Brighten, Cover, Perfect: When to Use Each Type of Concealer

Think all concealers do the same job? Not even close. There’s a reason why there are so many concealers to choose from before you hit  add to cart. Beyond formula types, like powders, liquids and creams, there’s the whole choosing-the-right-one-for-the-job issue. Concealers do many things, like brighten, correct, cover up and also perfect. The first step to finding your type is to ask yourself what your concealer goal is and go from there. If you’ve always wondered how to find the right concealer for you, here’s your chance!

For Brightening

One of concealer’s best bragging rights is the illuminating effects they give your skin. This is most obvious when you get a case of dark circles that really need dealing with. The same goes for dull areas of the face that need a brightening boost, like around the nose. Enter brightening concealer. Its MO is to brighten areas of the skin as quickly as possible, while seamlessly blending in. This means a texture that’s super lightweight and easy to apply. This liquid under-eye brightener (the newest addition to the OG viral cream and powder family) instantly refreshes eyes with a light-reflecting formula that feels silky smooth. Thanks to its built-in sponge applicator, it allows for a precise, mess-free application that couldn’t be easier. It has lightweight coverage and a gentle yet effective brightening effect. Another lightweight option is this serum concealer. If you’re looking for a concealer with skincare-worthy ingredients, give this ultra light formula a try. It has skin-loving niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to illuminate skin with medium-coverage benefits. 

For Covering and Correcting

Looking for a lesson in color theory? We’re so glad you asked. Corrective concealers get to work by taking their cues from the color wheel. That is, using colors to balance out and correct. For example, the color pink and peach are opposite to blue and purple on the color wheel so that’s why they’re a goto shade for concealing dark circles. The same principle applies to green correctors that cancel out redness in the skin (we’re looking at you blemishes!). This corrective concealer palette has it all so you can play with the right combo of corrective concealers to suit your skin’s concealing needs. Color correcting formulas err on the side of thicker, creamy textures for their staying-power benefits. There’s a reason why this cream color-correcting concealer is a viral go-to for dark circles. It instantly brightens the under-eye area with illuminating effects that last all day long. To increase its staying power that much more, set it with this eye-brightening loose powder overtop. 

For Perfecting

You’ll notice the perfecting concealer technique in a lot of GRWM videos because it’s a beauty lover’s fave hack. Concealer can act as a perfecting tool for so many looks. Think refining and sculpting, creating clean lines, or even better blending between areas of the face. It’s the most versatile way to use concealer, really. Whether you need the help of concealer to clean up the areas around your brows or lips, popping those cheekbones even further or blending in that contour better, the right formula makes all the difference. We love a high coverage concealer for this. You can apply it in myriad ways, with a beauty sponge, brush or your fingers depending on your needs. And since this is a hydrating formula, you won’t have to worry about it settling into any fine lines or creases. It’s also waterproof and has up to 18 hours of wear, so you can feel good about its lasting power too.