How to Apply Concealer Correctly, According to Pro Makeup Artists

Concealer is the one staple in a beauty arsenal that can dramatically change your appearance. Used correctly, concealer can brighten a tired face, cover up blemishes, and conceal under-eye circles. In fact, many beauty editors use concealer primarily and skip foundation altogether. Unfortunately, however, sometimes concealer can actually cause more issues (chalkiness, creasing, uneven color) that accentuate our problem areas rather than hide them.

To help us avoid concealer blunders and figure out how to apply it perfectly every time, we asked some top makeup artists for their tried-and-true tricks. Spoiler: Product choice is so important.

Start With Cleansed Skin

Ask any dermatologist or makeup artist, and they'll tell you that clean skin is the cardinal rule and the most crucial part of any skincare or makeup routine. Before applying any makeup to your face, you'll want to ensure that your skin is properly cleansed and moisturized. Wash with a gentle face wash, pat dry, and apply your serums and moisturizers.

Apply Makeup Primer

To ensure your makeup lasts throughout the day, try applying a primer before the rest of your makeup. There are plenty of options for moisturizing primers for dry or sensitive skin or oil-free primers for those whose skin tends to be oily. Using your fingers, massage the primer into the skin.

Use a Base

After your primer, opt for a tinted moisturizer, foundation, CC, or BB cream. If your choice of base is foundation, for under-eye circles, apply concealer first, then foundation. For blemishes and pimple coverage, apply foundation first, or the concealer could be rubbed away in the foundation application.

Prep the Area

Now that you've washed your face, it's time to hydrate the under-eye area before you apply concealer. Use "an effective but gentle and quickly absorbed eye cream," says NYC-based makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. "A couple I love: Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum, Ren Keep Young and Beautiful Anti-Aging Eye Cream, and Pai Echium and Argan Gentle Eye Cream."

"Hydrating sensitive skin around the eye would not only help with lines, but it will make your concealer stay on better. Otherwise, your skin will absorb moisture from the concealer and leave not-so-attractive powdery residue under the eye," adds Honey artist Azra Red.

Choose Your Formula

While a thick formula may sound like the perfect choice for hiding the darkest circles, a creamy consistency is ideal. Says Gerstein, "For under the eyes, I love liquid and cream concealers, as the drier, thicker, and waxier formulas tend to crease more underneath the eyes. The creamier formulas wear more naturally." We like the YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Penmic for its light, natural coverage, and radiant finish.

Find the Right Shade

This may sound like a no-brainer, but often, we want to reach for a shade that's far too light, too peach, or too yellow, causing the concealer to stand out. Instead, use Gerstein's easy guide: "Look for pink colors if you're fair-skinned, salmon if you're medium-toned, and peaches and oranges if you're olive- or darker-complexioned." A good rule of thumb: When choosing a shade, use one to two shades lighter than your natural skin tone.

She continues, "For blemishes, look for a formula that matches the skin exactly in tone—too light, and you'll draw more attention to what you're trying to cover."

If your skin tone is darker in the summer, you should choose a darker shade for the summer months and a lighter one for other months. And don't be shy! Test shades by trying them out at department store beauty counters or Sephora.

Apply the Concealer

Avoid globbing on the product, and keep a light hand instead. "Don't overdo on concealer. Apply layer by layer and make sure to blend each layer by gently tapping the worked area with your fingertips," says makeup artist Min Min Ma. Do this by applying several dots of concealer under the eyes close to the lashes and a dot to the inside corners of the eyes. Gerstein also recommends using a damp Beautyblender Micro.Mini. If you use your fingers, use the pad of your middle finger to tap in the concealer, blending well.

Apply concealer on other uneven spots on the face—including the chin and around the nose and mouth if need be—and tap in, adding another layer if you need more coverage.

Add Setting Powder

For the final step in your concealer application process, dust fine, loose powder over your face with a fluffy brush to set your concealer. "I am a big believer in setting your under-eye with super-light translucent powder. This step will ensure that not only your concealer stays on better but your eye makeup as well," says Red, who recommends Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

If you're afraid of overdoing the powder, Gerstein has a genius tip for making sure it looks flawless: "I like to separate a two-ply tissue and gently powder through the half-sheet to avoid over-powdering."