From the arsenal of professional makeup artists, concealer has long migrated to the cosmetic bags of all girls who are partial to makeup.
Believe me, if you choose the perfect corrector, you may not even need foundation: it will be enough to precisely apply the correctly selected corrector. How not to make a mistake with your choice? Take our test and find out which best-selling concealer is perfect for you.
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Differences from the corrector
Concealer is often confused with corrector, but the products have slightly different purposes. Both products fall under the category of concealer products.
Although they can replace each other in some cases, there are several significant differences between them:
- Different textures: the concealer is lighter, the corrector is thicker. Due to its lightness, the concealer merges with the foundation, and its scope of application is wider than that of a corrector.
- The corrector is applied under the foundation, and the concealer is applied over the foundation.
- The corrector tends to dry out the skin or existing inflammations, since it contains salicylic acid.
- The concealer moisturizes the epidermis.
- The concealer is easily distributed over the entire surface of the skin; it can be used to model the oval of the face.
Rules for choosing a concealer
The concealer pencil should be the same color as the foundation, or 1-2 shades lighter. Concealer tends to darken after applying powder. This fact must be taken into account when choosing a color.
The shade should be selected in natural light: apply the product to a small area of the face, and it should merge with the skin, and not look like a separate spot.
How to choose a facial concealer that will perform all the necessary functions:
- if you need to hide age spots, a stick or cream concealer will come to the rescue;
- a pencil will help to precisely camouflage acne (it is better to take a greenish tint, with salicylic acid in the composition);
- a yellow product will mask redness;
- for the area around the eyes it is suitable with a lifting effect that will not settle into skin irregularities;
- For oily skin with enlarged pores, it is not recommended to use the stick version. It is better to give preference to a liquid texture;
- To disguise dark circles under the eyes, a product with reflective particles is recommended. If you see a gray tint under your eyes, use a coral-colored concealer to hide it. If the bruises under the eyes are purple, then you need to take a mustard-colored product.
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How to hide wrinkles
Actions:
- First you need to use a moisturizer and let it absorb well.
- After this, a corrector is applied under the eyes 1-2 shades lighter than the skin tone of the face to hide dark circles and wrinkles formed in this area. You need to choose a water-based liquid concealer so that it does not crease. And only after its application the dermis will become visually smoother.
- The same corrector must be applied to the corners of the mouth from below, on the nasolabial fold, on the dimple above the chin, on the back of the nose. While the cosmetic product has not yet been absorbed, it must be carefully shaded with a damp sponge.
Step-by-step instruction
Facial concealer - what is it and how to use it correctly:
- It is necessary to prepare your face. If there are remnants of past makeup on the surface of the skin, you need to use a makeup remover - this can be hydrophilic oil or micellar water. After which you need to wash your face with a cleanser and apply a moisturizer.
- A common mistake girls make is applying concealer under foundation. First you need to distribute the foundation over your entire face, not forgetting your neck and ears. If the foundation is of a thick consistency, do not apply it under the eyes. The skin in this area is thin; it is not recommended to reload it again.
- Concealer under the eyes is applied in the form of an inverted triangle, the tip of which should end at the level of the nose. The ideal tool for application would be a brush or a beauty blender. The product should not be applied using driving movements, but carefully shading it towards the temple - this way you will get a lifting effect. It is important to pay special attention to the inner corners of the eyes and the lower eyelid. If you skip these places, your eyes will seem tired.
Before using facial concealer, you need to learn the application technique. - When masking spot imperfections, the product is applied in a thin layer, allowing layering . If the method does not help, you should use a corrector.
- In order for the concealer to “not slip” and remain on the face throughout the day, it must be set with powder.
- Then you can start doing your usual makeup.
The eye area should be given special attention:
- The area under the eyes has thin and dry skin, so before applying makeup you need to apply a moisturizer to the area around the eyes. It is recommended to give preference to products with reflective particles or vitamin K - they lighten the skin;
- The ideal concealer texture is liquid or cream. The dense composition will clog into facial wrinkles and roll off;
- if the density of the product is increased, it must be mixed with eye cream;
- moisturizer, primer and other products used before makeup should be oil-free. Oily products significantly shorten the period of concealer action.
How to apply concealer to the face step by step (photo)
To begin with, let’s define it once again: a concealer is a concealer that covers skin color problems. It can be made in a color solution, and thus neutralizes color imperfections of the face - dark circles under the eyes, rashes, inflammation, post-acne marks, etc. The corrector can also be found in neutral shades. This variation covers minor imperfections in tone, and is also widely used to correct the shape of the face. Quite often, concealers are used to correct facial imperfections. The difference between these two beauty products is quite arbitrary. Therefore, we will not dwell on them in detail, but will immediately begin to consider the rules for applying concealer to the face.
Photo from the site: m.glamour.ru
Interesting
Modern cosmetics have taken the direction of universalizing the scope of “activity”, but at the same time they are acquiring an increasingly narrow specialization for each type of face. So let's say the same corrector can serve as a base for shadows, be used as a sculptor and as a corrector itself. Or let's say the powder can be used as a highlighter, bronzer, etc. But at the same time, every cosmetic brand that protects its reputation tries to expand the line of each product according to the individual characteristics of its client.
So, let's look at how to properly apply concealer to your face step by step:
- The first stage of correction involves applying a base. This can be a regular moisturizer, primer or makeup base. Many people mistakenly miss this point and then wonder why the corrector spreads or gets caught in the folds. The whole point is that when applied to an unprepared face, the corrector strives to fill all the natural unevenness of the skin. As a result, instead of masking imperfections, they highlight them even more strongly. The base evens out the skin texture, filling all the microgrooves and pores, preventing other beauty products from penetrating into them.
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- The second stage of masking will be foundation. Don't apply it too thickly. Foundation is not intended to hide imperfections such as signs of fatigue or inflammation, as many assume when they mistakenly apply layers upon layers of foundation. Remember - foundation only evens out your complexion.
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- The third stage is the direct application of the corrective agent. Resolving one of the most controversial issues of make-up - is corrector applied before foundation or after - we will answer that corrector is always applied on top of foundation! The foundation will help to slightly cover the existing problem and the corrector will only have to retouch the result. If you perform the reverse scheme, then there is a risk of removing the corrector while applying the tone. In addition, when you initially apply concealer, you make your makeup heavier, because a corrector applied to bare skin will require the use of more product. When applying corrector to a spot, two application options are allowed - both before using foundation and on top of it. In the latter case, you should use a corrector whose shade completely matches the color of the foundation.
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- Finally, you need to set the result with powder. It will act as a fixative and help smooth out any possible unevenness in tone between the corrector and the foundation product. But don’t overdo it – a couple of brush strokes are enough for a flawless result.
Photo from the site: rozovajapantera.ru
Cream concealer
This remedy is considered the most universal; it can handle any imperfection. It has a dense texture and good masking ability. They usually do sculpting and contouring. The product is available in palettes with several shades or in small jars.
Advantage over other concealers:
- a universal remedy that will mask any imperfections;
- convenient application, blends perfectly with any tool and even with your fingertips;
- Suitable for facial correction.
A cream concealer is exactly the product that should be in an inexperienced beginner’s makeup bag.
Review of popular palette brands
How to use certain brands of facial correctors is indicated on each palette from the manufacturer's brand. A rating based on customer reviews will help you choose the right set. All of the products listed have good covering power and last a long time on the skin. The average durability of the products listed is 6 hours or more.
Popular palettes:
- MAC corrector palette 15 colors (1000 rub.). Thick texture, but does not clog pores, good durability up to 8 hours, suitable even for sensitive skin. If necessary, the colors can be mixed with each other to obtain the desired shade.
- Urban Decay (1500 rub.). Light airy texture is easy to apply without weighing down the skin, contains vitamins E and C. It is characterized by economical use and good masking properties.
- Holika Holika (500 rub.). The compact release form contains natural plant extracts. Rejuvenates and moisturizes the skin, fights inflammation.
- NYX Professional Makeup (1800 rub.). The palette consists of 20 shades. Light texture, contains vitamin E, aloe extract and antiseptic additives.
- Maybelline (800 rub.). Delicate texture, easy application, high durability, neutralizes redness and other visible imperfections.
- Faberlic (200 rub.). Smooth, non-sticky texture does not leave stains on clothes. Apply with light pats, which eliminates stretching and deformation of the skin during application. Provides even coverage throughout the day. The line is represented by yellow, green, purple and pearl correctors.
- CATRICE Allround Concealer (RUR 300). This budget-friendly palette of color correctors conceals circles, redness and age spots.
Liquid concealer for face
Liquid facial concealer is considered the most versatile and popular. It will hide any redness and dark circles under the eyes. It has a light, unique texture, applies well and spreads evenly over the skin.
Advantages:
- not visible on the skin;
- some companies produce concealers with a caring effect; as a result of use, the epidermis receives additional care;
- Almost all liquid concealers contain vitamins that nourish the skin;
- often in the composition you can find zinc and other antibacterial components that have a disinfecting effect;
- Some types of products come with reflective particles that give the skin a beautiful glow and brighten it.
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Stages of creating an even complexion
You can achieve a perfectly even complexion if you act consistently. So:
First stage. Cleanse your face with foam or gel wash.
Second phase. We apply the usual cream that we use daily and wait until it is absorbed.
Third stage. We use a concealer: it is lighter in texture than concealer and brightens the skin tone.
The final stage. Apply foundation and only after that concealer. You can also use powder to consolidate the effect.
Concealer stick
The shape is somewhat similar to a pencil. The difference is that the stick extends.
Characteristics:
- There are two types : oily or dense consistency;
- convenient application . You don’t need to use additional tools, it’s great to blend with your fingers;
- strong camouflage ability. Hides scars, unevenness and other defects;
- It is not recommended to apply locally to the area under the eyes, around the lips and to inflamed areas;
- may clog pores . For those with oily skin types, it is better to give preference to any other version.
Concealer and corrector: what's the difference?
Many girls do not see the difference in these two products and are sure that they perform the same functions.
But concealer and corrector differ in several ways:
Corrector | Concealer | |
Structure | Dense, thick | Delicate and light, liquid |
Operating principle | Lightening of pigmentation, single camouflage of circles under the eyes, for spot masking of minor skin imperfections (pimples and scars) | Face sculpting, toning dark circles under the eyes, evening out tone, lightening fine wrinkles |
Palette of shades | Green, yellow, purple, orange | Pink, beige |
Antibacterial components with a drying effect | Included in | Not included |
Application area | Spot on the face, only in those places where there are defects | Can hide large areas of skin |
Application | Before foundation | Over foundation |
Dry concealer
The basis of this type of concealer is mineral powder. Usually available in the form of palettes consisting of several colors. They are convenient for modeling the oval of the face.
How to use:
- perfect for oily skin, it will mattify it, and will also hide redness, age spots, inflammation;
- Should be used on the cheeks, forehead, and chin. The area around the eyes should be avoided, as it will tighten the skin and will settle into expression lines, emphasizing them.
Yellow concealer
This color masks defects with a blue-violet tint. Bruises, capillary networks, veins on the face will become completely invisible. If you apply the product correctly, you can also hide tattoos.
Main uses:
- the main area of application is the area around the eyes and wings of the nose;
- can be used as a base for shadows so that they do not crease and last all day;
- If your face has an earthy, dull tint, you can use the product as a facial primer.
Purple concealer
Lavender and violet colors neutralize yellow imperfections, age spots or brown spots.
Mode of application:
- if you have an uneven tan, it will help soften your skin tone;
- as a base for makeup, if the skin tone is yellowish (usually typical for Asian appearance), the skin will glow with a healthy glow;
- will hide any kind of pigmentation with a yellowish tint and freckles.
Green facial concealer
Green facial concealer, according to the spectral color chart, is the opposite of red, which means it is suitable for:
- neutralize redness, including acne marks, various rashes, insect bites;
- hide the redness of swollen eyes;
- neutralize redness near the wings of the nose;
- remove redness after sunburn.
This color is considered the most universal. It hides those defects that every girl has from time to time.
Pink concealer
Will get rid of green circles under the eyes and strongly protruding veins.
Purpose:
- a real salvation for girls with Eastern and Mediterranean type of appearance. Usually, with such an appearance, the eye contour has a brown tint, which is not covered by the usual tone, and no matter what makeup the girl does, it will always have a brown tint;
- a pink tint will correct a dull, grayish complexion. It will make your skin look ruddy, fresh and youthful;
- will cover up the green color, for example, veins, bruises of a greenish tint.
Basic mistakes when applying concealer
It’s easy to choose a face corrector, but how to use it to highlight your advantages and also hide skin imperfections? Step-by-step instructions were given above. Now about the main mistakes when applying concealer.
These include:
- Application to unkempt skin.
- Wrong color choice.
When using a face concealer, it is important to know how to use the color palette. - Using cosmetics that are not suitable for your skin type.
- Lack of decorative cosmetics on the face or excess.
- Improperly plucked eyebrows.
- Traces of mascara under the eyes.
- Eyelashes are painted sloppily.
- Lip pencil (contour) is darker than the shade of lipstick.
- Using too bright shadows of different colors at the same time.
- Heavy use of blush in pink shades.
To get the desired result, you must avoid these mistakes.
How to use a color concealer palette
Several color options are available for sale. Each is suitable for any color type of appearance and masking certain defects.
How to apply concealer on your face so that your makeup looks harmonious:
- Colored concealers are applied only under foundation.
- Concealer should be applied strictly from top to bottom so as not to lift up the vellus hair on the face and highlight the texture of the skin.
- The concealer must be applied in a thin layer.
- The product is ideally distributed with a brush or sponge. If you don’t have special tools at hand, you can use your fingertips. In this case, the movements should be driving in.
- To get the perfect concealer shade, you can mix two different products or simply dilute it with foundation.
In addition to correcting color imperfections on the skin, you can use concealer to perform contouring based on your face shape.
The main principle of contouring is to bring the face closer to an oval shape, which is considered ideal. You can do this in the following ways.
Summarize
A face corrector is necessary for almost every woman, since it is extremely difficult to find a person with perfect skin. The corrector helps to disguise imperfections on the face accurately and precisely. There is no need to cover your entire face with a thick layer of foundation when the pimple is only on your forehead or chin. It is enough to apply the corrector of the desired color to the problem area, and then cover it with foundation.
The use of correctors in everyday makeup has long become the norm, and for the evening version it is completely necessary. Do you use makeup correctors?
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Contouring technique for round faces
The round face is distinguished by smooth lines, the chin is barely defined, and the forehead is wide. The jaw needs to be made a little narrower and more expressive. This method will bring your face closer to an oval shape. For contouring, it is recommended to use matte concealers, highlighter without shimmer and large glitter.
Contouring for a round face is done according to the following scheme:
- Darken the side area of the entire face and forehead.
- The highlighter is applied to the chin, in the center of the forehead and under the eyes on the prominent bone of the cheekbones.
When contouring a round face, the highlight areas should be kept small. The triangles under the eyes should be shorter than in other cases. Darkening zones must predominate.
For an oval face
Girls with an oval face shape have the easiest time, since they do not need to put much effort into creating makeup.
It is necessary to pay special attention to the cheekbone area, following the following application pattern:
- The sculptor is applied under the cheekbone and carefully shaded.
- The same should be done along the hairline, this will help narrow the forehead.
- Highlighter is applied to the chin, from the temple to the protruding part of the cheekbones.
For a triangular face
A triangular face shape has a sharp chin and a high, wide forehead. You should not focus on the chin; special attention should be paid to the forehead.
It needs to be visually narrowed and the cheekbones slightly adjusted:
- Light concealer should be applied to the sides of the lower jaw.
- Dark contour in the middle of the chin. This will smooth out its sharpness.
- Dark color should also be used on the sides of the forehead.
- Apply a little dark shade under the cheekbones.
For a long face
Concealer for the face: an application scheme for an elongated face shape, according to which the chin should be narrowed, the forehead should be reduced, and facial features should become softer.
It is recommended to place the main emphasis on the cheeks.
- The chin, part of the lower jaw, and the growth line must be darkened.
- Light accents are placed on the protruding part of the cheekbones and in the center of the forehead.
- Blush should be used as far away from the temples as possible.
It is not advisable to use a corrective product that is too dark in color or in large quantities, as this will only make your face appear longer.
Step-by-step correction schemes: face types
There are different types of faces. The generally accepted ideal shape is an oval; in other cases, sculpting should not be neglected to create harmonious proportions. By the way, those with an oval face do not need to resort to complete correction, but it is worth trying to emphasize its individual features - to achieve, for example, an anti-aging effect.
Preparatory stage
Beautiful, smooth skin is an essential component of a well-groomed image, so you need to start your makeup not with decorative cosmetics, but with facial care. To create perfect makeup, before making corrections, the skin should be thoroughly cleansed and moisturized. It would be useful to use a cream with hyaluronic acid, which helps smooth out fine wrinkles, eliminate flaking and ensure a more even application of correctors.
The preparatory stage also includes the use of a base or foundation for makeup and subsequent smoothing of the skin with a foundation of a suitable shade. For these purposes, long-lasting primers like Total Control Drop Foundation, whose finish will last all day, work well.
Round face correction
For a round face, modeling consists of darkening the periphery, due to which the contour will take on a more elongated and graceful shape:
- • Using dark color correctors from the Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, highlight the temples, cheekbones and edges of the chin;
- • A light highlighter from the same set is applied to the protruding part of the chin and the middle of the forehead;
- • The area under the eyes is highlighted with concealer or highlighter;
- • After carefully shading the borders, blush is applied in wide lines to the apples of the cheeks.
Correction of square and rectangular faces
The principle of modeling a square face comes down to visually reducing the wide side parts. For this:
- • Light highlights from the triple 3 Steps To Sculpt Face Sculpting Palette highlight the area under the eyes, the central part of the forehead, the bridge of the nose and chin;
- • Use soft smooth lines using a dark foundation, similar to the Mineral Stick Foundation, to darken the temples, the side of the forehead and chin, and apply blush to the cheekbones;
- • After shading the edges of the correctors, the finishing touch should be applied with powder.
The contour of a rectangular face, close to “square,” follows the square shape and differs only slightly from it. Such types of oval do not require the obligatory darkening of the cheekbones for a square; you can refresh the center of the cheeks with a smooth transition of Ombre Blush.
Diamond face correction
The correct aesthetic correction of a diamond-shaped oval face with makeup consists of visually expanding a narrow forehead and triangular chin and smoothing out the sharp contours of the cheekbones. If you look at the procedure step by step, you need to:
- • Highlight your forehead and chin by applying a cream or dry highlighter to their entire area, for example from the Love You So Mochi Highlighting Palette series;
- • Use dark-colored dry correctors to create shadows on the widest points of the cheekbones;
- • Add subtle accents by applying a matching shade of blush from the temples to the center of the cheeks to soften the proportions of a diamond-shaped face.
Triangular face correction
A triangle or heart-shaped face needs a visual narrowing of the wide forehead and enlargement of the narrow chin:
- •A darkening product, such as the Sculpt & Highlight Face Duo or bronzer from the Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, is applied in broad lines to the sides of the forehead, temples and cheekbones.
- • The narrow chin of a triangular face and its sides are highlighted with a corrector that is 2 shades lighter than the complexion;
- • Use concealer or highlighter to create light highlights on the skin under the eyes, and apply blush in a diamond shape.
Correction of trapezoidal face
Visual correction of a trapezoidal face, which has a lower part that is too heavy in relation to the forehead, is achieved by darkening the periphery of the chin:
- • Using dry highlighter Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder, apply broad strokes to the center of the forehead and its sides, and then thoroughly shade the lines and boundaries of the application;
- • To create shadows on the lower part of the face (chin and cheekbones), the interesting palette of the Highlight & Contour Pro Palette is well suited.
Adjustment errors
Despite the simplicity of various types of schemes that allow you to correct the contour of the face, mistakes in creating corrective makeup are quite common. To avoid them, you need to learn how to use corrective cosmetics and become familiar with possible mistakes in advance.
- • Insufficient shading is the main problem with corrective makeup. Most often, this problem appears when cosmetics are applied in insufficient lighting or an attempt is made to create a more pronounced contour.
- • The wrong shade of corrective products will negate the success of any scheme and even the most thorough shading. So, on fair skin with a grayish undertone, orange bronzer will look more like yellow spots rather than a light tan or shadow. Thanks to the variety of means, you can find your perfect option, the main thing is to pay enough attention to it.
- • Lack of preliminary training - you should not try to do corrective makeup for the first time for an important event. It’s better to experiment with the look in advance by “trying on” the makeup, take several photos before and after applying makeup, and select the optimal cosmetic products.
- • The wrong choice of scheme only aggravates the problems and imperfections of the face, making the general features coarser. Therefore, before applying corrective makeup, it is advisable to first practice applying it.
Corrective makeup is a great way to make your face more expressive and disguise its imperfections without resorting to plastic surgery or cosmetology. This type of makeup is relatively complex, and therefore you need to perfectly master its technique and basic rules by choosing your ideal beauty products in the NYX Professional Makeup collection.
How not to use concealer: warnings
The purpose of this concealer is to make your skin perfect. But if it is used incorrectly, you can only aggravate the situation by emphasizing existing imperfections.
Mistakes that girls most often make:
- Applying a nude concealer under foundation is prohibited, as it will not give any effect. The exception is colored concealers that are applied under foundation.
- Circles under the eyes can be of different shades. Before applying a cosmetic product, it is important to carefully consider its shade, and then decide on the choice of color concealer.
- Concealer is applied only in a thin layer, since a large amount of product will emphasize the texture of the skin and will be very noticeable even from afar.
- Do not use a spot correction product instead of foundation. This action can clog your pores.
- The concealer needs to be blended thoroughly. If you don't do this, imperfections on your skin will only stand out. As a result, the face will look dirty with prominent spots.
- It would be a mistake to apply concealer under your eyes in a semicircle. This arrangement will only emphasize the presence of bags under the eyes.
Having a good understanding of the technique of how to use facial concealer (a step-by-step photo will help you visualize the stages), you need to experiment with images, try different styles of application and new cosmetic products.
To use the services of a professional makeup artist, you need to spend a lot of money, but you can learn how to apply makeup yourself. If you love your skin and take care of it, it will reciprocate.
Article design: Olga Pankevich
How to cover up pimples
How to properly use face concealer to cover up pimples.
Step-by-step instruction:
- A cool shade of green concealer is applied with a brush to the redness or pimple.
- The pigment is lightly pressed with a finger and the borders are shaded. Then you need to wait a little while the corrector gently “settles” on the skin.
- You should choose a foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone and apply it all over your face.