Concealer is the most indispensable product in your makeup routine for flawless skin. There is a tonne of different uses for concealer, from brightening to concealing. That is, if you use the right concealer shade. Finding a concealer that perfectly matches your complexion can be a nightmare since the wrong shade makes your makeup look disastrous. We are here to help you tackle everything from dark under-eye circles to contouring, plus we help you choose the right concealer shade that matches your skin tone!
How to choose the concealer shade that matches your skin tone
How to apply concealer and what you want to hide depends on what you’re trying to conceal. You need a different colour if you want to use a concealer to hide discolouration then if you want to conceal blemishes. You can also use concealer to brighten the under-eye area or for contouring. We help you find the concealer shade that matches your complexion.
#1 Use natural lighting to choose the right concealer shade
Natural daylight is your BFF when it comes to finding a shade that’s true to your skin tone. Department store lighting is generally horrific and you can’t tell if the shade works for you. Natural daylight is crystal clear and even, which means it’ll be easier to detect the wrong colour match. Swatch the shade on the back of your hand or jawline and pop outside. It’ll be much easier to tell whether or not the product works for you. If you can’t pop outside for whatever reason, then try the shade on close-ish to the exit where the most natural light will be.
#2 Keep skin undertones in mind
Always take your skin undertone into account when you try to find the perfect matching concealer shade. If you have warm undertones, you’ll need a concealer with coordinating undertones. The same goes for skin with cool undertones. Undertones can be mystifying, but once you know yours, you’ll easily edit out the wrong-hued formulas. In general: the fairer the skin, the more neutral to pink undertones usually are. The darker the skin, the more yellow undertones are. But how can you tell what your skin undertone is?
Cool skin undertones
The veins on your wrist are blue or purple. You have pink, red, and blue undertones. If your skin, eyes and face look best in bright whites, you’re cool-toned. Often cool people have blue, green or grey eye-colours with blonde, black or brown hair. Fair skin cool folks burn in the sun. Medium-skinned cool-toned people burn first and then tan. If you need a concealer with cool undertones, look for products starting with C or NC.
Warm skin undertones
Your skin appears yellowish in the sun and you have green veins. Your skin has warmer yellow and peach undertones. If you look better in ivory, off-whites and creams, you’re warm-toned. Warm skin undertones typically go with brown, amber or hazel eyes. Warm people easily tan in the sun. If you need a concealer with warm undertones, look for products starting with W or NW.
Neutral skin undertones
Your skin appears olive-y in the sun and your veins are blue-green. You’re somewhere in the middle as your complexion doesn’t lean to cool or warm. If you have a mix of warm and cool tones, look for products starting N.
#3 Cover blemishes with the right concealer shade
If you want to cover redness or blemishes, find a shade of concealer that matches your skin as closely as possible. Dab a tiny bit of concealer onto the blemish and gently pat the product until it is fully covered. Use a setting powder after you’re done covering to ensure the concealer stays in place.
#4 Brighten the under-eye area with the right concealer shade
If your goal is to cover under-eye bags, dark circles or to brighten the under-eye area, a concealer that is one or two shades lighter than your actual skin tone is your go-to. We prefer a peach-based shade for a flawless look. Draw an upside-down triangle under your eye, reaching down to the top of your cheekbone. Use your fingers or a damp makeup sponge/beauty blender to blend the concealer.
#5 Contour with concealer
Kim Kardashian knows best and does it all the time! Concealer is perfect for contouring and shaping your face. For creating the desired natural-looking shadows, use a shade that’s one or two shades darker and a shade that’s one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. Apply the darker contour shade around your hairline, under your cheekbones, down the sides of your nose, under your jawline and on tip of your chin. Now blend it into the skin with your fingers or a small brush. Then apply your lighter or highlighting shade in the centre of your forehead, on the high points of your cheekbones, in the inner corners of your eyes, down the centre of your nose and on your chin. Don’t forget to draw an upside-down triangle shape under your eyes, just like you do when you want to brighten the under-eye area. Repeat the blending process et voila, you contoured your face using nothing but concealer!
#6 Find the right concealer shade based on the seasons
Unless you never go outside, your skin tends to change colour with the season. If you tan easily or frequently go to the spray tan salon, it’s best to go up to two shades as you head towards the summer. Even if you tan a little and don’t plan on ever getting a spray tan, it’s clever to go up to one shade in a warmer season.
The right concealer for your skin type
Even when you’ve found your perfect matching concealer shade, you still need to take your skin type into account. A concealer that doesn’t match your skin type will only make blemishes and other skin irregularities stand out.
- Concealer for dry skin: avoid matte liquid concealer if you don’t want to look parched. A cream concealer will work best and will give you a nice glow.
- Concealer for oily skin: stick and cream concealers will only emphasise large pores, so please avoid them. A matte liquid or powder concealer will work magic on your skin. Set the concealer with powder to keep oils in place.
How to find the right concealer shade online
If you virtually shop for a new concealer, choosing the right formula and shade can be tricky. We help guide you in shopping online for the right concealer shade.
- Know your skin tone. There are five skin tone categories: fair, light, medium, tan and deep with fair being the lightest and deep being the darkest.
- Know your skin undertone. Keep in mind that a light skin tone can have a cool, olive undertone and a deep skin tone have cool, pink undertones.
- Read the product description. Many websites now give shade and undertone descriptions. Read them carefully for finding your right concealer shade.
- Search for arm swatches. Many brands do arm swatches on three different skin tones to serve as a quick reference to narrow down your choice. That should help you identify your perfect matching concealer shade.
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