Careful application of concealer can help to disguise imperfections and even out skin tone - especially useful for under eye areas. As with foundation, the best results are achieved by choosing the correct colour of concealer, and effective application of the product. When selecting the right shade for your skin, it is best to use a product slightly lighter than your natural tone, and with yellow based pigments- these help counteract the redness of blemishes and blotchy skin.

When applied properly, the concealer becomes virtually invisible, and greatly reduces the appearance of any imperfections, and to achieve this, follow the simple guide below:

* Don’t apply concealer straight from a tube or stick - this will leave too much product on the skin, and will lighten the whole area, rather than small areas, creating a patchy appearance.

* Use a fine tipped make up brush for precision application - particularly needed for spots, or alternatively use a concealer pencil. After the area has been covered, blend the concealer around it using your fingertips. Once this has been done, dust the area with a loose powder to keep it in place.

* To disguise dark under eye circles, use a thicker, creamy textured concealer, and ensure you blend it well. Be careful when applying to this area that you don’t press too hard, and avoid dragging concealer sticks in particular, as the skin here is very delicate! Also don’t use too much loose powder on this area, as it can settle into the natural creases around the eye, making any fine lines appear larger.

* The best way to tackle scars is to use tricks of the light to your advantage. If getting rid of indents, use a lighter shade of concealer than your skin tone, but to most effectively disguise raised scars, use a concealer slightly darker than your natural colour.

* Most people tend to put concealer on before foundation, yet in reality it often gets wiped away whilst doing this. Therefore don’t be afraid to apply concealer after foundation for most effective coverage, but only dust with loose powder after both the foundation and concealer are complete.

* If you rarely need concealer, but want to be prepared for that unexpected breakout, you needn’t buy a concealer. If you normally use a foundation with a cap, the slightly thicker residue found here can be effectively used as a good concealer substitute! You also needn’t worry about trying to find the right shade, as this is a perfect colour match!

Powder

After applying foundation and concealer, it is a good idea to use a powder, which helps to ’set’ makeup, and gives a fresh, matt finish to the skin.

The two most common types of powder are ‘Loose’ and ‘Compressed’. As the name suggests, loose powder consists of a very fine powder normally contained in a pot, whereas compressed powder is a solid substance, typical of a compact.

Loose powder is most easily applied with a large soft makeup brush, or by using a powder puff. To apply, dip the brush or puff into the loose powder, and gently tap off any excess. Using light sweeping motions, dust the powder all over your face, also giving a light dusting to the eye lids. Not only will this brighten the appearance of the eyes, it also creates a good even base if you are later applying eye shadow.

Pressed powder is ideal to touch up your makeup during the day, and can really help to prevent shiny skin in problem areas such as the forehead. However, apply pressed powder sparingly, as otherwise it can appear ’streaky’.

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