How to Pick a Concealer Color

If you have relatively flawless skin, you may not have had to concern yourself much with concealer application unless you are a professional makeup artist; on the other hand, those with considerable unevenness in skin tone may want to learn more about the most effective ways to use concealer. If you are among the latter but have steered clear of concealer due to the many colors out on the market, don't worry--you will see that there is no need to be overwhelmed by the shades available once you discover how the process of picking concealers works.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Color wheel

1. Take note of the areas on your face that need concealing--such as blemishes and discolored spots--to ensure that you shop for all the necessary concealers if you could benefit from a few different colors.

2. Look at the color of the spot you wish to conceal. On the color wheel, see which shade is directly across from the color you will be camouflaging. The color that is the direct opposite of what you want to conceal is the color of concealer you need. For instance, redness on the face can be concealed with a mint green concealer, while too much yellow can be toned down with a lavender concealer.

3. Find a flesh tone concealer half a shade lighter than your foundation for spots that are colored like your skin but darker. This concealer has to be slightly lighter, as the area you apply it to will get darker once you powder over it at the end of your makeup application. Unlike the non-flesh tone concealers in Step 2--which are applied before foundation--you should put this type of concealer on after foundation, since foundation is sometimes enough to cover some discolored spots, lessening your need for concealer.

4. Pick the color of your creamy under-eye concealer based on your skin tone. Your under-eye concealer should be one to two shades lighter than the color of your foundation, which should match your skin tone exactly. If your under-eye concealer has been giving you the raccoon effect--where the area around your eyes is much lighter than the rest of your face--chances are you've been applying the wrong shade. In this case, switch to a salmon-hued creamy concealer; the peach tones will counteract the darkness under your eyes without over-brightening the area.

Tips & Warnings

• Dot on and blend the concealers in Step 2 on a clean face before you apply your foundation. Use the most minute amount of concealer to keep the odd color from showing through your base. You know you have applied the right amount of concealer if your face does not look ashy or pale after you've put on your correct shade of foundation.

Resources

• Videos on concealer