How To Apply Concealer
- Concealer is an important part of your makeup and can give you two things, coverage of blemishes and brightening of areas to enhance facial features.
- Using concealer is important because without it you can still see blemishes you may want to hide. You also appear more one dimensional or flat without it because lighter areas allow you to appear more three dimensional which allows balance to face shape.
- In this article I’m going to provide you a step-by-step guide to using concealer for beginners.
Types of Concealers
- There are different types of concealers, liquid, cream or stick. Liquid concealers are usually found in a pump style bottle or tube with a wand. Cream concealers are sometimes found in a tube with a wand but mostly in a pan or pot. Stick concealers are found in a twisty stick.
- Liquid concealers are usually more movable so are easier to blend and get coverage. Cream or stick concealers tend to be stiffer in formula so tend to be more buildable to get coverage and be a drier formula so will take a touch more blending.
- The liquid concealers are usually better for brightening and the cream or stick concealers better for covering blemishes. But depending on the formula both can be used for either.
Choosing the Right Shade
- When choosing concealer to hide blemishes, yellow tones tend to cover redness i.e grumpy areas of skin or redness. And pink or peach tones cover purples and blue shades i.e dark areas under eyes.
- The drier your skin is under eyes the creamier the formula you will need, but not too oily as this will then separate as eyes may draw the oils from the products. For normal skin you can get away with any concealer type and finish. For oilier skin types you need to consider that sheer finish concealers may not give you much coverage and again may slide away or wear off quickly.
Preparing the Face
- When applying concealer to cover blemishes always apply concealer before foundation (but after moisturiser and primer). This will allow it to provide coverage before applying foundation.
- Always make sure skin is completely clean and clear of any old makeup or cleanser before applying makeup, this will allow the concealer to apply smoother.
Applying Concealer
- Step-by-step guide to applying concealer:
- Covering under-eye circles – Use a peach or pink coloured concealer. Apply in thin layers with fingers. Rub your ring finger into the concealer and pat into the inner corner of the eye. Patting outwards to the outer corner of the eye/temple.
- Covering blemishes and acne scars – Use a flat concealer brush or a classic foundation brush (a flat one). Take a little product onto the brush and pat over the blemish until you can’t see it. Remember to start with only a little bit of product and build up if needed.
- Covering hyperpigmentation and dark spots – The best way to cover this is to use a concealer that is a similar colour as your dark spots make the area bigger than cover over with a lighter concealer to lighten the overall area and make skin tone more even. Remember this needs to be in thin layers once again.
- Colour-correcting with concealer – Use the classic foundation brush and take a little product evenly onto the bristles. Slide it over the area you are covering.
- For any concealer application it is better to apply thin layers on top of one another so never take ‘too much’ product. And tap to provide coverage but ensure your brush or finger is evenly loaded.
Setting Concealer
- If your concealer is right for you and your other products are correct for your skin and needs’ it shouldn’t move. And areas where we have natural lines will have minimal creasing. If this isn’t the case, it could well be the product or the other products you are using with it.
Maintenance and Removal
- If your concealer needs a little top up you can do this later in the day. Tap your finger under eyes to smooth the current concealer and smooth where it may have. Just apply a very small amount to the tip of the finger and ensure it is spread out evenly then tap over the inner corners to refresh.
- When removing concealer it’s best to use a liquid cleanser as the eye area is very sensitive and has a thinner area of skin so a pad soaked in cleanser will allow you to remove it thoroughly and quickly. This will stop repeated rubbing and irritation.
Apply your concealer with confidence
- In summary it’s best to start concealer application with your finger so you can understand the true consistency and finish of it (a sponge can distort this due to it soaking much of the product up). Choose a concealer that is lighter to brighten areas of skin. Choose a liquid to cream concealer as a beginner so that it is easier to apply. Apply the concealer one layer at a time and not heavy amounts. This will give a smoother longer lasting effect.
- Don’t worry if you don’t find the perfect concealer the first time this will give you an idea of what works for you. For example if you apply concealer and see no difference the chances are you will need to try a lighter concealer. If for example the concealer appears to matt you will need to pick one with a more reflective finish.
- Applying your concealer will become easier the more you do it but also you may find you need to wear more to get the effect of it. Don’t be surprised if building up to wearing more takes a little time to get used to.