How to apply concealer

Face & base · targeted coverage · step by step

Concealer is a spotlight, not a second layer of foundation — a little, exactly where you need it, blended out to nothing. Slather it everywhere and it cakes and creases; place it with intent and it brightens tired eyes and erases spots invisibly. Here's where it actually goes, how to stop it creasing, and when to colour-correct first.

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Brightened, natural under-eye and even skin after concealer on a woman with real skin texture

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Concealer vs foundation vs corrector

Foundation evens your whole face at low coverage; concealer is higher coverage for small, specific problems — dark circles, blemishes, redness around the nose. Corrector is a coloured step before concealer that cancels stubborn discoloration (peach kills blue circles, green kills red).

The order depends on your skin: if your tone is fairly even, foundation first then spot-conceal so you use less. Heavy circles or spots? Correct and conceal those first, then sheer foundation over the top.

The under-eye triangle

Don't just line concealer under your lower lashes — that's what settles into fine lines. Draw an upside-down triangle: base along the lower lash line, point down toward the top of your cheek. Blending that shape up and out is what actually brightens and lifts the eye area.

For brightening under the eyes, a shade one step lighter than your skin lifts shadow. For spots and redness, match your concealer to your skin exactly so it disappears.

Diagram of a face showing concealer placement: the under-eye triangle, around the nose, on the chin and on blemishes

The kit

Two shades and one small tool cover almost everything.

A brightening under-eye concealer: Creamy and hydrating, one step lighter than your skin — flexible enough not to crack in fine lines.
A matching spot concealer: Higher coverage, matched exactly to your skin, for blemishes and redness. A drier formula stays put on spots.
A colour corrector (if needed): Peach/salmon for blue-purple circles on light-medium skin, orange for deeper skin, green for angry redness. A little goes far.
A small sponge or finger: A damp sponge tip presses and sheers; a warm fingertip melts it in under the eyes. Skip a big brush here.

Flat-lay of a brightening concealer, a matching concealer, a peach corrector and a small makeup sponge

Apply it, then leave it alone

Less product, pressed not dragged, set only where it creases. Over-working concealer is what makes it cake.

01
Correct first (if needed)
Pat a thin layer of corrector onto stubborn dark circles or redness and blend the edges. Give it a second to grab.
02
Draw the triangle
Apply brightening concealer in the under-eye triangle — a few dots, base at the lash line, point toward the cheek.
03
Press, don't drag
Bounce it out with a damp sponge or warm fingertip. Pressing keeps coverage; dragging wipes it off and drags it into lines.
04
Spot-conceal
Dab matched concealer onto blemishes, around the nose and any redness. Pat only the center, feather the edges into your skin.
05
Set the crease zones
A whisper of finely-milled powder under the eyes and on the chin/nose if you crease. Press it in with a small puff; skip the rest for a skin-like finish.

What it fixes

Different problems, different placement and shade.

Brightened under-eye area after concealer on medium skin — Dark circles → peach correct, then brighten in a triangle

A blemish covered with matched concealer on light skin — Blemishes → drier, matched concealer, patted only on the spot

Reduced redness around the nose after concealer on deep skin — Redness → green correct if strong, then match and press

Why it creases (and the fix)

Too much product: The number one cause. Use half what you reach for and build only if needed.
Skipped hydration: Dry under-eyes drink concealer and crack. Dab eye cream first and let it sink in.
Over-powdering: A thick powder layer looks worse than the crease. Press a tiny amount, only where it moves.
Wrong shade too light: A concealer more than a shade lighter than your skin reads grey and obvious. Brighten, don't bleach.

Pro tips for flawless concealer

The details that keep concealer bright, not cakey.

Warm it before you place it: Let a creamy concealer warm on the back of your hand or from body heat — it melts into skin instead of sitting on top.
Triangle, not a line: Under the eyes, draw an upside-down triangle and blend up and out. It brightens and lifts where a thin line just settles into creases.
Set only what moves: A whisper of finely-milled powder under the eyes and on the chin/nose — press, don't sweep. Everywhere else stays skin-like.
Spot concealer = drier + matched: Use a drier, exactly-matched formula on blemishes (it grips), and a creamier, one-shade-lighter one under the eyes (it brightens).

Concealer myths, busted

The rumours that make concealer look worse.

"Go two shades lighter to brighten.": More than one shade lighter reads grey and obvious. Brighten by a hair, don't bleach.
"Baking is a must.": Baking (heavy powder left to set) suits oily skin and photos — on dry or mature skin it emphasises lines. Optional, not mandatory.
"Concealer replaces foundation.": It's a spotlight, not a base. Slathering it everywhere cakes; use it only where you need it.

“Concealer is the secret to the universe.”

Bobbi Brown · Makeup artist & founder

The undertone that makes it vanish

Concealer only disappears when it matches your skin's depth AND undertone — a spot concealer that's too pink or too yellow just swaps one flaw for a patch. And which corrector you need (peach, orange, green) depends on your depth and the color you're cancelling.

siOsi reads your undertone and depth from one selfie, free — so you can pick a concealer and corrector that truly melt in, instead of grabbing a shade off the shelf and hoping.

Free color analysis Skin type quiz

Watch it done

A few of our favourite video walk-throughs for this look, from makeup artists on YouTube.

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Haley Kim

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"I only wear concealer"

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Answered

How do you apply concealer step by step?

Colour-correct stubborn darkness or redness first if needed, then apply a brightening concealer in an upside-down triangle under the eye (base at the lash line, point toward the cheek) and press it out with a damp sponge or fingertip. Spot-conceal blemishes and redness with a matched shade, patting only the center, then set the areas that crease with a whisper of powder.

Does concealer go on before or after foundation?

If your skin tone is fairly even, apply foundation first and spot-conceal after, so you use less concealer. If you have strong dark circles, spots or redness, correct and conceal those first, then apply thin foundation over the top. Either way, match the two in undertone.

How do I stop concealer creasing under my eyes?

Use less product, hydrate first with eye cream, press (don't drag) it into an under-eye triangle, and set only where it moves with a tiny amount of finely-milled powder. Over-applying and over-powdering are the two biggest causes of creasing.

What colour corrector do I need for dark circles?

For blue-purple under-eye circles, use a peach or salmon corrector on light-to-medium skin and an orange corrector on deeper skin; for strong redness, use green. Apply a thin layer before your skin-matched concealer — the corrector cancels the colour, the concealer evens the tone.

How do I choose the right concealer shade?

Use two: a brightening concealer about one shade lighter than your skin for under the eyes, and a concealer matched exactly to your skin (in depth and undertone) for spots and redness. Going more than a shade lighter looks grey; matching undertone is what makes spot concealer disappear. siOsi can identify your undertone from a selfie.

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