We  love  playing around with makeup, but if we had to choose one product we couldn’t live without, it would be concealer. It covers up all kinds of imperfections, from pimples that pop up before big dates or meetings, and undereye circles that make an appearance when we’ve had one too many late nights.

There are a few ways to up your concealer game. Our makeup experts share how to choose the right concealer, and where to put concealers.

How to choose the right Concealer

Concealer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your skin, you might end up with a couple of concealers in your kit.

There are two main types of concealers, and they both serve different purposes.

1. Colour Correcting Concealers  neutralise pigment in the skin, so they’re great for combating dark circles, angry pimples, and red noses during cold season (sorry, Rudolph!). Hang tight: we’ll explain how to use colour correcting makeup in a minute.

2. Regular concealers offer sheer to full coverage. The best one for you comes down to your preferences and how much makeup you like to wear, but we can give you some general advice. A light, fluid and buildable concealer works well for the underye area because it won’t settle into fine lines, while rich, almost cream-like concealers are great for breakouts and scars as they have more hold.

In a nutshell? Don’t use the same concealer to cover up everything, as it won’t look natural.

How to apply Concealer correctly

The magic is all in the application!  How to apply concealer depends on what imperfection you’re trying to disguise. Let’s break it down…

Dark Circles

If you’re dealing with dark circles, you’re far from alone. They can be caused by a range of things, including a poor diet, lack of sleep or genetics. Luckily, a good concealer can cover up the darkness and brighten up the undeye area.

Before reaching into your makeup bag, it’s important to moisturise with an eye cream. The skin under our eyes is delicate, and underye concealer can flake or settle into fine lines if your skin is too dry. This will stop that from happening and help your concealer to  last longer.

Once you’ve given your eye cream a minute to absorb, apply a colour correcting concealer. A pink- or peach-toned concealer like the  Cover Up Under Eye Corrector will neutralise the blueish colour of your dark circles, and as a bonus, it contains hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate the area. As for  how to use a colour corrector under eyes, you want to apply it to the areas of discoloration.

Then, dot a creamy concealer like the Skin Renew Ceramide Concealer under your eyes, which is packed with ceramide to deeply hydrate the skin. Gently pat in with the sponge tip applicator located in the lid, until it disappears. You can also use your fingers to blend the concealer in for a smooth, natural finish.

Either way, try not to drag or smear the concealer, as this might lead to caking and creasing later on.

Breakouts

Chances are, nobody else will notice your pesky pimple — but you can hide it with the help of a  concealer to cover acne.

The big question:  Do you put concealer on before or after foundation?  The key is to apply a thin layer of foundation or tinted moisturiser  first. This will minimise the look of spots and even out your skin tone so your concealer blends more naturally into your skin. In other words, you won’t end up with a halo of concealer around your blemish. Plus, it means you’ll apply less makeup overall!

Then, pat your concealer onto your blemish, and blend it outward until the spot is completely covered. This technique is known as “stippling,” and you can use your fingers but a  brush makes it much easier.

Redness

Winter might be the season of snuggling, cosy clothes and endless hot chocolates, but it’s also the time when we’re battling runny noses, rosacea and crazy, winty weather. So, you might find that your skin is on the reddish side, especially on your cheeks and around your nose.

To soothe your dry, flaky, red skin, add an ultra-nourishing moisturiser to your daily skincare routine. Then, reduce redness with the help of makeup.

Enter: A  green colour correcting concealer, like the  Cover Up Redness Corrector.

It might seem weird to apply a green concealer to your face, but it will balance out the redness and leave you with an even canvas. The  best concealer for rosacea, this one has a handy twist top, so you can control the amount of product that comes out. Only apply it to the areas you have redness, and then tap it in using the unique brush. Then go over with your foundation or concealer and the redness will have disappeared.

If you have allergies or a cold, you may find that any makeup you apply around the nose comes off within a couple of hours. To give yourself more time between concealer touch-ups, you can apply 1-2 layers of another creamy concealer that’s closer to your skin tone on top.

Scars

Between acne and other skin conditions, it’s normal to have scars or pockmarks on your skin. The best way to apply concealer comes down to the type of scar you have.

If your scar is  flat or  concave (so it dips into the skin), reach for a thick, matte concealer that matches your skin tone, such as the  Master Coverage High Illusion Concealer. It’s the  best concealer for acne scars, and you only need a tiny amount. Dot it on the area, and then use a blending Brush or a tapping motion with your fingers to fill in the scar. This will give you fuller coverage  and a natural finish, which is a win-win!

If your scar is  raised, go for a creamy, lightweight concealer that matches your skin tone. Then, pat it in until the concealer has melted into your skin.

The last step of every Concealer Routine

Whether you’re covering up dark circles, breakouts, redness or scars, the final step is always the same: dust on a setting powder.

You don’t need to break out your heavy-duty, matte powders. A lightweight, translucent powder will lock in your concealer so it stays put, and keeps excess oil at bay throughout the day. The  Hydra-Set Translucent Setting Powder is infused with Aloe Vera, Green Tea and Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate the skin while it sets your makeup. Plus, it has a beautiful cooling effect on the skin!

There are two exceptions to the “post-concealer powder” rule. If you use acne-fighting products (like benzoyl peroxide) or you’ve recently popped a pimple, skip powdering until your skin is fully healed. And if your skin is extremely dry, you may not need  to set your concealer with powder.

Learn more Concealer tips

Our makeup artists are always spilling their insider secrets on our blog, so check it out for more tips and tricks!

And if you’re ready to add a new, affordable concealer to your collection, shop  colour correction makeup and the  best cruelty-free concealers online. You can even buy now and pay later with AfterPay!