Tip for the Day: All About Concealers

3rd series on Starting Out Your Makeup Collection. Thanks for being excited! I am quite happy to do this series as well!

Concealers

The purpose of the concealers are to cover blemishes or facial imperfections. They're also there to offset the natural shadow that occurs under our eyes. And recently, I've learned in class that concealers can also be used to highlight and contour. Yes, that's the power of concealers.

That's how important concealers are and that gives us the pressure to choose the right one, right?

There's no easy answer on which concealer is the best! As we all know different varieties of concealers are there to cater different individuals with different needs.

So which one do you need to include them in your collection?

Let's understand the types of concealers out there

Stick
This type of concealer usually comes in a lipstick-type tube or pencil looking

Areas to apply
Undereye

How to apply
Apply straight to undereye area, dab and blend with fingers or sponge
Can be applied before or after foundation

pros

• appropriate for mild pigmentation, spots or discolorations
• can provide more coverage and control

cons

• tends to be dryer and thicker in texture, so difficult to blend
• can look quite obvious if you chose the wrong shade
• can enhance lines

examples
Maybelline Cover Stick, Jill Stuart Concealer Stick, Avon Ideal Shade Concealer Stick, Shiseido the Makeup Concealer Stick, MAC Studio Stick Concealer, Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer, Duwop Surface, Stila Cover Up Stick, NARS concealer, etc...






Cream
Usually comes in small pots

Areas to apply
Undereye, discolorations

How to apply
Fingers, concealer brush or sponge. Dab onto the darkest area and blend slowly.

pros

• very nice consistency
• great for very dry skin
• can provide even coverage, can build up

cons

• will enhance breakouts, so this is not advised to use over breakouts
• can be too thick, or greasy which makes an oily person oil up more
• can easily create fine lines for those drier cream formulas

examples
Cinema Secrets, NYX Concealer in a Jar, MAC Studio Finish Concealer, Prescriptives Camouflage Cream Concealer, Chanel Vitalumiere Cream concealer, Benefit Boi-ing, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, Makeup Forever Cream Concealer Palette, Dollface Concealer palette, etc...




Matte-finish liquid concealers
Typically comes in squeezy tube or tube with wand applicator.

Areas to apply
Undereye, blemishes

How to apply
Best to use your finger or the wand applicator to place small dots and blend well using patting motion

pros

• does not crease much
  
• can outlast cream concealer
• works as base for eyeshadows
• can provide light to full coverage, you can just add as you go on

cons

• if you have prominent lines around the eyes, it can enhance it
• have to work fast as this dry up easily
• if not blended well fast, can create ugly patches

examples
Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer, Lancome MaquiComplet Liquid Concealer, The Body Shop Ultra Smooth Liquid Concealer, Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Concealer, etc..


Matte-finish cream to powderUsually comes in compact form and usually looks smaller than cream-to-powder foundation packaging.

Areas to apply
undereye or discoloration
How to apply
Fingers, Brush or Sponge and dab

pros

• works well anywhere on the face
• great coverage
• very easy to apply
• has the great blendability of a cream and the wonderful matte finish

cons

• can still crease due to its cream ingredients
• powder finish can sits onto wrinkles and makes it more obvious
• if you have dry flaky skin, makes it even flakier

examples
Clinique City Base Compact Concealer, Lancome Photogenic Concealer, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer



Ultra-matte liquid concealers
usually comes in thin tubes with wand applicator.

Areas to apply
undereye
How to apply
Best to use fingers or wand applicator. Blend on very quickly and accurately as this dries up in a couple of seconds only.
Should be applied before foundation.

pros

• provides even coverage due to it's liquid consistency
• will not crease and create lines around the eyes if blended correctly
• provides light to medium coverage
• when dried, it doesn't budge at all

cons

• due to it's ULTRA-matte properties, if not applied correctly, will make lines more prominent
• usually discontinued as it is quite difficult to work with

examples
Revlon Color-Stay concealer, Maybelline Great Wear Concealer


*whew*
Enjoy concealer hunting! :)
You can check out my concealer review
by smiling and clicking
MUFE Concealer Palette Review
NYX Concealer in a Jar Review
Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer Review

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!