Makeup for Beginners: How to Use Concealer

Concealer is that beauty essential that can brighten up a face, cover up blemishes and minimize under-eye circles and discoloration. It also tends to be one of the first categories of makeup that people buy—but choosing the correct shade or formula can also be a bit stressful.

Let’s make it easier. Here are a few tricks to get the right product for you.

LESS IS MORE

You can camouflage an imperfection with concealer before layering a fuller coverage product onto the skin. But if you are not subtle with it, the concealer can feel heavy and look cakey. How do you prevent this? Apply foundation first to see how much of the dark circles, blemishes and spots that the foundation can cover on its own. Then, if you need more coverage, go back in with a thin layer of concealer directly on the area. You will be amazed at how little product you actually need.

UNDER THE EYES

When choosing under-eye concealer, choose a color that is one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. You always want your foundation to match the skin but with concealer a shade lighter will help give a lifting effect. A big mistake many people make is choosing the wrong shade.

FOR PUFFINESS

When trying to hide puffiness under the eyes, you must remember that make up does not hide texture. You can’t completely cover up puffiness. But, you can use concealer to make it less noticeable. My favorite method is to use a luminizing pen concealer that has a highlighting property, and then apply this only where you see puffiness. The liquid formula is easy to use and adds lift and light. Once applied, use your ring finger to softly tap the highlighter into the crease to give the effect of perfectly smooth skin.

Beautylish recommends: BY TERRY Touch-Expert Advanced Multi-corrective Concealer Brush | shop it

FOR DARK DISCOLORATION

When deciding what product to purchase for concealing, dark spots need something that is close to the shade of your foundation. To eradicate the dark pigment, I suggest the fuller coverage of a cream concealer. Cream concealer has a fuller texture but will need to be set with powder so it will last longer. I recommend applying the concealer with a soft shadow brush only where there is darkness, and then setting it with an invisible powder.

Beautylish recommends: OCC SKIN: Conceal and OCC Brush #008 Small Shader Brush

FOR BLEMISHES

Most blemishes tend to have a hint of red discoloration. They also have texture and are raised from the skin. My preference for blemish concealer is to use a camouflage pencil directly on the blemish and on the surrounding area. Then use your ring finger to blend it in. Set with powder, and you are good to go.

Beautylish recommends: Nudestix Concealer Pencil

EXTREME COVER FOR BIRTHMARKS OR TATTOOS

For covering tattoos or birthmarks, choose a full-cover cream that is one or two shades lighter than the area directly onto the tattoo/birthmark. The lighter shade will add lift and allow you to make the coverage look like skin. Next, apply a thin layer of foundation and build it up until you have the coverage required. Set it all into place with a translucent powder.

Beautylish recommends: Cover FX Cream Concealer and Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation

There are more advanced techniques that can be explored once you’ve mastered the basics. But essentially, the goal of of a good concealer, like all makeup, is to be undetectable. You want to be the only one in the room that knows you are wearing it.