Alright, babes, let’s jump into it because I know you’ve been asking: What shade concealer should I be using? If you’re like me, concealer is basically your holy grail makeup item––like, seriously, a world without concealer? Not on my watch. But choosing the right shade can be a total struggle, especially when every brand seems to have a million options (I’m talking to you, Tarte Shape Tape; how am I supposed to pick?!).
So, let’s break it down in a way that won’t have you sweating in the Sephora aisle. By the end, you’ll be armed with all the tea to grab the perfect concealer shade for your skin tone and needs. Let’s get glowing!
Let’s Talk About Your Skin Tone — You, But Better
Okay, so first things first: your skin tone! Duh. Finding the right concealer shade is super dependent on your skin tone, and girl, you’ve got to start there before thinking about anything else. If your concealer is too light, you’re gonna look like you survived a weekend without sleep. If it’s too dark, uh, I’m sorry, but no one woke up to be giving off THAT energy.
Which “Zone” Are You In?
Before you even swatch those concealers, ask yourself: are you super fair, medium, tan, or deep? This will guide you as a starting point. Make sure you check out your face in the daylight, not just inside under house lights. Yes, grab a mirror and actually look at yourself in decent lighting, no filters, okay?
These are the basic shade guideposts for your skin tone:
| Skin Tone | Concealer Shade Guide |
|---|---|
| Very Fair | Light Beige, Porcelain, Alabaster |
| Fair/Light | Ivory, Fair Beige, Bisque |
| Light to Medium | Light Medium Beige, Sand, Warm Beige |
| Medium | Honey, Golden Beige, or Warm Beige |
| Tan/Natural Tan | Caramel, Tan, Medium/Dark Sand |
| Dark/Deep | Deep Caramel, Coffee, Chocolate |
| Very Deep | Rich Cocoa, Espresso, Deep Mahogany |
Once you figure out where your complexion sits, we can go ahead and tailor that concealer pick to your needs! Next, we’ll get into the why behind choosing either lighter or darker.
Are You Color-Correcting Or Concealing?
Here’s where things get spicy: what are you using concealer for? Seriously, this matters because sometimes you WANT a lighter concealer (like when we want those cheekbones to pop), and other times you need something that blends more seamlessly with your foundation to just, like, hide the sleepless nights.
Concealing Blemishes or Dark Spots
If you’re covering up little imperfections (like breakouts, redness, or pigmentation), you’ll want a concealer that matches your foundation as closely as possible. Breaking news: You do NOT want your blemishes standing out because your concealer is too light, ya feel?
A good rule of thumb:
For hiding blemishes or dark spots, always match your skin tone and blend, blend, blend!
But remember, telling that concealer to “blend out” doesn’t mean ditch coverage – so build it up! Start small and use a brush or sponge to pat—not swipe—until you have coverage that looks like skin.
Brightening Or Highlighting
Now, this is where most of the magic happens… You want Instagram-worthy brightness under your eyes? Then it’s time to go a shade or two lighter than your foundation.
But wait, do NOT go overboard (Hello, 2016 baking days!!). Throwback to when we thought packing on white triangles under the eyes was a move. Never forget, but also let’s leave it in the past. Two shades lighter is all you need for a brightening pop.
Know Your Undertone — Not Optional
Yes, I’m going there because your undertone is seriously everything when it comes to choosing that perfect concealer match. No, I don’t mean your skin tone (we covered that), but the vibe underneath.
So how do you figure out your undertones? Simple: you’re warm, cool, or neutral.
- Warm undertones have golden, yellow, or peachy hues.
- Cool undertones have more pink, red, or bluish vibes.
- Neutral undertones? You’ve got a balance of both yellow and pink, like a Gigi Hadid-level neutral.
The easiest way to check this: Look at your veins. If they’re more on the blue side? You’re cool. If they’re green-ish? You’re warm-toned. If you can’t decide because you’re kinda lookin’ both ways? Congrats, you’re probably neutral.
Once you’ve decoded your undertone, here’s a trick for finding the right concealer shades:
If you’ve got warm undertones, lean into warm concealers with peach or golden hues. If you have cool undertones, concealers with pinker or cooler tones are better for you!
Neutral babes? You can flex and wear both categories!
But What About Color-Correcting?
Oh honey, if it’s serious dark circles or redness you’re dealing with, we need to talk color-correcting for a sec.
Does anyone remember that moment not so long ago when beauty gurus everywhere were going wild with green, orange, and purple concealer (weird, right)? That’s color-correcting, and even though it seems wild, it works if you’ve got those deeper issues beyond what regular concealer can handle.
Here’s the rundown of some common color-correctors:
| Color-Corrector | When To Use It |
|---|---|
| Green | Neutralizes redness (like for acne or rosacea). |
| Yellow | Cancels out purples or dark spots, perfect for that tired-eye vibe. |
| Orange/Salmon | Counteracts under-eye darkness in tan or medium skin tones. Don’t go overboard, though! |
| Pink/Peach | Great for light or fair skin girls with under-eye blues or circles. |
If you go down this route, just remember, color-correcting needs to happen BEFORE your foundation––not after. You want every weird color to balance out, then layer your concealer on top. Technical, yes…but again, it’s worth it!
How About Formula? Liquid, Cream, or Stick?
Now that you’ve got the shades kinda settled, don’t forget the finish! I’m talking, what’s the actual formula you’re playing with: liquid, cream, or stick? Let’s spill the tea on which ones work best.
Liquid Concealer
This is the most versatile type, and it kind of works for everyone—whether you’re applying under the eyes, over blemishes, or for any highlighting.
Pros: buildable and easy to blend.
Cons: can crease if not set. Under-eye slippage? Nah. Be sure to set this baby with a powder so she stays loyal all day!
Cream Concealer
Cream concealers work best for covering specific zones––dark spots or stubborn pimples really struggle against a cream formula! They’re usually thicker, which is great for coverage.
Pros: super high coverage.
Cons: heavier, so it vibes less with dry skin areas if you don’t prep.
Stick Concealer
Stick concealers are that quick “throw it on the face and go” type, but they can be a double-edged sword. It’s amazing for portability, but sometimes it clings hard to textured or dry skin.
Pros: convenient AF.
Cons: not the best for serious blending if you’re lazy about it.
Go for liquid under the eyes and cream for problem areas. Stick concealers? Keep them as your emergency makeup stash!
Pick The Right Applicator (Brush Or Sponge)
Okay, so don’t sleep on this step: how you apply your concealer is legit as important as the shade you choose. Like, can we talk about the difference between using your fingers vs. a precision brush? Drama.
For fuller coverage, grab your concealer brush or even your fingers (gasp yes, your hands—but clean!).
For a natural blended look, BeautyBlender all the way. Always, always softly pat, not drag, to keep your product where YOU want it, not where your skin decides to send it.
Ultimately, babes, this is your face, and YOU run it—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, okay? The biggest trick to concealer is figuring out what works for YOU: your unique face, undertones, and preferences. It’s all trial and error.
Now get those concealer shades picked out like an absolute pro, and let your skin glow!
Oh, and once you’ve found your match, DM me! Let’s get radiant 💁♀️.
