Concealer Benefits & Six Different Uses

Concealer is a bit underrated, in our humble opinion. It’s actually a pretty powerful and versatile little product that can be used in many different ways. But, what is concealer anyway? Concealer is similar to foundation except it’s generally thicker and hides dark circles, age spots, blemishes and more by hiding pigments and blending these imperfections into the skin. You should always apply concealer on top of your foundation so it doesn’t smudge. Oh, and less is more. A small amount of concealer should do the trick.

OK, now that we covered (no pun intended) the basics, let’s check out concealer benefits and uses. We narrowed down some of the best concealer hacks into six super easy tutorials for your everyday and special occasion makeup looks.

• Blur Fine Lines

  Fine lines are natural. How you choose to make them disappear is up to you. We prefer a natural look so a buildable concealer formula that won’t cake in between the creases works wonders. Apply a few dots under the eye and gently pat with your ring finger to blend.

• Contour
  

  The coveted chiseled effect takes just a few swipes of concealer in the right places. Choose a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone, apply it to the hollows of your cheeks and sides of your nose and then blend. We prefer to use a creamy concealer formula for this task and then a setting spray so it stays put.

• Cover Dark Circles
  

  For the nights when you stay up late binge-watching Netflix, you’re probably going to need a little boost to make those dark circles go bye in the AM. The trick? Use a brightening concealer because it acts like an optical illusion making your under-eye area appear more radiant and awake. For the nights when you stay up really late, gently dab a small amount of shimmery eyeshadow in the inner corners of each eye.

• Highlight Cheekbones

  One of the easiest ways to get a luminous glow all year round is to use concealer on your cheekbones. Just choose a shade or two lighter than your natural skin tone, sweep it on and blend. You can even use it to highlight brow bones, the bridge of your nose and at your cupid’s bow.

• Hide Blemishes

  Wearing makeup on acne-prone skin might sound a little counterintuitive. But not when you’re treating and concealing blemishes at the same time. A concealer formulated with salicylic acid helps to reduce the size and appearance of acne all while (temporarily) hiding it with a natural-looking finish. We recommend applying with a sponge or concealer brush to avoid getting oil from your fingertips on your face.

• Prime Lids and Lips

  Concealer is the ideal primer for eyeshadow and lipstick. It creates an even base for smooth application and even helps your products last longer. Just dab a small amount on eyelids and/or lips and gently smooth across with your fingertips. Finish with your fave colors on lids and lips.