How To Choose The Right Concealer – Tips On Shades And Formulas
Tips to help you pick the right shade that matches your skin undertone perfectly
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Angela Jackson is a Maryland board-certified cosmetologist with over 28 years of experience. She received her cosmetology education from Dudley Beauty College in Washington, DC. She has trained under various hair and makeup artists and serv... more
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We all have made the mistake of choosing the wrong concealer at some point in our lives. However, it is a staple product in everyone’s makeup routine, and that is why you need to know how to choose a concealer shade that complements your skin tone and complexion.
The main purpose of using a concealer is to camouflage your dark circles and blemishes and help you achieve flawless coverage. So, a general rule of thumb is always to go for a concealer based on your foundation shade. According to beauty experts, one should get two different shades of concealer — one lighter and one deeper than the foundation. Ahead, we will share some tips on how to pick the right concealer shade based on your skin tone. Keep reading!
Keep In Mind- Swatch Test: Swatch the concealer along your cheek and jawline or inside your wrist to get your perfect shade.
- Ingredients: Look for concealers with hydrating and soothing ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, and vitamin E for smooth application.
- Creasing: If your concealer creases around the outer corner of the eye, apply it only to the inner corner where your dark circles are more prominent. It will brighten the area while reducing the likelihood of creasing.
- Skin Concerns: Opt for liquid concealers to camouflage dark circles and stick or cream concealers for spot concealing and discoloration.
In This Article
How To Choose A Concealer Formula
Let’s begin with sheer basics. Choosing your concealer mainly depends on what works for your skin type and concerns. So, before you head out to buy a concealer, make sure you know what exactly you’re looking for.
Liquid Concealer
A liquid concealer is the most versatile of the lot. It’s perfect for normal, oily or combination skin type. It’s easy to apply, and its coverage is buildable, which ranges from light to full. Also, liquid concealers come in various finishes such as matte, dewy, and satin. This kind of concealer is also least likely to clog pores, so if you are someone with sensitive and acne-prone skin, I recommend you try one.
Quick TipCream Concealer
If you have dry or combination skin type, cream concealer will work well for you. Its coverage is buildable, ranging from medium to full. You can choose one with either a creamy finish or a satin finish. Their formula and consistency are great to conceal discolorations. Sometimes, cream concealers tend to crease when worn for long hours – you can prevent this by setting your concealer with some pressed powder.
If you are looking for a cream concealer, make sure you take a look at these amazing options: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, Bobbi Brown New Concealer Kit, and MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35.
Stick Concealer
Stick concealers are a blessing for dry and sensitive skin. These set into either a satin or powdery matte finish, depending on the product you choose. I found that this kind of concealer has buildable coverage ranging from medium to full.
The most popular stick concealers include Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer, Amazing Cosmetics Perfection Stick, and Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer.
Color Theory And Choosing The Right Concealer Shade For Every Skin Issue
‘What color concealer should I use?’ is a question that most girls ask. One thing that nobody tells you about concealer is that different skin concerns call for different colors and textures. To match your skin tone, choose a concealer shade that is half a shade lighter than your foundation shade. It’s essential to pay attention to words like “neutral,” “cool,” “warm”, and “beige.”
You can take full advantage of the color theory when it comes to concealers. On the color wheel, the colors across from each other on the spectrum are opposites. Hence they cancel each other out when used for color correction.
- Green is the opposite of red
- Orange is the opposite of blue
- Yellow is the opposite of purple
Let me simplify it further with a little more explanation.
Banish Your Dark Circles With Concealer
If your concern is dark circles, lean towards “warmer” shades to avoid obvious white circles around your eyes. Blue-tinged and purplish dark circles are best concealed using an orange to yellow based concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone. It will help mask the discoloration and brighten the skin under your eyes. On the other hand, if you have brownish dark circles, then use a peach, salmon or an orange based concealer.
Camouflage Blemishes And Redness Using Your Concealer
Green concealers are used to neutralize redness on your face – like blemishes, pigmentation, and red spots. You can also use it to cover up acne, scars, rashes, and angry red acne marks.
Did You Know?Conceal Dark Spots With Concealer
Orange and peach-based color correctors can be used along with your regular concealer to effectively cover dark spots caused by acne, aging, or sun damage and even for freckles, wrinkles, and fine lines. Purple and blue concealers can also help in correcting dark spots and hyperpigmentation and brightening skin by neutralizing dull or yellow undertones.
Covering Up Pimples With Concealer
To conceal pimples, it’s essential that your concealer has a thickish, dry consistency – you could use a cream concealer, and these usually come in a pot or a tube. To cancel out the redness of the zit, use a green color-correcting concealer before going in with your matching foundation and cream concealer.
If you’re curious to try out color-correcting palettes that work beautifully, you can take a look at the Bobbi Brown BBU palette, Stila Correct & Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette, and the NYX Color Correcting Palette. Make Up For Ever also has these color-correcting pots that you can buy in various shades to camouflage dark spots, redness, and other problems.
How To Conceal The Right Way?
Now the big question arises – concealer or foundation – what comes first?
Well, the answer is simple. It’s always best to apply your foundation all over before going in with your concealer.
But, if you are aiming to achieve utter perfection, there’s a step that comes before foundation, and that’s when color correcting concealers enter the picture.
Once you’ve color corrected and have the product in place, gently press the foundation and then your concealer using a makeup sponge. Pressing will ensure that your color correcting concealer has stayed in place. It’s also important to keep in mind that less is more – so use small amounts of corrector only where you need it. You can set your makeup using a pressed powder for it to last longer.
Concealer Hacks That Will Instantly Transform Your Makeup Game
These simple tricks will go a long way in giving you a flawless base, and they will completely transform your beauty routine. There’s only one thing you need – concealer!
1. Apply Concealer In Natural Light
Bad lighting is responsible for those days you thought your concealer matched your skin and it actually didn’t. The best place to test apply the concealer is near a sun-drenched window to let the natural light reveal how your concealer is performing.
2. Triangle Concealer Trick
Rather than dotting and swiping concealer along your under eye area, draw a triangle with your concealer and blend it out with a small concealer brush or a makeup sponge. This will help in completely covering the area, and it instantly creates the illusion that your face is lifted.
3. Concealer On Your Eyelids
If you don’t want to invest in eyeshadow primers, dab some concealer on your eyelids to prevent the shadow from falling off your lid or settling into creases. A concealer will work just as brilliantly as an eyeshadow primer.
4. Concealer For Trouble Spots On Your Body
A pimple on your back or chest can be easily covered with a little concealer that exactly matches your skin tone. Top it up with some translucent powder to prevent it from wearing off.
5. Make Your Lipstick Pop
I love wearing lipstick, and I’ve learned that one can prevent the color from bleeding by lining the outside of your lips with a fine tip brush and some concealer. This will also help in enhancing the shape of your lips, making them look poutier than ever.
6. Contouring And Highlighting With Concealer
With a concealer that’s two shades darker than your skin and one that’s two shades lighter than your skin, you can contour and highlight your face to amp your makeup game even further. Darker, shaded areas would include: top of forehead, temple areas, under the cheekbone, jawline, and down the sides of the nose. A pencil concealer will have more control of the placement – use the darker one to shade areas that are naturally shaded and the lighter concealer to highlight areas that naturally catch the light. To highlight, place lighter shade on the bridge of the nose, the upper cheek area, the center of the forehead, the chin, and the cupid’s bow of the lip.
7. Blot With A Tissue
Noticed your concealer getting cakey in the lines around your eyes? Take a tissue, split it into two layers and lightly blot the excess makeup. You’ll be surprised to see how well this one simple step works!
8. Highlight Your Eyebrows
A concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone can be used to highlight your eyebrows. This will give you an instant brow lift and will accentuate your eyes more!
9. Perfect Your Winged Eyeliner
We all make mistakes while getting the perfect winged eyeliner. In times of such crisis, dip an angled brush in concealer and carefully use it to cover any mistakes. It’s easier and way quicker than starting over!
Infographic: Choosing The Best Concealer For Your Skin
Are you ready for our refresher course on picking the right concealer? So often, we get so caught up in picking the right shade that we forget the most important aspect of choosing the best concealer – our skin type.
Check out the following infographic to learn about the concealers that work best for each skin type. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
I am sure you are amazed that the market is brimming with endless possibilities. Choose an oil-free product if you have oily skin and a fragrance-free and hypoallergenic product for sensitive skin. You can also look for other common tags like cruelty-free and long-lasting before you make your choice of concealer. From liquid and stick concealers to cream-based ones, you have it all. What you have to do is identify the right kind of product your skin requires. Since our article has sorted this for you, do not hold yourself back from hiding those blemishes and dark circles. Instead, try to understand the color theory, learn how to choose a perfect concealer shade, and get your desired look without any hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use concealer without foundation?
Yes, you can use concealer without foundation. But make sure you blend it well with a beauty blender to set the product well and give yourself a flawless finish.
Should your concealer be darker than skin?
No, the concealer should not be darker than your skin tone. Opt for a lighter shade of concealer compared to your natural skin tone.
Can I apply concealer with my fingers?
Yes, you can apply concealer with your fingers. It is a much easier and convenient method for precise application and blending.
Should I choose a concealer shade based on the color of my under-eye circles?
You can choose a concealer shade quite similar to your skin tone or one or two shades lighter based on the color of your under-eye circles.
Should concealer be lighter than foundation?
The general rule of thumb is that concealer should be one or two shades lighter than foundation as it will help you mask darker discoloration.
Key Takeaways
- Choose a non-comedogenic concealer formula; a liquid concealer might clog the pores of oily or sensitive skin types.
- Choose a warm-toned concealer to naturally hide your dark circles.
- If you have inflamed acne with redness, choose a green concealer.
- For spot correction, try orange or peach concealer.
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ShareCheck out this amazing video to see how different concealer shades can totally transform your look! Get ready to be amazed!
