What is concealer?! Concealer is an amazing product that gives you a fresh and rejuvenated look within a matter of seconds! There are quite literally *thousands* of concealers out there. This is when it can become extremely difficult for a makeup beginner to determine what to look for. Choosing a concealer involves your skin type and a few other factors. Don’t fear! By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly what concealer is and what you should specifically look for.
What Is Concealer?!
A great question…what does concealer actually do?! Concealer is a product that helps to brighten certain parts of your face resulting in a radiant and rejuvenated finish. It is typically applied on top of foundation to brighten and conceal dark areas/imperfections around your face.
Concealer is available in both liquid and cream forms. Typically, it is 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone. It’s an amazing product, that’s crucial for any makeup look!
What Should I Look For In Concealer?!
Concealer truly varies in what it can offer, it’s up to you to purchase one specified for your needs! Makeup beginners often get confused in this step, all the brands and products make it difficult to choose what will work. Typically you should keep in mind to purchase one based on your skin type and what finish you are going for in your everyday makeup look.
Not to worry! Below is a small guide on what to look for the next time your purchase a concealer based on your skin type.
Dry skin: Those with dry skin will need a concealer that provides hydration and a dewy finish. This is the best option to prevent pilling and patchiness. For hydration, it’s important to look for ingredients such as peptides, hyaluronic acid, and aloe. Read the complete guide to makeup for dry skin here!
Oily Skin: On the other hand, if you have oily skin you’re going to require formulas that are matte which will prevent oil and shine. A long-wear formula is also great to prevent makeup from slipping off your face. Read the complete guide to makeup for oily skin here!
Combo Skin: This is when it can become a little trickier because you’re not only working with one skin type but two! Combo skin usually requires long wear and matte formulas. To quickly figure out what will work for you, try out both matte and dewy formulas. Test each for a few days and observe how they hold up. It’s rare, but occasionally brands will actually have a concealer for combo skin. If not, try out what was mentioned above and return the other one once you know which one will work! Read the complete guide to makeup for combo skin here!
Commonly Asked Questions
How do I choose a concealer?
- The rule of thumb is to go 2-3 shades lighter than your foundation. Concealer should always be brighter than your foundation to help you achieve the bright rejuvenated look it’s made for.
Do you put concealer or foundation first?
- Great question! For beginners, it’s advised to apply foundation and then concealer. But, if you want more coverage try applying concealer first. You’ll be surprised by how much coverage it gives!
Where Do I Apply concealer? / Where do you put concealer on your face?
Here’s where to apply concealer: Remember to use the damp beauty blender to blend everything in for a flawless base!
- Three lines in the middle of your forehead: This is going to illuminate your face.
- The bridge of your nose: This can help with being able to contour your nose.
- Under your eyes: For those looking and wanting to hide dark circles, you can do upside-down triangles, giving you full coverage.
- Around your nose: This can help with hiding redness, I have some around my nose and concealer helps with being able to hide that.
- Chin: This helps with being able to illuminate your face.
- Any blemishes: Concealer is perfect for hiding any blemishes, simply apply a small amount of concealer and pat the concealer onto your skin.
Learn more about where to apply concealer and how here!
How do you apply concealer for beginners?
- Apply a small amount under your eyes and with a foundation or concealer brush and pat the concealer until it’s all blended in. Read the complete guide on how to apply concealer here!
What should you not do when applying concealer?
- Pat and do not drag! We have found that dragging concealer mixes with foundation results in a *not so bright* finish. For best results, gently pat to blend.
Should concealer go on eyelids?
- Concealer surprisingly works as an AMAZING base for eyeshadow! Make sure to apply a tiny amount, otherwise, the concealer will mix with the eyeshadow and ruin it.
Do you need foundation if you use concealer?
- No! That’s the beauty of makeup, it’s up to you and what you’re comfortable with. If you want more coverage, then a foundation would be a good idea, but it’s unnecessary.
That’s all you need to know about concealer! From which is best for your skin type, to what the commonly asked questions are and the answers to them. Be sure to subscribe to the Beginners Guide To Makeup for more! Check out The Basics for more content like this.
