as your legs!).
Placement
The placement of the makeup might also influence which kind you get. If you’re looking for a coverall that can generally smooth out skin tone and texture, it might be best to use a lightweight body makeup that can be easily dispersed across different areas of the body like legs, arms, elbows, and the face. Whereas with specific problem areas, a thicker body makeup might provide better coverage and be more easily applied (rather than all over).
Water-Resistance
If you’re planning to wear your body makeup during strenuous outdoor activities, or at the pool, you’ll want to look for a product that is water-resistant or waterproof so it doesn’t run or transfer when wet. Our best overall, Dior's Backstage Face and Body Foundation, passed our water tests with flying colors and stayed in place when wet.
Transfer-Resistance
The last thing you want your body makeup to do is rub off on your clothes or furniture. Look for products that are transfer-resistant, meaning when the product is dry, it stays intact and won’t come off. We tested all of our recommendations for transfer resistance and found that Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Maximum Cover was long-lasting, dried to a matte finish, and was one of the most transfer-resistant body makeup products we tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is body makeup?
Much the way foundation is used to give your face an even skin tone, body makeup offers the same effect on other parts of your body. It’s often used to mask scars, tattoos, and veins on your neck, chest, arms, and legs — any area that is exposed. But it can also be applied so that your face, arms, and legs all have the same skin tone.
How should you prep your skin for body makeup?
Just like you would prep your face before applying makeup, you need to do the same for your body. “Exfoliating and moisturizing your skin is going to help with the evenness of application of your makeup and longevity of wear,” says Blair. So be sure to exfoliate while you’re in the shower, and then moisturize the areas you’ll be applying the product.
What are the best tools for applying body makeup?
“As with most body products, your hands can be great tools,” Blair adds. She suggests warming up the body makeup with your hands by rubbing them together — especially with more sheer products like the MAC radiance foundation. “The more friction you add to the formula, the more whipped the texture becomes which helps create additional coverage when layering,” she says.
Comparatively, for thicker and more full coverage products, you can also use a large fluffy brush in circular motions to cover larger areas, Blair says. And just like your facial skin, setting with powder can help makeup stay on your body throughout the day.
Where are the most common places to wear body makeup?
Generally, the most popular spots to apply body makeup are the arms, legs, and collarbone (basically the most commonly exposed skin). A lot of people use body makeup to cover up old scars and tattoos, as well as prominent veins — but it can also be applied to even out one’s skin tone. Sheer products like Fenty’s Body Sauce and Lux Unfiltered Blurring Body Glow can also create a little shine for your body. Trickier areas are your back (in which case you might phone a friend for assistance) and underarms (which should be avoided if possible due to streakiness). Also, make sure to always apply body makeup before other products, like your favorite perfume, to avoid uneven coverage.
Can you use body makeup on your face?
While technically you can use body makeup on your face, it is often a bit heavier than foundation that is made specifically for the skin on your face. There are body makeup products, however, that are formulated to be used on the face and the body. These products, like Dior Face and Body Foundation, BLK/OPL Face + Body Concealer, Estée Lauder Foundation for Face and Body, and MAC Face and Body Sheer Foundation, are lighter and easier to apply than makeup made for the body only.
People / Tamara Staples
How We Tested Body Makeup
To find the best makeup for all parts of your body, we tested 18 of the most popular body makeup brands. Considering the feel, coverage, and resistance to transfer and water, we narrowed the list to the best eight body makeup products to give your skin a smooth appearance.
Our testers arrived in our NYC lab with clean skin (no lotions, body makeup, or other products) and then selected a shade that best matched their skin tone. They then did something we all tell kids not to: they drew on themselves with a pen (adult art class!). Applying a pea-sized drop of product over the pen marks, the testers blended the makeup with a sponge or brush to see how well it covered the pen. (If the testers already had tattoos, then they just covered those.) They weighed the feel (lightweight? smooth? sticky? heavy?) and coverage level to see how much texture and color it blurred out. Then, they simulated a transfer test by rolling the applied makeup against a clean white towel to see if it stained. They also sprayed the area with water to see if the makeup ran or stayed in place. They tested hands, arms, and legs with the same tests to see how well the makeup held up on different parts of the body.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Madison Yauger is commerce writer at PEOPLE, covering beauty, home, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her background includes news, lifestyle, and commerce journalism for publications like Food & Wine, Real Simple, Health, and Martha Stewart. With a background in news and lifestyle journalism, she has a wide network of expert sources. For this article, she referred to an earlier conversation with Lucky Bromhead, makeup artist on the hit TV series Schitt’s Creek and her own interview with Keri Blair, MAC Cosmetic’s senior national makeup artist .
What Is People Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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