MY CONCEALER SECRETS

Concealer is so basic. But I mean that in an essential way. Concealer is one of those products that every makeup lover has dozens of and that every beginner should pick up. It can hide everything from blemishes to dark spots to scars, making it a fabulously wonderful product.

Personally, concealer is one of my favorite things because it allows me to go out into the world feeling confident.

Even though concealer is one an essential in the makeup world, it can be a bit tricky to figure out. Just like anything else, practice makes perfect, but there are certain guidelines to follow. Don’t just pick up a random concealer at the drug store. No, you want to get the right one and apply it the right way. Check out these tips for using concealer to find the one that’s perfect for you:

Just like foundation, there are various types of concealers. You’ll find cream, liquid, stick, and even powder concealers. I prefer liquid and stick concealers because they tend to provide more coverage and allow for you to add layers if need be. Cream and powder concealers don’t easily cover healing blemishes or dry skin, and they have the tendency to sit on fine lines instead of settling into them.

When choosing a concealer color, there’s a common myth that you should choose something two shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Sometimes using too light of a concealer just makes anything you’re trying to hide stand out even more. It’s best to find something that matches your skin. There are also color correcting concealers, which can be intimidating because they’re brightly colored, but they’re fantastic for covering up blemishes. Use a green concealer to tone down redness, purple to tone down yellow, pink to tone down blue, and yellow to turn down dark spots or circles.

I use different concealers for different tasks because, well, not all concealers are created equally. Under my eyes, I use a light stick concealer that allows me to draw a triangle shape (way better than dots!) to cover up dark circles. For blemishes, I use liquid concealer and layer until I’m satisfied with the color.

There are multiple ways to apply concealer from using your fingers to a brush to a sponge. While fingers are the easiest, you should only use them if your hands are super clean. Don’t ever apply makeup with dirty hands! I find most people use their fingers when applying concealer under their eyes, but make sure you use your ring finger. It’s not as strong as your other fingers and is better to use on delicate areas like your eyes. The best way to apply concealer for any area is to use a combination of a brush and a sponge. Take a concealer brush (usually small and dense) and apply concealer to the area. Layer if necessary. Then use a sponge to blend the concealer out so it looks more natural. Then set the area with a finishing powder and brush.

If you want to cover up dark circles or under eye bags, apply concealer before foundation. If you’re covering zits or red marks, apply concealer after foundation because your foundation may take care of coverage already. If you don’t wear foundation, make sure you thoroughly blend out your concealer so it doesn’t look like you’re patchy. Then set with a finishing powder on top.

For more information on Concealers, be sure to check out ITG's best concealer article!

What are your concealer secrets? I would love to hear your thoughts.

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