Concealer is one of those products that sounds simple until you actually try to find one that works. Coverage is one thing — matching your skin tone while also covering what you need to cover is another problem entirely. Most drugstore options land close but not quite right, and even high-end formulas can feel like a compromise. Making your own at home sidesteps most of that. You control the shade, the texture, how much coverage you get, and what goes into it — which matters more than brands tend to admit. This piece walks through how to do it: the different types of DIY concealer, how to get the color right for your skin, and how to apply it so it actually holds up. Straightforward, no guesswork.
What is Concealer?
Concealer, also popularly known as ‘color corrector,’ is a ubiquitous makeup item. As the name suggests, it is used to ‘conceal imperfections’ or ‘correct discoloration’ of the skin, ensuring an even skin tone and a flawless appearance. Concealers may vary based on formulations, textures, colors, and shades. Hence, a perfect combination of all these features is needed to target specific issues. Some of the most common ingredients found in commercially available concealers are castor seed oil, hydrolyzed corn starch, hydrolyzed rice protein, kaolin, dimethicone, oleyl alcohol, mineral oil, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, sodium chloride, color additive, fragrance, talc, and water (1). You can use concealer alone or combine it with your favorite foundation. While both make the skin appear more uniform, concealers come with a thicker consistency and higher pigment levels (2).
Max Factor was the first ever cosmetics brand to launch concealer. In 1954, the brand came up with ‘Erace’, which is known to be the first commercially available color corrector. (3)
Read Also – Best Concealer for Dark Circles That You Can Bank On
Why Use a Concealer?
So, why should you give concealer a try? No matter how pretty your skin looks with primer and foundation, they cannot hide the blemishes or breakouts. That is why you need a concealer. Here is what you can use the product for:
- Pesky pimples (angry red, raised, or even blemished)
- Dark under-eye circles
- Hyperpigmentation
- Blemishes (spots and marks)
- Birthmarks
- Freckles
- Popping tired eyes
- Contouring
For facial contouring, take two concealers of two different shades. The concealer one or two shades lighter than your natural skin tone should be used on forehead, nasal bridge, cheekbones, and chin. Conversely, apply the concealer one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone under your hairline, cheekbones, and jawline along with the sides of your nasal bridge.
Choosing the Best Concealer Coverage
Before delving into other aspects of concealer, let’s discuss the various coverage options available:
1. High Coverage: Ideal for concealing prominent skin imperfections such as pimples, blemishes, hyperpigmentation, redness, dark shadows, and more.
2. Medium Coverage: Suitable for addressing lighter skin concerns like faded acne scars, freckles, and similar issues.
3. Light Coverage: Primarily used for highlighting and contouring purposes, providing a subtle touch to enhance facial features.
Types of Concealer
Achieving a flawless complexion or concealing blemishes relies significantly on a well-formulated concealer. With various product forms available in the market, understanding these options is crucial for identifying the one that precisely meets your needs. Familiarizing yourself with the diverse types of concealers ensures you make an informed choice to address your unique skin concerns effectively. Here we go (4):
1. Cream Concealer
This creamy formulation is excellent for dry, dehydrated skin requiring extra moisture. It usually offers high coverage with intense pigmentation to disguise pimples, dark circles, and blemishes.
2. Stick concealer
This concealer variant is superb for targeted spot corrections, covering issues like pimples and redness. Individuals with dry skin seeking substantial coverage will find this option beneficial due to its nourishing properties and high pigmentation. Certain stick formulae even incorporate anti-inflammatory or light-diffusing agents, catering to specific needs like addressing blemishes and minimizing the appearance of dark circles. Choosing a concealer with these added features ensures a multi-functional approach to achieving a flawless and radiant complexion.
Also Read – DIY – Homemade Powder Foundation And Liquid Foundation Recipes
3. Liquid Concealer
Hide freckles, light pigmentation, and hints of darkness under the eyes while lighting the skin tone lightly with this liquid formula. It provides buildable medium coverage for all skin types without clogging pores. However, it must be set with a powder to avoid settling into the fine lines.
4. Pencil Concealer
This concealer type is perfect for contouring as it delivers a semi-matte finish. You can also use it to cover up small spots and blemishes.
5. Pen Concealer
You cannot use this newbie alone for concealing under-eye dark circles or pimples. To make the most of the radiance and luminosity its semi-sheer coverage offers, you must first use your go-to concealer.
How to Find the Right Concealer Color?
Knowing the general rule of thumb with so many shades of concealer is essential. First, pick a concealer that matches your skin tone to even out your complexion. Then, to better hide your imperfections, pair it up with a color-correcting concealer that will cancel out the color of a particular type of blemish. Following are the shades of concealer and their proper uses:
- Orange: The orange color family (pink, peach, and salmon) is suitable to neutralize the dark shadows (blue or purple) under the eyes.
- Green: Try a mint green or blue concealer to counteract the red patches on your skin caused by angry red pimples, rosacea, or broken veins.
- Yellow: From bluish shadows or bruises to mild red tones, a concealer with a yellow undertone can balance all these on the skin.
- Lavender: Using a lavender concealer followed by the regular concealer can help you make your sallow complexion look brighter.
3 Simple DIY Homemade Concealer Recipes
Finding the most suitable product in the right shade with the best coverage becomes an uphill task when picking a commercially available concealer. Instead, it is easy to make your concealer at home that will match your skin tone and offer you the kind of coverage you desire. Check out below three simple DIY homemade concealer recipes to achieve a flawless, polished look:
1. Moisturizing Cream and Blush
Scoop about a spoonful of your favorite cream-based moisturizer or eye cream into a clean pot (an empty lip balm container). Now, scrape off a blush powder that matches your skin tone and add it to the container. Next, mix both ingredients with a spatula or a toothpick and whip well. Add blush powder until you get the right color to match your skin tone perfectly. Finally, test the mixture out by applying it under the eyes. Voila!
2. Foundation and Moisturizing Cream
If you are stuck with a liquid foundation one shade darker than your natural skin tone, this recipe is for you only. Take a spoonful of eye cream or any moisturizing cream of your choice in a clean container and add about half a spoonful of the foundation. Mix them well. Keep experimenting with the amount of foundation until you get the shade closest to your skin tone. Top the mixture with a little foundation that matches your skin tone and blends well. You are done! Prepare this in small batches to keep your product fresh or make shade alterations the next time.
3. Moisturizer and Compact
This can be the easiest concealer method if you have brownish or yellowish-pressed powder. All you have to do is take a pea-sized amount of eye cream or moisturizer onto your palm and scrape out some pressed powder into it. Mix them well. Add a touch of foundation to this to get the desired color. Blend well, and you are all set to use it. Make this on the go without storing the preparation in a jar.
How to Apply Concealer?
The wrong concealer application can make your flaws look even more evident by drawing attention to them. So, knowing the correct application technique is the key to a flawless appearance. The following are the steps:
- Prepare your face with a lightweight liquid moisturizer and a primer that will give a soft matte finish.
- Apply a foundation that matches your skin tone and blend it thoroughly all over your face.
- Dab the concealer onto the problem areas of the skin with your clean fingers or a makeup sponge.
- Blend it out gently with a loose brush until the lines almost disappear.
- Set it by dusting some loose or pressed powder lightly.
Dos and Don’ts to Follow
Finally, keep these points in mind to take your concealer game up a notch (5) (6):
- Always test a concealer out in the store while buying it for the first time to avoid allergic reactions.
- Exfoliate 2-3 times a week to eliminate dead cells and naturally reveal a fresh, blemish-free layer of skin.
- Please do not skip the primer, as it gives a smooth canvas for concealer applicatiConcealerkes it last longer.
- Do not use a single concealer for the entire face, as the shade suitable for hiding blemishes will never cover up your dark under-eye circles beautifully.
- Blend the concealer with a small, flat concealer brush rather than rubbing it in with your fingers.
Summary:
Concealer is an essential makeup product that is used for concealing or correcting imperfections on the skin. It is available in many forms like cream, stick, liquid, pen, and pencil while the coverage options offered by them can also be different like high, medium, and light. Concealer is available in several shades, such as orange, green, yellow, and lavender. It is important to find the right type of concealer in right shade that can offer the desired coverage. However, the task can be really difficult at times and hence, using a homemade concealer is always a nice idea. You can prepare concealer easily at home by combining moisturizing cream and blush, foundation and moisturizing cream, or compact powder and moisturizing cream. Make sure that you learn the right method of applying concealer and keep the dos and don’ts in mind to make the most of it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I Need a Concealer?
If you have naturally flawless skin, you may not need a concealer. But if you are dealing with blemishes, scars, redness, dark circles, etc., that you want to cover up, use concealer.
Should I Apply Concealer Before or After Foundation?
There is no hard-and-fast rule regarding this. It is the general practice to wear the concealer foundation. However, you can reverse it at your convenience if you are not using a powder foundation.
What Can Be Used Instead of Concealer?
You can use a full-coverage liquid foundation or cream as an excellent alternative to concealer.
References:
- “Concealers,” cosmeticsinfo.org
- “Concealer” en.wikipedia.org
- “Max Factor: The Man Who Changed the Faces of the World,” books.google.co.in
- “The Confused Girl’s Guide to Concealer“, BeautyHeaven.com.au
- “How to Use Concealer: The 10 Crucial Do’s and Don’ts”, StyleCaster.com
- “14 Concealer Mistakes You’re Making That Are Ruining Your Makeup“, Insider.com
