Get 15% Off On Your First Purchase
Beauty Front Benchers

The great cover-up: using concealers to your advantage

By
Team Tira
4
min read
Makeup
The great cover-up: using concealers to your advantage
The great cover-up: using concealers to your advantage

Could some of the greatest cover-ups in history be the ones executed by makeup artists? From on-screen mutation to getting your favourite celebrity ready for the red carpet – the average twenty-something’s Instagram feed is a testament to the transformative powers of makeup. Sorcery is what springs to mind while watching makeup tutorials. Except for the fact that it doesn’t take a wizard to work the mind-blowing magic of makeup. It all comes down to how the canvas is coated before it can be painted on, using a weapon already in your beauty arsenal. And what is that? Your foundation’s lesser-known cousin: the concealer.  

Be it covering up acne breakouts, evening out hyperpigmentation, contouring and highlighting your features, or priming your lids and lips for makeup – the concealer wears many hats. Read on for tips on how to apply concealer for beginners, with some recommendations from celebrity makeup artist, Heema Dattani.

Step 1: Keep the canvas clean

Take every dermatologist’s word for it – clean skin is pivotal to any makeup routine. Well prepped skin requires a gentle face wash, serum and a moisturiser. Under-eye creams can also be game-changers in preventing the concealer from creasing or settling into fine lines. Follow these up with a primer before going in for any makeup. For your look to survive the year-round Indian summer, use a moisturising primer for dry or sensitive skin and an oil-free primer for acne-prone skin.  

Step 2: Pick your base

As a base, options include tinted moisturisers, BB or CC creams, or foundations depending on how much coverage and durability you’re seeking. Dot the base across your face and blended with a makeup sponge.  

If you choose to go with foundation, the sequence needs to be taken into consideration. If you have baggy under-eyes, do your concealer first, and for blemishes, your foundation comes first.

Step 3: Figure out the concealer formula and shade

The consistency of your concealer is more crucial than you can imagine. “For dry or mature skin, find something that has a creamy texture and for oily skin, something non-comedogenic with a matte finish,” says Dattani. Opt for a hydrating concealer if the skin feels extra dull or dry to keep it from creasing or flaking and staying on longer.

If you’re fair-skinned, hunt for pinker shades. Salmon in case you’re medium-toned and a peach or orange for a duskier complexion.

Step 4: Dab on the concealer

Globbing can do more harm than good, so stick with less product and gently dab it on. “Don’t overdo it. Apply in layers and blend each time with the tip of your middle finger or a sponge,“ says Dattani, who recommends the MA.C. Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer.

Step 5: Set it and forget it

Press setting powder on and leave for 3 to 5 minutes. Your body heat “bakes” the concealer and powder together to make it stay. Just lightly brush off the excess once it’s baked, and voila!  

Pro tips

With Dattani’s expert concealer tips for Indian skin, be rest assured that what won’t meet anybody’s eyes are harsh concealer spots and lines.

1. Use an ‘under-eye concealer’ for below your eyes, and a regular, all-coverage concealer for the rest of your face, as they are both uniquely formulated to serve targeted functions.

2. Be sure to colour-correct if you are prone to skin issues such as acne, dark circles, and pigmentation to neutralise these imperfections.  

3. Be sure to test the concealer shade in natural light.  

Read More
Beauty Front Benchers
Makeup
By
Team Tira
By
Team Tira
Beauty Front Benchers
Makeup
4
Min read
The great cover-up: using concealers to your advantage
M.A.C Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer - NC38 (7ml)
M.A.C
Know More
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi Use Concealer - 150 Neutralizer (6ml)
Maybelline New York
Know More
Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer - Golden Beige (13.5ml)
Too Faced
Know More
PAC Concealer Brush - 285 (1Pc)
PAC
Know More
GUBB Beauty Blender - Light Pink (18g)
GUBB
Know More
L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Powder, Rose Vanilla R2C2
L'Oreal Paris
Know More

M.A.C
.

M.A.C Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer - NC38 (7ml)

No items found.
Add to Cart
Maybelline New York
.

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi Use Concealer - 150 Neutralizer (6ml)

No items found.
Add to Cart
Too Faced
.

Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer - Golden Beige (13.5ml)

No items found.
Add to Cart
PAC
.

PAC Concealer Brush - 285 (1Pc)

No items found.
Add to Cart
GUBB
.

GUBB Beauty Blender - Light Pink (18g)

No items found.
Add to Cart
L'Oreal Paris
.

L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Powder, Rose Vanilla R2C2

No items found.
Add to Cart
No items found.

No items found.

No items found.
About
M.A.C Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer - NC38 (7ml)
M.A.C
Know More
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi Use Concealer - 150 Neutralizer (6ml)
Maybelline New York
Know More
Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer - Golden Beige (13.5ml)
Too Faced
Know More
PAC Concealer Brush - 285 (1Pc)
PAC
Know More
GUBB Beauty Blender - Light Pink (18g)
GUBB
Know More
L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Powder, Rose Vanilla R2C2
L'Oreal Paris
Know More