Concealer – what is it, how to apply it correctly under the eyes, on the face. Step by step instructions for use with photos

The cosmetics industry is releasing more and more means to mask minor skin defects – and the concealer has been added to the usual powder, highlighters, primers and tonal creams. What is it, what types are there, how to use and choose the right one

What is a face concealer

Asking the question about concealer: what is it, how to use it, you need to understand that it is only a masking agent that cannot completely eliminate the root cause of skin inflammation and heterogeneity of tone. Concealer is used for spot masking of skin defects. The substance is opaque, dense, the gradient of colors varies from dark to light beige.

He is able to hide minor imperfections on his face:

• acne and spots from them;
• rash;
• dark spots;
• bruises under the eyes;
• fine wrinkles;
• redness
• uneven skin tone.

Cosmetic companies add vitamins and antioxidants to their products, which can dry acne with long-term use, lightly whiten age spots, and improve skin condition.

The main difference from the base is that the concealer is applied locally and slightly shaded. For this reason, it cannot be a full replacement for foundation. However, the tonal base is not able to mask skin defects: a balance is needed between the two.

Concealer and corrector have one function and can replace each other, but there are differences: the first is lighter and more transparent, aimed at improving skin color, but not able to mask acne or wrinkles. Concealer moisturizes the skin, corrector dries.

Application Rules

The rules for applying concealers are not more complicated than any similar means for the foundation, but they differ due to the different consistency.

What are these rules worth considering in more detail:

1. First, the face is cleaned with wash lotion, any signs of makeup are washed off with a tonic.
2. A cream moisturizing the skin is applied on top. Have to wait until it is completely absorbed.

In the eye area, the skin is very sensitive, so a separate line of cosmetic preparations is used for it.

3. After absorbing the cream, a primer is used. It eliminates oily sheen.
4. A foundation is applied on top, but do not touch the area around the eyes.
5. Even despite the foundation, acne, capillaries, spider veins, and age spots remain noticeable on the face. It is on such defects that the concealer will be applied.

It is important to remember that the remedy is applied from the edge of the problem area to the center. If the base is dark, then it is not recommended to apply it on those areas where the concealer will be used after: for example, under the eyes.

6. Only liquid concealer is applied to the skin under the eyes with a special brush. It is necessary to draw an inverted triangle: the lower corner on the cheek, the upper in the corners of the eyes, the base under the very line of eyelashes. You can not shade, repeating the shape of the eyelids (arc), as the makeup will be too noticeable.
7. Then the concealer is applied locally to skin inflammation, spots, scars. The product is applied in a thin layer from the edges of the defect to the center, shaded, a new layer is applied again: the technique of “layering”. If the defects are very noticeable, you need a concealer with the most dense texture.

It is important to choose the right colors, thanks to which you can visually emphasize or hide certain details of the face. So, thanks to white and purple shades, cheekbones can be distinguished, the nose and cheeks narrowed. To do this, to the T-zone (forehead, nose, corners of the eyelids and the lower edge of the eyebrow), a tool is used that is lighter than the general skin tone.

On the wings of the nose, cheekbones – darker. You can not ignore the areas of connection with the hair, eyebrows, otherwise the mask effect will occur. The neck and chin should not differ in color, so the foundation is applied to the neck and to the neckline, not hidden under clothing.

The concealer is applied using a sponge or brush, blend with a special brush. Do not touch your face with your fingers, especially with oily skin. Powder is applied on top, which secures the result of the foundation. The skin becomes dull, unevenness in tone disappears.

Common Application Errors

To find out what concealer is and how to use it insufficiently, it is important to study the common mistakes when applying makeup.

Otherwise, more problems than benefits.

• The skin must be moisturized. It is forbidden to apply the product on open wounds, because it is possible to introduce an infection.
• If you choose the wrong shade, you can only emphasize skin defects. The concealer is not applied to acne, but around them, gradually approaching the very focus of inflammation.
• You can not use a dense concealer in the eye area: this clogs wrinkles and only emphasizes them.
• It is undesirable to touch the skin with your fingers, especially cold. It is strictly forbidden to do this for girls with oily skin.

Types of Concealers

The rules for applying concealers of different types are the same. They differ in their structure and density: there are liquid, solid and powder. There is a slight exception in the application: only a liquid concealer is used in the area around the eyes. Powder or other types clog wrinkles, emphasizing them.

Concealer Pencil

This option is preferable for such areas:

• moles;
• pimples;
• freckles;
• small spots;
• lip contour;
• mucous membrane of the eye.

The pencil should be well sharpened.

After application, you need to wait 30 seconds, then slightly shade the contour with a sponge. If you circle the lips, you can slightly correct their contour. Stroking the mucous membranes of the eyes helps to visually increase them.

With a brush in a tube

This is a universal remedy, which is used for all skin types, except for dry sk
in (in this case, a cream concealer is recommended). It has the lightest structure, so it almost does not clog pores. With it, you can hide not only acne, but also wrinkles in the eyes.

Differ depending on the effect:

• matte (resistant);
• satin (natural color);
• reflective.

Creamy Concealer

A creamy remedy is a universal option. However, girls with oily skin type cosmetology are still recommended to fix the result with powder. There is a medium and dense structure. It is used for the area under the eyes and mask dark spots.

Concealer highlighter

This option appeared recently, so it’s hard to find instructions on how to use this concealer and what it is. It looks like a felt-tip pen or lipstick. Suitable for almost all skin types, including sensitive to cosmetic preparations.

Not suitable for oily skin with enlarged pores, as it is the most dense in structure. It is used to combat redness, scars, scars. It is forbidden to use as a camouflage agent for acne, wrinkles, and skin recesses, since it only emphasizes them more.

Moisturizing Concealer

Recommended for girls with dry skin. The effect of the application lasts up to 6 hours. Saturated with vitamin E, making the skin moisturized. This concealer is used in cases where you need to smooth out wrinkles, mask bruises under the eyes.

Dry concealer

It looks like powder. It is recommended to use for girls with oily skin, as it masks the characteristic shine.

It is used to mask acne, inflammation, spots. It clogs wrinkles and emphasizes them, therefore it is used mainly by young girls with smooth skin.

Alternative use

Concealer in cosmetic procedures is used and how such a tool:

• lip primer;
• corrector of defects when applying makeup;
• eyebrow filler;
• sculpting tool.

As a primer, the concealer makes the lips paler, making the lipstick brighter and the makeup lasts longer. Also, the concealer allows you to add volume to the lips, if you apply it to the middle of the lips, “dent” it into the skin, shade it, and cover it with gloss on top.

The tool is able to correct mistakes when applying cosmetics: adjust the thickness of the arrows, lighten the eyebrow pencil, the lipstick that has gone beyond the contour. If you shade the product in the “spaces” of the eyebrows, and apply the usual make-up from above, the result will be more saturated and more stable.

Beauticians also advise applying a concealer smear on the beveled brush and holding under the lower line of the eyebrow – so it will become more expressive.

Concealer that is darker or lighter from the usual tone is successfully used instead of a sculpting agent. It helps to highlight cheekbones, narrow your nose, brighten or shade areas of the face.

Why are color concealers needed How to use

Before choosing a product, you need to learn more about the color concealer: what it is, how to use it, which zones apply this or that color.

The palette includes not only beige shades, but also color:

• yellow;
• Orange;
• green;
• pink;
• Violet.

Some defects, such as redness, inflammation, or bruising, stand out clearly, and contrasting colors are needed to muffle and mask them. For example, venous asterisks are advised to paint over orange, freckles – purple.

Yellow or orange (aka apricot) mask purple, blue, purple defects:

• venous asterisks;
• emerging capillaries;
• bruises under the eyes;
• spots from acne;
• red spots (effects of rosacea);
• small moles;
• small scars and scars.

Yellow is considered a universal color that is applied in front of the tonal foundation. It gives the face a soft and warm shade. After blending and toning, you need to fix the result with powder.

Reddened by green:

• allergies
• burns and scars;
• red spots;
• scars.

For a better result, beauticians are advised to do this: use a green concealer mixed with a tonal base. This will hide the darker and more noticeable imperfections, such as vascular networks. If the spots are small, they are not so noticeable, then you can do the usual body concealer with a dense texture without adding color.

Pink hides the green color, but underlines the blue spots. It is used for bruising under the eyes, which have a rather greenish tint. Light pale salmon is recommended for pale skin, and peach for darker skin. Pink concealer is an alternative to highlighter, it can be added to the corners of the eyes, emphasize the cheekbones, highlight the nose bridge.

Violet is contrasted with yellow, it is used in situations where you need to mask the residual traces of acne, yellow skin soreness, old age spots. Lavender shade perfectly hides face fatigue when mixing it with a tonal foundation. It should be applied to the chin, forehead and along the cheekbones.

How to choose a concealer depending on skin type

Concealers contain additional ingredients that not only hide skin problems, but also help to somewhat alleviate them. For example, if the composition of the product is enriched with reflective particles that help brighten the area around the eyes, then it additionally rejuvenates the face due to the fact that it conceals small wrinkles.

With the help of zinc and antiseptic substances, the drug can fight inflammation and acne. Vitamin complex, antioxidants favorably affect the general condition of the skin. To choose the right concealer, depending on the type of skin, you need to use the standard rules for choosing tonal products.

You can evaluate the color of a substance only in natural light: you need to put a probe on the inside of the wrist and go to the window. So you can understand whether the concealer does not look like a foreign spot. It should also be combined with foundation.

It is important to remember that the color o
f the concealer should be a tone lighter than the color of the skin, since there will be a layer of powder on top, from which the face becomes darker.

If the skin is oily, and the pores are enlarged, then you need to choose from the following options:

• light liquid remedies;
• pencil (composed of antibacterial components);
• dry version (masks oily sheen).

Sticks and a creamy concealer for oily skin are not suitable. They clog pores.

If the skin is dry, sensitive, then:

• liquid concealer with a brush;
• creamy;
• moisturizing.

For combination skin: different products are used in different areas.

For regular skin, any concealer is suitable depending on the type of skin defect. For age spots, the choice should be on a concealer in the form of a cream with a dense texture or a sticky option. For acne scattering and acne – a green concealer with salicylic acid (or any other drying component) in the form of a pencil.

To mask dark bruises under the eyes, it is recommended to use only liquid concealers (cream as an exception). Reflective particles must be included. The color is selected depending on the shade of bruises: salmon – with gray, mustard – with purple. You can’t use yellow, it will only make your face more tired.

Maybelline affinitone

Production – USA. Applies to all skin types. Designed to mask and correct minor imperfections. The composition includes moisturizing and protective ingredients (vitamins A and E, collagen), which makes the skin clean and soft after prolonged use.

Natural pigments mask wrinkles, acne, redness and slight skin irregularities.

It is used for the following symptoms:

• nasolabial sweets;
• wrinkles around the mouth and eyes;
• bruises under the eyes.

Pigments merge with the natural color of the skin, do not dry it. The product does not cause discomfort, irritation, does not tighten the skin, not allergenic.

Mastertouch concealer by Max Factor

Production: USA, suitable for all skin types. It is used after foundation before powder. Evens skin tone, eliminates bruises under the eyes, spots from acne, freckles, moles, inflamed redness.

Alliance Perfect by Loreal

Production: Italy, suitable for all skin types. Color – natural beige, perfectly adapts to the texture and natural skin tone. Type: liquid, with a brush applicator. The composition includes a moisturizing complex of substances, glycerin, water. These components help moisturize the skin, give it a fresh and healthy look.

Decollette by Letual

Production: USA, universal. Combines both a concealer and a skin care product. Type: liquid. It is used in the area around the eyes to hide bruises, small wrinkles, even out the overall tone.
The composition includes reflective particles that visually enlarge the eyes.

Concealer essence stay natural

Production: Germany, suitable for all skin types. Type: liquid, with a brush. Color – beige, various shades (from light to dark). If selected correctly, it lays down in a natural layer and is not noticeable in any light. It is used in the area around the eyes, but does not remove redness on the skin. Lightweight structure, does not slip. The composition includes moisturizing ingredients.

Liquid Concealer Nyx HD Concealer wand

Production: Taiwan, suitable for dry and combination skin. Color: beige, 20 shades from lightest to darkest.

The light structure is applied both to the area around the eyes (hides bruises under the eyes) and masks other skin defects:

• redness
• moles;
• acne marks;
• scarring;
• foci of inflammation;
• pigmentation spots.

Finish: velvet, medium or dense. It is first necessary to moisturize the skin, shading should be done only with a brush, with quick movements, as the product quickly fixes and remains on the skin for up to 6 hours.

The composition of the drug includes:

• candelilla wax, which increases the resistance of makeup;
• aloe extract – antiseptic;
• vitamin complex (A and E) improves skin quality.

Catrice liquid camouflage

Production: Germany, suitable for all skin types. Type: liquid, with a brush. Colors: shades of beige. Light texture, does not roll and does not smear. It creates the effect of a “naked” face, naturally combined with the original skin tone, does not look like a “mask”. Suitable for daily use.

The composition includes reflective particles, used for the area around the eyes. Eliminates vascular nets near the nose, corrects minor defects and redness of the skin.

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer

Production: Canada, use with dry and combination skin. Type: creamy. Color: beige, various shades. Belongs to the category of professional cosmetics. It has a heavy, dense structure. The composition includes moisturizers, a vitamin complex.

The product has a sunscreen effect. It gives the skin a matte shade, hides the oily sheen on the forehead, brightens the dark circles around the eyes.

Procedures after applying concealer

It is not enough just to learn how to use the concealer and what it is. Procedures after applying the product are no less important. The final touch is the competent use of powder and blush. The powder should be applied, evenly distributing from the periphery of the face to its center with light movements with a large brush.

This helps even out the tone, improve the texture of the face, give the skin a matte shade and mask small irregularities between the tonal base and the concealer. Powder should cover the entire face.

Blush of dark tones are superimposed under the cheekbones, emphasizing the contour of the face. Light blush – on the cheeks, even more shading the cheekbones. A correctly selected concealer for the face and its competent combination with other cosmetics will help to hide all skin imperfections.

Concealer Video

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