How to Choose the Right Shade of Concealer

Have you ever wondered how to choose concealer colours for your skin? There are so many shades and variations that the whole process can become overwhelming.

But don’t stress! We’re here to answer all your questions, like ‘should concealer be lighter than foundation’ and ‘should concealer be lighter than skin’, along with tips on how to find the skin-matching concealer your makeup kit is missing!

Better still, this guide contains Global Shades products! These are available in a wide range of inclusive shades and undertones. Look out for the Global Shades icon, or visit globalshades.org to learn more.

So, let’s get to it! For a flawless makeup look, concealer is essential. There are many different uses for concealer beyond brightening and concealing if you have the right one. But how do you pick a concealer shade to suit your skin?

Simply put, part of knowing how to choose concealer colour is knowing your skin tone. Armed with this knowledge, choose your concealer based on your unique colouring, and your purpose in using the concealer.

What is the Skin Tone?

As we said, knowing how to choose concealer colour means you need to know what your skin tone is. But what does this mean? Well, skin tone refers to the colour of the surface of your skin.

Easy enough, right? Skin tone is determined by the skin pigments found in the upper layers of your skin. These pigments, or melanin, impact the surface colour, which is why there are so many variations found from person to person.

Generally, skin tone is categorised as light, fair, medium, or deep. These tones can then be broken down as needed; for example, you may have ‘very light’ or ‘very deep’ skin tones to work with.

Having a better understanding of what your skin tone is will help considerably when you need to know how to choose concealer colours.

What Are the Undertones?

There will come a point when you need to know how to pick a concealer shade that matches your undertones. What are undertones, you ask? Well, unlike skin tones, which reference the skin’s surface, undertones refer to the subtle hues found underneath the skin’s surface.

There are three main types of skin undertones, namely, warm, cool, and neutral.

If you have warm undertones, then you should pick concealer with a gold or yellow shade.

Cool undertones match concealer with pink and bluish hues.

And neutral undertones can often enjoy the best of both worlds!

It is worth pointing out that you can have the same skin tone as someone but have very different undertones.

So, pay close attention to these hues when learning how to choose concealer colour for your makeup routine.

How to Find Your Undertone

One of the best ways to find your undertone so you can know how to choose concealer colours is to check your veins in natural light. Determining their colour will help you to determine which undertone best matches your skin.

For example, if you notice that your veins are somewhat greenish in colour, you will likely have warm undertones. Alternatively, if your veins appear blue or purple, then you are probably someone with cooler undertones in the skin.

You can also consider how your skin reacts to the sun to determine your undertone. If you are someone who burns quickly, then you are a cool undertone. On the other hand, if you tan easily, you have a warm undertone. Those with neutral undertones generally burn and then tan.

How to Pick a Concealer Shade

Before you find hard and fast ways to choose a concealer colour, look to your foundation. Ultimately, whatever concealer shade you pick should be based on your foundation shade. This will ensure an even look when you apply your makeup.

Knowing how to choose concealer colour can also depend on where you plan to use it. For example, your under-eye concealer will very likely be a different shade from the concealer you will use on the rest of your face.

Why? Well, we are often asked, ‘should concealer be lighter than foundation’ and in relation to under-eye circles and bags, the answer is yes! Choosing a concealer that is lighter than your skin tone and foundation will help to create a brightening effect for a more youthful look.

Therefore, when it is time to pick a concealer shade, having two in your makeup kit will be of great use; one that is the same shade as your skin tone and one that is one or two shades lighter.

Again, knowing how to choose a concealer colour will involve a bit of experimentation depending on your skin tone and undertones; however, a close skin-matching concealer will provide the best results when creating your look.

Is It Better to Use a Lighter or Darker Concealer?

Should concealer be lighter than foundation? Should concealer be lighter than skin tone? Should you opt for a darker skin-matching concealer? These are just a few questions we hear from people wondering how to choose concealer colours. But don’t worry, we have the answers.

It’s all about location. When looking to cover minor imperfections and discolourations on the skin, you should lean towards a concealer shade that offers a light-to-medium level of coverage. Try to find a product that closely matches your foundation for the best results.

Remember, when covering under-eye areas, opt for a concealer colour that is one or two shades lighter. But be careful that you don’t get too light! If you are torn when it comes time to pick a concealer shade, always go with the darker of the two concealers, just in case.

Did you know it isn’t just about light and dark concealer shades? Using colour correction concealer can make all the difference! A bluish or purplish concealer will do the job if you want to counteract rosy tints or irritation.

Alternatively, if the blemish is more red than pink, a yellow-based concealer will work to neutralise it. If you have a darker skin tone, orangey concealer will provide a more robust option to cover any imperfection or blemish.

Before you apply your chosen concealer all over your face, it helps to do a quick patch test before you even buy your new shade. Test first on your neck, right below your ear. This will demonstrate whether the skin-matching concealer will blend seamlessly, providing the natural look you want.

How to Choose Concealer Colour

When you want to know how to choose concealer colour, it helps to have a guide to direct you. Here are some of our favourite tips and products to pick a concealer shade that’s best for you.

Choose Concealer Colour for Under Eyes

We can’t stress this enough. If you are asking, should concealer be lighter than foundation, the answer is yes regarding your under-eye areas. Choosing a concealer colour that is one or two shades lighter than foundation will help to provide a brightening, lifting effect, which helps to make your eyes pop! Perfect for those dark circles, right? Remember not to go too light, however.

It is still essential to maintain a balance between the concealer and your skin tone to blend seamlessly with your other skin-matching concealer and foundation products. Here are some suggestions to help you choose concealer colours.

Choose Concealer Colour for Pimples and Red Spots

When it comes to battling pimples and red spots, colour-correcting concealer is the right tool for the job. Green concealer effectively neutralises red tones in the skin, whether this is the result of acne, blemishes, rosacea, or plain discolouration.

Green is the complementary colour to red on the colour wheel, which is why this choice of colour correcting concealer is so effective for these skin concerns. Pinpoint application of green concealer can help to cover these imperfections while blending seamlessly with your other skin-matching concealer and foundation products for a finished look.

Partnering your green concealer with a concealer that offers an exact skin tone match for the best results is important.

Choose Concealer Colour and Texture for Highlight and Contouring

Many professionals consider highlighting and contouring with concealer as easy as any other product created to shade and illuminate the skin. You will need to find a concealer that is not too dewy or dry, as these will break down during the day and make it harder to blend into a natural look.

Choosing colours that match your skin tone and complement one another is also essential. An easy pro tip is to have a variety of shades to choose from, like with a concealer palette, so that you can closely match your varying skin tones throughout the year.

How To Apply Your Concealer

When it comes to applying concealer, some makeup artists suggest that using a clean finger to lightly dab works well as the warmth from your skin helps to soften the concealer making it smoother to apply. However, if you choose to use a brush, these are some of our faves!

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