Concealer Types, Textures and Uses Explained

Concealer can be baffling, perhaps a little more so than foundation; with so many different types, textures and claims, you may struggle in finding your perfect match? Let me help take some of the puzzlement out of shopping for such product with a quick guide to concealers of all types.

Cream Concealers

Typically cream concealers are thicker in consistency and tend to come potted; for that reason alone, I suggest applying using clean fingertips as this will help to warm the product and allow for an easier application. Due to the typically drier and thicker texture, this is not a product that I personally recommend applying to the eye area, rather I reserve it for disguising facial blemishes. After foundation I gently dab a little cream concealer over the offending area and blend out using either a brush or again my hands, quickly setting with a little powder. In terms of wear if set with powder a cream concealer should stay in place for at least eight hours. 

Best for - high coverage and concealing blemishes - all with a long wear time.

My personal favourite -  MAC Studio Finish SPF15 Concealer (£15.50), great coverage, doesn't cake and is surprisingly easy to blend out. On occasion I will use a damp sponge and somewhat blend this all over my face in place of foundation.

Stick Concealers

Essentially a cream concealer but in a solid, stick form with a somewhat drier texture. I do find stick concealers tricky to use as they are so thick and heavy in consistency but they are cheap, cheerful and do offer full coverage - the bullet shape allows for precision and on the go application. Again I wouldn't advise using on the under eye area and reserve for covering blemishes. If you have oily skin you may find that the heavier texture helps to combat excess oil, however avoid at all costs, if you have dry skin. 

Best for - on the go application, oily skin and covering blemishes.

Liquid Concealers

If you don't enjoy cream based concealers for any reason then you may want to invest in a liquid texture? Unlike cream consistencies, liquid concealers can be used all over the face and are less prone to creasing. As an added bonus most liquid formulations, do offer a high level of coverage so no blemish or dark circle will be a challenge for a liquid concealer. My main advice would be to approach liquid concealers with a less is more approach and find a dab beauty blender to be the best tool to achieve a natural, blended out effect. As a side note 

Best for - high coverage, non-caking/gathering into lines, all over application.

Doe Foot Concealers

I consider doe foot applicator concealers to be the do all and somewhat safe concealing option. Thanks to the soft, sponge applicator you can apply to anywhere on the face with ease, with next to no mess. The lighter liquid texture means you can use it all over the face, including the under eye area free from creasing, gathering (well in most instances). It can of course be used to conceal blemishes/redness too, or even as an eyeshadow primer. Much like the above liquid concealers I do find that overall, this formula is more hydrating and less prone to attaching itself to dry areas. If you do use concealer to highlight on occasion (in the broader sense, rather than just the eye area) this is the easiest formulation/texture to do so.

Best for - all over use (including the under eye) and dry skin.

My personal favourite - NARS Creamy Concealer (£22), a hydrating easy to apply and blend out concealer, that really brightens the under eye as well as being perfectly able to conceal blemishes and redness. 

Sponge Applicator Concealers

Not to be confused with the above doe foot applicators, rather this is a product with an attached sponge - perhaps the best and most known product of this category is Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Eye Concealer? In my opinion and experience, such product is best reserved for under eye use only as the thin, moisturising texture allows you to brighten, conceal without the product settling into any lines - even in regards to mature complexions as my Mother would vouch. Typically speaking this is a fairly thin texture and does not offer a whole lot of coverage so it may be useless for camouflaging blemishes. 

My personal favourite - Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Eye Concealer (£7.99), gentle yet effective and so affordable.

Best for - under eye use and mature skin types.

Highlighting Concealers 

As the name suggests this is not just a concealer but a product that injects a little radiance too, for that reason so many use it to brighten the under eye area. Typically speaking such concealer type does tend to be liquid based and offer very little coverage; rather it brightens and somewhat prefects. As far as concealing goes, I reserve highlighting concealers for my under eye area to lightly camouflage any darkness/circles. Other than that I it makes for a great, subtle liquid highlighter.

My personal favourite - Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Highlighting Pen (£25), easy to use, lightweight non creasing, all the while offering a subtle brightening effect.

Best for - brightening, liquid highlighting and concealing minor under eye circles.

Colour Correcting Concealers

Unlike all of the other concealing options, colour correctors can come in all textures but serve the same purpose - to correct tonal skin issues such as redness, dullness and sallow skin. My suggestion is to find a concealer type, that best suits your needs and then purchase the right colour corrector for your needs: green to counteract redness, pink to correct dullness, yellow/orange to conceal purple tones such as the under eye and purple for sallow/yellow tones.

I hope the above somewhat helps but do feel free to add to above list within the comments, I know we all use concealer differently and for different purposes. 

On a separate note, I'd love to know what your all time favourite concealer is and why?

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