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How to Choose Concealer Shade

The correct shade of concealer can conceal imperfections such as dark circles, blemishes and discolorations on your face. Not only that, but it can also brighten and sculpt it too – but picking the best concealer for your skin tone can be tricky! To understand which concealer best matches your complexion and undertones, take note of both.

Charlotte Tilbury recommends that when selecting a concealer, you must consider your skin tone. This is especially critical if you plan to highlight or contour your features.

Once you know your skin tone and undertones, swiping some swatches in the store or using a virtual shade finder is an ideal way to get an idea of how concealers will appear on your face. Additionally, bring along your foundation if you want to match it with a concealer.

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Foundation shades typically fall into five broad categories: fair, moderately fair, medium, medium deep and very deep. If you’re unsure which color works best for your complexion, test out three different foundation hues before making a final decision.

Ramzy Elbaegy, a celebrity makeup artist, recommends taking into account your undertone when selecting concealer shades. She suggests selecting one that’s two to three shades lighter than your foundation for an organic look that will bring out lighter areas such as cheekbones and brows while creating definition.

Aunique suggests using a green-hued concealer to achieve a neutralizing effect, since it sits opposite red on the color wheel. This shade can effectively camouflage any redness caused by blemishes and blotchiness.

If you have blue or purple spots on your face, a yellow-hued concealer is an ideal solution to camouflage broken capillaries and age spots, according to experts. Alternatively, an orange-hued concealer can be used for redness since it’s opposite from yellow on the color wheel.

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Concealer colors vary significantly between brands, so it’s important to make sure the one you select matches your skin tone and undertones. Finding your concealer shade doesn’t have to be a tedious process – simply take a disposable cotton swab or sponge in the store and test out several swatches.

It is recommended to always have two concealer shades in your makeup bag – one one shade lighter than your foundation and the other two to three shades darker. This way, you can apply and blend them together seamlessly so you’re always prepared to cover up imperfections or blemishes.

If you want to create visual effects, such as brightening your under-eye area or highlighting certain parts of your face, multiple concealers may be necessary. Start by picking a lighter concealer and then use another darker one as either a highlight or shadow.

For this look, use a concealer one to two shades darker than your skin tone. This will create natural-looking shadows and an enhanced profile. You can use this concealer to highlight the tops of your cheekbones, beneath your brow line, and down your nose.