STYLE

The newbie's guide to...concealer

Your skin, all glowed up.

Weird-but-true fact: concealer is actually the key to getting your skin to look fresh and clear. We talked to celeb makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes on exactly how to apply this complexion camo, so you'll get a flawless finish (no flaking or caking, promise). Nothing to hide here...

START WITH A BLANK SLATE

@aliciakeys

"The better you can get your skin to look with skincare, the less makeup you need to use," explains Hughes. Her favorite strategies? Cleansing and exfoliating. "At night, use a balm cleanser with a washcloth to break up oil and makeup as you gently buff away dead skin cells," she advises. Follow that with a gel cleanser to nix any last traces of product. Then moisturize. Once a week or so, use an exfoliating toner on a beauty round all over your face after cleansing. "The friction of th pad helps polish the skin."

MOISTURIZE THOUGHTFULLY

To help your makeup last, Hughes suggests massaging moisturizer into your cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin before spreading the excess over the rest of your face.

FORGET FOUNDATION

"The best way to get coverage without your skin looking flat is to target only the areas you want to conceal," says Hughes. Start by applying concealer under the eyes and over and redness around the nose, then use the leftover product in your brush to hit any other areas that need a little more coverage.

BLUR YOUR BLEMISHES

@lilireinhart

If you've got a big breakout, you might be tempted to just coat your face with foundation. Instead, spot conceal. "Use a dense eyeshadow brush to precisely place  ahigh-coverage concealer on the blemish," advises Hughes. "Let it sit for 20 seconds before blending around the edges." Be sure to use a gentle touch. "It's like icing a cake. If you press too hard, you'll move the product around too much."

TONE THINGS DOWN

@siennamaegomez

If you've overdone it, take a clean, damp beauty sponge and tap it over the areas that have too much coverage. You'll diffuse the product and get back to a more natural look. 

KEEP IT REAL

Pairing the right tool and concealer formula together is key when it comes to getting a natural finish. Here's what you'll need...

FOR CONCENTRATED COVERAGE

"Fingers are ideal for patting product in wherever you need a bit more camouflage, like on dark circles. They warm up the formula and help it seamlessly melt into the skin," says Hughes.

Glossier Stretch Concealer, $18, glossier.com

FOR CONCEALING ANYWHERE

A small bush gets those tricky areas around your eyes and nose, shares Hughes. Use it to apply radiant-finish concealer on top of any redness or discoloration for coverage that looks like the Paris filter.

Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer, $8, amazon.com. Real Techniques Setting Brush, $7, amazon.com

Show us how you look after incorporating these tips into your everyday makeup routine by tagging us on Instagram @girlslifemag or using #girlslifemag!

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that a version of this story originally ran in our April/May 2021 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

All GIFs via Giphy
Slider image: @naileadevora. Edited for digital coverage by Isabella Albaig.

by Erin Reimel | 4/30/2021