Using complementary colours in this way will “neutralize” and hide your imperfections more effectively than a non-tinted concealer. Based on this principle, you should use: a green-tinted concealer to hide red spots (zits, dilated blood vessels, blemishes, etc.) an orange-tinted concealer to cover blue veins.
Green color corrector neutralizes red spots, reddish birthmarks, rashes, acne, Rosacea, redness around the nose, and even a sunburn can all benefit from a green color corrector. It's one of the hardest working colors in color correcting. And the best part about green is that it can be used on all skin tones.
Orange, red and peach colors can help correct the blue and purple-ish hues that come from under-eye circles, as well as dark spots caused by aging or sun damage. Consider using an orange concealer for a blue bruise, whereas peach is great for covering less-pigmented blue spots.
Of course! Typically, it's best to choose a concealer that is lighter than your natural skin tone. This way, it can effectively cover up those dark spots by brightening and counteracting any shadows.
Which is exactly why some makeup artists always apply foundation before concealer. “If you have blemishes or pigmentation on the skin, you're going to want to put your base on first,” explains Lenny. “If you do your concealer first, you'll just end up covering or disrupting the work you did.
foundation before concealer
The overwhelming majority of beauty professionals recommend this application order.
Spots will make themselves scarce quicker if they're left alone. Touching them will only serve to annoy them, driving inflammation and redness. By all means, apply concealer, but avoid any unnecessary prodding or poking.
Best Overall: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer
This past Beauty of Beauty winner is super thin and lightweight—so it layers nicely without creasing—but also pigmented enough to mask dark circles and redness in one go.
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.
Blues help to balance out orange on the skin. An overly orange complexion as well as any orange-hued dark spots of hyperpigmentation can be corrected with a blue color corrector. Like the green concealer, blue can be used on any skin tone.
Concealer vs Foundation
Concealer is designed to color-correct dark circles, pigmentation, and blemishes while foundation works to enhance the overall skin tone. They are great on their own but together they complete each other.
Deeper peach and orange color correctors help counteract bluish hues, which makes them great for neutralizing dark spots and dark circles on those with medium to deep skin tones. If you're unsure which to choose, consider your skin tone and your undertones.
Green concealers are often called color correctors because that's exactly what they do. When used correctly, a green concealer can tone down the redness from inflamed pimples and help camouflage breakouts. You can also use a green color-correcting concealer for dark spots or dark circles under your eyes.
"I apply foundation on the larger areas of the face first, like the cheeks and forehead, then I go in and tweak around the nose and the chin area," says Linter. "Then lastly, I'll apply concealer, plus maybe a touch of foundation under the eye area."
To hide imperfections and blemishes, concealer should match your skin tone and undertone, seamlessly blending into the skin. To reduce the appearance of dark circles, though, apply a concealer that is 1 shade lighter than your skin tone.
Place warm compresses on the pimple: Gently place a clean, warm, wet washcloth on the area for about 10 minutes, several times a day. But make sure the washcloth isn't too hot. The warm washcloth helps pus dissolve or rise to the surface. Use topical treatments: Benzoyl peroxide products kill bacteria.
Go for one shade lighter than your skin tone and one shade darker. Use the lighter shade in areas that you want a brightening pop such as under the eyes and along the brow bone. Then, apply the deeper shade under the lighter shade and up toward your hairline.
“Color correction should always be applied after skincare and before foundation and concealer,” she notes. “Using a small brush to pat on, and a damp beauty sponge to stipple is the easiest way to apply color corrector.”
Your foundation should ideally not be lighter or darker than your skin—you want to find a perfect match. If you only have a lighter foundation on hand, however, you may be able to make it work by adding warmth and depth with bronzer and contour, respectively.