Makeup By Chele Tutorial

How to Apply Concealer – Easy Beginner Makeup Guide

How to apply concealer is one of the most helpful makeup skills to learn after foundation, because concealer can brighten, correct, and polish the areas that need a little extra help. When concealer is placed well, the whole face can look fresher without needing heavy foundation everywhere.

If you are learning how to apply concealer as a beginner, the most important thing to remember is that less product usually looks better. Concealer is not meant to be smeared all over the face. It works best when it is placed only where you need brightness, coverage, or correction.

This guide will show you how to apply concealer under the eyes, around the nose, on redness, and over small spots without making the makeup look thick or dry. It is part of the full Makeup Tutorials series.

Read the Steps Next: Blush

How to Apply Concealer for Beginners

Learning how to apply concealer begins with understanding what concealer is supposed to do. Foundation creates the base, but concealer gives extra support in smaller areas. It can brighten under the eyes, soften darkness, cover redness, and help certain spots look less noticeable.

The biggest beginner mistake is applying too much concealer in a large triangle under the eyes or spreading it across the whole face like foundation. That can make the under-eye area look heavy, creased, or dry. A small amount placed carefully usually looks smoother and more natural.

Once you understand how to apply concealer in thin layers, it becomes easier to get a polished finish without making your makeup look cakey. The goal is not to erase your face. The goal is to brighten and correct only where needed.

How to Apply Concealer Step by Step

The easiest way to learn how to apply concealer is to place a little product, blend gently, and add more only if you truly need it. Concealer can be powerful, so small controlled placement matters more than using a lot.

1. Apply Foundation First

Most of the time, foundation should go on before concealer. Foundation evens out the skin first, so you can see where you still need extra brightness or coverage.

2. Use a Small Amount

Start with less concealer than you think you need. Dot a tiny amount under the eyes, around the nose, or on small areas of redness. You can always add more later.

3. Place It Where You Need It

Under the eyes, place concealer near the inner corner and outer corner instead of covering the entire under-eye area with a heavy layer. This helps lift and brighten without too much product.

4. Let It Sit for a Moment

Letting concealer sit for a few seconds can give more coverage before blending. Do not let it dry completely, but giving it a short moment can help it cover better.

5. Blend Gently

Use a damp sponge, brush, or fingertip to tap the concealer into the skin. Avoid wiping it back and forth too much, because that can move the product away from where you placed it.

6. Blend the Edges

The center of the concealer should stay where you need coverage, but the edges need to disappear into the foundation. Soft edges keep concealer from looking obvious.

7. Add More Only If Needed

If you still need more coverage, add a tiny second layer only in that spot. Do not cover the whole area again unless it truly needs it.

8. Set Lightly

If your concealer creases, set it lightly with powder. Use the smallest amount possible, especially under the eyes, so the skin does not look dry or textured.

Chele’s pro tip: concealer usually looks better when you tap it in instead of dragging it. Pressing and tapping keeps coverage where you placed it and helps the edges blend more softly.

How to Apply Concealer Under the Eyes

Under-eye concealer is where many beginners struggle the most. When learning how to apply concealer under the eyes, remember that the skin there is thinner and can show texture faster. Too much product can crease, settle, or make the area look older instead of brighter.

For a lifted look, place a small dot of concealer near the inner corner where darkness is strongest, then a small amount near the outer corner to lift the eye area. Blend with light tapping motions and avoid pulling on the skin.

Use less concealer than you think you need.
Focus on the darkest areas first.
Blend with tapping motions, not dragging motions.
Set with a tiny amount of powder only if needed.
Avoid heavy layers directly under fine lines.

If your under-eyes are dry, try using less powder or skipping powder in the driest areas. Sometimes creasing happens because the skin needs less product, not more.

How to Apply Concealer on Redness or Spots

When using concealer on redness, blemishes, or small spots, the placement is different from the under-eye area. The goal is to cover only the spot, then softly blend the edges so the coverage stays in place.

A helpful trick is to use a small brush for spot concealing. Place the concealer directly on the area, let it sit for a few seconds, then tap around the edges. Try not to blend away the center coverage too much.

This is another reason how to apply concealer matters so much. The same product can look natural or heavy depending on where you place it and how much you blend.

For Redness

Use a small amount of concealer only where redness still shows after foundation. Blend the edges into the foundation so the correction looks seamless.

For Blemishes

Use a tiny brush or fingertip to place concealer directly on the blemish. Tap the edges, but avoid wiping the center away.

Concealer Mistakes to Avoid

A big part of learning how to apply concealer is knowing what not to do. Concealer can make makeup look fresh and bright, but it can also make makeup look thick if too much is used in the wrong places.

Using Too Much Under the Eyes

Heavy concealer under the eyes can crease and settle. Start with a small amount and add more only where the darkness actually shows.

Choosing a Shade Too Light

A concealer that is too light can make the under-eye area look gray, harsh, or obvious. Brightening is good, but it still needs to blend with your skin.

Dragging Instead of Tapping

Dragging concealer can move the product away from the area you want to cover. Tap gently to keep the coverage in place.

Using Too Much Powder

Powder can help concealer stay, but too much can make the under-eye area look dry. Use a tiny amount only where you need it.

What Comes After Concealer?

After you learn how to apply concealer, the next step is bringing color and shape back to the face. Foundation and concealer can make the skin look even, but blush, bronzer, and highlighter make the face look alive again.

Next, go to how to apply blush. Then you can move into how to apply bronzer, how to apply highlighter, how to apply eyeshadow, how to fill in brows, and how to apply lip liner.

If you need to go back one step, visit how to apply foundation. If you want the full routine, go to the full beat makeup tutorial or return to the main makeup tutorials hub.

For general cosmetic safety and hygiene, you can also review the FDA cosmetics safety page. Clean tools and fresh products are especially important around the eye area.

How to Apply Concealer FAQ

Should concealer go before or after foundation?

Most of the time, concealer goes after foundation. Foundation evens the skin first, then concealer can be used only where extra brightness or coverage is needed.

How do I stop concealer from creasing?

Use less product, blend gently, and set lightly only where needed. Too much concealer or too much powder can both make creasing look worse.

Can I use concealer without foundation?

Yes. You can use concealer by itself on redness, under-eye darkness, or small spots. Just blend the edges well so it melts into the skin.

Once you know how to apply concealer in small, blended layers, your makeup can look brighter and smoother without needing heavy coverage everywhere.

Want to keep learning? Go back to the main tutorial library and choose the next makeup step. This how to apply concealer guide is one step in the full beginner makeup tutorial series.

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