What is concealer and how can it help you?

The main purpose of concealer is that it can be applied underneath the foundation so that it evens out dark circles under the eyes, blemishes on the skin and uneven skin tone. When the concealer has done its job, the foundation applied after will look smooth and even.

There are three main types of concealer which are the liquid type, powder and the stick form. The liquid concealer is versatile enough to tackle big or small areas and usually comes in a pen style which makes it easy to transport with you wherever you go in case you need an emergency touch up! This is good for most skin types as it can glide on easily with oily skin types and add a bit of moisturise into dry skin types.

Powder concealer is good for large areas as it is easy to apply and it can even out skin tone so there is an even base to start from. This is good for oily skin as the powder dries up the skin. Finally the stick concealers are good for zoning in on a small problem area as they can give a big concentration of colour to cover spots for example. This is also great for under the eyes as it can help moisturise the skin.

As with most cosmetics, there are a great variation of concealers so you need to know what you are looking for and how it can benefit your make up routine before you get started on the hunt for the perfect one. You should firstly consider the consistency and the colour of the products as if you want to cover dark circles under the eyes then you need a product that has major coverage. However, if you want a product that covers an intense blemish on your skin then you will need a more concentrated version of the concealer. The thicker the concentration of the product the better it is as covering imperfections.

To ensure that you buy a concealer that corrects uneven colouring in your face remember that green and yellow helps cover up red areas of the skin whereas pink and yellow are good for neutralising and evening out dark circles under your eye.

You can check all the above in the shop before you decide to purchase by testing the product on a patch of skin on your neck or ear. Make sure that the colour is lighter than your foundation but not so light that it won’t blend in with the rest of your make up. The correct concealer should match the undertones of your skin so yellow toned products are best for under eye bags and circles, whereas orange based tones blend best into darker or black skin. An ideal concealer is one that matches your skin colour (remember that this will change dependant on the season!) as it is the colour that will cover up what you don’t wish to be seen!

The correct way to apply concealer:

When applying concealer, be careful not to apply too much otherwise it can highlight the area that you are trying to cover up! Apply several dots under your eyes and then rub in with your finger (without rubbing it too hard, in fact more of a tapping motion!). Then apply to other parts of your face that need cover up such as the chin, the nose and the mouth. Check out this video for a visual lesson in how to apply concealer: