How to Apply Concealer Correctly

Concealer can do wonders to transform dull skin, cover under-eye circles and lessen blemishes and scars; but, when applied improperly, its results can become patchy and cakey.

Selecting the ideal shade is critical. Swipe color along your jawline until you find one (or seek assistance at the makeup counter). Liquid products should always be applied first before powder foundation.

1. Use Your Fingers

Concealer is one of the essential makeup products, used to cover dark circles, cover blemishes and contour your face. Finding a concealer that suits both your skin type and application method is key for getting an flawless finish.

Birchbox suggests using your fingertips when applying concealer. Your body heat helps warm the formula, helping it blend in seamlessly with the rest of your face and help it blend more naturally into place.

Simply ensure your hands are clean – any germs or dirt on them could make blemishes look worse! When applying concealer with a brush, choose either a soft-bristled beauty sponge or a stippling brush which doesn’t pick up too much product so that you can control how much product goes on at one time.

2. Use A Brush

Concealer is an essential makeup item we can’t live without; it provides the ideal solution to cover blemishes, blur imperfections and correct pigmentation issues. While you can use your fingers to blend concealer onto the skin, we highly suggest purchasing a concealer brush for easier and more precise application.

A concealer brush allows you to work in thin layers and blend more seamlessly, and for highlighting, use a lighter than your natural skin tone concealer product on top of cheekbones and jawline for an enhanced chiseled appearance.

Reminder: Always apply liquid and cream products prior to powder foundation in order to achieve an even and long-term application of makeup. Once applied, set it with a setting powder similar to your skin tone (you could even opt for translucent powder to prevent cakeyness) using either a fluffy brush or face puff for application.

3. Use Thin Layers

Concealers have long been an essential makeup essential, serving to cover pimples, conceal dark under eye circles and correct pigmentation issues.

Application is key when it comes to concealer application – the aim is for it to do its job without looking cakey or overdone, with shades that match the tone of your skin tone perfectly.

As well as having different concealer shades in your arsenal – pink and salmon for fair-skinned girls; peach and orange for olive or darker complexions – it’s also wise to have thin layers of concealer available, only applying where necessary (over-applying can lead to caky under eye shadow). Don’t forget a light dusting of face powder will ensure that your concealer won’t budge!

4. Dot On

While it’s tempting to apply heavy coverage in an attempt to cover up a blemish, too much concealer could actually draw more attention to that area. Instead, apply thin layers with either your fingertip or sponge; use liquid concealers such as MAC’s Luminous Brightening Concealer which provide light-to-medium coverage while blending seamlessly for a natural appearance.

Use of too much concealer can emphasize fine lines and wrinkles, making you appear older than you are. To combat this problem, TikTok users love the three-dot hack – simply dot concealer where it is necessary.

Be mindful not to look too over-done by always applying foundation before concealer, which creates an even base that prevents caking or creasing throughout the day.

5. Blend

Concealers should work to make your skin appear flawless rather than mask it. From creamy formulas designed for under-eye circles to full coverage matte formulas intended to cover imperfections, proper application is key for creating an impressive finish.

Patinkin advises against following tutorials that instruct viewers to apply a V shape with concealer under their eye, as she finds this method too much product. Instead, she recommends applying just a tiny dab (roughly equivalent to the size of a pinhead) of concealer before using a damp beauty sponge to blend.

She suggests picking the appropriate shade to compliment your skin tone, such as pink for fair-skinned people, salmon for medium complexions and peaches or orange hues for olive or darker-toned people. Once selected, she recommends setting it with setting powder using either a puff or brush to complete your look.