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3 tips when shopping for a concealer
We all know that concealers are meant to hide imperfections. Depending on what you want to cover, different types of concealers will be the most effective:
To conceal dark circles under your eyes, you need a lightweight concealer that won't settle into fine lines. For even better results, go for a concealer with light-reflecting pigments – it will brighten up your under-eye area and make you look more awake.
If you want to hide spots and other blemishes, a creamy concealer with colour-correcting properties will do the trick. Always dab the concealer onto the affected area instead of dragging it with your fingers or a brush.
When it comes to picking the perfect concealer, the texture matters a lot. There are 2 main types of concealers you should know about:
Liquid concealers come in a vial with an applicator in the lid. These are super popular and easy to use, with a slightly thinner consistency that blends effortlessly.
Creamy concealers come in a tube or jar. These have a thicker texture than their liquid counterparts, making them perfect for covering up more stubborn blemishes.
You’ve probably come across concealers that are a totally different colour to your skin tone. We're talking greens, purples, and peachy shades. These concealers are actually colour-correcting and are used to neutralise other colours. Peach-toned concealers can help neutralise blue tones under your eyes, while purple-toned ones can cancel out yellow tones in your skin. And if you're struggling with redness, a green-toned concealer can work wonders.
We've found a handy guide on Maybelline´s site to help you figure this colour correcting thing out.
FAQ
It’s very similar to foundation but thicker. You can use it to contour and cover dark circles and blemishes. You can also use it as a primer on your eyelids and lips before applying eyeshadow or lipstick.
When you’ve found the right shade a couple of additional things to think about are:
- If you have dry skin, avoid liquid concealers with a matte finish. They will only make your skin look more dry.
- If your skin is oily and your pores are enlarged, don’t go for a concealer that’s creamy or a stick. They tend to clog pores and can make your skin look shiny.
- If you’re looking to cover dark circles, coloured spots and blemishes, use a concealer with high or full coverage.
- If you’re planning on using your concealer with foundation, get a tester of the concealer first. This means you can try it with your foundation and make sure they match flawlessly.
What shade of concealer should I use?When choosing the shade of your concealer, you should match the shade to your face. To find your match, apply different shades to your jawline until you find one that blends nicely. If you’re using the concealer under your eyes to cover dark circles, go two shades lighter. When contouring, go 2 shades darker.
If you’re combining the two, foundation should always go on first. This doesn’t mean you can’t use concealer on its own, but because of its thickness, it can easily become very obvious and difficult to blend with your natural skin tone.
The best way to cover up dark circles under your eyes is to draw an upside down triangle under your eye, and lightly fill it in. Alternatively, target the shape of the dark shade, if you are going for a lighter makeup.
Then dab the concealer into your skin with your finger, simple and super effective. If you don’t want to use your finger, a concealer brush or a damp beauty sponge work a treat as well.
You can find concealers that both neutralise and correct or ones that are more focused on creating a good canvas to work on. There are concealers for different types of blemishes, skin types and tones. Finding the right one takes testing, so we tried different concealers to see which one we think is best.