2. Select the right shade. “You can't have a concealer that's too light,” she said, adding that women should choose concealer that's one to two shades lighter than the color of their foundation. “One to two shades … the right color blends itself.
It's a common question that creates many different opinions among makeup enthusiasts. 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!
Makeup artists suggest trying different shades of concealer with a swatch test along your cheek and jawline. Applying a small amount of each concealer to your face is the best way to determine your shade match, but another option is to apply each shade to the inside of your wrist.
Look refreshed with yellow tones
To conceal dark circles, the same color wheel principle applies. People with fairer skin may opt for yellow, peach, or pink colored concealers. Darker skin may benefit more from an orange shade.
When covering your under-eye area, you want a color one to two shades lighter than your skin. You don't want to go too light, though, as this can leave a stark contrast between your eye area and the rest of your face.
So, do you use concealer before or after foundation? The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
Beauty experts vary in opinion, but most recommend going a shade or two lighter for your under eyes and matching your concealer to your foundation (and, thus, your skin tone) for blemishes, dark spots, or age spots.
You're using the wrong shade
If you are using a shade that is too light, you'll literally be shining a spotlight on your under eye area, wrinkles and all. If you are using a shade that is too dark, it will just look awkward and out of place. The fix: I like to use just 1 shade lighter at most.
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Sprinkle recommends working with synthetic brushes if you're applying liquid foundations, as they're easier to sanitize, and create a smooth, even finish. "A sponge is great for sheering out creams and liquids," he adds. "However, keep in mind that it can absorb a lot of product."
Leave The Concealer For at Least 10 to 20 Minutes
You can use this time to line your lips, style your hair, or fill in your eyebrows. Working with dark eyeshadow or doing a smokey eye look is not recommended during this time, since it can cause fallout under the eyes area.
Fingers: They're so handy and never require brush cleaner. Totally get it. And using them to apply concealer can work just fine. In fact, when it comes to the delicate skin under your eyes, the warmth of your finger can help warm makeup so it blends on more easily and seamlessly.
A concealer is primarily used to hide imperfections or dark circles, while a highlighter adds glow to certain areas of the face. Both a highlighter and concealer should not be applied to the entire face, and a concealer should be used on blemishes, discoloration, or under the eye area.
While the majority of experts recommend applying a light layer of foundation before concealer, we admit there are instances where you benefit from a concealer first—if you're getting photographed, your concealer shade isn't the same as your foundation, and if you're color-correcting discoloration.
If you want more coverage but the same airbrushed finish, let your concealer set for a couple of minutes before you blend with a sponge. Fingers for coverage & a natural finish: The finish will be super natural as the heat of your fingers will warm up the product so it blends effortlessly into the skin.
It is important to know that the application of the compact powder goes in after your concealer and foundation.
If you have oily skin, you will need to set your concealer with powder to prevent it from sliding off. If you have dry skin, you might be able to get away with not setting your concealer. Ultimately, it depends on your skin type and your concealer.
Since concealers have a higher coverage and a different formulation than foundations, applying a concealer all over your face might make your face makeup look cakey and patchy. Instead, mix your concealer with your face cream or moisturizer to make it easy to blend.
To “bake your makeup” means to let your concealer sit on your face for 10 to 20 minutes before blending it, so that your own body heat enables the makeup to melt into your skin and cause it to change color and texture. This allows for the concealer to be blended more easily for a flawless coverage.
While your foundation creates a solid base, a concealer hides dark circles, dark spots, blemishes, and color-corrects. It gives you a targeted layer of protection that you can't create alone with foundation and works to brighten and lighten areas.