Make-Up 101: How to Conceal

Concealing is a hit or miss process. You have to get it right for it to look right. We conceal because we want to hide imperfections on the face to create a more uniform and flawless look. You may skip concealing IF: a.) you're going for a natural look, sans foundation and concealer, or b.) you have porcelain-perfect skin. But for us, imperfect mortals, a concealer is definitely a must. 

Concealing is not only dabbing concealer in your problem area; you have to dab the correct concealer on to your problem area. There is something that we call corrective concealing -- concealing the spots and blemishes using correct colors.

Foundation first, or concealer?

It actually depends on your preference. There is really no set rule as to what should come first. I apply my concealer before I apply foundation. The reason being that I want to cover up all the blemishes first before I apply a coat of foundation for uniformity. Aside from that, I do not often use foundation, but I do use concealer a lot. Just keep in mind though that if you are applying your concealer ahead, you may want to add an extra coat, because, upon adding & blending your foundation, you may erase your concealer.

How to: Basic Concealing

*Use an opaque concealer that is one tone lighter than your own. It has to match your foundation for both to work together.

*The best applicator would always be your fingers. They warm up the concealer so it blends easily to the surrounding skin. For smaller areas that need precise application, like the sides of your nose, the corner of your eyes, and the corners of your lips, you may want to use a stiff, pointed brush, and blend after with your fingers.

*To apply the concealer, take a small amount using your fingers, and gently dab the product on the blemish till it blends. If the blemish is still visible, gradually add more product till it no longer shows and the skin shows uniformity.

Corrective Concealing

Corrective concealing means using correct colors to neutralize the colors of the blemishes on your face. As a general rule, the color opposite to another in the color wheel neutralizes it. 

Image was taken from uwgb.edu

Corrective concealers typically come in 3 color families; Yellow, Blue & Green. 

*Yellow: Colors range from yellow to orange. This corrective concealer is used to neutralize bluish or purplish blemishes. Used mainly for under the eyes.

*Blue: Colors range from blue to purple. This color is used to conceal yellowish or brownish spots like bruises that are close to healing, brownish scars, etc.

*Green: Colors range from green to pale green. Used mainly to counteract reddish spots such as rosacea, acne, zits, etc.

There are corrective concealers that can be immediately applied to the blemish and it will just blend with the surrounding skin. There are some raw concealers that need to be mixed with your opaque concealer then applied to the blemish. After applying the concealer, you can then apply your foundation.