How to Apply Foundation and Concealer Correctly

Last Updated: August 14, 2022 References Approved

The foundation of your look deserves extra attention. While the idea is simple — to create an even surface and conceal blemishes — it requires a bit more attention in practice. Once you know the basics of undertones and the properties of different foundations and concealers, you can achieve your goals with ease.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Applying the Makeup

1
Wash your hands. Wash with warm soapy water before handling makeup tools or touching your face. Dirty hands may transfer bacteria to your face.
2
Moisturize your face.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.} This will protect your skin and make the makeup appear more natural. If the moisturizer doesn't include sun protection, apply sunscreen as well.^{[2]
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- A lightweight moisturizer works well for this. Feel free to apply eye cream, too.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alicia D'Angelo
  Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
- Optionally, apply foundation primer over the moisturizer. This is most helpful for people with oily skin, to create a smooth base for the foundation and it will also help your makeup to last longer.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alicia D'Angelo
  Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
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3
Apply color-correcting concealer if needed. If you're covering dark eye circles, port wine birthmarks, or other colorful areas, apply the color-correcting concealer of the opposite color on the color wheel. Blend this in, but don't expect it to disappear; the foundation and the skin tone concealer will hide it.
- When applying to the eye, tap the concealer on, working from the outside of the eye inward to the nose. You only need to apply it to the darkest area, then dab upward in a sweeping motion to thinly cover the rest.
- This is the most difficult type of concealer to use. Practice with different amounts and shades until it works out.^{[5]
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4
Sweep the foundation across your face. Use a makeup sponge, your fingertips, or (for liquid foundation only) a foundation brush. Brush across your entire face and blend until the foundation is evenly applied, taking care not to wipe away too much of the color-correcting concealer. A stippling brush works well for blending.
- If using liquid foundation, warm the container in your hand before applying.
- Although many makeup users apply concealer first, this wastes time and product when the foundation sweeps away some of the concealer. The exception is powder foundation, which should be applied over the concealer.
5
Make adjustments. Check your jawline, where poor blending is most visible. If you see a line, extend your foundation a bit below the jawline and blend it into your neckline.^{[6]
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Research source} This will help to give your makeup a more unified look. If the foundation looks too thick or caked on in any location, tap it with a bare powder puff.^{[7]
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6
Conceal other blemishes or dark spots. You may apply concealer to your entire face if desired, but in most cases all you need to do is cover areas of uneven tone, acne, and other blemishes. Dab gently with a finger, concealer brush, or sponge until you cannot see the break between concealer and the surrounding skin.
7
Dust your face lightly with a translucent powder. Do this immediately after applying your concealer to provide a nice matte finish and hold the makeup in place. You may want to skip this step if your face is feeling extra dry, as powders can absorb moisture.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
8
Apply other makeup if desired. Once the concealer and foundation are as blended as possible, you're ready to rock a natural look, or use it as a base for highlighting, contouring, and so forth. Whichever you choose, enjoy your even, blemish-free look.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Choosing a Foundation

1
Find colors that match your skin tone. Foundation should be as close to your natural skin tone as possible. When picking out samples to test, go for the one that seems to match best, plus the options one shade darker and one shade lighter.
- Most makeup lines have a numbering system in place to help guide your choice, but each system only applies to that particular line. Most brands go with numbers from 10 to 50 or 1 to 10, with the higher numbers for darker skin.
2
Check your undertone. Most foundation is targeted at a particular undertone, summarized as "C" for cool, "N" for neutral, or "W" for warm. Some makeup companies even mix tones for an even closer match to your skin, so you might also notice letter combinations like “NC” or “NW.” Picking the wrong foundation could leave you with an ashy or coppery appearance. This is especially important for people with dark skin color, but everyone can benefit from this test:^{[9]
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- Examine your skin without makeup on, under daylight or neutral white light.
- Hold a piece of yellow fabric or gold jewelry under your chin. If this gives your face a healthy glow, you have warm undertones.^{[10]
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- Hold a piece of red fabric or silver jewelry under your chin. If this complements your face well, you have cool undertones (which can range from red to blue).^{[11]
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- If it's hard to tell, you likely have a neutral tone, or you may need different foundation for different areas of your face.
- Or for a quick but unreliable test, check the veins on your inner wrist. Blue means cool undertones, green means warm, and bluish-green means neutral.^{[12]
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3
Test the foundation on the jaw and chest. This is easiest with department store samples, but you can get a rough idea at the drugstore by holding the bottle up against your face and looking in a mirror to see how well it matches. Makeup fans argue quite a bit over where to test the foundation, but each side makes good points. However, don’t test the foundation on your arm because the skin here is usually darker than the skin on your face. If you want to be extra secure, test them both:
- Your jawline will be at the edge of the foundation. If the color matches here, you'll have an easier time blending it in.
- Your chest (if regularly exposed to sun) is usually close in color to your face. Testing it here also ensures that your face won't end up a completely different tone than your body.
4
Test the color under natural light. Unless you spend your day under bright department store lights, what you see in the store won't be what you get. Head outside with a mirror while you have the samples on your skin. The sample that blends in to your skin tone almost invisibly is the perfect choice of foundation. Give the foundation a few minutes to dry and oxidize before you judge it. After it has dried, check to see how it looks.
- If you plan to apply bronzer and blush, your face will end up a bit darker than the foundation. In this case, it's sometimes preferable to go one-half to one shade lighter with your foundation.
- If nothing is quite right, mix two foundations together on your skin.
5
Choose between powder and liquid foundation. Both sides have strong adherents and strong detractors. Some things you may want to keep in mind when deciding which type o foundation is right for you include:
- Liquid foundation provides more control during blending. However, poor blending or an imperfect tone match can leave obvious lines where the foundation ends. If your skin is oily, choose an oil-free or non-comedogenic example.
- Powder foundation (especially mineral powder) absorbs oil and sweat, but can settle into a caked-on appearance, even adding definition to wrinkles and scaly skin. Use a light touch to minimize this effect.
- You can wear both at the same time. Applying a liquid foundation first and then applying a light layer of powder foundation can also help to set your makeup and make it last longer.
6
Consider the finish. You've spent all this time choosing a foundation, but you have one final decision to make. The finish is a matter of personal preference, guided by a few principles:^{[13]
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- Most foundations are semi matte (even if not labeled as any particular finish). These work well on almost all skin types.
- Matte foundations work well for toning down oily skin.
- Illuminating foundation increases shine and can help to diffuse wrinkles.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Choosing a Concealer

1
Learn about different types of concealer. The form of concealer you choose depends on your skin type and where you plan to use it:^{[14]
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- Liquid concealer is the default option, great for covering acne and wrinkles.
- Stick concealer and cream concealer are much thicker, which spells danger for oily skin. Bust one of these out for big jobs, such as dark eye circles and angry red patches.
- Cream-to-powder concealer rubs on as a cream, then sets fast. This is handy for on-the-go corrections, but tends to get cakey after a few hours.
2
Pick a color close to your foundation. Concealer hiding blemishes on most of your face should be as similar to your foundation as possible. If you're concealing larger dark patches, especially dark eye circles, you can afford to go one shade lighter.^{[15]
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- Puffy eyes actually look best with slightly darker concealer, unexpected as that is. The brain interprets dark areas as shadows, making the puffy area appear further back than it really is.
3
Consider the finish. Concealers come in any finish from matte to satin. Non-matte concealers usually need to be set with powder after application.
4
Learn about color correction. Vividly tinted concealer is designed to hide discoloration. This is based on the color wheel: two opposite colors will cancel each other out. If you want to hide dark eye circles, veins, or other colorful areas, read the full guide or learn these basic rules:
- Cover green discoloration with red concealer, and red areas with green concealer.
- Cover blue discoloration with orange concealer, and vice versa.
- Cover purple areas with yellow concealer, and vice versa.
- Dark eye circles are usually combination of blue, purple, and sometimes green. Experiment to find the right shade of orange, salmon, peach, or coral that works on your skin.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What type of foundation is best for humid weather?

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Alicia D'Angelo is a makeup artist based in New York City. She currently works for teams with Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty and Pat McGrath Labs as well as bridal companies Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured in Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and NYXCosmetics.com. She has a Visual Communications degree from FIDM-Los Angeles.

Alicia D'Angelo

Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Look for foundation products with the words "mattifying" or "oil controlling" on the label. Powder compacts can also be a great way to touch up foundation after you've been sweating and had your makeup shift.
Question

What foundation and concealer should I use if I have a medium complexion with dry skin?

Camille Sanghera
Beauty Stylist
Camille Sanghera is the Owner of Lash Envy Cosmetics and Esvee Beauty in the Vancouver, British Columbia area. Camille is trained and certified in microblading, scalp micropigmentation, eyelash extensions, hair and makeup, and lash lifts. She is listed on Microblading Map Canada and has also been featured on TuneIn Radio and in Bridal Fashion Week Magazine.

Camille Sanghera

Beauty Stylist

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Mac makes some great foundations and concealers for medium complexions with dry skin.
Question

How do I find a foundation that matches my skin tone?

Camille Sanghera
Beauty Stylist
Camille Sanghera is the Owner of Lash Envy Cosmetics and Esvee Beauty in the Vancouver, British Columbia area. Camille is trained and certified in microblading, scalp micropigmentation, eyelash extensions, hair and makeup, and lash lifts. She is listed on Microblading Map Canada and has also been featured on TuneIn Radio and in Bridal Fashion Week Magazine.

Camille Sanghera

Beauty Stylist

Expert Answer

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The best way to find a color that matches your skin is to, first, figure out if you are a warm, neutral or cool skin tone, and, second, to actually go and try different brands and colors on your actual face.

Warnings

Some people are allergic to some brands of foundation, primer, or other makeup. Test new foundation on a small area to see if your skin reacts poorly.

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