Additionally, you should use different shades of concealer on different parts of your face. “Under the eyes, use a light-reflecting formula that’s a shade lighter than your skin to brighten the area,” says Barose, whose go-to formula is NARS creamy concealer. Correa adds that choosing a shade with a more peach or orange undertone than your normal shade will help neutralize the blue and minimize those dark circles.
You can also use a mint or apricot color corrector under your concealer to further counteract the darkness.
For sculpting purposes, he says to go two to three shades deeper than your natural shade so you get that contoured finish. If you want to brighten your complexion, choose a shade that is one shade lighter and add it to the high points of your face.
Choose the right formula
Concealers are usually available in stick or liquid form, and how you choose between the two really comes down to your personal preference. “Every formula has a purpose,” says Bhatty. “The goal here is to use as little product as possible and get good coverage results.” Bhatty usually always reaches for liquid formulas, like the Tower 28 Sweep all-over hydrating serum concealer, as she says, it gives her buildable coverage and the most skin-like appearance. She will reach for a stick, like the classic Cle de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 27when there is a specific area that a liquid concealer cannot completely cover and needs fuller coverage.
Mix it out
When thinking about applying concealer, consider what you will use to get the product onto your skin. But one of the best things about concealers is that you can use any brush or tool to blend it out. Bhatty says she likes to use her fingertips or a damp beauty blender for a more natural result. If you need something heavier and more precise, like concealing blemishes, she says to grab a brush.
Apply from the inner corner of the eyes and move outwards
“You don’t have to cover your entire under-eye area, just where you’re dark,” says Romy Soleimani, who grooms famous faces including Tracee Ellis Ross and Cara Delevingne. “Usually it’s the inner third of the eye and a little bit in the outer corner.” When it comes to application, she likes to apply the product with a small synthetic bristle brush and then use the pads of her fingertips to carefully blend it in. “It’s important not to get too close to your bottom lashes so that there isn’t a build-up or hard line,” she says. “And also make sure you grab the sides of the nose that touch the inner corner of the eye.” If the under-eye area needs extra brightening, Soleimani neutralizes it with a creamy, peach color corrector.
Spot-treat stains
To ensure that the concealer sticks well to the raised bump, Oquendo first applies a matte primer. “Impurities already cause an overproduction of oil, so you don’t want the product to slip,” he explains. Then he presses his finger into a thick pot of concealer, like Sensual skin enhancer from Kevyn Aucoin (“It covers everything!” he says), and blends it with the place.
Hide acne scars and discoloration
Correa suggests finding a shade that closely matches your skin tone or a shade that is slightly lighter to get that brightening effect. Then apply small amounts of product directly to the hyperpigmented areas using your fingers or a brush for a natural finish. For dark areas with hyperpigmentation, he says to apply a color corrector (think a peach or orange shade) under the concealer to neutralize the color.
Use as an eyeshadow primer
Concealer is one of the most versatile makeup products out there. Besides providing coverage and hiding the things we want to keep hidden, it can also be a great shadow primer. “This quick and efficient trick instantly brightens the eye area and provides a seamless base for any eyeshadow look you want,” says Correa. “The result? Vibrant and long-lasting eye makeup that dazzles.” Simply apply a thin layer of a long-lasting and crease-resistant concealer, such as the YSL All Hours Creaseless Precise Angle Concealeron your eyelids to capture the eye look you’re going for.
Strategic placement
If you’re going for a no-makeup makeup look, Correa says to opt for concealing blemishes instead of going all-in with a full-coverage foundation to even out skin tone. “By enhancing your natural skin tone, you can achieve a flawless complexion that looks effortless,” he says.
Sculpting facial hair
You can cheat on the grooming game and use concealer to polish those brows or your beard, says Correa. “[It creates] a fascinating interplay of contrasting shades that accentuate your unique features,” he explains. All you have to do is apply a thin layer of concealer along the hairline and then blend it out for natural-looking coverage.
Dab and then set
After using blotting paper to remove the shine, Soleimani uses a small, domed brush to apply whisper-light setting powder, such as Hourglass’s Veil translucent setting powder, under the eyes and around the nose. For a brightening effect with a hint of shine, Oquendo suggests Laura Mercier’s secret illuminating powder under the eyes. And there you have it: a foolproof guide on how to apply concealer to get that glow from 12 hours of sleep, without the need for caffeine.
