Why wet your sponge? A dry sponge is super absorbent, so wetting the sponge ensures the product won't get all soaked up by the tool before it reaches your face.
According to Elasmar, all Beautyblenders should be used damp, and this is essentially a non-negotiable, “Your Beautyblender should always be used wet. You'll know your Beautyblender is in perfect condition when it has expanded to twice its original size,” she adds.
Sponges: Best for buildable coverage
The makeup is long-lasting, has an almost flawless finish, and is buildable. To get the most out of your beauty sponge, always moisten it before using it. This will ensure that the product is applied and distributed evenly.
To “bake your makeup” means to let your concealer sit on your face for 10 to 20 minutes before blending it, so that your own body heat enables the makeup to melt into your skin and cause it to change color and texture. This allows for the concealer to be blended more easily for a flawless coverage.
With a brush, you just cannot get a dewy finish. It is very difficult to spread the foundation and concealer uniformly over the skin. However, with a makeup sponge, you can apply them smoothly and get a very flawless natural look.
The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
According to Ma, the texture of your concealer affects how much it will crease. Dry concealers tend to crease more because they are less flexible and can cling to the folds of your skin. "I tend to go for light and creamy textured ones," she explains.
The number one cause of cakey makeup is layering on too much product. When you really cake on the product, it'll be all too obvious that that's what you did, so make sure that you're sheering it out. And try to use your hand as a palette and then start to manipulate the product on your face.
Don't rub the concealer into your skin; doing so could cause smearing or produce a cakey effect. Hack: Wait 5 minutes for your concealer to set before blending it with the rest of your makeup. This helps achieve smooth, even coverage.
Loose powder over top of concealer helps to set it in place and goes one step further to even out skin tone—especially under your eyes. Simply use a translucent powder with a large, fluffy brush to sweep powder over the concealer.
This month, TikTok's makeup artists are obsessed with what they have coined 'concealer geometry': strategically drawing little triangle shapes under the eyes, at the outer edge of the nose and at the side of the lower lip.
DON'T OVER-APPLY
Instead, apply a thin layer of concealer to start. You can always add a little more if necessary. 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.
Mistake #10: Your Concealer Is Too Heavy
The key is to use more lightweight formulas and apply sparingly to avoid creasing and caking. This especially applies to under-eye concealer. Says Koutikas, "Too much coverage can bring an aging appearance to the skin and can highlight wrinkles and lines in this delicate area.
To avoid drawing unwanted attention to the area, many makeup artists would recommend not applying too much, if any, foundation around the eye. Instead, they suggest using a hydrating, lightweight concealer that has been designed specifically for the under eye area.
Concealer that's too dark or too light for your face will inevitably make you look tired. The fix: Apply it in a well-lit room to make sure that it looks natural. And whenever you test a new product, use a hand mirror to see how it looks in different rooms with varied lighting.
Wrong shade
If you are using a shade that is too light, you'll literally be shining a spotlight on your under eye area, wrinkles and all. If you are using a shade that is too dark, it will just look awkward and out of place. The fix: I like to use just 1 shade lighter at most.