By the way, do you put concealer before or after foundation?

Updated article, originally published on January 20, 2019

Among the questions that plague cosmetic enthusiasts, some are more controversial than others. L’order of application of concealerthis product rich in pigments – and sometimes also in active healing ingredients – which reduces dark circles and hides redness and skin imperfections, is often debated: should it be used before or after foundation?

The question was asked to professional makeup artists and they are unanimous: first the foundation, then the concealer.

Why apply foundation before concealer?

When you think about it, applying concealer after foundation makes a lot of sense. As explained by make up artist Robin Black in Allure magazine:

“The purpose of foundation is to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of blemishes, blemishes, and excessive redness, so until you apply foundation, it’s hard to judge how much concealer you really need. »

When you put on concealer first, you apply the product where the coverage of the foundation might be enough. It’s a waste, especially since you risk ruining all the correction work by applying foundation on top, whatever your favorite tool (fingers, makeup sponge, brush, etc.).

An observation shared by makeup artist Fiona Stiles: “ In addition to being a waste of product, using concealer first is also more time-consuming, since you have to go over the corrected areas after applying foundation. “, he explains to our colleague.

To achieve a perfectly even complexion, professionals recommend applying a thin layer of foundation all over the face (not forgetting the neck and ears), and working the concealer in small dabs if there are signs of tiredness or imperfections causing resistance.

A technique hailed by entrepreneur and brush pro Gloria J. Noto:

” I love it when you guess skin through makeup so I make sure you see as little of it as possible “.

Of course, if you put concealer before foundation and it fits you well, there’s no need to change your habits. You do!

The case of the color corrector

However, there is an exception to the rule: the color corrector, which serves to camouflage the small skin annoyances that express themselves in a colorful way such as dark circles, redness or even brown spots, must be applied before the foundation. of complexion.

Most often orange, green or salmon pink, it is based on the principle of colorimetry which says that when two opposite shades are placed on top of each other, they cancel each other out.

Makeup artist Allan Avendaño shares his technique with Allure magazine:

“When someone has very dark circles under their eyes or looks tired, I apply color corrector before foundation, then add a little more concealer if needed. »

The method is the same for camouflaging redness around the nose, an inflamed pimple, or hyperpigmentation spots.

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Front page image photo credit: George Milton on Pexels