It's estimated that 50 to 80 percent of people carry the virus that causes cold sores, so getting an outbreak is more common than you might expect. And when it comes to disguising outbreaks, the process is a whole lot easier than you think. Before you cake on the concealer and irritate the blistered area even more, makeup artist Carmindy, who has partnered with Abreva, recommends using the brand's new Conceal patches. "It's a very thin, fine, transparent pad that goes over the cold sore," she explains.
After applying the invisible pad, Carmindy recommends putting on makeup as normal. "The great thing is is that it's allowing air to get in using microair technology, but at the same time all the contaminants — the makeup and the powder — stays out of the cold sore." If you're trying to cover up a cold sore the old fashioned way, however, Carmindy advises going with a neutral lip shade. Then play up your eyes (perhaps with one of these trendy color combinations for Fall) to bring the focus up and away from the lips.
Cold sores (or oral herpes) are not so cute, and they always seem to appear at the worst possible time. To add insult to injury, upward of 70 percent of the general population (some estimates range as high as 90 percent) carry the HSV-1 virus that causes cold sores, but some people are asymptomatic, so it's difficult to explain to them that a virus they almost certainly have as well is causing your little problem. Never fear, though; there are lots of ways to control, cover, and prevent the little buggers. To find out how, just 