Thanks to it, we say goodbye to our tired look, we enlarge our eyes and brighten our complexion. Concealer is the magic asset of the makeup palette. But how to apply it so that it is really effective? We tell you everything.

If you have stubborn dark circles due to fatigue or genetics, you may want to remove them ... therefore, a concealer is bound to be in your beauty kit. But do you have the right shade? Do you apply it correctly? Do you use it to its full potential? Concealer is the little Swiss army knife of make-up, it's the magic tool you whip out to give yourself a quick or elaborate makeover.

What is the difference between a corrector and a concealer?

This is a common mistake that we must learn to stop making! No, concealer is not a concealer, and vice versa. Concealer is a makeup product that aims to hide imperfections such as spots, small pimples, redness. While concealer is specifically designed to hide unsightly color marks that appear under the eyes in cases of fatigue, poor blood circulation or genetics, it is also used to restore radiance. Although the two products are different, it is still possible to use your concealer as a corrector! The opposite is, however, less effective.

How to choose the right concealer?

This is a serious matter, a concealer that is not suitable can have the opposite effect of what is expected of it... Rather than hiding dark circles, it could seriously accentuate them! You must therefore be careful to choose your concealer carefully, to do this you just need to follow these rules:

• Always choose a concealer that is half a shade lighter than your natural skin tone.
• If you have fair skin and have blue or purple dark circles, choose a beige shade with a yellow undertone to camouflage them and neutralize the shadow effect. If you have brown dark circles or dark skin, choose a concealer with an orange shade.
• Texture-wise, if you have dry skin, choose a creamy texture so as not to accentuate dryness and mark fine lines under the eyes. If, on the other hand, you have oily skin, choose a mattifying and long-lasting texture.

Tips for applying concealer correctly

Applying concealer requires a certain amount of dexterity, the idea is that its effect is totally natural (or almost). To do this, there are a few key steps to follow. Know that a concealer is ideally applied by tapping with the finger or with a beauty blender. A brush is rarely recommended because it risks spreading the material poorly. However, there are special concealer brushes that can do the trick, but always make sure to spread the material well so that there are no traces or marked residue in the fine lines. The concealer must blend into the skin!

Should it be applied before or after foundation?

This is THE big question and it depends on everyone's theory. Most expert makeup artists advise applying concealer after foundation, because the texture of concealer is finer than foundation and can blend in with it without any problem. After application, to make sure it lasts all day, always apply a loose powder (very fine) using a large brush!

PS: don't forget that the best way to achieve successful makeup is to apply it to prepared skin. This means applying your beauty routine ( serum for dark circles , moisturizer) without fail before moving on to foundation and concealer. Don't neglect the eye area, this fragile area absolutely requires the application of an eye contour serum in order to best support the makeup.

What equipment to use?

As explained above, concealer is best applied using a beauty blender (a small, drop-shaped makeup sponge) or simply with your finger by tapping in order to blend the material and not stretch it like a brush can do. However, if you are comfortable using a brush, you will need to choose a special concealer with a flat tip and apply the material by tapping, as with a sponge or finger.