10 commandments of concealer

We all love and use concealer in our daily beauty routine to cover up dark circles, eye bags, blemishes and even uneven skin tone - it's a beauty staple we won't be missing anytime soon. By now, you probably know which concealer is best for your under eye area and which one is perfect for covering imperfections, but are you buying the right shades and applying them the right way? Below we share 10 unbreakable concealer rules that will literally get you covered. 

1. PREPARE THE SKIN

All masterpieces start with a blank canvas, so follow suit. Create a concealer base by moisturizing your skin with a primer or moisturizer and letting it soak in for a few minutes. The last thing you want to see is your makeup settling into eye wrinkles or dry patches on your cheeks, and proper pre-moisturizing can help prevent this.

2. CHOOSE YOUR HUE SMARTLY 

It seems obvious, but choosing a shade that is too dark or too light for your skin tone will look… wrong. Not to mention that everyone will be able to say that this is unnatural, and no one wants this! To find your ideal concealer shade, we recommend testing a few different colors on your skin before doing so, and retesting your skin tone throughout the year as skin tone can change with the seasons.

3. BUY MULTIPLE SHADES 

On that note, your complexion won't stay the same throughout the season. In the summertime - especially if you're wearing a tanned glow - you may need a darker shade than in the winter. Keep a few shades of concealer on hand to keep your complexion looking as natural as possible. Better yet, buy two separate shades and mix them together to create an intermediate shade that you can use when your skin tone is a bit more bronzed.

4. DON'T BE AFRAID TO FLOW RIGHT

When it comes to shades, don't limit yourself to just light, medium, and dark. Open the color wheel and choose a color concealer to help correct your skin tone, from dark circles to pimples. For refreshment: green masks redness, purple neutralizes yellow undertones, and peach/pink masks bluish undertones (such as dark circles under the eyes).

Check out our color grading guide for more helpful tips on choosing a hue.!

5. SEQUENCE IS IMPORTANT 

Concealer consistency is key when it comes to achieving a natural result. If you're covering redness and blemishes, you'll want a thick, highly pigmented formula that doesn't require a ton of layers to get the job done. But do not use the same rich consistency, for example, in the inner corner of the eye, where a clear liquid is best. For delicate skin under the eyes, use a creamy formula (bonus points if it contains light-reflecting pigments) that blends well.

6. CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCT (FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE)

Now that we've covered shade and consistency, it's time to choose the perfect concealer for your skin type. For dark circles try L'Oreal True Match. Available in nine shades, this easily blendable concealer can help cover up circles and bags for an even skin tone under the eyes. For acne we like Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer, a 2-in-1 concealer and corrector packed with antioxidants to help fight blemishes and imperfections on the skin's surface. To improve complexion and erase signs of fatigue, use Yves Saint Laurent Beauty Touche Eclat, a lightweight formula loved by top makeup artists around the world. As always, make sure the product is safe for your skin type!

7. MAINTAIN ORDER 

There is no hard and fast rule as to when to apply concealer, as you can technically apply it yourself. However, we recommend that you use it after applying foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer to make sure it doesn't move too much. Applying concealer before full face makeup can lubricate the skin and reduce concealer coverage. Follow this sequence: first primer, then foundation, and then concealer. 

For more information on the correct order for applying skin care products, read this..

8. Use it with loose powder

Once your concealer is applied, you want it to stay where it belongs without wrinkling or smudging throughout the day. To take the concealer one step further, apply a little loose translucent powder like Ultra Definition Naked Skin Urban Decay Loose Finishing Powder- by area. Some setting powders not only prolong the wear of makeup, but also help to remove shine and even out skin tone.

9. CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRUSH

If you're used to applying concealer to your pimple with your fingertips, stop now. You don't want to bring new dirt and bacteria from your fingertips into this area. For hard to reach areas like the corners of the eyes and blemishes, use a tapered brush for more precision. For large areas, a thick brush will apply the most product. Just remember to clean your brushes regularly to keep bacteria at bay.

10. LIGHTING IS EVERYTHING

Take this from someone who has applied concealer in the dark too many times and failed too many times, make sure you apply concealer in good light - seriously. Enter a room filled with natural light (it may not be your bathroom) so you can make sure all problem areas are hidden and blended the way they should be and look natural as soon as you step outside.