What Are Concealors?
Now that you’ve used your under eye moisturizer, you may still be anxious about that under eye darkness. The right concealor will cover them as well as other small discolorations. To see and feel the different consistencies, go to your favorite beauty counter and ask to see what’s available; first find the right color, then concentrate on the thickness.
The average cosmetic company offers several different concealors, some will be thick, others are thin and either may be water resistant or not. Each type comes in several different skin shades as well as a variety of ways to apply it. The best known type of application is the stick concealor, which resembles a tube of lipstick. This has evolved into a creamy little fat pencil, other types are: little pots of creamy concealor; squeeze tubes; or rigid tubes with a self applicator that has a sponge or brush tip.
For deeper more intense under eye color, a more intense concealor (a high pigment content that is usually waterproof) will be best. In an effort to cover dark circles, most women make the mistake of using an under eye concealor whose color is too light for them. Then they look like they have light purple-ish blue under eye circles. If you can see the under eye discoloration or the concealor, then either its not the right color or thickness or it was not applied properly.
What do they do?
Concealors are used to do just that; conceal or cover up. They are like foundations but a concealor has more pigment (intense color); and is often thicker than a foundation, and a camouflager has more pigment and is thicker than a concealor. The extra pigment is why the product is thicker.
How do I use Concealors?
To use, place a dot of concealor on your finger or small brush, tap and spread the concealor, thinning as you go beyond the under eye. Blend out toward your hairline, in toward your nose and down over the top of your cheekbone. Then, apply a thin layer of your foundation or use a clean eye shadow brush to apply a thin layer of loose powder; a small brush will hold and deposit less product.
The stick or tube type of concealor is best applied from the tube onto a finger or brush, then tapped onto the skin. The types that come with their own applicator will dictate how it’s applied, otherwise a small brush or your pinky works fine. I wait to apply concealor after any eye and facial makeup, then if there are any mishaps, I don’t have to remove and reapply the concealor, foundation and powder.
What is a camouflager?
Camouflagers are a thicker type of concealor. They are designed to be used for covering large areas like birthmarks, varicose veins, tan lines or darker or lighter discolorations on the body or face. With the right color, texture and application, camouflagers can cover nearly any discoloration.
How do I use camouflagers?
There are two ways that you can use a camouflager under your eyes, you can use it alone as you would use a concealor or if you don’t need the color density, it can be diluted with a little moisturizer or foundation. Thoroughly blend on the back of your hand and tap on the area and blend to erase any streaks or lines. For best finishing results, dust with a very small amount of flesh colored, or translucent loose powder.
Some cosmetic companies label their under eye concealor a camouflager, it sounds confusing, but that’s because their product has more pigment than the typical concealor. Sample both types to determine which will work best for you. If after sampling both, you still find that your dark circles have not been covered to your liking – then you will probably benefit from a color corrector. Check out www.andibradshaw.com for age specific books “Foundations, Powders & Blushes” for more information.