Finding the right shade of concealer can be quite the tough undertaking, especially for women of color. There are only a few makeup lines that offer a decent variety of foundations that look good on dark skin, and the same applies when looking for concealer. Well, no worries, I’ve got you covered with these tips to help navigate how to choose the right concealer for your beauty needs.
5 Tips for Picking & Using the Right Concealer
1. Find the right shade
When choosing concealer, go one shade lighter than your natural complexion. To gauge the best shade for you, swatch the color on your neck below the ear.
Orange-based shades are ideal for dark skin. One of my go-to palettes is the NYX Cosmetics 3C Conceal Correct Contour Palette in the shade “Dark.” I love this palette because of the products’ creamy texture and the variety of shades it offers.
I’ve labeled the palette showing some of the different ways that I use the different shades.
2. Prep your skin before applying
I always start any makeup application with clean, moisturized skin. The cleaner the starting canvas, the easier the application would be. I apply my primer after the moisturizer for the smoothest base and follow with concealer.
3. Apply Properly
There are a plethora of brushes in many shapes and sizes that can be used to apply concealer. There are times when I use my concealer brushed, but lately I’ve preferred to use my fingers or a blending sponge to get the best finish, especially since I prefer more of a cream-based texture; the warmth of my skin allows me to smooth and tap the product in the preferred areas for smooth coverage. If there happen to be any creases I go over the spots with a Beauty Blender or sponge.
4. Blend those brow lines
Eyebrow trends are always changing. Full, natural brows are all of the rage at the moment. I have pretty thin brows, so I often use powder, pomades and pencils to achieve fuller brows. Sometimes I apply concealer to my top and bottom brow lines to make them pop a little, but there is nothing worse than having unblended concealer framing your brow. Be sure to apply a thin line of concealer right along your upper and lower brow lines and blend like crazy!
5. It’s a good primer
If you want to I even use it to prime my lips before applying lipstick, and it totally makes the colors pop and last. Just use a little and make sure you exfoliate your lips first! Line the edge or your lips with concealer to keep your color from bleeding and for a fuller look.
What are some of your go-to tips for getting a gorgeous finish with concealer?
Ciao Bellas,
