Concealer Hacks: How To Apply Concealer Correctly

Concealer is one of those makeup products that can make or break your look. Wear it correctly and you will look dazzling, and wear it wrong and it can be the downfall of your beautifully made-up face. Applying concealer correctly is actually easy- it’s simply about knowing the right tips and tricks. You don’t need to be a makeup professional, nor do you need to spend a lot of money to achieve flawless concealer.

I have put together some simple, yet awesome hacks on how to apply concealer correctly every time!

1. Choose the correct shade

Hourglass-Vanish-Airbrush-Concealer-Review

This is where most people make their biggest concealer mistake- they choose the wrong shade. It’s an easy mistake to make, the reason being that for different concealer tasks, different shades are needed.

If you are wearing foundation, you should match the shade to your foundation, whereas, if you aren’t wearing foundation then you should match the shade to your skin. Ideally, your foundation should also be the same shade as your skin, but sometimes it’s hard to get the exact shade and tone.

Another common scenario is using one concealer for under the eyes and for spots and pimples. Not that you can’t, many people can but you need to make sure the patch you’re covering is the same colour, otherwise, it will look different. Sometimes you need to invest in 2 shades, one for under your eyes and one for the rest of your face.

The best way to choose the right shade concealer is to choose the same shade as your foundation. That way it will blend in seamlessly. If you prefer a highlighted look then opt for one or 2 shades lighter. However, don’t use the lighter shade to cover up blemishes. It will just draw more attention to them, which is not what anyone wants!

2. Apply in a triangle shape

Applying concealer in a round circle shape under the eye is the automatic way of applying it. Why? Because you are following the shape of your eye which makes a lot of sense. Shame about that, because that is not how it looks best! Apply your concealer in a triangle and you will add so much to your face. Under-eye bags are usually in the shape of a triangle. If you feel with your finger you’ll see that the thin skin under your eyes is in a triangle shape. The thin skin is where we get bags.

3. Dab, don’t rub

Rubbing is so much quicker and easier, and trust me, I know what it’s like being in a rush in the morning. The quicker, the better, especially with a 2-year-old hovering around! However, rubbing your concealer won’t give you the flawless look you’re after. All it will do is irritate your skin, remove any foundation that has already been applied and the concealer will look patchy.

4. Mix your concealer with moisturiser

My best makeup hack to date is this one! For years, my concealer creased under my eyes- I tried many different brands, really all the best ones but yet they still creased. Once I started mixing the concealer, the problem literally disappeared! The way to do it is to dab a bit of concealer on your hand and mix some moisturiser into it. Then simply apply as you would normally apply concealer. The moisturiser stops the concealer from settling into the lines, which stops it from creasing! If you suffer from your concealer always creasing, this is a hack you need to try!

5. Apply concealer after foundation

Always apply your concealer after your foundation. Think of it as the finishing touch to a painting. Once you’ve applied foundation, you can see what still need fixing.

6. Use a concealer brush

For best results apply with a concealer brush. Why? Because a concealer brush is made for the eye area and can fit into the tiny spaces that your fingers or bigger brushes can’t otherwise get to. Even if you usually use a beauty blender I recommend touching up the hard to reach areas with a concealer brush.

7. Use a setting powder

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A setting powder does exactly as it sounds- it sets the makeup. This is an extremely important step because it helps the makeup stay on better and longer. Using a setting powder also gives the concealer a real matte finish without any reflective shine. Check out my review on the best setting powders for dry skin!

8. Double up your concealer as a contour

This is a clever hack for those looking for a cream contour but can’t find the right shade. Simply choose a shade or two darker than your concealer and use it as a contour. Really a lot of makeup can be doubled up, we are just used to putting them in categories and then they get stuck there, we simply don’t think of using them for something else too! Check out Linda Hallberg Cosmetics– she’s breaking the rules with her multi-use makeup and I hope she sets a trend!

My Thoughts

Getting into a rut is normal! We all get into a routine with our makeup especially, those less creative and less into makeup. Changing up your routine is a good practice, it gives you an opportunity to update your makeup look. Something everyone should do every so often! As your face changes and gets older different looks to enhance your features best.

I hope you’ve picked up some useful concealer hacks! Let me know in the comment section below which hack you’re most likely to try out!

Hollie xx