
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cdn.cliqueinc.com__cache__posts__254037__concealer-or-foundation-first-254037-1522880487446-main.700x0c-b69a2e08cdb54ca89efeb7a8021c6583.jpg)

This can make a world of difference in making you look rested and polished, but not made up. Or try a lighter shade of foundation than you normally wear, and apply it only in the under-eye area.
Foundation or concealer first skin#
When you wish to wear as little makeup as possible, try using only a minimal amount of concealer that is closer to your true skin tone than the concealer you normally use. The less concealer you put at the back corner of the eye (unless that area is dark), the less your chance of looking like you're wearing a white mask over the eyes. Also, try to concentrate the concealer along the inside corner of the eye and down, as opposed to out. It is important to always blend the edge of the concealer away from the eye until it disappears. The most typical problem with a concealer is applying it smoothly over the under-eye area without making it look too white. The trick is to make sure the foundation and concealer edges merge imperceptibly on the skin. You may also want to try applying your foundation first and then sparingly applying concealer to the under-eye area if it is still dark. The foundation is then applied lightly over this area and blended out over the face. Blend this out evenly, taking care not to spread concealer onto areas where you don't want it.īe sure to use a pat-and-blend method of application, as this will ensure that the concealer covers where it is supposed to and is not inadvertently wiped away. (It's hard to blend anything over ultra-matte foundations.) You can apply your concealer in a small arc around the inside corner of the eye or, for a more involved makeup application, you can apply concealer in a sweep under the entire eye and out on the upper cheekbone. If you are using an ultra-matte foundation, the concealer blending on first prevents streaking and staining.

In fact, it may sometimes be necessary to apply a concealer that is slightly darker than your foundation to reduce having a whitish goggle effect around the eye.Īpply the concealer first and then the foundation. In that case, it's fine to apply your foundation with no concealer. The only time you wouldn't use a lighter concealer is when the area under the eye is naturally lighter or the same color as the rest of the face. If you choose a concealer that is a very different color than your foundation, you will simply end up with a third color where they overlap and intersect. That way you can be assured that the foundation and concealer will blend together under the eye. When you shop for an effective concealer, it is critical that the concealer be the same basic, natural skin tone as your foundation, only one or two shades lighter. If your foundation is opaque enough to even out the skin tone under the eyes, you don't need an extra product for that area. If you don't have dark circles under the eye area, you don't need a concealer. The first thing you need, then, is a lightweight, flesh-tone concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your foundation. The skin around the eye also tends to be thinner than the skin on the rest of the face, so pigment discolorations and surface veins show through easily, making the under-eye area look dark and dull. The under-eye area needs concealer most because the eye is set back in its socket, which lies in a shadow created by the surrounding bone structure. The primary purpose of a concealer is to offset the natural shadows that occur under the eyes and, in more elaborate makeup applications, to highlight certain areas of the face such as the center of the nose, forehead, top of the cheekbones, or center of the chin.
