I use a L'Oreal beauty balm, it's a primer I guess? Oh, my, it covers up everything, but isn't thick.

((((Hugs))) my goodness. You need expert advice. I would go to a good quality make-up counter, and have them help you. I would do whatever first aid was recommended first.

I too appreciate Elmer's sentiments. However I understand you wanting to look nice as well as not draw attention to yourself. Yes, many people there will know what happened to you, but I am sure there will be many who won't.. You want to blend in as best as you can.

So sorry this happened to you.

Holy Moly!! I’m sorry this happened to you as well. I don’t have any cover up suggestions and I’m sure you’ve heard this before but the important thing is that nothing was broken and you’re going to be ok.

You poor thing! yeesh. Other than the gash, I don't really see much in the way of terrible bruising. The area under your eyes just looks dark and puffy. I would try a little cover up there perhaps. Other than that, as others suggest, go to the event and try not to feel self conscious.

Oh, I am so sorry this happened to you and glad it was not worse. Bangs and a little cover-up under your eyes should do the trick. There are good treatments for scars and it may not be as bad as you might suspect it will be. Hope you have a great time at the party!

I have to agree with going to a beauty place. Do not be put off if the person uses a green looking material over the worst of the bruises. It can reduce some of the pink tone. However if the light hits your face just right photos can make the edges of under makeup material show as strange shadows. I do not know if they still make it but Shiseido used to make a underbase cover that when dry blocked color imperfections. You then applied your regular makeup over it.

Although it looks terrible to you it is not as bad to others as it looks to you.

Oh man, sorry this happened.

I bet by next weekend those bruises will have faded. When go to have the stitches and staples removed ask the nurse or doctor if she has a sample size of a cover-up makeup. You'd be surprised what reps leave for doctors.

Oh ouch I know that hurt! But thank God it wasn't worse! I think the bangs will do a lot to cover the forehead. A little powder based foundation under the eyes can conceal a lot of the bruising. I suggest powder based since you said you have oily skin. A liquid base will be adding to that problem. I know it's easy to say just don't worry about it but do try to do that! Go and enjoy and celebrate you survived a serious hit to the head!

I am so sorry about your accident, but it could have been much worse. I agree with going to a good makeup counter and letting someone try some products on you. Perhaps even make an appointment to have an artist do your makeup the day of the event next week. I think the bruises will look much better in another week, maybe not completely gone, but more faint. There are primers that ‘hold’ the makeup on better and would be good for your more oily skin, and concealers can still be used.

Your friends and family will surely sympathize, but nothing will do more for your own confidence than to look your best. A pretty side-swept long bang will be great. Perhaps even a clip to hold your hair on the side over your scar might work if you don’t want to cut short bangs.

I am just so thankful that you weren't hurt worse than you were. I have no advice since plenty has already been given, but I hope that you will heal quickly.

Ouch! That must have been painful, shocking and frightening when it happened. I'm so sorry That happened to you.

I agree with some of the others that in another week the bruising will have faded quite a bit and that a concealer will cover the rest. The only place I can see bruising is under your eyes, so it may not be as bad as you think. Maybe covcer as best you can (or have a makeup person do it as suggested earlier), put on a bright smile, and If you are up to it, you have quite a story to tell.

I hope you are feeling better by next weekend and that you have a great time at the wedding.

Since you don't wear much make-up normally, I would invest in some liquid L'oreal. It's not that expensive. I buy two different colors and mix them. The beiges are too light and the tans are too dark. I would start experimenting now. Walmart or Target are a good source.

Dermablend concealer, at ULTA can try different shades to find your best match.

Have you tried arnica -it does help with bruising - after my accident, my dr. recommended warm compresses or heating pad - that also did help. You just have to hold the pad on your face. I still ended up going on a cruise with a fair amount of facial bruising - mine was black, blue and rainbow. Not a pretty sight.

Find a good beautician to do your makeup, but only with your doctor's OK.

ARNICA has a very large warning on its product and product packaging NOT to use it near eyes, mucus creating areas nor any surgical procedure. Otherwise, yes Chessey, it is a very good bruise reducing product that I've used on many an occasion. But not for PK with her current wound area. As a matter of fact, Arnica should be used very cautiously. It does reduce surface bruising but has little bruise reduction value when it involves a deeply bruised area. I speak from experience.

Great advice here, thank you everyone.

I absolutely don't want to draw any attention from the lovely couple.

I'd be cautious about dabbing stuff on a wound and stitches until the healing process is well under way. Consult your doctor. He might have some 'cover up' suggestions, but my guess is, he'll say leave it alone - Don't mess with it and whatever you do, do not pick at the wound. ( Poor dear: You do have a big owie in your scalp. That must have hurt a bunch.)

You must extra caution against infection until the stitches have been removed.

Maybe if you wore a hat with a big brim . . . . Wearing a scarf tied in a do-rag style around your head probably would completely be the wrong attire; This is not a motorcycle gang outing. Can you work in a wide ribbon as a hair piece that covers most of your forehead?

Assuming the bruising doesn't spread and based on where the bruising is I think you'd be ok to use some type of cover up.

I don't have any advice other than what was given. The bangs will take care of your forehead, and by next weekend your bruising should fade so concealer should cover it. I'm just glad you weren't hurt worse. That sounds like an awful accident. The craziest things can happen just around the home. The skin on my legs is so thin from all the decades of tanning. I try to be so careful but any scrape makes a serious cut which takes forever to heal. Have a good time at the party.

Arnica sublingual “pearls” or tabs plus arnica gel massaged gently on the bruises (not too close to your eyes. Cool compresses or ice packs may help.

For the wound itself, first ask when you are allowed to use makeup in it, also, ask when you can use topical products to minimize scarring. A friend working at a La Mer counter gave me a sample of The Concentrate to rub on my nose following Mohs surgery to remove basal cel carcinoma. She swore the stuff was “gold” and it made such a noticeable difference, that I gladly splurged on the $$$ price and got a bottle of it during a sale event at Sephora (every so often I get 20% off incl beauty offers from Saks, w free shipping, and they carry it as well). It’s expensive, and I’d be skeptical if I hadn’t experienced how well it worked on my own scar. I’m still massaging my nose with it in orders to promote collagen production and loosening of the skin skin along the bridge of my nose so the dip where the cancer was removed will fill-in and level out more. A little goes a long way, and a bottle can last you months and months.

If the doctor says you can wear makeup, book an appt at a Sephora or Ulta or dept store cosmetic counter, with Sephora you’ll need to spend $50 on products, not sure about the other, places.

A decent makeup artist should be able to recommend products and techniques for covering the brusising and minimizing the appearance of the scar (and can help c9lor match you as well).

I mostly switched between NARS radiant creamy concealer or their soft matte concealer (or a combo of both), or sometimes used Tarte Shape Tape which is quite opaque and and you truly need way less than you think. There are also some new concealers available (Fenty Beauty, Huda Beauty, Jouer,.......that I’ve heard have good shade ranges and are full coverage concealers I believe).

Good luck!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20412090?dopt=Abstract

Oh, my! I fell and hit my face on an iron patio chair on a Sunday afternoon. My eye was eggplant purple and swelled shut. Oh, it was truly a sensation at work. Nothing would have reduced that eggplant color until it was ready to go. It took slightly longer than 2 weeks.

I'm so sorry that happened to you--what a doozy. Having hired a make-up person recently to do our faces at my dd's wedding, I'd also suggest having your make-up done at a store or beauty salon . They use those little air-brush machines now and the coverage looks so good and natural. I hope you'll have a lovely time at the party.

oh owww. I hope you're feeling better soon.

mdln, do you know if plastics still recommends applying Neosporin-type ointment to sutured areas to reduce scarring? I recall that as a standard care item, but it has been a while

PK, hope you heal quickly and are able to enjoy the Anniversary Party. Many suggest professional makeup which may be a solution, but if you are not really into makeup, it may make you feel uncomfortable. Wearing your usual makeup and adding a bit of concealer should do the trick.

Gurl! THAT HAD TO HURT! I'm so sad to see you like that!

Been there...just a few weeks ago....got an armoire in the eye....DH didn't open the storage unit door all the way and ran the armoire into it and into MY FACE.

To cover up a tattoo or anything else that's black or discolored, under eye discoloration for instance...use orange. Then apply skin tone makeup over it. For red, the opposite color on the color wheel....which is green(I've used yellow).

Here's a video

Just found this video, I'm going to order some Dermacol...immediately. One coat coverage

To triple down on the watch the makeup near the stitches and for those that are not aware of it. Particles of the makeup can enter a wound and be embedded there. Even if the body accepts them and does not cause an infection they can cause a discoloration of that area. If you do have makeup applied for you some tape over the stitches during the application can prevent that. May leave a line but blending with a finger after removing tape will lessen the line.

It looks painful! Hope you're not uncomfortable!

No other advice to offer -- and agree with consulting a pro.

Hope you heal quickly!

Maifleur, that is a very good point! If you must apply makeup, though, you can get "liquid bandage" at the drugstore which will put a thin seal coat over the wound and keep the makeup out.

When we had face lift patients stay in the hospital overnight they were required to sleep partially sitting up. It helps to reduce the swelling and could be helpful for your situation. Be gentle with your bruised skin, no additional manipulation that could cause further bruising.

OMG - that must have been a horrorshow! I'm w/ jemdandy in thinking that I would not want to potentially get makeup into the healing wound.

Maybe a scarf that covers your forehead? Kind of a retro fashion thing?

Problem with liquid bandage although it probably would not be by next weekend is that it really REALY BURNS when the wound is fresh. I would also think there might be a problem with the bandage seeping into the stitches and causing an uneven scar.

There is a brand of barrier film called Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film -- and it really doesn't burn. We use it on denuded skin all the time. By next week the edges of the wound should be pretty well sealed so I am not worried about it getting into the wound -- the stitches really won't absorb it either, if they are not out by then.

OM GOSH! You don't look bad, just painful, poor thing. Were you alone when this happened? I have no advice on makeup. I live alone and am always forgetting to take my phone when I am doing something questionable. But you were just walking across a room. Here's to fast healing and no pain!!!

Wow, that must have hurt. I'm also glad that you are okay despite some serious bumps and bruises. I agree with everyone else who said you don't look bad at all, and a little concealer on the darkness might make you feel less self conscious. Can I recommend youtube? I've learned how to cover up all sorts of issues with make up, and a lot about various make ups (including drug store brands) that work for various issues. You might be surprised what you find with a few searches.

About 10 years ago, I was getting something off a closet shelf for then 3 yo DD. A wooden box (which I didn't see) fell and broke my nose. My eyes turned horrific shades of greens and pinks and blues. I was surprised how much my regular make up covered with just an extra coat. You could still see it, but it looked like I had been injured and who would say anything about that? When someone would give me an odd look, I'd go with a "Hey, you shoulda seen the other guy." and then I'd briefly explain that I'd dropped a box on my own head...

Hope today finds you better! Such great advice above that I had nothing to add. I just wanted to say I hope you had a wonderful time and a belated congratulations to the happy couple on their 50th!

Now that we are sharing stories, I have two. The first happened many years ago and I still don't quite understand how it happened. It was in the middle of the night and I was turning over and somehow my knee went into my husbands eye! Big shiner!

I was walked directly into the edge of an open door. Terrible bruise over my right eye. I was in the NYC subway waiting for a train and a young police officer came over and asked how I was. I knew he thought I was lying about walking into a door

I pulled the walking into a door edge trick also; I was extremely nearsighted and didn't have my glasses on. There was much concern at work over whether I was telling the true story!

Then I got another one from my 2 year old -- sitting on my lap and clunked her head right into my face. A few days later the same thing happened to a coworker! We had matching black eyes.

The staples and remaining stitches (some have already fallen out) will be removed tomorrow. I'll ask about makeup then. I went ahead and followed the suggestions above and ordered a slip on scarf cap to cover my forehead. The bruising under my eyes is a lot better tonight. The party is out of town next Saturday. I'm not sure about getting a pro to apply my makeup, I usually go very minimal with makeup and pros seem to want to make me look like someone that I don't recognize :-)

I did get a couple of good concealers for the facial/undereye bruising.

I had taken the dogs out for their 'last call' potties late last Monday evening and was looking the other way when my foot tangled with the patio chair. I grabbed the chair for support and it just flipped over and down I went. Hubby was in the house and would have come looking for me after a while. I was rather dazed after hitting my head, so just stayed on all fours for a bit until I felt safe to stand up and yell for him.

In the ER, they questioned me quite a bit, I assume they thought that it was domestic violence.

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PK, if you need to, just cover it with a bandaid. I think it will be too raw for makeup. Do the concealer for the rest.

Ha - I just realized who else rocked that classic look: Jackie Onassis = )

Owwww!!!!

I seem to remember that vitamin E is good to reduce scarring also.

More stories....I tripped while running and pretty much did a face plant on asphalt a few years ago. I caught myself with my hand, scraped my hand and shoulder a bit, but the left side of my face hit the pavement too. My sunglasses took the brunt of it but I still ended up with a cracked facial bone below my eye, a mild scrape from the glasses, a bloody nose and of course a black eye developed. Just had to wait for it all to heal.

After my first ACL replacement in my knee, the physical therapist recommended I do a deep massage on the scars with cocoa butter. The pure stuff. I’m pretty sure you can still get a swivel tube of Palmer’s at drug stores or on Amazon. I would rub it on and then massage away with my thumb and fingers. At first I could hear some popping. This was scar tissue breaking up. Do this after the scar has healed well, so take caution there is no open wound. One scar was below the knee on a bony area and it hurt to massage there at first.

I would buy a pair of lavender tinted glasses and wear them all day.

Wow! I was going to suggest a scarf if you haven't already cut your hair. If you haven't had bangs since you were small you might not be happy.