How to Use Concealer Like a Pro: Just 5 Easy Steps

Concealer really is the workhorse of any makeup bag. With just a few swipes, you can cover blemishes, soften fine lines, brighten dark circles, and even make your eyeballs appear larger and more prominent. 

However, using concealer requires some strategy. If you use it incorrectly, you will find that your dark circles, fine lines and acne will be more visible, this counterproductive effect, I believe it will cause your troubles. So you need to learn, and today we’re going to learn how to use a concealer and succeed like a pro.

1. Prepare the skin

You will find that your skin needs to be in a dry and natural state before any makeup steps begin. Otherwise, if you blindly superimpose various cosmetics, you will find a fatal problem – rubbing mud. 

“I like to make sure the skin under the eyes is well moisturized so it looks nice and plump,” says makeup artist Jenny Patinkin. “This will allow a small amount of concealer to glide over the area for a smooth, even coverage.” Take some extra time (lightly!) to apply a moisturizer or eye cream, or you can opt for a cooling eye serum for extra Remove puffiness. 

One thing you need to understand is that foundation usually comes before concealer. Because the base makeup creates an even canvas. “I like to apply foundation under my concealer as a color-correcting primer and texture barrier. It helps stop the concealer from grabbing blemishes in a very visible way,” adds Patinkin.

2. Select a recipe

Since concealer is layered on blemishes after base makeup, we thought opting for a creamy formula would be better for the user. As you can see from our product images, the texture becomes more and more dewy as you continuously circle the shade with your fingertips. In addition to better coverage of blemishes, it also has a brightening effect.

3. Choose your shade

With two shades of yellow and pink, let’s learn which shades can cover our dark circles, redness and brightening.

1+2：Take shades 1 and 2 with your fingertips, blend them, apply to light red and light brown imperfections, then spread evenly with a concealer brush. If you want to have a brightening effect, you can also use the above method.

2+3：Take shades 2 and 3 with your fingertips, mix evenly, apply on red blood spots, and apply several times with a concealer brush to lighten.

1+3：Take shades 1 and 3 with your fingertips, blend them, and apply to under-eye or dark areas for perfect coverage.

If you can, Patinkin recommends applying it not on the inside of the wrist, but directly under the eyes. “Try applying your concealer under your eyes, then hold a mirror above your head, up to the light or sky. This will show you color without any shadows on your face and with evenly distributed reflected light,” she says.

As for blemishes, you’ll want to use a true shade match – or ideally even half to a shade darker than your foundation. “If your concealer is too light, it can give the optical illusion that your pimple is far away from the skin, while if it’s a little darker, it can give the illusion of being flush with your skin,” Patinkin shared. As a general makeup rule: lighter shades will bring up an area, while darker shades will help it recede.

4. Choose your applicator

Now, your applicator can help secure a super-precise result—and when it comes to using concealer, a “less is more” mindset is the name of the game. If you’re concealing blemishes, you might want to use a tiny liner brush to dab just the right amount of product onto the spot. For under-eyes, you might find a damp beauty sponge helpful to evenly distribute the product for a ​​dewy, seamless finish.

For those with an affinity for fingerpainting, yes, you can use your fingertips to work the product into the skin—in fact, the body heat from your fingers warms up the formula and makes for an even smoother application. Just make sure your fingers are clean before you dab on the concealer, especially if you’re applying it on blemishes—you don’t want to introduce even more oil and bacteria to the clogged pore, do you?

5. Set

If you want your concealer to have the most staying power, a setting spray or powder is nonnegotiable. Mists can be especially helpful, as they can not only help preserve your base makeup but also keep your skin hydrated—which is great for fending off dry, caky under-eyes. Powders, on the other hand, can help absorb that excess oil and shine, which can further mask a pimple.