The rule of thumb for picking your concealer shade is based on your foundation shade. Beauty experts advise that everyone should have two shades of concealer in their arsenal, one lighter and one darker since daily sun exposure means your skin tone shifts slightly all the time.
A foolproof way to pick a highlight concealer shade is to choose something w/ the same undertone as ur foundation match and simply go 2 shades lighter. If that pushes u into another undertone choose something lighter but neutral or cooler since a warmer shade could read as too light or ashy.
Concealer should usually be a shade lighter than your foundation to effectively cover imperfections and brighten your complexion. Choose a concealer that is close to your skin tone or slightly lighter so it blends better with your makeup and creates a natural glow.
Here, the color wheel determines which color of concealer will work best on your blemish. Colors that are opposite of one another on the color wheel cancel each other out. Green concealer cancels out red zits, purple concealer minimizes yellow spots, and orange concealer takes care of blue dark circles.
To find the perfect concealer, identify your undertone first--whether it's warm, cool, or neutral. Choose a concealer one or two shades lighter than your foundation for brightening under the eyes, and one that matches exactly for covering blemishes. Test it on your jawline or the side of your face in natural light.
Consider your skin's undertones
Similar to foundation, finding the ideal concealer shade ultimately depends on your skin tone and undertone. Your skin tone refers to how much melanin you have on the surface of your skin, and it can fluctuate depending on how much sun exposure you get.
Dark circles tend to have a bluish undertone, so shades of peach and orange are ideal for canceling them out. Those with lighter skin tones should reach for a peach color corrector.
Bringing light to areas only draws more attention to that area. Meaning, if you're trying to conceal darkness and go too light with your concealer, it's going to bring more attention to that area. It could also have a graying effect, which is definitely not what we want to cover any sort of darkness or discoloration.
Choose a shade in the orange family to correspond with your skin tone- more peach for lighter skin up to a darker orange for deeper skin tones. These colors can also be used to correct sunspots and age spots. Anything with a bluish tone can be corrected with a peach color corrector to orange color corrector.
While the majority of experts recommend applying a light layer of foundation before concealer, we admit there are instances where you benefit from a concealer first, like: If you're getting photographed. If your concealer shade isn't the same as your foundation. If you're color-correcting discoloration.
White Cloth Test: Put a white cloth next to your bare face and observe how your skin appears under that lighting. Skin with warm undertones will look yellowish, while skin with cool undertones will seem blueish or pinkish.
Ultimately, concealers are personalised products, so you have to think about your goals and needs. While under-eye concealer should be lighter than your natural skin tone (or red-orange if you're colour-correcting), you want your all-over concealer to match your skin colour as closely as possible.
Can your concealer replace your foundation? Yes! It depends on if you want a more light makeup or full coverage.
"My general rule of thumb is to choose something a hair lighter than your foundation but not too different. You want a concealer that blends well with your skin and the rest of your makeup for the most natural finish."
The reason concealer alone cannot address dark circles is that it often creases and makes the issue much worse. Moisturizing and applying color corrector can help minimize the look of dark circles.
As a rule of thumb, opt for a sponge when you want to achieve a flawless finish and when using liquid formulas. Alternatively, reach for a brush when you want a precise application and are working with powder or cream-based products.
Start by applying primer, then even out your complexion with a skin tint or sheer foundation. If desired, you can apply concealer to any areas that need additional coverage. Then, add a little blush or bronzer, swipe on a coat or two of mascara, and apply a lip balm or gloss.
“If you're using a lightweight under-eye concealer, the warmth of your finger will help it sink into your skin really nicely,” explains Katie. “But if it is a heavier concealer, I would be worried that it would look cakey or you'd add too much by just using our fingers.
foundation before concealer
The overwhelming majority of beauty professionals recommend this application order.
Here's a quick cheat sheet on which color-corrector shade to use: For redness: Neutralize red and pink tones with a green color corrector. For dark circles and dark spots: Use a peach color corrector if you have fair skin, or a deeper orange shade if you have medium to dark skin.