Hide Anything: Where Does Concealer Go?
Is hormonal acne ruining your weekend confidence? Are under-eye bags giving away how little sleep you actually got last night? Don’t worry! Hiding things is what concealer does best. It’s been used for years by makeup professionals to conceal acne, pigmentation, blemishes, under-eye bags, scarring, and even tattoos.
So, what’s the key to getting concealer to work in your favor? Knowing where and how to apply it. This is your complete guide to knowing where to apply concealer, how you should apply it, and a few other tips to hide those unwanted spots and boost your confidence.
What Is Concealer?
Concealer is a makeup artist's favorite tool. Well, okay, there’s more to the perfect makeup look than just concealer. But when it comes to hiding those unwanted spots and blemishes, concealer is a go-to.
Still aren’t sure what the big deal is when it comes to concealer? Here are some frequently asked questions.
What Kind of Concealer Do I Need?
There’s a lot to consider when picking out a concealer. You have to take into account shade, skin type, and more. Luckily, with HIDE Premium Concealer, you can’t go wrong! Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, normal skin, or any combination, the formula blends seamlessly into any type and lasts all day—even through sweat.
What Can Concealer Hide?
The short answer is—anything you want it to hide! HIDE Premium Concealer completely covers whatever imperfections you want it to. To dig into some more details, here’s just some of the things our long-lasting formula can hide.
- Acne
- Wrinkles
- Under-eye bags
- Scars
- Pigmentation
- Tattoos
Where Does Concealer Go?
Concealer can pretty much be used to cover up whatever you need it to, but there are some basic guidelines around where to put concealer and where not to put it.
Here are some of the best places where you should put concealer!
Under Your Eyes
One of the most common places to use concealer is under the eyes. Maybe it’s finals week, and you want to hide your under-eye bags from not getting enough sleep. Or maybe you just want to add some brightness to your overall makeup look.
No matter what your goal is, concealer under the eyes is a great place to start.
How to apply:
It might be tempting to glob concealer under the eyes in order to hide those dark circles but trust us. A little bit goes a long way! The best way to put concealer on under the eyes isn’t to make a line or a circle, as these things serve to emphasize the area rather than hiding it. Instead, the best way is to form a triangle.
Start by using our custom diamond-shaped foot to apply the concealer. This shape not only allows for precise application but does so in the most flattering shape. Using the applicator, draw a straight line underneath your eye. This is the base of the triangle and should be about as wide as your eye. Next, draw the two sides of the triangle so they come to a point. The tip of the triangle should be about where the tip of your nose is.
Next, dab the concealer to blend it in and prevent clumps. And voila! Dark circles, who? We don’t know her.
If you just want to use concealer to brighten your face and less to hide under-eye bags, here’s another way to apply it:
Using the applicator, draw a diagonal line from the corner of your eye to just below your eye circles. Next, draw another diagonal line from the outer corner of your eye and go upwards. This also gives your face a lifted, natural look.
On Your Eyelids
While underneath the eyes is the most popular place to use concealer, there are a few more secrets we’ve got up our sleeves. Another place you can use concealer is on your eyelids.
Concealer can act as a primer on your eyelids for eyeshadow. In addition to hiding blemishes, concealer is also known for its ability to prevent creasing. In other words, using concealer on your eyelids can help keep that smooth look all day long.
How to apply:
To do this, simply apply a base of concealer on your eyelids and dab it on with your fingers. Apply your eyeshadow and enjoy your creaseless look.
On Your Body
HIDE’s concealer hides anything. It’s thick to conceal even the darkest tattoos or scarring, but lightweight so you forget it’s even on as you’re going about your day.
Because of the science behind it, this concealer is even able to hide tattoos on the body. Have a photoshoot or party and need to hide something? HIDE has you covered.
How to apply:
For more coverage, you can draw an outline around the areas you want to hide and then use your fingers to dab in the rest. This also allows for a smoother, flawless application. Bonus tip: use a setting powder to enhance your flawless look.
On Your Lips
Another place you can use concealer is your lips. There are a few main ways to do this.
Lip Liner
Using lip liner is a great way to draw emphasis to your lips, prevent smudgy lipstick lines, and highlight your finished lipstick look. Concealer is a great alternative to darker lip liners as it brightens the lips and creates a clean, finished look.
Use the concealer applicator or a thin brush to apply a small outline of concealer to your lips and viola.
Lip Plumper
Want those plump Kylie Jenner lips without the extra cost of a lip filler? Use concealer. To do this, simply draw a thick line in the center of your lips. Fill in this whole middle section and dab it with your fingers to smooth it out.
Apply your lip gloss or balm over top, and you’ve got a puckered-up look with none of the expensive treatments and needles.
On Your Brows
Concealer can also be handy when it comes to eyebrows. If you’re looking to make your eyebrow arch a little sharper or even out your eyebrow work, use concealer to clean up the edges.
How to apply:
Use the concealer’s built-in applicator to apply in any area where you want to accentuate an edge, clean up a mistake, or define an arch. Dab with your fingers to smooth out and enjoy a sharp brow look.
Where Not to Put Concealer
Just like there are places where concealer can go, there are a few places concealer shouldn’t go.
Don’t Use Concealer All Over
Concealer isn’t meant to be used as an all-over coverage for your face. This is because of how it’s made. While they may call it an art, makeup really comes down to a little bit of science and chemistry. Concealer is made with a denser formula than foundation is, so if you use it all over your face, it tends to wash you out instead of having the same smoothing effect as foundation.
Especially if you aren’t using the right concealer for your skin type, concealer can clog your pores if you use it all over. Instead, use foundation to achieve overall coverage. You can then use concealer to cover up those spots still showing through your foundation or any other blemishes you want to hide.
Learn more about the difference between concealer and foundation here.
Helpful Tip: For a foundation that offers full coverage no matter your skin type or lifestyle, try HIDE Premium Foundation. With weightless coverage, you’ll be able to achieve that flawless finish you’ve always wanted. Plus, you can use a concealer on top if you still need to hide more.
Don’t Use Concealer on Areas You Don’t Want to Hide
Let’s say you have a gorgeous tattoo on the side of your neck, and you decide you want to put makeup near it or overtop of it—but not to cover it up. If you use concealer on that area, you’ll probably end up covering up the tattoo.
If you still want to achieve a natural makeup look without covering up a birthmark or tattoo, consider using makeup around the area or choosing a lighter coverage foundation.
Summary
When it comes to hiding acne, dark circles, or tattoos, concealer is a lifesaver. But it can only work the way it’s supposed to when you use it in the right places. While concealer can pretty much go in any place your imagination can, it’s important to know how not to use concealer.
With these tips and guidelines, you’re well on your way to the perfect makeup look!
Want to learn more about finding the perfect tools for your makeup bag? Take a look at our blog here.
Sources:
Acne - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Bags under eyes - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
The chemistry of cosmetics - Curious | science.org