Concealer is a special cosmetic product that resembles a tonal foundation for the face. It was previously believed that with the help of a concealer you can get rid exclusively of bruises and circles under the eyes. However, makeup artists have proven the indispensability of this tool to mask any imperfections and defects in the skin of the face.
Concealer purpose
The concealer has a wide range of effects and many functions that help to refresh, rejuvenate the face and improve the appearance of the skin. He is rightly considered indispensable in both everyday and evening make-up.
The main purpose of the concealer:
- Masking age spots;
- Hiding freckles and acne;
- Wrinkle smoothing;
- Redness elimination;
- Alignment of the skin surface;
- Toning of small vessels;
- Masking of enlarged pores;
- Concealment of small scars.
Apply the concealer using the spot method and carefully blend the edges.
It was with the aim of hiding small flaws that a cosmetic product was created. Therefore, I often use it instead of a primer, corrector and even tonal means. Concealer helps create a flawless look without a lot of makeup.
Additional Concealer Features
Currently, the possibility of using concealer is not limited solely to masking imperfections in the skin of the face. Professional make-up artists have found a ton of additional uses for this wonderful tool.
Concealer is allowed to be used in other cases:
- Instead of a primer. Applying a concealer on the lips helps to muffle the natural shade and make the makeup more stable;
- Error correction. Using the tool, you can eliminate small errors in the make-up, remove stains without harming makeup and adjust the shape of the applied shadows;
- Face sculpting - A popular trend in modern makeup. Familiar proofreaders designed specifically for creating contours can be replaced with a lighter or darker concealer;
- Eyebrow filling. Before applying a pencil or eyebrow shadows, you must first cover them with a thin layer of concealer, then the shade will fall better and the painting will be more resistant;
- Lip augmentation. The combination of concealer and lip gloss helps to visually increase them. To do this, it is enough to put a little funds in the center of each lip and shade, and then cover with a shine;
- Instead of a highlighter. Concealer light shade, you can highlight the necessary areas of the face (forehead, cheekbones, chin) in the absence of highlighter.
Concealer is an extremely compact product, therefore it is always convenient to carry and if necessary, it is easy to correct makeup. It is for this feature that most girls love him so much.
How to choose?
The choice of concealer directly depends on its purpose. Due to the increased popularity of the product, there was a need for other varieties that differ in texture, color and function.
It is worth giving preference to a concealer with a lifting effect containing vitamin A.
Choosing a concealer is recommended based on a number of rules:
- The concealer should correspond to the natural tone of the skin and be a shade or two lighter;
- In the fight against age spots, it is better to choose cosmetics with a creamy texture;
- Light cream concealer is ideal from dark circles under the eyes and wrinkles;
- The liquid remedy is suitable for girls with expanded pores;
- Green concealer will help hide small acne and gum;
- The yellow undertone hides redness on the face and small capillaries;
- Purple shade is best used against bags under the eyes with a grayish nuance.
Visually reduce several years will help concealer with reflective particles. They support skin tone, vitamins and antioxidants. Cosmetics with zinc and disinfectants will help get rid of inflammation.
Kinds
Having decided on the shade and purpose, you should start choosing the type of concealer. Depending on the variety, the methods of using cosmetics differ. Each skin type has a specific texture, as well as to eliminate specific defects.
Types of concealer:
- Stick
- Pencil;
- Liquid;
- Cream;
- Dry;
- Palette.
Accordingly, depending on the size, the methods of using the concealer and its functionality differ.
Dry concealer in its consistency is similar to ordinary powder, which is why it perfectly complements makeup for oily skin. In addition to the standard masking of facial imperfections, features include:
- Neutralization of oily sheen;
- Elimination of age spots;
- Concealment of acne and blackheads;
- Wrinkle reduction.
Mineral concealer should be applied exclusively to the area that must be masked with a medium-sized fluffy brush. At the same time, it is imperative to use a base with a tone - moisturizer.
The smallest in size is a concealer in the form of a pencil. It is used for spot coating and concealment of the smallest defects:
- comedones;
- freckles
- small pimples;
- light moles;
- small spots.
With a pencil, carefully trace the unwanted mark and leave for half a minute, then gently blend it with a sponge. It can also be used to correct the natural contour of the lips or to visually enlarge the lips, leading the inner part of the lower eyelid.
The stick-shaped concealer is more functional and economical. It is ideal for normal to dry skin, as it promotes hydration. Due to the dense consistency, the stick is recommended for use by girls with the following problems:
- small scars;
- redness of the skin;
- dark spots;
- scattering of freckles.
It is this form of concealer that is very convenient to use for everyday face contouring. However, girls with problematic or oily skin are better off avoiding the use of a concealer-stick, so as not to make acne more noticeable.
The liquid concealer resembles lip gloss. It is equipped with a special brush for applying, has a light texture and is suitable for almost any type of skin. It is mainly used directly from dark circles and bruises under the eyes.
Universal liquid concealer does not clog pores and is easier than others to use.
Depending on the finish, the methods of applying liquid concealer also differ:
- Matte is well suited for winter and evening makeup, it is more resistant and does not spread;
- Satin is more relevant in the hot season, and its mother-of-pearl particles can hide imperfections in the area around the eyes.
Using a liquid concealer, it is easy to mask not only acne, but also wrinkles, without focusing on problem areas.
Creamy concealer is ideal for sensitive skin. Its density ensures uniform application even without shading, however, use cosmetics with caution. It is suitable for the area around the eyes and for masking large spots on the skin.
Cream concealer is recommended to be applied under powder to avoid spreading or rolling cosmetics.
The coating provides makeup density and durability, therefore it is suitable for the cold season and when creating a complex multi-layer make-up. The creamy texture helps with sculpting the face, so often these concealers are produced in the form of pallets.
Concealer pallets are extremely common, and not only among professional makeup artists, but also for home use. One palette can include from two to three shades to fifteen. At the same time, concealers are not only beige nude tones, but also multi-colored.
Basically, to eliminate skin imperfections, the opposite shade of the concealer is used.
Depending on the problem that needs to be masked, colors are used:
- Yellow from a wreath on the face and bluish spots;
- Orange with "bags" under the eyes and bruises;
- Pink with a green skin tone;
- Violet from yellow age spots;
- Green from spots, irritation, traces of allergies;
- White highlights the desired skin areas.
In some cases, make-up artists and beauty bloggers even recommend applying color concealers zone-wise, then blending them and only then cover them with a thin layer of tonal foundation or powder.
Conventional concealers should be applied exclusively over a foundation, BB cream or primer.
Moreover, concealers in beige tones, which have a tonal effect, help to adjust the shape of the face and emphasize the advantages. At the same time, they should be applied already on top of color after masking skin imperfections.
The difference between concealer and corrector
Most concealers and concealers are confused, although they have a number of differences in both application and application methods. Accordingly, the purpose and composition of these cosmetics is different.
When choosing between concealer and corrector, you need to take into account the features:
- The corrector is intended solely for point use;
- Concealer can be applied zonally;
- The composition of the corrector includes salicylic acid;
- With the help of a concealer, you can only hide skin imperfections;
- Basically, the corrector helps not only hide acne, but also dry them;
- The concealer nourishes and moisturizes the skin, but does not have a healing effect;
- The corrector has a much denser texture than other means.
Unlike concealer, corrector is considered to be medical cosmetics. It is important to remember that it is applied to the “bare” face and then covered with concealer, foundation and other cosmetics. Concealer, on the contrary, is applied over the base.
Concealer step by step makeup
Any make-up, including the use of a concealer, includes a number of specific stages “before” applying a cosmetic product and “after”. The concealer is auxiliary, since it conceals those imperfections that could not be masked with a concealer or foundation.
Before you start applying make-up, you need to determine the shape of the face. Accordingly, a specific method of applying concealer is suitable for each type. Depending on this, it is determined which area is better to brighten and which is darkened.
The following types of faces are distinguished:
- Oval;
- A circle;
- Square;
- Heart;
- Pear;
- Diamond.
Girls with square shapes are advised to darken the lower and upper parts of the face to soften it. Owners of roundish options need to apply dark shades on the cheekbones to highlight them and visually reduce the face. For a pear-shaped face, it is better to lighten the forehead and vice versa to darken the chin without affecting the cheekbones.
For girls with non-standard shapes, for example: a heart, a diamond, the generally accepted method of using concealer as contouring will fit perfectly.
A universal method of applying concealer, divided into several stages:
- Brightening of skin under the eyes, on the forehead, chin;
- Darkening in the cheekbones and face contour;
- Concealment of skin imperfections.
Stage 1 - elimination of defects. At this stage, color concealers are used to help hide minor skin imperfections and imperfections, such as:
- circles under the eyes;
- wrinkles;
- dark spots;
- freckles;
- pimples;
- "Bags" under the lower eyelid.
Accordingly, for each defect, the corresponding color is applied from the concealer palette. You can use them both pointwise and zonally. Only after on top can nude concealers be used to sculpt the face.
Stage 2 - highlighting. We apply a light concealer, preferably one to two shades lighter than the skin or foundation, on specific areas:
- under the eyes on the lower eyelid;
- under the eyebrow;
- on the nose and septum to the tip of the nose;
- on the chin;
- over the upper lip;
- on nasolabial folds;
- on the forehead in the shape of a triangle, an acute angle down.
It is important to remember that under the eyes to mask dark circles, it is better to apply the product not pointwise, but draw a triangle with it, the base of which coincides with the lower eyelid, then shade.
Stage 3 - dimming. Usually makeup artists advise to darken certain areas of the skin in order to adjust the contour of the face. The standard dark concealer is applied to:
- wings of the nose;
- cheekbones;
- angles above the eyebrows;
- around the chin;
- along the contour of the face.
The concealer must be thoroughly shaded to create the effect of a smooth transition and a slight shadow on the face. Thus, you can visually reduce the face and give expressiveness.
The main mistakes when using the concealer
The most common mistake when applying the concealer is its use under a tonal basis. Makeup artists argue that this cosmetic product should only be used on top of foundation.
However, girls often make a number of other mistakes when applying makeup with concealer:
- Concealer is applied in a thick layer;
- Use colors that are not suitable for the shade of the skin;
- Replace the concealer with a concealer;
- Forget to apply a moisturizer before use;
- Do not fade the edges.
Incorrect use of the concealer leads to the formation of colored spots on the face. Without proper shading, the skin tone becomes uneven and, therefore, the rest of the makeup does not go down or looks inappropriate.
