Concealer 101: Everything You Need to Know

With so many brands, formulas, and opinions out there, it may be difficult to navigate the world of concealers if you are new to makeup. If you’re a makeup beginner, you probably have a lot of questions. Which ones do I go for? How is concealer applied? How do I find the right shade of concealer for me? Do I even need concealer? The solution is a lot simpler than it may seem at first. Once you decide why you’re searching for concealer, half the battle is over! Whether using it as an under-eye highlighter or to cover blemishes, you’ll find a there are plenty of quality options available to you. If you’re looking to find the one that best fits your needs and lifestyle, you’ve come to the right place.

Ingredients to Look For

What ingredients to look for all depends on what you’re trying to conceal; after all, certain ingredients can help you achieve a desired look. This is especially true for concealer used as an under-eye highlighter. When looking for under-eye concealer, if may be helpful to look for something with vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to brighten the skin and give it a healthy glow. In fact, it may yield long-term results even when you’re not wearing any concealer at all! This will help eliminate the appearance of dark circles under the eye, ridding you of the problem altogether.

Of course, many people use concealers to cover up a blemish or a hyperpigmented spot. For this type of blemish, opt for something that contains an SPF of at least 30. We all love a great summer tan, but shielding your blemish from the sun will help the pigment return back to normal faster. Applying a product with SPF protection may help lighten the spot, eliminating your need to hide it in the first place.

Ingredients to Avoid

There are a few ingredients to steer clear from, no matter the reason you’re reaching for cover-up. Always avoid ingredients that clog pores; this will only create more problems in the future. In the past, most makeup contained comedogenic (or pore-blocking) ingredients. Now, if you happen to have extremely sensitive skin, someone might have told you to not wear makeup at all. But don’t worry; makeup has now evolved so that most people can find something to work for their skin type—as long as they take proper precautions.

Stay away from ingredients like algae extract, acetylated lanolin, coconut oil, almond oil, and isopropyl palmate; they are known to be highly comedogenic ingredients, especially in concealer. The worst thing you could do is add a blemish while trying to recover from another one!

Highly Rated Brands

With so many brands available, you may wonder which ones are best for you. Some great places to start are the following highly rated brands: NARS, Kat Von D, Milk, and Tarte Shape Tape.

Best Removal Method

The formulas for cover-up tend to be a little thicker than that of foundation. This is why it’s important to make sure all of it comes off at night. The best method to remove concealer? Use an oil-based cleanser before your regular face wash. Products like Clinique’s Take the Day Off oil cleanser help remove concealer and other water-resistant products without you having to put in extra work. Because most people use cover-up under the eye, it’s important to avoid traditional makeup removal wipes and cotton pads. They require you to rub at your skin with foreign objects. Instead, simply take a little oil-based cleanser, and gently slide everything off of your face. Your skin will thank you later.

Final Thoughts

Remember, even though it may feel overwhelming, finding the right concealer for your needs is pretty simple once you know what you want. Once you employ these tactics and find the one you like the best, you’ll be extremely satisfied with the results!

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