How to Use Makeup Concealers

Make sure that your concealer brush is clean before every use.

Makeup concealer is used for a variety of reasons. Sometimes a person wakes up with dark circles under the eyes that need lightening. Other times, the skin needs some evening out or a blemish needs concealing. Whatever your reason for using a concealer, it's important to apply it properly. Whether you choose a liquid, solid or cream concealer, follow a few simple rules and techniques and your face will appear natural looking all day long.

Things You'll Need

• Soft, flat makeup brush
• Mirror
• Natural light

Instructions

1. Choose a solid, cream or liquid concealer, then find the right color in that medium. Look for shades that are lighter than your natural skin color. Most people have yellow skin undertones. Choose a concealer with yellow, olive and orange tones to best cover up the skin.

2. Dip your brush into the concealer bottle or roll the concealer onto your face, depending on the kind of concealer you chose. Use a small swipe of the brush. You can always add more as you go.

3. Place the brush directly under the eye area and gently sweep across. Start near the nose and work outward. Pat the concealer using the brush to smooth it out. Use a smooth circular motion to blend the concealer into your skin.

4. Add more concealer to the brush and place on blemishes around the face. Dot the blemish with the brush and gently smooth out the concealer over the area. If redness still appears, use a little more concealer and smooth out less.

5. Correct red skin or blotchiness by the nose. Place the concealer at the outer ends of the nose. Use the brush in a semi-circular motion to gently smooth out the concealer, until the skin tone is even. Move the brush gently up the nose everywhere that the redness appears.

6. Assess your face under natural light. Make sure that the concealer is well blended where it was applied. There shouldn't be any bright spots.

Tips & Warnings

• If you wear foundation makeup, your concealer should be one shade lighter than it.

• Use a sheer, translucent powder over the concealer to help blend and set the concealer onto your face.

• Using your fingers to smooth out the concealer is another method that can be used.

• Apply liquid foundation first before the concealer. When using a cream foundation, use the concealer first.

• Using a concealer that has pink undertones or is too light will emphasize what you're trying to hide.

• Wash your hands before applying concealer. Dirt and oils can rub off onto the skin and cause blemishes.

• If you have sensitive skin, use only a dye- and oil-free product.

References

• Women Junction: How to Apply Concealer
• Beauty and Makeup Tips: Concealers
• Beautymakeuptips.info: How to Apply Concealer