Concealer
It’s used to cover minor blemishes from birthmarks, sunspots, age spots and under eye circles. It’s one of the most important products in any woman’s beauty arsenal. In fact it is known as the secret of the beauty universe. Most women suffer from undereye circles and usually, concealer is the only way to go.
So how do you determine what is a good concealer and a bad one. A bad concealer is chalky dry or greasy and may emphasize the flaws you are trying to cover up. A good concealer is smooth, creamy and yellow toned, blends into your skin and makes you look instantly better. You can also feel the concealer between your fingers. A good one should feel creamy and not powdery, sticky or greasy.
Obviously, concealer is a try before you buy product. Choose concealer that’s a shade lighter than your foundation(of course keeping in mind that your foundation matches your skin exactly). And if your circles are very dark, go 2 shades lighter. If it’s too dark or too light, it will look unnatural and actually highlight the area you are trying to conceal. Sometimes undereye circle can be lighter than the skin on the rest of your face. Try a concealer that’s the same shade as your foundation or a shade darker.
A yellow based concealer is always the best bet no matter your skin color.
How To Cover Up
1. Undereye Circles
Concealing undereye circles gives your eyes an open clean look. Before you start, make sure you are facing your light source. Masking undereye circles calls for full coverage so a creamy concealer is best. First put on a bit of eye cream as a primer and also to smoothen out the area. If the skin is too dry concealer will cake.
Use a concealer brush or your index finger to apply. Bring it all the way up to your lashes and don’t forget the inner corners of your eyes. Apply in thin layers and then pat softly using your ring finger (as it has the least amount of intensity and pressure) to blend the delicate area under the eye. The key is to make sure you blend the concealer well. Never put concealer on your eyelid as it will make your make up crease. When you are satisfied with the way it looks, dust on some loose powder to set.
2. Dark Spots and Patches
They need fuller coverage than undereye circles and should only be covered when it’s absolutely necessary. Because the right concealer is a shade lighter, the dark spot could end up looking worse. If you must conceal, then moisturize the skin well and apply a creamy concealer, which is a shade lighter than your foundation. Apply with a patting-rolling motion. Then blend on a foundation shade that’s lighter than your skin but darker than the concealed spot. Set it with loose powder.
3. Blemish
Apply foundation to your face as usual. Then take a concealer brush and dip into a cream or stick foundation in a shade that matches your face exactly. Paint it on the blemish gently and then blend gently with your finger. Apply powder to set.
Tips
- In order for concealer to blend easily warm it up by swiping on the back of your hand then use a concealer brush to pick up the concealer and apply. Blending with your finger also warms up the concealer.
- If you wear concealer and foundation, try putting on the foundation first. Why? You may find that it adequately covers the areas you were going to conceal. If you still look uneven, then add concealer and set with powder.
- Adding yellow eye shadow to your concealer effectively covers undereye circles.
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Prisca Mwangi is a Beauty Consultant at The Color Palette Company. She can be reached at beautiodyssey@gmail.com.