3 Experts Share Their Top Tips for Selecting and Applying Concealer

Thu, 19 July 2012 9:19AM

The essential ingredient to a superb winter pasta sauce is that almost undetectable, yet essential, splash of red wine that simmers beneath the surface, infusing the carrots and lifting the sharpness of the sauce.

Similarly (but not at all, really) is the equally essential yet undetectable placement of concealer amidst a successfully made up face. It won’t do anything for carrots, but – when applied correctly – concealer will enhance what you want it to, and erase what you don’t.

It too should be undetectable, yet lay the foundations for success.

My tip is if it’s invisible, that’s a gold star for you. But I am just a nut job that makes alcohol and pasta analogies on a beauty site so here’s some real experts to make some sense of concealers.

Clinique Even Better Concealer, $40, from department stores

Clinique’s NSW Education Manager Angelique Hogan, on when concealer should be applied:

“It depends on the texture and colour of the product and its intended purpose,” she says. “Some are best used under foundations like those that contain a yellow or green pigment. Most of the time the foundation should do most of the work and be applied first, concealer should follow and be used strategically over the top for areas that require additional coverage.

The difference between concealer and illuminator:
“Concealers should provide some coverage, that is primarily their purpose. Illuminators highlight, lighten or draw attention to an area, sometimes they can contain optics or mica that provide a soft-focus effect,” says Angelique. “Concealers can be used to illuminate areas if they are a shade or two lighter than the overall skin tone,” she adds.

L’Oréal Paris Lumi Maqique Concealer, $26.95, from pharmacies

L’Oréal’s National Education Manager Bronwyn Fraser on how to choose the right one for your winter complexion:

“The trick to finding the right concealer is to determine first how you want to use it,” she says. “Some are formulated purely for coverage on blemishes, pigmentation, dark circles etc, whilst others contain particles to illuminate areas such as the inner eye corners, under the eyes or around the lips.”

Makeup maestro Michael Brown, on how to stop concealer getting too cosy with creases:

“The right formula and texture of your foundation and concealer as we age must be something to take seriously,” he urges. “Lighter fluid and cream style textures are the best as our skin becomes dryer and more creased due to expression,” he says.

“If I am working on a woman with visible expression lines, I avoid applying foundation/concealer as much as possible to those areas, as in a few hours I know the product would have fallen in there, making the concern more pronounced.”

How to apply concealer correctly on ‘older’ eyes:

“I never add concealer all the way under the eyes – only apply concealer on the actual dark circle dabbing in and blending outwards, not applying actual product on the outer Crows Feet area. You are setting yourself up for disaster long term,” Michael warns.

Where – and how – he thinks concealer is best applied:

“Apply Foundation first, BUT only in areas that actually need it, avoid really active expression areas to avoid creasing,” says Michael. “Next, I apply foundation in centre first as this where most concern is, then sweep outwards to avoid build up at hair and jaw line.” Then add concealer to areas that need, mainly under eyes and on dark circle only. “If concealer is too thin, it will fall into crease lines around the eye. An oil based cream concealer is a better option.”

What about you Primpettes? What are your top concealing tips?

How do you ensure that you have the correct shade and formula for your complexion?

Do you have one you can’t live without?

ecb x

Posted by: ecb

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Tags: clinique, concealer, concealer tips, loreal, makeup tips, michael brown