As much as we love the beloved foundation, the key to a flawless face is undoubtedly the concealer, a.k.a the master magician. Most women tend to overlook the importance of this fancy eraser but that’s what we’re here for – to shatter all those misconceptions about concealer use. We’re putting a full stop to all those Google searches about ‘what is concealer’.
Go, take a pick of your choicest weapon of mass destruction.
1. Stick Concealer
These beauties look and work pretty much like a lipstick. Perhaps the best concealer for dry skin, go for this if you’re looking for a formulation that’s the perfect balance of liquid and cream.
Nykaa Recommends: Colorbar Full Cover Makeup Stick
2. Pencil Concealer
While all other formulations make it difficult to cover the smallest nooks of your face, a pencil concealer does the job perfectly. Time to cover all those flaws with absolute precision.
Nykaa Recommends: Absolute New York All Purpose Pencil
3. Powder Concealer
These are the best bets when it comes to best concealer for oily skin. Easily blendable in nature that result in high, seamless coverage, powder is the secret to all matte concealer makeup regimes.
Nykaa Recommends: Makeup Revolution Ultra Cover and Conceal Palette
4. Liquid Concealer
This is one of the most popular formulations of concealer, especially because of their creamy, lightweight texture. If you like a product that gives you buildable coverage, then look no further.
Nykaa Recommends: L.A Girl HD Pro Concealer Color Corrector
How To Apply Concealer
Now that you’ve jotted down all the various formulations of concealers, here’s the only concealer makeup tutorial to win this war against scars, pigmentation or any other skin imperfections.
- First of all, start with a clean canvas. Use a mild face wash to wash off any dirt or grime that might have settled on your face.
- Next up, prep your face with a lightweight moisturizer.
- Now it’s time to apply an even layer of a face primer. A primer helps your base makeup to stay as long as you want it to.
- Next up is the concealer. The best answer to ‘how to use concealer’ is to apply the product in the shape of a triangle under your eyes and then blending it away. Also, target acne spots, pimple marks, pigmentation around the mouth or any other face imperfections.
- Then, its time for your foundation. Whatever product you use, remember to blend it well.
- Last up, set your base with a compact. Proceed to eye and lip makeup to complete the look.
Concealers are super hard to choose. Do you want one to hide your spots, blemishes or dark circles or do you want one to highlight and contour? Do creamy formulations blends better on your skin or not?
The two major factors to weigh in before picking the perfect concealer are – your skin type and your intention of using it. The wrong concealer can give you breakouts, make your skin flaky or even pop out of your foundation with a graphic mismatch of colors. So, try, test, experiment and finalize the ‘one true concealer’ that will ward off your woes.
1. FOR OILY SKIN
You can apply your concealer and cover it up with the perfect foundation like every other girl, but come noon, your face is a glossy, messy, oily sap. People with oily skin have gone through terrible makeup-fails and know it too well that finding the perfect product is oh-so-important!
One of the easiest and quick fixes for oily skin can be powder based solutions. Concealers that can pat away your imperfections are a prize. Try Nykaa Get Set Click! SPF 30 3-in-1 Compact, Concealer and Foundation to get a flawless, even skin tone.
Or you can also go for Makeup Revolution Conceal And Define Concealer that will give you natural matte finish and cover up your blemishes and counteracts your dark circles. You can also use this fabulous concealer for contouring and highlighting.
2. FOR DRY SKIN
Dry skin becomes dull soon after your morning shower. And no matter how often you touch up, your makeup gets flaky and patchy unless you use just the right product specially made for dry skin.
You need a hydrating or nourishing formula, preferably with a water base. A full-coverage, yet lightweight concoction may do the trick. Try using PAC Spotlight Liquid Concealer which keeps your skin illuminated and hydrated all day long!
Another base that you can work with is a cream or oil base. Colorbar Full Cover Makeup Stick will be your skin’s true friend. It is enriched with vitamin E, jojoba oil, shea butter and SPF 30. It masks all your imperfections. Just twist, dab and blend for a smooth, matte finish.
3. FOR NORMAL SKIN
With a normal skin type, you can pick and choose from a variety of concealers. A mouse based, non-greasy product will be perfect for you. You can try your hand at different types with liquids, sticks, compacts all at your mercy.
You should opt for a lightweight formula that feels comfortable on your skin. A medium to full coverage concealer works wonders. Try Revlon Colorstay Concealer that will cover your blemishes, spots and dark circles evenly. It also has salicylic acid that helps in healing spots.
Another great product for you is the Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer. True to its name, the concealer helps your skin reduce aging signs and aid in healing dark circles. With Goji berries and Haloxyl, this formula is soon to become your favorite makeup product. Best part? It’s cute little cushion applicator that makes the process so much easier!
4. FOR ULTIMATE COVER-UPS
FaiUse formulas that seamlessly blends with skin and doesn’t hamper the texture after you put on foundation. Correcting concealers are mainly used for specified masking intentions.
A peach color correcting concealer, for instance, is used to tackle tricky pigmentations like dark circles or dark aging spots. As your under eye skin and the skin around dark spots tend to dry out, such concealers are usually hydrating. You can use Faces Canada Ultime Pro HD Cover Up Concealer.
Another color correcting concealer, widely used in India, is a green one. Green concealers are used to cover up red skin, acne and red spots from sun damage. It neutralizes the excessive color and balances the tone. Kiko Milano Skin Tone Concealer - 01 Green is one of our favorites in this genre. Psst… it’s also paraben free.
You Ask, We Answer
Now that you’re clear about what is concealer used for, we address any remaining questions that you may have.
Q: Do you put on concealer before or after foundation?
A: The order is your personal choice, depending on what gives your optimal results. However, if you’re going for a powder-based foundation, apply the concealer first and allow it to set before reaching out for the foundation. .
Q: Can you use a concealer as a foundation?
A. In case you’ve run out of foundation on an important day, your concealer can come handy. However, you need to keep in mind the difference in consistency of both the products. As the consistency of a concealer can be a lot richer than foundation, you should use a damp applicator instead of a dry one. Also, a great way to sheer out concealer for all-over coverage is by mixing a small amount of your daily moisturizer or face primer with it.
Q: What is the difference between a foundation and a concealer?
A. One of the major differences between a foundation and a concealer is their purpose in our makeup regime. A foundation is perfect for overall coverage that evens out the skin tone and balances faint skin imperfections. However, for more significant problems like under-eye circles, huge zits or blemishes, a concealer is the best spot treatment available.
