Concealer is an essential tool for any glowy, radiant and stunning makeup look, and it can be your best friend when it comes to covering dark spots and melasma patches. We checked in with professional makeup artists and experts for three essential, go-to and timeless tips to keep in mind when using concealer. If you’ve ever felt that finding the right color-corrector was daunting, look no further! Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from professional makeup artists Mandie Brice and Margina Dennis.
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1. Prep Your Skin & Wash Your Makeup Tools
Washing your face before applying any makeup is essential for the best coverage, Brice explains. In addition, it's crucial to frequently clean your brushes, beauty blenders and other tools. "I think so many of us are guilty of not washing our brushes as often as we should," she says. Brice adds that not doing so can lead to "breakouts and infection," and your concealer will never look as good (or cover your dark spots efficiently) if applied to an unclean surface. "Since the concealer especially needs to stay put, make sure you use good skincare and prep your skin," Brice advises.
2. Apply Foundation First
While you might be accustomed to applying concealer before foundation, Brice recommends trying the opposite if your goal is to cover dark spots and melasma patches. "I always tell people that if they are covering a precise area as opposed to evening out a less dramatic edge that it makes more sense to apply foundation first, then concealer," she says. Brice notes that "if you do the reverse, you will move the concealer around and off the spots when you apply the foundation." She adds that "setting it all with powder and possibly setting spray is another great way to make sure it stays where it is supposed to."
3. Choose A Color-Correcting/ Neutralizing Concealer
Dennis says that a lot of melasma and dark spots on the skin are "different hues of brown," so you need a "salmon or cool orange color corrector to neutralize them." Neutralizing them will "keep them from looking grey under the foundation," she points out, and this will also "eliminate the need to wear a full coverage foundation."
She notes that you can either "neutralize the dark spots first, and then stipple foundation over the correction to keep from disturbing it," or neutralizer "after you put your foundation on." When you use the correct color neutralizer on top of the foundation, it will just "correct the discoloration and it will look like nothing is there," she concludes.
