SheFinds emphasizes that this review is not monetized, compensated, or sponsored in any way. This evaluation of the product is strictly based on the expertise of a beauty industry expert.
In any successful anti-aging makeup regimen, concealer plays a crucial role in achieving your desired look, whether that involves hiding dark spots, smoothing out fine lines, or illuminating under-eye circles. Given the diverse range of facial shades, colors, and undertones unique to each person, selecting the perfect concealer can be daunting. We consulted with professional makeup artists who shared timeless concealer tips for women over 40. These expert hacks are both effective and durable, capable of delivering a lifted appearance in mere minutes.
4 Go-To Concealer Hacks For Covering Dark Under-Eyes, Spots And Wrinkles Over 40
1. Find Your Skin Tone & Undertones For Better Shade Matches
While you may have found a concealer color that seemingly matches your facial skin tone, that isn’t the only one you should use, professional makeup artist Mary Winkenwerder tells SheFinds. With the help of your hand, testing out multiple colors can help you find your undertones, as most people fall under one of three common product categories— "warm, cool, or neutral." Fellow pro makeup artist and expert Mandie Brice notes that you can find your undertone “easily by looking at the veins on the inside of your forearm."
If they are blueish, you have a cooler undertone, she explains, and if they are greenish, you can go for a warmer color. In addition, "if silver jewelry looks better on you, you’re more suited to cooler tones, but if gold is better, you have a warm undertone," she points out. There’s also the possibility that you’re neutral, which is if gold and silver are "equally flattering." Brice stresses that "identifying undertones is something that gets better with practice."
2. Try The 3-Dot Concealer Facelift Trick
When it comes to actually applying your concealer for a facelift effect, one MUA recently went viral with her quick and simple hack. Concealer continues to be an effective and well-established cosmetic tool as it provides a way to give your face a makeover without having to go through any surgery.
To prove this point, celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips shared an instructional Instagram video for her sizable 2.2 million following. The video goes over the technique of putting three well-placed spots of concealer to attain a facelift-like or eye-lifting result. Phillips explains that the first dot should be applied beside your nose and blended with a beauty blender, then the second one should go to the inner corner of the eye and the third should go to the outer corner. These steps, as Phillips points out, can quickly bring life to your skin if it looks worn out or saggy.
@makeupbymaryphillips #LOrealParisPartner Here's my 3 dot Infallible Concealer method I use on clients (and myself)! Love this trick using @lorealparisusa and tag me if you try it! #concealerhack #infallibleconcealer #makeup ♬ original sound - Mary Phillips
In her video, Phillips (who often creates epic makeup looks for A-listers like Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lopez) tells viewers how to get an “instant” eye lift. “First, I put a dot [of concealer] at the corner of my nose and one under the inner corner of my eye and another under the outer corner of my eye. Then, I go in and blend.”
She continues: “Starting at the nose and working my way up out towards the temple. It’s a full coverage concealer and doesn’t crease and that’s it. You don’t need a ton of product. All it takes is three dots.” In the clip, Phillips uses the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Concealer in the shade, "Cashmere 360."
3. Add A Brightening Product In Your 'Triangle Cheek Area'
YouTube tutorials offer a wealth of makeup tips and tricks, and for mature beauties over 40 seeking advice on concealer, one standout creator and makeup artist, Brianna Stanko, has created an informative and captivating video. In her recent upload, Stanko demonstrated how to apply concealer flawlessly, leaving the under-eye area looking “bright and smooth” without emphasizing fine lines or wrinkles, or creating a “crepey” appearance that can be common among those new to concealer.
After applying and dabbing concealer with her fingers, Stanko then began blending it all out with a foundation brush. "Okay so we have our concealer on, but we want to add that pop-up youthful brightness now," Stanko addressed. "Here is my tip that makes all the difference if you are 40 and up." Stanko held up her Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener and MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter in a Radiant Rose. She used one beneath one eye and the other product beneath her other eye.
"What you do is you take a brightening product like this, get a dab of that, and instead of applying it directly under your eyes, you actually apply it in the area between the side of your nose and the top of your cheeks." She said that if product is added to this "triangle area" that it won't "accentuate any of the lines, wrinkles and texture" in your under-eye area.
"You're not actually brightening those things, which will happen if you use too light of a concealer up under your eyes." "I just pat the brightening product right on top, right in that triangle area and it lifts the face," Stanko went on.
"At the same time, this makes that area look a little bit more full because that area you actually lose fat in very early on. It's one of the very first fat pad separation areas that we get as we age, so this really helps to add highlight and plumpness back to that area."
4. Choose A Color-Correcting/ Neutralizing Concealer
Celebrity makeup artist Margina Dennis tells us that a lot of melasma and dark spots on the skin over 40 are "different hues of brown," so you need a "salmon or cool orange color corrector to neutralize them." Neutralizing them will "keep them from looking grey under the foundation," she points out, and this will also "eliminate the need to wear a full coverage foundation."
She notes that you can either "neutralize the dark spots first, and then stipple foundation over the correction to keep from disturbing it," or neutralizer "after you put your foundation on." When you use the correct color neutralizer on top of the foundation, it will just "correct the discoloration and it will look like nothing is there," she concludes.
The Bottom Line
For achieving a radiant and flawless makeup look, concealer is a crucial tool that can assist in covering imperfections such as acne, dark spots, and fine lines, while also creating an even complexion.
To ensure optimal use of this product, we sought advice from experienced makeup artists and specialists who shared invaluable, innovative, and ageless tips.
Additionally, it is recommended to consult with a professional makeup artist to identify the best concealer for your specific skin type.
