15
June
How to Apply Concealer
How to Apply Concealer - The Ultimate Guide for Flawless Skin
Concealer is a makeup essential that can transform your look by hiding imperfections, brightening your complexion, and enhancing your natural beauty. Whether you're dealing with dark circles, blemishes, or redness, knowing how to apply concealer correctly can make all the difference.
In this guide, we'll explore the best techniques and tips for applying concealer based on your skin type, and share insights from top makeup artists to help you achieve a flawless finish.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Concealer
1. Choose the Right Concealer
Choosing the correct concealer for your skin type and specific concerns is crucial for a flawless finish.
Here’s how to pick the best one:
Types of Concealers:
Liquid Concealers: Ideal for most skin types, especially normal, oily, and combination skin. Great for under-eye circles and light blemishes.
Cream Concealers: Provide heavier coverage, perfect for dry or sensitive skin. Best for covering significant discolouration or scars.
Stick Concealers: Convenient for touch-ups, suitable for normal to dry skin. Excellent for spot concealing. Ensure to blend concealer adequately to avoid harsh lines.
Powder Concealers: Ideal for oily skin types. Can be used to set liquid or cream concealers.
Choosing Based on Skin Type:
Normal Skin: Can handle most concealer types. Focus on the specific skin concern (e.g., dark circles, blemishes).
Dry Skin: Opt for hydrating formulas containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin.
Oily Skin: Use oil-free, mattifying concealers with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Combination Skin: Use different concealers for different areas of your face if needed. For best results, apply your concealer with precision.
Sensitive Skin: Choose hypoallergenic, fragrance-free formulas with soothing ingredients such as chamomile or aloe vera.
2. Prepping Your Skin for Concealer
Proper skin preparation ensures that your concealer goes on smoothly and lasts all day. Here’s a step-by-step skincare routine to follow:
Skincare Routine:
Cleansing: Start with a gentle cleanser to remove impurities and excess oil.
Moisturizing: Hydrate your skin with a suitable moisturizer to prevent dryness and flakiness, ensuring that your concealer stays in place.
Priming: Apply a primer tailored to your skin type. For oily skin, use a mattifying primer. For dry skin, use a hydrating primer.
3. Using the Right Tools
Using the right tools can make a significant difference in how your concealer looks and lasts:
Tools for Application:
Brushes: Use a small, dense brush for precision application on blemishes or targeted areas.
Sponges: Use a damp makeup sponge for a seamless, natural blend, especially under the eyes.
Fingers: Use your ring finger for gentle tapping and blending, ideal for the delicate under-eye area.
Importance of Using the Right Products:
Hydrating Serums: For dry skin, to boost moisture levels.
Mattifying Primers: For oily skin, to control shine and oil production.
4. Advanced Concealer Tips
Concealer Hacks for a Flawless Look:
Highlighting and Contouring: Use lighter shades to highlight and darker shades to contour.
Using Concealer as a Foundation: Blend over the entire face for a natural look.
"A great concealer is like a magic wand in your makeup kit. It can instantly brighten, correct, and lift your entire look." - Pat McGrath
Products for Concealer
What to Use Before and After Concealer
To ensure that your concealer application looks smooth and lasts throughout the day, it's essential to use complementary products before and after applying concealer.
Before Concealer:
Primers: Primers are crucial for preparing your skin and creating a smooth canvas for concealer and foundation. They help to fill in pores and fine lines, control oil production, and ensure that your makeup stays put for longer. Choose an appropriate foundation and concealer to achieve a flawless look. Remember to apply the foundation first for best results. Choose a primer based on your skin type:
Hydrating Primers: For dry skin, use a hydrating primer that provides moisture and creates a dewy base.
Mattifying Primers: For oily skin, opt for a mattifying primer that controls shine and reduces oil.
Pore-Filling Primers: For combination skin, use a primer that minimizes the appearance of pores.
After Concealer:
Foundations: Foundations help to create an even base for your makeup, making your skin tone uniform. They work in harmony with concealers to cover imperfections and enhance your natural beauty. Apply foundation before concealer for general coverage, then use concealer for more targeted correction.
Liquid Foundations: Suitable for most skin types, providing buildable coverage.
Powder Foundations: Ideal for oily skin, offering a matte finish.
Setting Powders: Setting powders is essential to lock in your concealer and prevent it from creasing or fading throughout the day. They help absorb excess oil and keep your makeup in place.
Translucent Setting Powders: These powders are colourless and can be used on any skin tone to set makeup without adding extra coverage.
Tinted Setting Powders: These provide additional coverage and can help to colour-correct or enhance your skin tone, especially around the eye area.
Recommended Products Depending on Skin Type
Here are some highly recommended concealers for different skin types:
Dry Skin:
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: This concealer is known for its hydrating formula, providing a radiant finish that doesn't settle into fine lines. It’s perfect for adding moisture to dry skin while offering buildable coverage.
Oily Skin:
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: This oil-free concealer provides natural coverage without clogging pores. It controls shine and stays matte throughout the day, making it ideal for oily skin.
Combination Skin:
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer: This concealer offers full coverage and has a long-lasting formula that works well on different areas of combination skin. It hydrates dry areas and controls oil in more oily zones.
Sensitive Skin:
BareMinerals BarePro 16-Hour Full Coverage Concealer: Formulated with skin-soothing ingredients, this concealer is hypoallergenic and free from parabens, making it perfect for sensitive skin. It provides full coverage and has a creamy texture that blends seamlessly.
Common Concealer Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
To achieve a flawless concealer application, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can hinder the overall look of your makeup.
1. Over-application:
Mistake: Applying too much concealer can lead to a cakey and unnatural finish.
Solution: Use a minimal amount of product and build up coverage only where necessary. It’s easier to add more product than to remove excess.
2. Not Setting Properly:
Mistake: Skipping the setting step can cause the concealer to crease and fade quickly.
Solution: Always set your concealer with a translucent or tinted setting powder. Use a light hand and press the powder into the skin rather than sweeping it on to avoid moving the concealer underneath.
Additional Tips for Concealer Application
Achieving a flawless concealer application requires more than just knowing the right techniques; it also involves adjusting your routine based on the season and maintaining overall skin health. Here’s how to ensure your concealer looks perfect year-round:
Seasonal Adjustments
Summer:
Lighter Formulas: During the hotter months, our skin tends to produce more oil and sweat, which can cause makeup to slide off or feel heavy. Opt for lightweight, breathable concealers that won’t clog pores or contribute to excessive oiliness.
Recommendation: Choose oil-free, water-based concealers that offer a natural finish. Products like the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer are great for summer as they are lightweight and provide good coverage without feeling heavy on the skin.
Application Tip: Set your concealer with a mattifying powder to keep it in place and reduce shine throughout the day.
Winter:
Richer Formulas: In the colder months, skin tends to become drier due to low humidity and indoor heating. Using a richer, more hydrating concealer can help combat dryness and keep your skin looking fresh and dewy.
Recommendation: Look for concealers with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or natural oils. The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is an excellent choice for winter as it provides hydration and a radiant finish.
Application Tip: Ensure your skin is well-moisturized before applying concealer. You might also consider using a hydrating primer to add an extra layer of moisture.
Maintaining Skin Health
Keeping your skin healthy is fundamental for a smooth concealer application. Healthy skin ensures that makeup sits better and lasts longer. Here are key aspects to consider:
Hydration:
Importance: Hydrated skin helps maintain elasticity and prevents the appearance of fine lines and dryness, which can make concealer look patchy.
How to Hydrate: Use a daily moisturizer suitable for your skin type. For extra hydration, consider using a hydrating serum with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or aloe vera.
Product Tip: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is a lightweight moisturizer that provides long-lasting hydration without feeling greasy.
Sun Protection (SPF):
Importance: Protecting your skin from UV damage is crucial not only for preventing premature ageing and dark spots but also for ensuring an even skin tone that makes concealer application smoother.
How to Protect: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen should be applied as the last step in your skincare routine before makeup.
Product Tip: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen SPF 60 is a great option that provides high protection without leaving a white cast.
Start experimenting with different techniques and don't forget to consider professional training to further sharpen your skills.
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FAQ
What is the best technique to use concealer?
Answer: Tap softly in a delicate stippling motion. This applies whether you use a brush, a sponge, or your finger--a gently dabbing motion will allow your concealer to blend in effortlessly.
Do you use concealer before or after foundation?
Answer: While most experts advocate applying a light layer of foundation before concealer, we recognize that there are times when using concealer first is beneficial, such as while being shot. If your concealer and foundation shades do not match. If you're colour-fixing discolouration, ensure you choose the correct shade of concealer.
How do you determine your concealer shade?
Answer: When it comes to picking the ideal concealer colour, opt for one that is the same shade as your skin tone to hide any imperfections on your face, and then go one or two shades lighter for the undereye region.
Where should I put concealer for a natural look?
Answer: To contour your face, use a full-coverage concealer in your selected shade. Apply it in stripes down the sides of your nose, below your cheekbones, at your temples, and around your jawline, then blend with a makeup sponge.
Is concealer intended to be light or dark?
Answer: While concealer for the rest of your face should match your skin tone, under-eye concealer should be one or two shades lighter than your natural hue. Using a lighter concealer under your eyes helps to disguise under-eye circles and gives a brightening impact.
Can Concealer be Used Without Primer?
Answer: While it is feasible to apply concealer without primer, the results may differ. Using a primer beneath concealer has various advantages, including enhanced longevity, easier application, and better adherence to the skin.