Covering Up – A Crash Course In Concealer

A good concealer is one of the most underrated beauty products but if used correctly it’s one of the most important.

The crazy thing about concealers is, if used incorrectly they end up doing the exact opposite of what they’re supposed to. Instead of camouflaging our flaws, badly applied concealer will actually accentuate them.

While the art of applying concealer isn’t rocket science there are a few tips and tricks that will make concealer your secret weapon to flawless-looking skin.

The first mistake we often make is choosing a concealer that doesn’t match our skin tone. That’s why I’m loving the new Covergirl TruBlend Flixstick Concealers, $17.99 that come in six different shades. Colour matching your concealer is just as important as matching your foundation so take a little time to get it right. Any makeup pro will tell you there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to choosing the perfect concealer. It really depends on what you want your concealer to do for you.

To conceal under-eye bags you’ll need a good liquid concealer. A liquid concealer will be light enough to counteract the bluish hues under your eyes but not too heavy to settle in the fine lines. For the under eye area you’ll also need to opt for a peach-based concealer. Many concealers have a yellow base and this will only make your under eye area look dull and sallow. My favourite is Revlon’s ColorStay Blemish Concealer, $28.50. I also love Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Lift and Firm Concealer, $55 because it contains the ceramide plumping technology that helps to brighten, firm and lift while concealing.

To conceal scars and dark pigmentation you’re best to choose a cream concealer and a makeup sponge or concealer brush, like Shiseido’s Concealer Brush, $35 to apply it. A cream concealer will give you maximum coverage and because most cream concealers contain less oil than a liquid they’ll last longer too.

To conceal a zit you’ll need to start by applying a green concealer (yes they do exist) teamed with a concealer pencil. The green concealer takes away the redness and the pencil pointy shape allows it to be dabbed directly onto the zit without wiping away the green concealer underneath. Dr. Hauschka’s Pure Care Cover Stick, $39 is a great choice for concealing breakouts as it also contains a combination of tea tree and manuka essential oils to treat the blemish while covering it.

It’s always a good idea to apply a translucent powder over the top of a concealer to set your handiwork and that’s why I love Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit, $70 because it not only includes two creamy concealer shades but a sheer finish loose powder in the same compact.

What’s your favourite concealer? Please share with us in the comments below.

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