New York makeup artist Lisa Aharon, who did Gwyneth Paltrow's sexy-eyed, but fresh, glowing, flawless skin at the CFDA Awards, shares some secrets on how to use the right concealer the right way.
1
Proofreader is for proofreading; foundation is for evening out skin tone.
Whether you're looking to cover dark spots, acne, redness or dark circles, concealer is the tool you need. All makeup artists agree on this. Many people avoid concealer, thinking they'll look more natural without it, and instead try to lighten dark circles or minimize a dark spot with layers of foundation, a Sisyphean task that leaves too much makeup on the skin and never ends. gives enough coverage for problem spots. For many people, strategically applied concealer obviates the need for foundation or BB cream.
2
For the eyes, always start with the eye cream.
If you want to hide something under your eyes, apply eye cream first to soften the under eye area – this also helps the concealer blend more naturally. If you have time, take 10 minutes before starting makeup to use some eye masks. They help brighten, de-puff, smooth and hydrate the skin.
3
Return to your eye cream later in the day if you find wrinkles reappearing
Take a drop of eye cream and press it directly on top of your concealer. So you don't need to add more concealer. You can also use face oil to achieve a similar refreshing effect of the concealer: apply directly on the concealer and wait a few seconds and the magic will happen.
4
Choose the shape you like best.
Whether you like a thick balm or something more runny, the texture and the way the concealer is packaged don't tell much about its effectiveness. What makes the most difference is the pigment load of the concealer. The more pigmented the formula, the better, because you can use much less to get the same effect.
5
Use a brush (no matter what kind of concealer you have).
Even if your concealer comes with its own applicator, using a brush gives a much more natural look. A brush gives you the most control and doesn't eat up as much product as a wet blender. Use the warmth of your fingers to melt a drier formula - you can warm a little on your finger and then rub it in or press your finger into the concealer already applied to the skin.
6
Apply concealer only to the problem area.
Using a brush makes this possible, and putting concealer anywhere but the dark circle or blemish will just leave you with a less natural look and more makeup on your face.
7
Do not rub - to blend.
With your middle finger, lightly but firmly tap the newly applied concealer. (Rubbing it moves the concealer away from the spot you're trying to hide, onto another part of your face.) 'Patcing makes the desired coverage much easier and is the best technique. As you lightly pat it, it may seem like the concealer isn't blending. But do it for a few seconds and suddenly the concealer should disappear, along with the spots and circles under the eyes.
8
The ideal balance between gloss and matte is personal.
If you feel like your under eye area is getting too shiny, press the lighter powder on top. This is mostly your preference and helps set the concealer, but it's not essential. For dark spots, use powder.
9
Finding your shade involves looking at it on your skin in multiple lighting situations.
Get in front of the mirror and look at yourself under different lighting, from different angles, and also take flash photos beforehand. If your concealer shade passes these two tests, you can relax. Most makeup artists advise keeping two shades on hand so you can match your skin tone, which changes throughout the year.
The oft-repeated advice to use a shade lighter than the rest of your face works for some people and not for others.
10
You may also suffer from dark circles.
A puffiness under the eyes, especially with age, can read to some people as a circle of paler skin that stands out in a less than glamorous way. Using too light a shade of concealer just makes this situation worse. If this is your problem, stick to the concealer in the same shade/skin tone as the rest of the face in that area.
