Concealer 101

Here are the questions I get most often about concealers- a confusing (and often misused) makeup.

What is concealer?

It’s basically a more pigment-dense version of foundation used to hide small discolored areas around the eyes and face when foundation alone doesn’t offer enough coverage.

Can you use one concealer for face and under eyes?

Maybe, if your under eye circles aren’t too severe but concealers meant for under eyes have an orangey hue which counteracts the bluish tone most circles have so you wouldn’t want to use an under eye concealer on the face. I like Eve Pearl’s Salmon Concealer for dark circles, it’s creamy and has the right amount of orange to perfectly disguise darkness- it’s what I use daily. Concealer for the face is more yellow based and made to hide redness and discolorations so it could look chalky or weird around the eyes if you have a lot of darkness.

Do I need to use concealer?

Not if you don’t have any redness or areas of discoloration that a foundation can’t hide. Larger areas ( like melasma) would be covered with foundation (Dermablend is a good one for big time coverage.) Concealer is used for smaller areas like blemishes, old scars, or spotting. If you don’t have any of that (you’re lucky!), then you probably don’t need the added step. The less foundation and concealer you use, the more natural (and youthful) your complexion looks.

What concealers do you like?

Cle De Peau is one I invest in. Yes it’s expensive ($70) but the one I have now has lasted nearly 2 years. It’s thick but also creamy so it’s easy to blend. Another one that has impressed me so much that I’ve bought it in two shades for my kit is Miracle Skin Transformer’s Treat and Conceal which is basically liquid skin in a tube. It melts into the blemish or discoloration leaving it looking so natural that its unreal. I’ve found that it also doubles as a perfect eye shadow primer as well as anything else. Consistency is key so steer clear of those too creamy (Bobbi Brown- I can never get it to blend in) or too dry (Laura Mercier’s face duos- totally useless.)

Cle De Peau

How do I apply concealer?

Warming and blending it into the skin is key. Use a brush meant for concealer to apply, then lightly press the makeup into the skin with your fingers until it isn’t obvious anymore. Creasing can naturally occur into fine lines under the eyes so it’s especially important to blend there. The idea is to get the makeup to look like skin and not like makeup just sitting on top of your face.