The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
If you're looking for a lighter-weight alternative to foundation but don't want to rely on a tinted moisturizer or CC cream, we recommend using concealer alone. It's true, with the right long-wearing or hydrating concealer formula, you'll be able to cover imperfections, even out and keep your complexion looking fresh.
Vein test: Look at the color of your wrist veins under natural light. Greenish-looking veins suggest a warm undertone, blue or purplish-looking veins indicate a cool undertone, and if your veins match your skin color, you most likely have a neutral undertone.
Select the right shade.
“You can't have a concealer that's too light,” she said, adding that women should choose concealer that's one to two shades lighter than the color of their foundation. “One to two shades … the right color blends itself. It makes a big difference."
If using concealer to highlight your facial features, apply a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. To contour, sculpt and add definition, apply a concealer that is 1 shade darker than your natural skin tone.
The first step to finding the perfect color is to select a concealer that fits your undertone. Your undertone is the color that lies below the surface of your skin. When you apply concealer, your undertone can still show through. If the product doesn't match your skin, it won't look right.
Foundation is meant to be used as a base for your makeup, while concealer is meant to cover up blemishes or dark circles. You can use a bit of concealer on top of your foundation to help with any problem areas.
The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
"Always go a shade lighter than your foundation." The lighter tone will cancel out dark discoloration, but be careful not to go too fair. Concealers that are more than one shade lighter than your skin tone can leave you with a ghostly shadow. If you bought the wrong color, there's a quick fix.
While concealer for the general areas of your face should match your skin tone, under-eye concealer should be one or two shades lighter than your natural coloring. Using a lighter concealer for your eye area helps cover up under-eye circles and creates a brightening effect.
Apply as needed
Less is more when you're spot-concealing sans foundation. "Use your ring fingers to tap concealer on under the eye," recommends Vincent. "A brush can be used, but the warmth of your finger will be better at melting the product into your skin, creating a more imperceptible coverage."
Concealer is extremely versatile, and can be used to spot treat, to conceal dark circles, as foundation, as contour, and even as a tinted moisturizer.
We love foundation, but we don't always feel like putting on a full face of it. And you don't have to! Concealer works just as well when you want some all over coverage. It whisks away the bad and leaves you with skin that's glowing, fresh and “un-made up”.
Some people prefer applying only concealer instead of wearing foundation. This approach allows you to spot-conceal small areas for a more natural look. It also requires less maintenance, which makes it a great option if you're low on time or want to minimize your makeup routine.
To achieve a flawless no foundation makeup look, you need to prioritize skincare. Having fresh, hydrated skin gives you inner radiance and makes your makeup look natural. If you feel tired in the morning, opt for a depuffing eye cream that will instantly freshen up your lids, smooth out skin and keep fine lines at bay.
This is one of the most key facets of how to apply concealer, so listen up: You also don't want to put concealer all over your face—that's what foundation is for. Stick with applying it on key spots only—which we'll break down more as we go.
The simplest solution for dark foundation is to add a light concealer to the mix and blend it out. This is because the concealer we use under our eyes tends to be lighter.
If you're specifically looking to cover dark circles, you should instead choose color correctors in shades of red, pink, orange, or yellow, as these will help balance out the blue hue of under-eye circles.
MYTH: You should always use a concealer one shade lighter than your foundation. Truth: If your goal is to brighten dark circles, then yes, choose a lighter concealer. But for blemishes or scars, you need a yellow-based shade as close as possible to that of your foundation.
Use concealer at the very end.
Just like you wait to apply concealer after your eyeshadow, you'll want to make it the last step when applying tinted moisturizer, too. According to Restrepo, this will help your concealer stay put.
Pro Tip: Apply foundation first you're less likely to be heavy-handed in your concealer application. This helps your makeup base look more natural.