Concealer is an essential step for a flawless make-up look. Most of us can benefit from a little bit of well applied concealer to hide minor flaws like blemishes, redness, pigmentation, and dark circles under the eyes.
If you are lucky enough to have even skin without any of these concerns, you can skip this step and just use a light coverage foundation. The array of concealers available can make choosing the correct product difficult, and sometimes owning a few different products is necessary to treat different areas of the face.
Concealing under the eyes
Dark circles under the eyes are caused by a number of different factors including genetics, thin skin (which reveals blue veins), and tiredness. The structure of the eye can also cause shadowing underneath. The aim here is to correct the darkness and blue tones under the eye, using a concealer about one shade lighter than skin. However, be careful not to go too light. Peach toned concealers are excellent to cancel out blue tones - Bobbi Brown does a great range.
Concealing blemishes
Yellow based concealers will counteract redness caused by blemishes. Choose a concealer in the exact same shade as your skin tone. Before you conceal a blemish, put on an antiseptic product like Crystacide or Clearasil to treat the blemish; let this dry before applying concealer.
How and when to apply concealer
Apply under-eye concealer before foundation, using either fingertips or a small brush. Use a patting motion to deposit a small amount of product rather than trying to rub it in. Avoid using greasy eye creams before application as these will cause concealer to sit in the creases and lines around the eye. Setting your concealer with a tiny bit of loose powder on an eye shadow brush will keep it in place, and help prevent it sitting in lines. Illuminating concealers such as those in pen brush applicators are great to bright up the eye area, but won’t provide much coverage. A creamier, thicker product will work better for this purpose.
Cover blemishes or other imperfections after applying foundation. Use a tiny amount of product and again, pat on with a brush or fingertips. Often a few thin layers will be needed for areas with a lot of redness. Set with a tiny amount of loose powder, pressing on the area with a sponge or puff. This step is important to stop your concealer from shifting or slipping. Slightly drier textured concealers are perfect for blemishes.
Article by Stephanie Coulter
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