Fashion
Super Helpful Tips For Using Your Concealer
Concealer is one of those products that works like magic when used correctly, but if used incorrectly, can kind of make you look like you got ready in the dark. It's why having a few genius concealer hacks can make a world of difference in your beauty routine.
I used to never really use concealer, thinking it was one of those extra getting-ready steps that wouldn't make any noticeable difference. Cut to a makeup-savvy friend doing my makeup before a big event and I realized I had been wrong. Way wrong. I now appreciate concealer so much that I would say it's one of the products I use most often — and often by itself. However, there admittedly was a learning-curve period where I sometimes looked a little like a reverse raccoon (especially in pictures), but I've thankfully settled into a basic concealer routine that works super well and always helps to brighten my overall complexion.
If you're new to the concealer game, or are just interested in picking up a few tips, here are eight hacks that should help.
1. Apply It In A Triangle
Professional makeup artist Megan Dugan shows us how to correctly apply concealer to our undereye region in this video from her YouTube channel MDMAmakeup. It makes for a super well-blended, non-raccoon eye finished effect.
2. Use A Makeup Sponge
In this tutorial from Real Techniques, professional makeup artist Sam Chapman shows us how using a makeup applicator sponge creates super blended coverage for your whole face, as well as specific problem areas. Jump to 01:40 for specific tips for using a sponge to help conceal your under eye area.
3. Match It To Your Skin Tone
In a guide for using concealer on Total Beauty, celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic said the number one mistake he sees women make when applying concealer is not matching the shade to their skin tone. "When the concealer is too dark, setting it with powder will only make it darker, which makes the spot you're trying to cover look like a muddy patch of skin," he said. So take the time to find a concealer that truly matches your skin.
4. Embrace Color Theory
6 Color Concealer & Corrector Palette, $5, bhcosmetics.com
Dedivanovic also said to use a peachy or orange-y concealer for your under eye area in order to neutralize the bluish and purple tones. He also then recommended a concealer with a greenish hugh specifically for pimples, as that will neutralize pinks and reds. It might sound like a lot of products, but it will definitely help create a super flawless complexion.
5. "Bake" Your Concealer
This tutorial from professional makeup artist Heidi Hamound shows you how to "bake" your concealer so that it sets extremely well and doesn't crease in your under eye area. The technique may look intense, but it's actually super easy and doesn't take very long.
6. You Can Use Your Concealer As A Highlighter
Cosmo's assistant beauty editor Brooke Shunatona noted that you can always use your concealer as a highlighter when needed. She especially recommended applying it just over and under your brow line for a super bright eye area.
7. Foundation Can Work In A Pinch
Clinique 'Stay Matte' Oil-Free Makeup, $21.60, Nordstrom.com
Shunatona also suggested using slightly-dried foundation for concealer in a pinch. She said to dab a little foundation on the area you need to conceal, and that, "The trick is to wait until the foundation dries and thickens a bit (it will eventually reach the consistency of concealer) before trying to blend it. If you blend it too soon, the foundation will be sheer and rub off, leaving you with very little coverage."
8. Invest In Oil-Free Products
Revlon PhotoReady Concealer Makeup, $9.99, Drugstore.com
This is a personal tip that I've picked up from several years of concealer use. My skin runs a little oily around the nose, but that's also an area where I like to conceal redness. I've found that oil-free products conceal well but don't add any extra sheen to those already shiny areas.
Concealer is an awesome tool in your makeup arsenal. Just make sure you know the tricks and trips for using it correctly, and you'll seriously be amazed at how much it can do to create a bright and flawless complexion.
