I have homecoming and picture day next week and I'm struggling with facial hair. I pass except for the shadow. I can't pluck or wax because my skin was damaged awhile back, and shaving hurts, but I do it and I still get a shadow. I tried foundation and powder, but it made my facial hair area look brighter. I tried putting a little red or orange lipstick under the foundation and such, but I get this reddish tint to my facial hair area. I'm going to get electrolysis when I can afford it, but it won't do good after he fact. Any tips? Am I using the methods wrong? Anything else I could try?
If it looks brighter, that sounds like you might not have a good color match. Very pale skin needs more or a pink corrector base, with an orange corrector for medium skin tones, and red for darker tones. The lipstick hack is a pretty good make-do if you don't have corrector. On top of this should go a good concealer foundation matched to your skin tone.
You might want to try a good cosmetics counter in a department store where someone can help you get the color match right. In the US big department stores often have MAC cosmetics and specialists that will do this. Chain stores like Sephora and Ulta will also do this. And, as I had one salesperson tell me, "Oh, we get men in here all the time." They really don't care. A sale is a sale... :)
Yes, it can be a big problem. I agree with Michelle about trying out a professional cosmetic counter, I have had good luck with Sephora's and have friends with similar results from MAC. They have helped me with skin tone matching but did not have experience in hiding a beard shadow. What worked for me was starting with the color neutralizing effect of a coral red lipstick. This took care of the dark shadow but I was left with the red tone you mentioned. Then my wife helped me with a pale green concealer (Maybelline coverstick corrector concealer) over the coral red. The end result was hidden shadow and a slightly lighter skin tone than my normal that took the foundation well. With the use of a bit of primer under the foundation, the solution would hold up for several hours. My final solution is getting rid of the facial hair altogether with marathon electrolysis sessions.....still another 6 to 8 months to go on that, next session next Monday. Good luck and enjoy homecoming! - Anne