BEAUTY

How to choose and use concealers

There are two things to keep in mind when it comes to concealers: finding the right shade and texture, then applying it so it stays in place. The last thing you want is to look in the mirror come 4pm to see the product that was meant to hide your dark circles now comfortably settled into your laugh lines! Here are a few tricks I’ve learned: You need more than one shade. The concealer that you use for dark circles and to brighten the centre of the face should be two shades lighter than your skin tone. To cover blemishes, use one that matches your foundation. If you’re using only concealer, it needs to match your skin tone perfectly. Medium- to full-coverage concealers help to hide dark rings, pigmentation or other blemishes. Oily skin types need a matte, oil-free formula. This won’t clog pores or cause excess unwanted shine around the eye area. Dry skin types need a creamy formula. Avoid oil-free concealers as they remove even more oil from your skin. Use a liquid formula to hydrate. Can’t find your exact shade? Custom-make your own colour by mixing two together. Use an eye cream and a moisturiser before applying concealer, especially if you have dry skin – the concealer will apply better. A primer can also help if concealer creases on your skin. Use a brush, sponge or your fingertips. Blend until the dark circles or colour has been corrected. The warmth of your fingers helps the product melt into the skin; pat it on with your ring finger. Prolong the wear. Lightly dust loose powder over the concealer to prevent it from creasing or settling into lines around your eye area. Don’t overdo it with the powder unless you want a dry, crêpey finish. Less is more. The YouTubers doing beauty tutorials tend to paint on concealer with a heavy hand; keep in mind that most of them are in their twenties and can get away with wearing more. Dot the concealer on and blend well.