How to use facial corrector correctly, what is concealer

Every woman wants to look good at any age and under any circumstances. This is quite possible, although it will take some time: you need to eat right and apply professional cosmetic procedures. If you need to eliminate minor skin imperfections in a matter of minutes and improve your appearance, then it is best to use a suitable facial corrector, applying it in the right way. In this article we will tell you what types of corrective skin care products exist and the rules for applying them.

Are there any useful cosmetics?

What he really is? This is a product that helps modern girls always look fresh - it does an excellent job of masking almost all skin imperfections. Dark circles under the eyes, age spots, freckles, as well as pimples and inflammation - all these shortcomings significantly spoil the lives of many. And if masking spots does not cause much inconvenience, then acne becomes a nightmare in reality.

Visually, a corrector from any brand of decorative cosmetics will correct the situation, but the pores only become more clogged, and the very next day the pimple increases in size. Is there a way out? Today there are many manufacturers specializing in mineral cosmetics. It not only does not cause any harm, but also benefits the skin due to its composition. Such cosmetics include minerals and exclusively natural ingredients, which is why cosmetologists recommend it to those who care about the health of their skin.

Recommendations

To hide dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, use light-colored corrective products. If there are both puffiness and circles under the eyes, then the corrector is applied to one area. If there are wrinkles around the eyes, then before using the corrector you need to combine it with a regular eye cream. Apply the concealer in upward strokes with a brush, and then the skin will look tightened. To ensure your skin looks healthy, choose a concealer that is one tone lighter than the natural shade of your skin. To achieve a smooth face, use several shades simultaneously for different areas of the face.

When camouflaging facial imperfections and blemishes, take into account the seasons. So, in the cold season, use correctors with a relatively dense texture, and in the warm season, use light moisturizers.

Benefits of mineral cosmetics

No allergen. These remedies are good even for those who constantly suffer from inflammation and rashes. As a rule, the composition contains kaolin, which is aimed at cleansing pores.
Cosmetics are not of biological origin. This means that bacteria cannot grow in the minerals that make it up. Of course, you should follow the rules - after use, brushes and sponges must be washed so as not to transfer infectious inflammation to them.
Durability. The specificity of the ingredients suggests that the shelf life of such cosmetics is much longer than that of conventional decorative cosmetics.
Versatility. Mineral cosmetics are equally suitable for all skin types; they dry out pimples and oily skin, and protect dry and damaged skin.

So, when choosing, you should definitely pay attention to mineral products.

Color palette of camouflage products

The color palette of correctors is rich in various shades. Each of them has its own function.

Inflammation and redness are masked with green and blue corrector. Girls and teenagers with problem skin can use green corrector, since it both treats and disguises at the same time. Pale skin is hidden by orange concealer. An apricot-colored corrector will add freshness to grayish skin and brightness to dark skin. Dark circles will be masked by a yellow corrector. The skin is left feeling soft thanks to the silver concealer. Evening makeup with this corrector will be wonderful. Gold corrector can hide freckles and other pigmentation. You can turn pale skin into tanned with this corrector. If you have oily skin, then excess shine and pigmentation will be masked with a pink corrector. A white concealer will correctly correct the facial oval and also lighten the necessary areas of the skin.

Tip: To disguise wrinkles, use correctors that contain reflective particles.

How to use face correctors: instructions with step-by-step photos

Decorative cosmetics offers several options for corrective products - stick, liquid cream, oil cream. They are quite convenient to use if imperfections need to be masked quickly.

Sticks

Using pencils is very convenient - the smaller the area of inflammation or problem area, the product should fit more tightly there. The defect is painted over with a stick, and then the edges are simply shaded so that the skin looks natural. You should have the hard one in your makeup bag just in case, as it is the most convenient option. In addition, among the variety of sticks, you can choose the most mineralized and rich in vitamins.

Liquid

The texture of this product is very similar to a standard foundation. It is not as convenient to use as a stick. Various manufacturers produce liquid correctors in tubes, jars and special pencils with brushes. But you won’t be able to use it quickly even with a pencil. Despite the fact that it is equipped with a brush, you will have to blend cosmetics onto the skin with a sponge or your fingers. It is important that it does not have time to harden, otherwise it can clog pores and form spots. Nevertheless, there are also advantages - if distributed correctly, the product will even out the skin tone, although it will not hide the redness.

Oil

This remedy is not similar to either the first or second option. Oil paints are reminiscent of professional makeup used in the theater. They perfectly even out skin tone and at the same time completely hide all facial defects. This product is easy to shade, it is very easy to apply and creates the effect of “porcelain” skin. It would seem that this is ideal! And yet, you should pay attention that it is oil-based correctors that clog pores more than other decorative products and do not allow the skin to “breathe”. Experts do not recommend using them on a daily basis.

Mineral

But almost all mineral cosmetics are presented in the form of powders; these are minerals processed into fine dust. The facial skin corrector looks like a pigmented powder and has several color options in the palette.

Many people may find it difficult to use multi-colored powder to camouflage imperfections.

It's actually quite simple:

The first step is to cleanse your skin and apply moisturizer.
Then apply it to the problem area using a special brush.
It must be covered with powder.

It is worth noting: in order to hide dark circles under the eyes or a network of capillaries, you cannot apply a thick layer of even mineral makeup - this will only highlight wrinkles, folds and bags.

You can see how to use the face corrector correctly in the video - it will be much more clear.

The best and worst budget concealers:

Having tested about a million concealers that cost no more than 1,200 rubles, we found out who is really a friend who can hide all our cracks, and who is just pretending.

As part of the large-scale experiment “A Month on Budget Cosmetics,” Yulia, Lena and Yana Z. tested a few concealers and correctors.

This is approximately how much:

And so much more:

Oh, and here it is:

Well, and about 20 other little things that were not included in the shooting because our photographers ran out of film :)

Each of us chose our favorites and outsiders, depending on our own requirements.

Julia: “I use concealers 100% of the time for the area around the eyes, plus sometimes on the wings of the nose. And for me two parameters are important - good masking abilities and some light reflection. If the first is adequately implemented, then you can do without the second :) In the luxury range, the densest disguises are mainly provided by concealer-pucks, like my favorite Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer. But in the budget segment, products of a similar format that I came across in stores were either of a terrible color (yellow, Rially?..), or of terrible quality (when you point your finger you understand that they suffer from a lack of plasticity).

I tested mainly classic concealers with a brush or applicator. Many of them were powerless against my bruises - for example, Dream Lumi touch, Maybelline, Healthy Mix Concealer, Bourjois, Hydro Miracle, BeYu, Physician's Formula, Eva Mosaic, both L'Etoile. In general, finding a really well-pigmented budget concealer is quite a quest.”

Lena: “I'm more concerned about puffiness than dark circles, so concealers can't help me much. Although there are days when you can’t live without them. In such cases, I usually reach for Erborian BB Eye, or Estee Lauder Double Wear, or Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer, or Skincolor De La Mer (in order of increasing coverage). Among the budget ones, I was looking for a universal one for every day: with light-medium camouflage and light reflection, so that it would not turn yellow or crease. She didn’t ask me to iron my clothes or make coffee in the morning - but few people coped with even the minimum requirements.”

Yana Z.: “Concealers and correctors are products without which I cannot imagine my make-up. I can imagine even without foundation (some concealers can easily be applied all over the face, mixed, for example, with oil or cream) - but without them, I can’t, don’t even ask. I have bruises (though not severe) and wrinkles under my eyes, capillaries and all sorts of other red abominations on my cheeks), and a small pigmented spot on my right cheekbone at the top. And below on the cheekbones there are some spots that can be considered pigmented, or can be mistaken for uneven coloring. If you cover it all up, I’m beautiful :). Just have to cover it up!) I’m not looking for concealers with the most bulletproof camouflage, I simply don’t need one, I value more good light-reflective abilities, plasticity and durability.”

We divided all concealers/correctors according to the degree of concealment. Durability, density and ability for light reflection/blurring were taken into account as additional factors.

Light degree of camouflage

Concealer Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue, Bourjois (515 RUR) - “Not the highest covering power, but good brightening and reflective qualities, the skin perceives it very comfortably,” - Yana Z.
Nordic Chic Under Eye Concealer, Lumene (950 RUR) - “More like an illuminator than a concealer. And it maximizes wrinkles rather than dark circles. But, if the bruises are not critical, it will make them less noticeable. The best reflective characteristics, maximum comfort, and the case when the declared care qualities are really felt,” Yana Z.
Concealer Miracle Touch, Art-Visage (149 rubles) - “Even before the project with budget cosmetics, I came across a good concealer at a ridiculous price - something like 150 rubles. Because of my absent-mindedness, it was hopelessly lost. I wanted to get a new one, but the popular shades at the Golden Apple were sold out. If you meet him, keep in mind that he’s really not bad.” – Lena
Concealer-primer for eyelids Super CC Blurring CC Eye Cream SPF30, Physician's Formula (RUB 799) – “Not really a concealer. There is practically no camouflage, and that is due to deblurring. Not quite universal, I understand. But it has a strong SPF 30. I usually apply it to both the lower and upper eyelids to slightly even out the skin color, hide small blood vessels and prevent the sun from killing precious collagen and elastin,” Lena.

Average degree of camouflage

Sport Addicted Sweat Resistant Cream Concealer, Pupa (RUB 770) “It doesn’t look super-dense, but the dark circles under your eyes don’t show up, even if you skate for an hour. The collection is limited, but it’s still on sale, if you’re looking for exactly this, hurry up,” Yana Z.
Mastertouch All Day Concealer, Max Factor, (400 RUR) “Inexplicably, it covers almost all blemishes, including redness and bruising (not the most radical, but still) and lasts all day like nailed down. I forgave him for the not very aesthetic packaging,” - Yana Z. “At first I made a mistake and took it in the shade 306 Fair - and, despite the name, it was yellow. 303 Ivory turned out to be what we needed. A good basic concealer, I understand those who recommended it to me. It will not seriously cover up bruises under the eyes, but if this problem is not severe, then you can take it. The light reflection is good,” – Yulia
Perfect Teint Concealer, Artdeco (RUB 671) – “The only concealer that suits me out of a whole bunch of recently sold ones. It has enough pigment to cover up not too pronounced under-eye circles. It doesn't fade out like some subtle reflectors, but it's not noticeable on the skin. The fifth shade is quite light, without yellowness or pink pigment. It differs from Estee Lauder in a more matte finish and dry consistency,” Lena. “It won’t work on severe bruises the first time, but the good thing is that it can be layered for a thicker coverage. True, then it becomes somewhat noticeable. It wasn’t suitable for my purposes, but if your bruises are not so severe, you might like it,” Yulia.
Concealer Concealer, Misslyn (RUB 609) – “A workhorse. Excellent light shade 03, good texture (not dry, comfortable), slight light reflection. You can layer it for greater coverage density, but be careful, otherwise it will start to roll into folds,” Yulia.

High degree of camouflage

Cover&Hiding Liquid Concealer, Holika Holika (475 RUR) - “According to my feelings, it is close to Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, only slightly less covering and a little more liquid (Nars feels creamier). It provides noticeable camouflage of bruises, and my friends stop telling me when they meet me, “Why are you so pale.” Naturally, you have to pay something for such pigmentation: the concealer can get stuck in wrinkles over time. Fortunately, it does not freeze tightly and can be smoothed back out simply with your finger. (But you will have to remember this necessity),” Yulia.
Concealer True Match La Touche Magique, L'Oreal Paris (RUB 665). “The concealer surprised me - it hides bruises very well! Less pigmented than Holika Holika so requires more layering. But it is creamier, and therefore practically does not dry out. Plus the light reflection is significant,” – Yulia.
Concealer Artclass The Camouflage, Too Cool For School, (974 RUR) - “Plasticity - 5 points, coverage - 5+, durability - also good. I don’t recommend applying it under the eyes - it will clog where it shouldn’t. But if there is a pimple or a small spot, great. Once saved me on the set, when my chin suddenly blossomed, like at 17 years old,” - Yana Z. “The most successful concealer I’ve ever tried on a budget. You can leave it to me alone and I will be happy -). Here you have both dense camouflage and excellent light reflection and light scattering. It covers bruises with a bang (I don’t agree that it shouldn’t be applied under the eyes - it should!) It practically doesn’t dry out and almost doesn’t form wrinkles. I found only one minus with it, and that’s a nitpick: you can’t cry in it -) After conjunctivitis, tears constantly flow from me, but the concealer is persistent, as a result, some of it is washed off, some stubbornly remains in place, and this is noticeable. But it’s unlikely that concealer is to blame for my conjunctivitis.) Plus, it does a good job of masking problems on other parts of the face,” Yulia.
Youthful Wear Spotless Concealer, Physician's Formula (RUB 799) - “It has surprisingly good coverage (from such a liquid product - it flows out through the ball! - I never expected that), and it is not flat-matte. True, the shade let me down - even my light one is yellow. If you are darker than me, it’s worth taking a closer look,” – Yulia.

For masking capillary vessels and other red “imperfections”

Concealer Color Correcting Liquid Concealer, Essence, (210 rubles) - “Quite liquid, somehow I can’t even believe that this can cover something. However, it can - and even quite serious redness at the wings of the nose. And he himself will become transparent, and will not betray his presence in any way. Doesn’t dry out, goes well with any foundation,” Yana Z.
Magic Pen Concealer Redness Cover, Covermazing 2, Holika Holika (temporarily out of stock on the Russian website) – “Also copes well with redness. But the format is not very convenient for this - too much product is squeezed onto the brush at one time. Enough to turn red boiled crayfish into living green crayfish again, at least visually :)” - Yana Z.

Universal

Palette of concealers and correctors Infaillible Total Cover, L'Oreal Paris (RUB 1,190) “Five shades. Lavender-violet - against general dullness and brownish-red wreaths, green - for capillaries and other redness, three shades of more or less flesh color - pigmentation of varying degrees of severity, plus contouring the wings/back of the nose and highlighting the nasolabial folds. All shades are quite flexible and transparent in a good way - that is, purple brightens and does not remain as a sovereign stain, green minimizes redness on the cheekbones, but does not reflect green itself” - Yana Z.

Worst concealers

Concealer Re-Touch Anti-Dark Circle, Catrice (335 RUR) – “Praised in every way, but I would generally avoid it. Such a yellow plasticine concealer (see photo), IMHO, is not needed by anyone,” Lena.
Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer, Catrice (RUB 277) – “I can’t understand everyone’s enthusiasm for it. In my opinion, it obviously dries out the skin (even mine) and is obviously noticeable on the face. What is better - a pimple or a pimple covered with this thing - is still a big question,” - Yana Z. “I already had a negative experience with it before, but I listened to persistent advice in the comments and decided to try again. And - no, guys. No. You only have one skin around your eyes and there won't be another. No need to torment her so much with this very drying concealer! No matter how he disguises himself! Take care of yourself!" - Julia.
Concealer-corrector Hide The Blemish, Rimmel (RUR 315) “A thick plaster in a stick that will so wonderfully highlight all the imperfections that, as they say, “with such friends you don’t need enemies.” Let’s say, on young skin, where all the imperfections are a couple of pimples on the forehead and chin, this is not critical, I covered the spots and off I went. But if your skin is not young, or, for example, this pimple of yours is a little flaky, arrange a disaster for yourself out of the blue. I was especially pleased by the description on the website, which said that the product can be applied “on the eyelids as a base for eye shadow.” It is forbidden. Don't do that! — Yana Z.

What good budget concealers haven't we tried yet? Share your experience?

Previous parts of the experiment:

A month on budget cosmetics: let's start an experiment!
Budget cosmetics: interim results-1
Budget cosmetics: interim results-2
Budget cosmetics: interim results-3
Budget cosmetics: final? Or not the final?
Budget cosmetics: Julia chooses her favorites
Budget cosmetics: Yana Zubtsova’s choice
Budget cosmetics: Lena chooses her favorites
Cosmetic bag for 3000 rubles: the best possible
Cosmetic bag for 5,000 rubles: the best possible
Cosmetic bag for 7,000 rubles: the best possible

How to use a mineral corrector palette for the face

A specific shade is designed to correct each defect.

There is a tip for beginner makeup artists and for those who want to disguise their imperfections - the Goethe circle. Colors opposite each other will be neutralized.

Many people are surprised by the presence of green pigment in the palette, but this color will help get rid of redness and pimples. Green is located opposite red in our tip and it is this shade that can visually neutralize inflammation.
Powder with blue tints will perfectly cover freckles. Blue is the opposite of the orange segment.
Lavender can save you from unhealthy yellowness; purple on the circle is located exactly opposite the yellow sector.
Pinkish concealer powders will help those who suffer from a gray, sallow complexion.
Yellow can mask purple circles under the eyes - the face will become more fresh.
The orange pigment will help hide the blue network of capillaries and bruises.

Now that we have decided on the choice of the product itself and the shade, let's talk in more detail about applying it to the face.

How to use face corrector: step-by-step instructions

Cleanse your face. Even if you apply makeup in the morning, you need to wash your face with foam - this way you will remove excess sebum and dust invisible to the eye.
Apply day cream to the skin and let it absorb. This step also cannot be skipped, because moisturizing is an important part of daily facial care. Please note that the product you use to moisturize should be light, that is, not leave greasy stains.
If you have chosen liquid decorative, the next step is to apply the corrective agent. On problem areas, carefully rub in the product with your fingertips - do not overdo it, the layer should be thin and just cover the skin defect.
Now apply the foundation. If you choose a mineral crumbly or solid stick, it is applied under the foundation. The foundation should not be smeared with your hands - arm yourself with a sponge and “drive” the product, so the cream will lie evenly according to the texture of the skin.
Mineral pigmented powder is applied over the tone using a special brush.
Individual and small problem areas are masked pointwise. Typically, small redness and pimples require this approach - the corrector of the desired color is applied only to the desired area. When applying the concealer to a spot, be careful so that your face does not become covered in spots.

Application rules

To achieve the best effect, the rules for using the corrector will help you.

Before using the corrector, your face should be rubbed with toner, then moisturized with a cream that matches your skin type. Apply liquid or oil concealer to the problem area and then massage in with light movements. You can't rub it. After this, apply foundation. If you use a solid concealer, first apply foundation to moisturized skin, and then apply concealer.

The foundation is applied on top of the corrector with light movements. This way it doesn't smear.

How to properly apply concealer to the face: diagram with photo

Nowadays, this type of make-up is quite popular: contouring or, in other words, contouring. This makeup allows you to achieve a visual change in the shape of the nose, eyes, and facial contours. Different colors do the job perfectly. There are many schemes for every type of face, for any imperfections in appearance. We will highlight several rules that you can combine and create your own scheme that suits you.

How to properly apply concealer to your face: step by step with photos and videos

To make the nose thinner and neater, draw lines along the wings on both sides with a dark corrector. If you need to make your nose longer, start drawing dark lines right from the eyebrows.
Cheekbones are in fashion now! But not all girls have beautiful relief. However, you can create cheekbones even on a round face. To do this, the area under the cheekbone needs to be darkened, and above it needs to be made lighter. Place the pencil in the direction from the ear to the lips - on this line you will find a depression under the cheekbone. It is this area that should be darkened - apply a dark one and shade it. Creating such a shadow will visually lengthen the face. And to make this shadow pattern more expressive, apply a little highlighter on top.
For those with a high forehead, there is also a way to fix this. Apply a dark shade along the hairline and on the temples, you can also slightly darken the area of the upper eyelid.
Now the last step is to apply a light tone to the T-zone. These are the areas that are more illuminated in natural light. Apply light concealer to the middle part of the forehead, on the bridge of the nose between the darkened wings, in the “tick” above the upper lip and in the corners of the lips.
You should also highlight the areas under the eyes - apply in the shape of a triangle, extended downwards. This technique allows you to refresh your face and make it more radiant.

With these simple rules, any girl can create a beautiful face shape with just a few strokes of her brush. More detailed tips can be found in the video on how to properly apply concealer to your face. You can find the most detailed diagrams specifically for your face shape.

Perfect skin without acne

Inflammation and acne have nothing to do with attractiveness. If skin problems have not bypassed you, a step-by-step guide to applying concealer will help save the situation.

You may be interested in: Why do you need a corrector and how to choose the best one: examples of excellent products

Apply green pigment onto pimples.
Gently tap the skin with the pad of your finger to lightly blend the product.
Fix the result with your favorite foundation or mattifying powder.