Prepping Your Skin
Before you apply a concealer palette, it's essential that you prep your skin so that the product goes on smoothly and stays put throughout the day. Follow these steps for a flawless finish:
- Cleanse: Start with a clean, moisturized face. Use a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt and oil that may have accumulated on your skin.
- Moisturize: After cleansing, use a lightweight moisturizer to hydrate your skin. Make sure it's absorbed before moving onto the next step.
- Prime: Apply a primer to your face to create a smooth base for makeup application. This will help your concealer stay put and prevent it from creasing or caking.
Once you've prepped your skin, you're ready to move onto choosing the right shades for your skin tone.
Choosing the Right Shades
Choosing the right shades for your skin tone is key to achieving a natural look with your concealer palette. Here are some tips to help you pick the perfect shades:
- Identify your skin tone: Are you cool, warm, or neutral toned? This will help you choose shades that complement your complexion.
- Match your foundation: Your concealer should match the shade of your foundation or be one shade lighter. If you're unsure, apply a small amount of product to your jawline and blend it out to see if it's a good match.
- Consider color correcting: If you have dark circles or hyperpigmentation, you may want to use a color correcting concealer before applying your foundation. Peach or orange shades work well for dark circles, while green shades are great for redness.
Now that you've chosen the perfect shades for your skin, it's time to talk about application tools.
Application Tools
The right application tools can make all the difference when it comes to achieving a flawless finish with your concealer palette. Here are some options to consider:
- Brushes: Use a small, flat brush to apply your concealer. This will help you apply it precisely and avoid using too much product.
- Sponges: A damp makeup sponge can help you blend your concealer seamlessly into your skin, creating a natural finish.
- Fingers: Your fingers can be a great tool for applying concealer, especially if you have a creamy or liquid product. The warmth of your fingers will help blend the product seamlessly into your skin.
When applying your concealer, start with a small amount and build up as needed. Use a tapping motion with your brush, sponge, or fingers to blend the product into your skin.
With these tips in mind, you're ready to use your concealer palette like a pro. Remember to prep your skin, choose the right shades, and use the right tools for a flawless finish.
Color Correction Techniques
When it comes to concealing, color correcting is an essential step in achieving a flawless finish. Color correcting is using opposite colors on the color wheel to cancel out any visible imperfections. You can either use a color correcting palette or individual color correcting concealers.
- Green: cancels out redness
- Peach/Orange: cancels out dark circles and blue/purple undertones
- Yellow: cancels out purple/blue tones
- Purple: cancels out yellow undertones and brightens dull skin
For best results, start with a light hand and build up as necessary. Remember to blend out the edges of your color corrector for a seamless finish.
Layering Your Products
Layering your products is key to achieving long-lasting coverage from your concealer. After color correcting, use your regular skin-toned concealer to cover any remaining imperfections. Covering blemishes and spots can help to further even out your skin tone.
- Start with a light layer of concealer
- Apply more as needed but avoid applying too much product at the same time
- Always use tapping or patting motions with a beauty sponge or your fingers to blend in your concealer, rather than rubbing or dragging the product
Remember to take your time when layering your products, as this can help to achieve a natural looking finish.
Blending and Buffing
Blending and buffing your concealer is one of the most important steps for achieving a flawless finish. Using a beauty sponge or brush can help to blend your concealer seamlessly into your skin. For a natural finish, dampen your sponge with water before use.
- Use gentle tapping or patting motions to spread your concealer
- Blend out the edges of your concealer to avoid a harsh line
- Blend into your hairline and jawline for a seamless finish, but avoid blending too much around your eyes as this can cause creasing
Buffing out your concealer with a high-quality brush can also help to blend the product evenly into your skin.
Setting Your Concealer
Setting your concealer is just as important as the application itself. Setting your concealer can help to avoid creasing, smudging or fading throughout the day. A translucent powder or a powder that matches your skin tone can be used to set your concealer.
- For a light finish, use a small amount of powder and a fluffy brush
- Tap off any excess powder before applying to avoid over-applying
- Apply powder in areas where you tend to get oily or in areas where concealer tends to crease, like under the eyes
Remember to set your concealer lightly at first and build up as needed, this can help to avoid a cakey finish.
