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There are so many concealers out there, and many makeup wearers have strong opinions about them. We get it – concealer is an important part of a makeup routine. Get it right and you might just look airbrushed. But the wrong concealer for your skin can also leave you looking oily or patchy. So here, we’re diving into the benefits of three of the most popular types of concealers: liquid, stick, and cream concealers.
Liquid concealer is by far the most popular (you’ve probably seen the “doe foot” applicator more than once), but each has its benefits and uses. Explore them below.
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Liquid Concealer
Again, this is the most popular style of concealer for a reason, so if it’s the only one you’re really familiar with, that’s okay! It usually comes in a small, skinny tube with a wand applicator, and that “doe’s foot” is the soft foam or material that soaks up the concealer. As the concealer game has expanded, these tubes now come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes even bejeweled or otherwise gussied up. Brand aesthetics can be half the fun when it comes to makeup shopping, just don’t forget your must-haves and actual wants and needs when you’re shopping.
Benefits
- Suitable for all skin types: Why is this one so popular? Because it works with pretty much any skin type, from normal to oily, dry, and combination. As long as there aren’t irritating additives, it works pretty well for sensitive skin, and the versatile formulation of a liquid concealer means it also blends well for mature skin.
- Buildable: Another wonderful thing about working with liquid concealers is you can control how much coverage you’re getting. Since it’s a liquid and not a cream or a solid, it’s easy to go for a thinner application to give a sheer appearance. This lets you lightly cover blemishes, or build fuller coverage slowly without that cake-y look that cream makeup can easily have.
- Has many finishes: When skin type does come into play, another benefit of liquid concealer is the ability to choose what style of finish works best for you. Whether you prefer dewy, matte, or satin, the range of options helps you customize a formula that works best for your own skin and preferences.
Best For
Liquid concealer is a game changer if you have deep, dark circles or a sensitive and puffy under eye area. It’s always best to apply some eye cream or moisturizer to the affected area first, then blend on the liquid concealer with your fingers (my preference), a sponge, or the applicator itself to build a breathable, effective layer of coverage. If your pain point is acne, redness, and other discoloration or blemishes, then liquid concealer will probably be your best option. It’s easy to dot onto small, specific areas and tends to blend into the uneven texture of pimples more easily than other types. And again, a layering technique can work wonders to neutralize redness or discoloration.
How to Color Match Liquid Concealer
Color matching can seem like it’s an arduous, confusing process, but if you break it down into steps the whole thing is pretty painless. Determine your skin type, your overall tonne and primary undertones to help get a feel of exactly where you fall on the color wheel. Are you cool or warm? Dark or light? Do you have red, peachy, yellow, or blueish green undertones? From there, figure out what you're trying to cover, whether it’s your dark circles, blemishes and pigmentation or uneven texture.
Pro-tip: When you’re going for color correction, the trick is to actually choose an undertone that’s on the other side of the color wheel from your blemish.
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Stick Concealer
Stick concealer is a little bit more of a niche product, but can still be a great weapon to have in your beauty arsenal if you have particularly dry skin or want easy and precise application to a specific area of concern. These are solid formulas that can be blended into the skin with a sponge or your fingertips, but don’t have as much flexibility as a liquid concealer. However, they’re great for traveling and taking with you to the beach or the pool, since the stick format makes them easy to apply and less messy.
Benefits
- Good for dry skin types: If you have very dry skin, then stick concealers are going to be a godsend for you. They don’t latch onto the flaky areas in the same way liquid concealers can, and they are frequently available in satin finishes, which makes them a bit more hydrating.
- Full coverage: If you want a thick and heavy layer of makeup, that’s also a good time to go for a stick concealer. They typically offer very full coverage, an ideal format for those with particularly dark under eye circles or discoloration. Swipe some on for an immediate coverage boost with just a hint of moisture. If you’re clever enough, you can also work a good stick concealer into your contour routine.
Best For
The main way to use a stick concealer is going to be spot concealing. Dab it on the offending area and blend outward for a nice, thick level of coverage. This is also the technique you’ll want to use for dark circles and any other blemishes or discolorations. Make sure the skin is clean and dry, but preferably prepared with some sort of moisturizer, then swipe the stick concealer on and blend.
How to Color Match Stick Concealer
The process isn’t so different from color matching with a liquid concealer, just be sure to check your overall skin tone, undertone, and any specialization within the brand when it comes to the area where you want coverage. There are some brands, like Bobbi Brown, who offer a more general stick concealer that isn’t as focused on an exact match. This can be particularly helpful if you’re trying to cover up any redness or warm-toned discoloration—in that case, working with a slightly cooler undertone can be nice, or you can even apply your concealer over a color-correcting primer.
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Cream Concealer
Want to split the difference between liquid concealer and a stick formula? Then cream concealer is your answer, as it is literally the best of both worlds. Another product that’s great if you travel a lot, these generally come in a compact size, like a little pot, and are great for precise spot treatment. Again, you can feel free to use a brush, a sponge, or your own finger. A lot of makeup artists I know swear that the warmth from your finger is better for blending than a sponge, but wanting a little separation or to avoid the messiness makes sense too. It’s a personal thing.
Benefits
- Gives medium to full coverage: When you’re looking for Goldilocks coverage that’s not too thick and not too thin, cream concealers are right there. Like liquid concealers, cream can be applied in layers for buildable coverage. And unlike stick concealers, they don’t go on super thick right away.
- Camouflages discoloration: Cream is slightly thicker and more comprehensive than a liquid concealer, so if you do have discoloration that you want to cancel out, they tend to be a little better at achieving that effect.
Best For
Like stick concealer, cream can be great for targeting a very specific spot. These concealers are probably also the best choice for discoloration, because they can blend down better than stick formulas but are heavier than liquid, which might take several layers for covering up large swathes of skin.
How to Color Match Cream Concealer
Cream concealers are all about spot-concealing, so try to specifically match the opposite of the undertone you’re trying to cover. Remember, color match also means getting a shade that will counteract your blemishes, not match them. So if you’re working on covering up a hyperpigmentation spot that veers toward purple or blue, look for a formula that adds some golden or peachy tones. That, plus a similarity to your go-to foundation shade is going to work wonders. If you’re covering redness, a green formulation like Dr. Jarts will work well, and so on.
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