Take an informal survey of everyone’s favorite makeup products and there’s a good chance concealer is way up there. This magic product is the wake-me-up, help-me-glow tool everyone needs in their kit. Had a sleepless night? Concealer is there to help. Got a zit? Grab color corrector first, and then follow up with concealer to create more flawless-looking skin.
But mistakes can happen with any makeup product, and concealer is no exception. To make the most out of your concealer, follow a few tips that are approved by makeup artists.
Here are five life-changing concealer tips and tricks you need to know if you have mature skin with fine line and wrinkles (but want your concealer to look amazing).
Use a Lot of Moisturizer
A beautiful eye makeup look doesn’t start with makeup like concealer — it starts with moisturizer, and lots of it. If your skin isn’t smooth and soft, wrinkles and fine lines will be more evident when you apply makeup over them. Get into the good habit of applying a moisturizer that’s ideal for your skin type. Allow your skin to absorb the cream for about 10 minutes and then move on to step number one.
Let Concealer Set Before Blending It
Applying concealer to the areas where it’s needed is the obvious thing to do, but are you taking a brush or sponge to it right away? If so, allow it set for just a little while before moving on to the blending stage. You can even apply concealer and move onto applying bronzer and blush before you return to your concealer to blend it out.
Blend and Set Concealer With a Makeup Sponge
You can use your fingers or brushes, it’s true, but many makeup pros recommend using a dampened makeup sponge instead. Now that you’ve let your concealer set for a few minutes, it shouldn’t be as thick and viscous. This lighter and thinner formula will be easier to blend. Use the sponge to pat your makeup into place.
Use a Setting Spray Without Alcohol
Setting spray is a fantastic product for sealing your makeup and helping it last longer. But read the ingredients in your spray first. If it contains alcohol, you’re essentially signing up your skin for more dryness. And if your skin is already mature and prone to dryness, the last thing you want to add on top of your concealer is a product that can dry it out.
Use Powder Sparingly
A little bit of powder goes a long way when you’re using it to set your concealer. But too much powder can look obvious — it can dry out your skin and cause your makeup to crack and crease. If you want to use powder, find a translucent pressed powder that works for your skin type. Tap a makeup brush into the powder and then lightly press it over your concealer. That’s it — that’s likely all you’ll need to look polished.
