Concealer, corrector or foundation: what is applied first, what is the difference?

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November 16, 2022 |

Every woman is beautiful in her own way, and the right makeup helps to maximize her potential. All you have to do is experiment a little with cosmetics, and your face will transform. Most girls have foundation and concealer in their makeup bag - they even out the complexion and give the skin a healthy look.

How to apply foundation and concealer correctly to get the best results? What to use first: concealer or foundation?

Concealer and foundation: what is the difference

With the development of the beauty industry, many new products have appeared in cosmetic stores. Some representatives of the fair sex think that concealer is a foundation. Both products are designed to correct skin tone, but they are actually used for different purposes. Then how is concealer different from foundation?

Foundation is a product that evens out the tone of the face, corrects minor skin imperfections and protects against the adverse effects of the sun. Usually the composition is applied evenly to the entire face and thoroughly shaded so that no boundaries are defined.

Concealer is a product designed specifically to disguise skin imperfections. Local correction of imperfections is required in the presence of acne and “bruises” under the eyes.

When concealer and foundation are purchased, the question arises: how to apply these miracle products to get the “wow effect” like on the covers of a magazine? It is important to learn how to use both tools correctly, which at first seems difficult. The tone or concealer is distributed over the skin using different tools.

The foundation applies perfectly thanks to a duofiber or kabuki brush. The first helps to create a light, weightless coating like a “second skin”, and the second helps to get a denser result. Another option is a damp sponge.

Apply the concealer with a small flat rounded brush using your fingertips.

How to use concealer correctly?

Should the concealer be lighter, darker, or the same shade as the foundation?

“Honestly, a lot of it comes down to personal preference,” says Finnegan. "Personally, I like a natural look, so I don't usually recommend going more than one shade lighter in the under-eye area, although if you're trying to counteract any discoloration in that area, you'll likely want a warmer shade."

I generally don't recommend applying more than one shade lighter to the under eye area.

MAC Cosmetics Senior Artist Debbie Finnegan

When it comes to treating skin problems like acne, it's best to choose a concealer that matches your skin tone.

How to prevent under-eye concealer from creasing during the day?

Proper setting of your concealer is critical to your makeup look.

I use a fluffy blending brush with sheer matte powder.

Professional artist Bobbi Brown Warren Dowdall

“Gently swipe the brush over the area after applying concealer, then pat it in with your finger. The brush helps pick up just the right amount of powder that sets the concealer without looking dry,” advises Dowdall.

How to choose a concealer depending on your skin problem?

“I always recommend having two different concealers in your makeup bag. The skin under the eyes is thinner and more delicate, so look for formulas that hydrate, nourish, and provide a soft, radiant appearance. Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer has a lightweight texture that boosts moisture levels and energizes skin,” says Dowdall.

To cover up blemishes, I usually choose a formula with less moisture

MAC Cosmetics Senior Artist Debbie Finnegan

“If the stain becomes shiny, it will reflect light and thus highlight the problem,” says Finnegan. “I love the MAC Studio Fix Wear Concealer 24 Hour Concealer. This is a great concealer for blemishes as it applies really well, lasts all day and still leaves a lovely matte finish that doesn't look drying."

To sum it up : if you want to hide dark circles with concealer, you apply it to clean skin first. No foundation is used in this area. To disguise acne and blemishes on the skin, concealer is applied dotted over the foundation. For lasting results, the concealer is set with setting powder.

What should you apply first: concealer or foundation?

Photo: what to apply first, concealer or foundation?

Before you start creating the perfect look, you need to decide whether to apply concealer or foundation first. Using your makeup in the right order really does give you balanced coverage that looks natural and sheer.

So what should you apply first, concealer or foundation? Most experts agree that foundation should be used first. It is applied to certain areas to hide skin imperfections or narrow facial features. Only professionals who know how to work well with any product use concealer under foundation.

Photo: what to apply foundation or concealer first

Rules and recommendations for application

Experienced makeup artists advise how to apply concealer to your face correctly:

1. Before applying concealer, you need to moisturize your skin and let the cream absorb.
2. Defects are corrected with concealer after applying the main tone; concealer is not used as a foundation.
3. You need to blend the concealer with warm fingers. It is enough to rub your palms together. The warmth of your hands will make the product more liquid and blend better. However, it makes no sense to make a very thin layer, since it will not cover the defect. It is important to maintain a golden mean.
4. It is better to apply less than too much. You can always add concealer, but it’s harder to remove it if it’s too noticeable. Concealer applied in a thick layer gets into the folds.
5. It is recommended to use a brush with artificial hair to blend the product. The brush and brush included in the kit are designed for applying the product to the skin in strokes. Subsequently it needs shading. It is difficult to perfectly shade the transition of shades with a sponge.
6. You need to apply concealer in good lighting, preferably daylight, to avoid spotting.
7. Concealer is applied under the eyes so that a right angle is formed, looking down. This is how the product will look most natural. If you apply the product in a semicircle, it will be noticeable on the face.
8. To avoid the appearance of wrinkles with frequent use of the product, you need to shade it with light movements, preferably with your ring finger, since it is the most sensitive and gentle.
9. Apply powder over the concealer to help it stay on the skin longer, but this may make wrinkles more noticeable.
10. Scratches and other similar damage cannot be masked with concealer. This contributes to the development of inflammation.

Video on how to apply concealer correctly:

Blackheads are covered by applying the product in a spiral from the periphery to the center.

How to choose a concealer with foundation?

Correctors have different release forms:

• liquid – ideal for beginners, equipped with a convenient applicator, hides circles under the eyes well;
• pencil is the driest, most durable, corrector that has a pronounced drying effect, applied before or after foundation, as it can be used to cover a suddenly popped up pimple on top of makeup;
• stick – hard, reliably covers pimples, can also be used over foundation;
• The cream is thick, allows you to correct the oval of the face, but also copes with skin imperfections with a bang.

Foundation includes several types of textures:

• classic – has a high density and lipid concentration, best used for dry skin;
• foundation – lighter than cream, suitable for oily skin;
• fluid - the lightest texture, good for young skin without any flaws, to create a natural healthy complexion like a child's;
• cream pencil is dense, gives an opaque coating, it is more difficult to apply successfully without a “mask effect”, so this product is most often used by professional makeup artists.

Foundation instead of concealer: pros and cons

A thick, light-colored foundation is often used instead of a concealer. A number of makeup artists consider this acceptable. This type of makeup looks more natural, the edges are better shaded, and there is less risk of the product “rolling off.”

Nose sculpting

Other makeup professionals argue against it. Foundations are too heavy for the thin skin around the eyes. The tone cannot hide problem areas of the skin; it has a different composition and a different purpose. In addition, concealers have a much wider color palette.

Foundation and concealer have similar, but still different purposes. They cannot be called completely interchangeable. It is optimal to apply the foundation first. And light concealers will adhere better to the absorbed layer of tone.

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What to apply first, foundation or concealer?

Photo: is concealer applied before or after foundation?

Do not confuse corrector with concealer. It has the following features:

• has a denser texture;
• better masks acne and post-acne;
• used more locally than concealer;
• It dries out rather than moisturizes.

Given the density and pronounced covering properties, the answer to the question “When to apply concealer, before or after foundation?” obvious. Typically, the corrector is applied as the very first of all the products discussed in the article.

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Where to apply concealer

Makeup artists have determined how to apply concealer to the face to adjust its volume, based on the basic properties of colors. Dark shades reduce volume, light shades increase volume. To contour your face, you will need two shades of concealer: white or light beige and dark.

1. A light tone is applied to the lower and middle part of the forehead, above the “Cupid’s arch”, on the chin, bridge of the nose, under the eyes, under the eyebrows.
2. Dark is used to highlight the hairline, temples, and sides of the bridge of the nose.
3. It is recommended to highlight the cheekbones with a purple shade.
4. If you are wearing clothes with a low neckline, you need to apply concealer to your neck and chest to smooth out the transition.

The transitions need to be shaded, and then use powder to cover the concealer.

Face concealer Camouflage: reviews

When deciding how to use concealer, it is important to know not only what, but also how to use it. One of the Camouflage products is worth considering separately. It is distinguished by the fact that it is available in several colors and is considered universal. It can be used on different parts of the face. Girls note that it has a delicate structure and goes well with foundation. At the same time, it stays on the face for a long time.

Concealer Camouflage review 1

Concealer Camouflage review 2

Concealer color selection

In order to figure out which color of concealer is used for which imperfections, we have compiled a table. It describes in detail all the options for using different shades.

Sculpting. Tips for proper makeup

Concealer helps create a beautiful facial contour and bring its proportions closer to ideal. In this case, the concealer performs the functions of a corrective agent and a highlighter.

Using several shades of concealer allows you to advantageously highlight the desired accents on the face, darken and outline the cheekbones, add depth to the look, sharpen and narrow the nose.

Tips for correct application:

1. When it comes to contouring, don't be afraid to experiment. There is no universal contouring technique. Only through trial and error will you find the best makeup option for yourself.
2. To draw cheekbones, you need to draw in your cheeks and apply a dark concealer along the natural visual line from the temple to the chin.
3. To sculpt the nose, a dark shade is applied along its sides and wings, a light shade creates a pointed, neat tip.
4. Light concealer should also be applied to areas of the face that naturally reflect light: the forehead, bridge of the nose, tip of the nose, upper cheekbones, area around the eyes and brow ridges. How not to make a mistake with a zone? Illuminate your face with a lamp or phone flashlight; you will need to work on the lightest areas.

What is purple facial concealer for?

Purple color, as we have already said, helps get rid of yellowness. So, when asking how to use concealer correctly, it is important to take this point into account. Thus, cosmetics in lavender shades help improve complexion. The same goes for primers.

Concealer helps eliminate pigmentation, even hide freckles so that they are not so noticeable. In addition, the product will also hide moles.

Some makeup artists use such products to eliminate dark circles, but here the product already works due to its density and light shade.

Masking acne

The appearance of skin rashes is always inappropriate. It’s also easy to tidy yourself up and hide imperfections with the help of concealer. Concealer is an excellent camouflage for any redness.

In order to forget about a small trouble, you need to take the following steps:

1. We mask the active red tint with a green concealer. In order not to further irritate the skin, the application area is carefully treated with a small brush.
2. An old rash with a gray undertone can be easily masked with a pink or warm peach concealer.
3. Next, the skin tone is evened out using foundation or BB cream.
4. The result is set with colorless powder. To distract attention from the problem area, the cheekbones can be additionally treated with highlighter.

Correct sequence

The right solution is to apply foundation first and then concealer. This order is determined by their consistency. If both products are applied correctly, they will have a positive effect on the skin of the face.

What is best to use in emergency situations?

There are times when you are late for an important meeting, exam or work. Then you don’t have time to put on your makeup correctly. What is better to use at this moment?

Editor's choice: How to use white eyeliner?

The answer is concealer. It will refresh the skin, brighten it, and remove traces of awakening. You will look as if you just washed your face with cool water. But there is no need to abuse this, because they give the ideal result in combination with each other.

How to choose the right shade?

If you use foundation, you can safely choose a concealer of the same shade, or one or two shades lighter. It is worth considering that after applying the powder the color may darken slightly.

The correct tone is selected in natural light. It is not recommended to try cosmetics on the skin of your hands, as the shade may differ. To choose the most suitable shade, apply a small amount to your face; the desired shade will blend into your skin as closely as possible. There should be no visible traces of the use of cosmetics.

What is green facial concealer for?

Green concealer
Often girls are afraid of green concealer. And this is not surprising, because color can really be confusing. In fact, the main thing is to know how to use a concealer of this color. In most cases, girls try to choose a different color, but still you shouldn’t give it up.

If you look closely at the spectral color wheel, you will notice that green is located opposite red. This means that it neutralizes this tone. Accordingly, when there is some redness on the face, you can disguise it with a green product.

Today, manufacturers produce several shades of green - from light to darker. This color scheme was made for a reason. This is due to the fact that every girl has a different color type of appearance and someone needs a darker color or, conversely, a lighter one.

Photos before and after concealer: reviews

Often girls are interested not only in how to use concealer, but also in what the finished effect looks like. Here is the effect you get after applying the product:

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Concealer for face, under eyes: reviews

Girls often share on the Internet how to use concealer and leave their reviews on how effective the product is. Some are very satisfied, while others do not see the desired effect. The latter most often occurs due to incorrect application and choice of product. But in general, concealers help solve many problems, at least disguise them. We invite you to read several reviews:

Review 1

Review 2

Review 3

Review 4

Review 5

#7: Wrong texture

A high-quality concealer does not crease and does not highlight unevenness or flaking. All these imperfections become noticeable some time after applying makeup, and especially when exposed to sunlight. Solution: Replace it with a product labeled “for glowing skin.” It won't give you a dull finish, but you will look rested and refreshed.