Over the course of 30-plus years in the beauty industry, the number-one question I get is always about concealer. Years ago, people thought you had to put a lot on and go a lot lighter than your real skin tone, and that's changed a lot. Since the skin is thinner under the eye, you don't want to overload it with product because that will bring more attention to the problem area. The key? Go sheer, understand how to give the area moisture, and choose the right products for you. Just a few simple techniques will really make a difference.
Prep The Skin
The first thing you're going to do is put a little bit of oil over the entire face (I like my Radiant Boosting Facial Oil). Then, apply it underneath the eye, to give it a bit of slip for the concealer to glide over. You don’t want that area too dry, because everything will sit underneath the eye, so you really want it to be refreshed and ready for concealer application. You’re going to blend it all over and leave the skin in a wonderful place, feeling super-hydrated. The thing I love about oil is it has such a beautiful absorption — your skin is drinking up all that it’s doing for you.
Primer Time
My secret weapon is a brightening primer. What’s great about it is that it's light and super-sheer. Just a little bit, before you put on concealer, brightens and lightens up the undereye area. You're going to apply that with a concealer brush, staying very fine underneath the eye. Take it right into the inner corner of the eye, and then use your finger to blend it in. Keep in mind that you shouldn't go overly light: Staying a bit darker is a little sexier and fresher than overdoing it.
Conceal It
Next, you're going to apply a bit of concealer. I like a pot concealer, which will give you more coverage. Go ahead with that same brush underneath the eye but, again, apply it super-lightly, and then use your fingers to set and tap it in. If you look in the mirror, you always get the most darkness in the inner corner of the eye, so you might want to go super-sheer right under the eye, and then build in the areas where you want a bit more coverage. It should be subtle, not dramatic, and you shouldn’t see too much lightness or brightness of tone; there should be a certain softness to it. Look into the mirror when you’re doing it to check if you need to build another area, or keep another softer. It doesn’t have to be the same intensity throughout the whole area; with any makeup, put more where you need it and less where you don’t.
Cover Your Bases
If you don't have a lot of time in the morning, but still want your skin to look pulled together — but not overdone — just add a little bit of foundation. You can apply it with your fingers, or with a foundation brush, and place it on in a patting motion. Use the foundation more for just a little bit of tone. You want to go super-delicately to bring the foundation and concealer together, and give your skin a pretty glow.
Final Set
One of the things I always hear is: “I put on my concealer, which is a cream, and it moves.” It’s going to happen. Cream products do move. But, be careful with powder under the eyes, because if it’s not the right formula, it'll be visible. One of the most important elements is picking up a small brush — I always tell people to choose the right size of brush for the area you’re going to be working with. You're going to go under the eye with a bit of finishing glow powder. Very delicately, set the area with just a little bit of it. You can also powder a bit on the chin and the forehead to eliminate any high-shine spots. It’s not about mattifying it, but more about leaving the skin super-glowy and dewy.
You can throw on mascara afterward, and you’re ready to conquer the world. I’ve always said: If the skin looks alive and pretty, you’re already way more than halfway there.
The first thing you're going to do is put a little bit of oil over the entire face (I like my Radiant Boosting Facial Oil). Then, apply it underneath the eye, to give it a bit of slip for the concealer to glide over. You don’t want that area too dry, because everything will sit underneath the eye, so you really want it to be refreshed and ready for concealer application. You’re going to blend it all over and leave the skin in a wonderful place, feeling super-hydrated. The thing I love about oil is it has such a beautiful absorption — your skin is drinking up all that it’s doing for you.
Primer Time
My secret weapon is a brightening primer. What’s great about it is that it's light and super-sheer. Just a little bit, before you put on concealer, brightens and lightens up the undereye area. You're going to apply that with a concealer brush, staying very fine underneath the eye. Take it right into the inner corner of the eye, and then use your finger to blend it in. Keep in mind that you shouldn't go overly light: Staying a bit darker is a little sexier and fresher than overdoing it.
Conceal It
Next, you're going to apply a bit of concealer. I like a pot concealer, which will give you more coverage. Go ahead with that same brush underneath the eye but, again, apply it super-lightly, and then use your fingers to set and tap it in. If you look in the mirror, you always get the most darkness in the inner corner of the eye, so you might want to go super-sheer right under the eye, and then build in the areas where you want a bit more coverage. It should be subtle, not dramatic, and you shouldn’t see too much lightness or brightness of tone; there should be a certain softness to it. Look into the mirror when you’re doing it to check if you need to build another area, or keep another softer. It doesn’t have to be the same intensity throughout the whole area; with any makeup, put more where you need it and less where you don’t.
Cover Your Bases
If you don't have a lot of time in the morning, but still want your skin to look pulled together — but not overdone — just add a little bit of foundation. You can apply it with your fingers, or with a foundation brush, and place it on in a patting motion. Use the foundation more for just a little bit of tone. You want to go super-delicately to bring the foundation and concealer together, and give your skin a pretty glow.
Final Set
One of the things I always hear is: “I put on my concealer, which is a cream, and it moves.” It’s going to happen. Cream products do move. But, be careful with powder under the eyes, because if it’s not the right formula, it'll be visible. One of the most important elements is picking up a small brush — I always tell people to choose the right size of brush for the area you’re going to be working with. You're going to go under the eye with a bit of finishing glow powder. Very delicately, set the area with just a little bit of it. You can also powder a bit on the chin and the forehead to eliminate any high-shine spots. It’s not about mattifying it, but more about leaving the skin super-glowy and dewy.
You can throw on mascara afterward, and you’re ready to conquer the world. I’ve always said: If the skin looks alive and pretty, you’re already way more than halfway there.
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