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Concealer is the quiet hero of any makeup bag. Used well, it brightens tired eyes, erases blemishes, and makes you look rested and even — often without any foundation at all. Used badly, it creases, cakes, and draws attention to the very things you wanted to hide. The difference is all in the technique: the right shade, the right placement, and the right amount. Here's how to apply concealer like a pro, for every use.
Choosing the right concealer
Concealer isn't one-size-fits-all — different jobs call for different shades and formulas:
- For under-eyes (brightening): choose a shade one to two tones lighter than your skin, often with a slightly peach or salmon undertone to cancel blue/purple darkness. Creamy, hydrating formulas prevent creasing.
- For blemishes and redness: match your exact skin tone (or a touch deeper) in a more full-coverage, longwear formula so it blends invisibly.
- For colour-correcting: peach/orange cancels dark circles on medium-to-deep skin; green cancels redness; lavender brightens sallow tones. A little goes a long way under regular concealer.
What you'll need
- A brightening under-eye concealer
- A skin-tone concealer for blemishes
- A damp makeup sponge and/or a small concealer brush
- Optional: a little translucent setting powder
How to apply under-eye concealer (no creasing)
This is where most people go wrong. Follow these steps:
- Hydrate first. Dab a little eye cream or moisturiser and let it absorb — dry under-eyes crease instantly. (See our 5-step skincare routine.)
- Apply in a triangle, not a half-moon. Draw a downward-pointing triangle from the inner corner, under the eye, to the outer corner and down toward the cheek. This brightens the whole area, not just the crease.
- Blend with a damp sponge, bouncing (not wiping) to press it into the skin seamlessly.
- Set lightly with powder — press a tiny amount only where you crease. Over-powdering causes cakey lines.
- Use the "bake" trick for events: leave a little extra powder on for a few minutes, then dust it off, for long-lasting, crease-free brightness.
How to cover blemishes
Spot concealing is a different technique:
- Apply foundation first (if you're wearing it), which evens everything and reduces how much concealer you need.
- Dot a skin-tone concealer directly on the blemish with a small brush.
- Tap the edges to blend, leaving coverage on the spot itself — don't wipe it away.
- Layer thinly if needed rather than one thick blob.
- Set with a touch of powder so it doesn't slide off through the day.
For raised blemishes, a matte, full-coverage concealer "grips" better than a dewy one.
How to colour-correct (when you need it)
If concealer alone isn't enough for stubborn darkness or redness:
- Dark circles (blue/purple): a thin layer of peach or orange corrector first, then your normal concealer on top.
- Redness or blemishes: a tiny bit of green corrector, then skin-tone concealer.
- Dullness/sallowness: a lavender corrector brightens.
The key word is thin — correctors work underneath, in the smallest amount, so they neutralise without adding cakey-ness.
Pro tips for a flawless finish
- Less is more. Thin, buildable layers look natural; thick concealer creases and cakes.
- Warm it up. A damp sponge and your skin's warmth melt concealer in for a seamless finish.
- Match formulas to the job: hydrating for eyes, longwear for blemishes.
- Set strategically, only where you need it.
- Don't forget to blend into the surrounding skin so there's no visible patch.
Common mistakes
- Skipping hydration under the eyes — the #1 cause of creasing.
- Using too light a shade all over, which leaves grey or ashy patches.
- Half-moon placement instead of a triangle, missing the areas that actually brighten.
- Over-powdering, which turns smooth concealer cakey.
- Wiping instead of bouncing, which removes the product you just placed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I apply concealer before or after foundation?
After. Foundation evens everything first, so you only spot-conceal what still shows — using less product and looking more natural. (More in our foundation guide.)
What shade of concealer should I use under my eyes?
One to two shades lighter than your skin, with a peach/salmon undertone to cancel darkness. For blemishes, match your exact skin tone instead.
How do I stop concealer creasing?
Hydrate first, apply thin layers, set lightly with powder only where you crease, and avoid heavy, dry formulas under the eyes.
Can I wear concealer without foundation?
Definitely. Spot-concealing under the eyes and on blemishes, then setting lightly, gives a fresh, even look with no full face of makeup.
The bottom line
Concealer is all about technique: hydrate, place it in a triangle under the eyes, match your tone for blemishes, blend with a damp sponge, and set lightly. Use thin, buildable layers and the right shade for each job, and you'll get bright, even, crease-free skin — with or without foundation. It's the fastest way to look rested and put-together.
Next: build the full look with our everyday natural makeup tutorial and find your base in the best drugstore foundations.
