How To Choose the Right Concealer for Your Skin Tone (2021)
Choosing the right concealer shade to match your skin tone can be tricky. Not everyone knows what their skin’s undertone is or how to figure it out. However, when you have a concealer that's the right shade, you can use it to cover almost anything.
Concealer is one of the most valuable products in any makeup bag. Finding one that mimics your skin tone is crucial. Some people need multiple concealer shades and types of concealers. There are color-correcting concealers, brightening shades, and ones to cover up imperfections.
We are going to go over how to choose the right concealer for your skin tone. You will also learn some tips and tricks to using it to cover anything.
Discovering Your Undertone
Before you can select a concealer shade, you need to know your skin's undertone. The undertone is the color within the color of your skin. Your shade is at the surface, and your undertone is just below.
There are three main undertones: cool, warm, and neutral. When you have cool undertones, you have pink and bluish hues within your skin. Warm undertones have a range from peach to yellow hues. If you have a neutral undertone, it's neither cool nor warm but somewhere in the middle.
One size does not fit all when it comes to undertones. Someone with fair skin can have a warm undertone, and someone with tan skin can have a cool undertone, which is why understanding your skin tone is so important. If you have a warm undertone and use a concealer made for people with cool undertones, it's not going to look right.
You can discover your skin's undertone on your own if you're not sure which one applies to you. There are several tests you can try at home. If you're still stuck, you can always visit a dermatologist or aesthetician to help you identify your undertone.
Examine Your Veins
You can look at your veins and see if there is an identifiable color. If you notice green hues, you may have warm undertones. You have a cool undertone if your veins look purple or blue. You may have neutral undertones if you can't see your veins because they appear to match your skin color.
Look at Your Hair Color
Consider your natural hair color when trying to figure out your undertone. If you have blonde or lighter colored hair, you may have cool or neutral undertones. In contrast, people with darker hair generally have warm undertones. These aren't hard and fast rules but can be helpful.
Think About How the Sun Affects Your Skin
How does your skin react after sun exposure? It can be very telling how the sun affects your skin when it comes to undertones. People with cool undertones usually sunburn. Meanwhile, people with warm undertones tan and don't burn easily.
Selecting the Right Concealer
Once you know what your undertone is, you're ready to pick out a concealer. You will have to select the right shade, but that shouldn't be as difficult. You will most likely need at least two different shades of concealer.
The first shade should be the same as your skin to cover anything on your face, like a blemish. The second concealer shade should be one or two shades lighter for places like your under-eye area. Once you select the concealer shades, you can test them out to make sure they're a perfect match.
You will want to swatch the concealers somewhere on your face, like your jawline. Next, examine the area under natural light. If it looks like it blends, you've found the right shade. However, if the concealer sticks out and looks too light or too dark, you may need to try again.
You also have to pick a concealer with the right coverage level. Since concealer is meant to be on the thicker side, you should probably choose one that's full-coverage. This type of concealer will make covering dark circles and other imperfections easy. If you ever want a thinner concealer, you can mix it in with a moisturizer to sheer it out.
HIDE Premium Concealer offers full coverage and can cover anything from acne to tattoos. It is oil-free and lightweight and comes in 20 different shades, so you should be able to find the right one for your skin tone.
Uses for Concealer
There are many different uses for concealer. There are also more than just skin tone shades available. Here are some of the top benefits of concealer.
Covering Dark Circles
If you have really dark under-eye circles, you may need to use a color-corrector first. This type of concealer uses colors on the opposite side of the color wheel to cancel out discoloration. To conceal dark under eyes, apply a peach or orange concealer first. Next, you take your lighter concealer and blend it out. You don't necessarily need a color-corrector if you're using HIDE concealer since it is formulated to cover everything.
Concealing Blemishes
If you have acne or are prone to breakouts, you may need some extra coverage. You will want to use a concealer that matches your skin tone. Start with a small amount on the blemish and blend it out. You don't want to start with too much, or you may end up looking cakey. You can always build up the coverage.
Hiding Hyperpigmentation
Some people struggle with hyperpigmentation due to things like sun damage or hormone fluctuations. You may notice dark spots or patches that stand out. You can cover this discoloration with a high-quality concealer. If you still see the hyperpigmentation peaking through, you may need to use a color-corrector first.
Covering Redness
If your blemishes are red or you have any redness on your face, you can use a green color corrector. Green cancels out red, and using a green corrector is a quick way to neutralize the discoloration. Your concealer that matches your skin tone will easily be able to cover the green shade, and you won't notice any redness.
Highlighting and Contouring
You can use liquid or cream concealers to highlight and contour. They are easy to blend out and won't make you look muddy. A matte concealer is ideal for blending flawlessly with your foundation. Plus, they leave you with a natural-looking complexion. You just need a concealer two shades lighter than your skin tone and one two to three shades darker.
How To Apply Concealer
When you're ready to apply your concealer, you're going to need a tool or two. A damp beauty blender is an excellent way to blend out your concealer flawlessly. You can also use a concealer brush to buff it out. If you don't have anything, you can use your fingertips in a pinch.
Here are steps to applying your concealer.
Step 1: After foundation, use the lighter concealer to draw an upside-down triangle under your eyes. You can also apply it anywhere you want to highlight, like your T-zone area.
Step 3: Apply the concealer that's the perfect match to your face to any blemishes or imperfections you want to cover.
Step 4: Apply the darker concealer shade to anywhere you want to contour.
Step 5: Take your damp beauty blender or tool of choice, and begin blending. You want to bounce the sponge on your face, dabbing it in and not rubbing the product around. Once the concealer looks like it’s blending seamlessly with your foundation, you're done!
In Summary
Finding the perfect concealer shade to match your skin tone may not be the easiest, but it's worth the effort. Once you have the right shades, you can achieve flawless-looking skin. HIDE Premium Concealer is a fantastic choice, comes in many shades, and offers excellent coverage.
Shop the Look
Shop at HIDE for products that will be the perfect match for your skin tone.
- Foundation: HIDE Premium Foundation
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Concealer: HIDE Premium Concealer
Sources:
Skin Undertones Chart: Warm, Cool, Neutral, Pink, Yellow, and More | Healthline
Sun Damage Does Not Look the Same on Every Person's Skin! | American Society for Mohs Surgery