Whether you want to conceal blemishes or disguise dark circles, the right concealer can hide away any imperfection and leave your skin looking flawless. The trick is to find the right texture and shade of concealer for you. With so many to choose from, we have created a handy guide to help you create your own concealer wardrobe…
What Is The Best Concealer?
The Problem: Dark Circles
The Solution: There are two good options here, either a light-reflecting, radiant formula or a denser, buildable concealer. Brightening formulas work to lighten the under eye area so are brilliant if you’re tired or have blocked sinuses which can cause the area to swell and look darker. These concealers also tend to have a lightweight formula that doesn’t settle in fine lines; we like Hourglass Airbrush Vanish Concealer as it offers long-lasting radiance, doesn’t crease and is available in 22 shades.
If you have dark circles that are always visible, even after eight hours sleep, you might want to try something that actively conceals inherent darkness and masks the thinness of the skin in this area. The versatile Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer can be built up to hide away the darkest circles. It can also be mixed with moisturiser for an all-over base. No wonder it’s in the kit bag of almost every makeup artist we know.
The Problem: Blemishes
The Solution: Sometimes covering a spot with a heavy concealer can make it all the more obvious. Avoid that tell-tale cakey, flaky look while toning down redness and hiding away blemishes by choosing an ultra-smooth formula. Nars Soft Matte Concealer uses soft blurring technology to hide imperfections weightlessly and seamlessly. Plus, it lasts all day.
If your skin is oily and concealer tends to slip off, try Becca Ultimate Coverage Concealing Crème, which has a light, creamy feel but provides good coverage and keeps blemishes undercover for hours.
The Problem: Redness And Broken Veins
The Solution: If you suffer from rosacea or areas of redness, you might find traditional concealers aggravate the problem. Fortunately the new formulas contain skin-friendly ingredients and advanced pigments that are unlikely to cause irritation. The all-natural and highly moisturising RMS “Un” Cover-Up Concealer has a base of gentle coconut oil but still works well to camouflage red areas.
Very visible broken capillaries may require extra coverage.. Try applying concealer on top of your foundation and then fix with a makeup mist such as Kate Somerville UncompliKated Makeup Setting Spray, which also offers SPF50 protection. Try blending the two shades in the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer on the back of your hand to create your perfect colour and apply with a small brush, blending into foundation for a precision finish.
How To Apply Concealer Like A Pro
Now you have your perfect formula, ensure your application is faultless. If it’s blemishes you want to cover and you wear foundation, try applying concealer first to hide smaller imperfections.
For the under-eye area start by using an eye primer first. Not only will it provide a good anchor for your concealer, it will help prevent creasing, Becca Eye Primer helps to refresh tired eyes and smooth away fine lines. To blend your product and ensure a flawless canvas, try Space NK Brush 303. The fine edge can help push colour right up to the lower eyelid, without dragging the skin.
For blemishes, use the Brush 303 and apply directly to the reddest area, before gently blending outwards with your ring finger to camouflage any inflammation. To finish pat a small amount of Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder onto your concealed areas. The smoothing, fine milled powder will stop any smudging or slipping.
How To Conceal On The Go
The easiest way to ensure your skin stays flawless all day is to create a touch-up kit for your handbag. Include a light-reflecting pen, such as Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo, which will hide dark circles and any redness around the nose or cheeks. For pimples the By Terry Stylo Expert Click Stick is a creamy concealer that comes in a no-mess pen and makes quick work of hiding a sudden spot.
