Concealer is also a face makeup product, but instead of being designed to cover the entire face, it's intended for spot coverage, such as under the eyes or over top of dark spots and blemishes. Concealer is sold in liquid and cream formulas to match any skin tone, as well as to color correct tone irregularities.
Concealer is the one staple in a beauty arsenal that can dramatically change your appearance. Used correctly, concealer can brighten a tired face, cover up blemishes, and conceal under-eye circles. In fact, many beauty editors use concealer primarily and skip foundation completely.
Concealer is similar to foundation except it's generally thicker and hides dark circles, age spots, blemishes and more by hiding pigments and blending these imperfections into the skin. You should always apply concealer on top of your foundation so it doesn't smudge.
The rule of thumb for picking your concealer shade is based on your foundation shade. Beauty experts advise that everyone should have two shades of concealer in their arsenal, one lighter and one darker since daily sun exposure means your skin tone shifts slightly all the time.
Foundation is meant to be used as a base for your makeup, while concealer is meant to cover up blemishes or dark circles. You can use a bit of concealer on top of your foundation to help with any problem areas.
As Reiss-Andersen points out, concealer is designed to color-correct dark circles and spots, as well as blemishes, while foundation works to enhance the overall skin tone. “It's great to combine both concealer and foundation to make the skin look as radiant as possible,” she concurs.
Here's an invaluable how to apply concealer for beginners hack! Never drag the brush or smear the product; it will end up caking the product and creasing the skin under the eyes. If there isn't a lot to cover under the eyes, apply concealer only on the inner and outer corners of the under-eye.
TIP #10: APPLY CONCEALER ANYWHERE & EVERYWHERE
Typical application areas are under the eyes, around the nose, and directly on blemishes... BUT "you can apply concealer anywhere you need added coverage," says Grace Lee.
After foundation and concealer, go in with contour, blush, and highlighter. "After applying foundation and concealer, enhance your facial features and structure with contour," says Compton.
The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
This one's kinda up for debate, but unless you're going for a softer, no-makeup makeup look, it's always a good idea to apply your concealer after your foundation. When you apply concealer first, you actually end up removing most of it when you sweep on your foundation or powder products.
"The first step in concealer application is to moisturize the eye area religiously day and night with an eye cream and serum," he says. For extra skin boosting benefits, Ruiz recommends serums that contain arnica and caffeine to reduce puffiness and darkness.
Unfortunately, you can't permanently conceal under-eye bags and dark circles, but makeup can be used to temporarily reduce their appearance. Below, we're sharing how to use concealer to hide puffiness under your eyes.
If you're looking for a lighter-weight alternative to foundation but don't want to rely on a tinted moisturizer or CC cream, we recommend using concealer alone. It's true, with the right long-wearing or hydrating concealer formula, you'll be able to cover imperfections, even out and keep your complexion looking fresh.
Applying foundation first creates an even base to reduce overall redness, discoloration and minor blemishes. If you apply your concealer first, you may end up wiping some off when you apply foundation or using a lot more product than necessary, which can create a heavy, cakey look.
Finnegan agrees, saying that cream products are best used first in a specific order. “Layer skincare first, then foundation, concealer, cream blusher and then when you're happy, finish with powder and set it all in place,” she says.
Before applying concealer, apply a tiny bit of hydrating eye cream to plump and hydrate the area. The skin under your eyes is very delicate and often laced with small wrinkles or fine lines.
Don't rub the concealer into your skin; doing so could cause smearing or produce a cakey effect. Hack: Wait 5 minutes for your concealer to set before blending it with the rest of your makeup. This helps achieve smooth, even coverage.
To avoid drawing unwanted attention to the area, many makeup artists would recommend not applying too much, if any, foundation around the eye. Instead, they suggest using a hydrating, lightweight concealer that has been designed specifically for the under eye area.
You Can Totally Wear Concealer Without Foundation—Here's How. Concealer is kind of like your favorite skin-care serum: You can't really see it, but it does some heavy lifting behind the scenes. Once blended under your foundation, it chameleons those uninvited pimples, dark spots, or bits of redness away.