Concealer is a game changer in makeup. Nothing brightens eyes, covers spots, and evens discoloration like it. But there are some rules to applying concealer that are a must to getting this step right.

Makeup is personal. We all like what we like and choose items to suit our skin tone, eye color, and so on. Concealer is not different and it is super important to choose the right product for you. It is also essential to know how to use this product in order to avoid those crazy reverse raccoon eyes or too-dark stripes.

So how do you go about choosing the perfect concealer shade? Follow these tips for ID-ing the right color for you and applying concealer like a pro.

7 Hard and Fast Rules of Applying Concealer and Choosing the Perfect Shade

1 Choosing Color: Like foundation, nothing wrecks a good concealer game like using the wrong shade. With foundation we go for the tone closest to our natural skin color. When picking out concealer go a half shade to one whole shade lighter.

2 Choosing Consistency: Yes, there are several different concealer formulas. You have pencil, stick, cream, and even a gel-like lotion. Lotions go on sheer and are good for oilier skin types or those with mild discoloration. A cream or stick is thicker but moisturizing, good for dry skin and covering areas on the face, such as around the nose. Green beauty creator and makeup artist, Rose-Marie Swift, even recommends using her cream concealer as a light foundation. Pencil is the thickest and also tends to be on the drier side. This one is great for covering dark under eye circles and blemishes.

3 First Step: Concealer should be the first step in your makeup routine, right after moisturizer and facial treatments. Applying concealer on top of foundation will look funky.

4 Light Touch: Concealer is not supposed to show. Taking a light touch with this step will offer best results.

5 Be gentle: When covering under eye circles and other areas of discoloration, apply concealer and gently dab with your ring finger. This presses the product into skin rather than smearing it around.

6 Spot-less: When hiding blemishes you are aiming to minimize redness, not make the sucker disappear. A zit caked with concealer looks just as bad as the pimple itself, if not worse. Dot on concealer and blend with a small makeup brush until the area is less red. A concealer with a bit of acne treatment will help to treat the blemish too.

7 Next steps: Follow up with your usual foundation and don’t forget a dusting of facial powder. Dry-skinned gals may normally avoid powder, but applying a light layer to only areas where concealer has been applied will help the product to stay put and takes away any shine.

Best Stick Concealer

Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer

Best Lotion Concealer

Ilia Beauty Vivid Concealer

Best Cream Concealer

RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Makeup brushes image via Shutterstock

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We’ve all been there. A blemish crops up at the least convenient moment. Learn how to cover up a pimple fast and love your skin.

To cover or not to cover? That’s the big question. Sometimes trying to hide a blemish only seems to draw attention to the problem. But a big, red spot isn’t an appealing option either.

Relax. A few tips and the right products, that mark will be a distant memory and you can get to your date, meeting, or rendezvous completely spotless. (And looking better than these models and movie stars with too-thick makeup.)

How to Cover Up a Pimple in 4 Quick Steps

1.  First step, assess the damage. You’ve been told repeatedly Not. To. Pick. True, this often does more harm than good. But there are times when a zit just has to go. Whether you are dealing with a swollen red mark or damage due to popping, toning down swelling and redness is the first step in the prep. Hold an ice cube on the spot for several seconds to calm the area down.

2.  Before you go covering with makeup, think treatment. Applying a thick coating of concealer not only looks bad, it doesn’t help the spot to heal. Use a BB Cream with skin clearing ingredients. Vapour Organics Beauty Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector brightens skin, makes the spot less noticeable, and helps makeup to stay put. It also contains elemi oil to get rid of the pimple fast. If you use a BB Cream that does not contain pimple healing ingredients, use a touch of acne treatment (Amala Purifying Blemish Treatment works great) before applying the cream.

3.  Next up, the concealer. Oily skin does best with a less moisturizing product. Benecos Natural Concealer contains talc to absorb excess oil while it camouflages. Flaky spots are another story. Before applying Step 2, very gently massage the area with a soft washcloth to remove dry skin buildup. Then opt for a more emollient concealer, like RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up. When applying this step, a little dab will do you. The BB Cream has created a nice base so you don’t need as much product.

4.  Finally, a dusting of powder helps to further hide the pimple, decreases any shine, and refines the look of skin. RMS Beauty Un Powder is absolutely translucent, very light, and disappears into skin while creating a perfect finish. It is also the softest powder you will ever use. Dust lightly onto skin and swipe over the area with a clean makeup brush to remove excess.

This zit concealing process should last. If you see any shine or redness return, another dab of powder should do the trick. Now, remember to wash your face before going to bed.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman taking selfie with friends via Shutterstock

The post How to Cover Up a Pimple in 4 Quick Steps (and Get On With Your Life!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

So you have some issues with your skin. Who doesn’t? If you have tanned, scrubbed, stripped, and slathered, and still aren’t loving what you see in the mirror … may be time to embrace your face.

We all have things we don’t like about our skin. Too pink, too dark, too pale, too irritated, too many zits. Rather than nit picking (and actual picking) try getting behind the skin you were given and giving it what it needs.

Choose Products for Your Skin Type

Use products right for you, not your sister, best friend, favorite aunt, or pop star in the latest issue of Glamour Magazine. Your skincare is about YOU. Your skin. It is as personal as your diet. Identify your skin type and issues, and look for products geared toward them. Your skin, and attitude about it, will benefit.

Conceal the Right Way

Are you covering dark spots, discoloration, and blemishes with a thick layer of concealer and foundation? Well, stop! It is not good for skin and, really, looks worse than a lighter touch. Be sure you are using the right color concealer or foundation for your skin tone. This will help a lot in coverage and provides a more natural look. Concealer should be one shade lighter than your natural skin tone. Follow Spirit Beauty Lounge’s Color Guide to figure out which shade is best for your skin. Foundation can be tricky, yes. SBL offers a super useful Color Guide for foundation too, with several product options for each tone.

Own Your Skin Tone

We know tanning, whether in the sun or a tanning bed, causes skin to age prematurely and can even lead to skin cancer. Not cool. Self tanners are a safer way to get a bronzed look. But what about learning to love your paleness? Since my preteens I have tanned my fair skin every summer. I still love a great tan, but now I end up with more spots and freckles each year. Plus, I can tell it has aged my skin and am now envious of women with the creamy, even complexion. Protect your skin while you have it. Promise you won’t be sorry!

Get to the Root of the Problem

So you may be able to learn to love your pale skin. But what about acne or rosacea? Who is going to learn to love those? Try listening to what your skin is telling you. Unhappy skin is unhappy for a reason. Acne may be hormonal or because of an allergy or inner imbalance. It can even be something as simple as a hair product coming in contact with the skin or a dirty pillowcase. Deal with breakouts the gentlest way possible. Use products made with natural antibacterial ingredients that balance, not strip, the skin. Zero in on what causes your rosacea to flare up and steer clear of those things. There are even skincare products designed to treat rosacea and irritable skin conditions.

Hopefully these tips will help you learn to embrace your face. As with most things in life, being you is always the best choice.

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Image of woman with hand on face via Shutterstock

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It’s one of the most important yet intimidating tools in your makeup bag. How best to master the art of foundation?

For many of us, foundation is our siren. We love how we feel when we’re with it, but one false move and we’re suddenly  crashed up on the rocks. A bad foundation application can mean oranges for cheeks and a pancaked jawline that looks drawn in by Google Maps. What’s more, our base can settle in fine lines, highlighted so significantly as to be seen from space. And yet, when best applied, foundation grants us a flawless, irresistible skin tone.

So what are some fun, fast tips for applying foundation? And what are the best products to use?

Felicia Howe, Co-Owner and Stylist, Primrose Organics Salon

I asked an expert. Felicia Howe is the co-owner of Primrose Organics Salon, located in Hollywood, California. She’s worked as a hair and makeup artist for film, weddings, and editorial for more than 16 years, all the while operating as a pioneer in the organic and non-toxic salon movement.

It was Howe’s lengthy time in the beauty industry that first led her to natural products. After noticing the negative health effects of working in traditional beauty, she decided to research the growing trends in organic and non-toxic care. Today, she’s one of the foremost organic colorists in Los Angeles.

Recently, the makeup and hair guru shared with EcoSalon her best foundation tips.

EcoSalon: There seems to be a ton of great organic and non-toxic foundations on the market today. But between the primers, concealers, shimmers and liquids, it can be confusing as to what to use. What are the foundations that you include in your makeup kit?

Howe: My favorite foundation line comes from Jane Iredale. Hands down.

ES: I love Jane Iredale!

Howe: Me too. I have personally used her products for eight years. She offers up a natural look that’s free of dyes, talc, parabens, synthetic preservatives and other very bad things. I just restocked my entire makeup kit around her line.

ES: So what is your process for applying foundation and what are the products involved?

Howe: I always start with an organic moisturizer. In Los Angeles, this is especially important since we live in a dry desert. Then I use Jane Iredale’s Dream Tints. This vegan product is a very light primer that helps reduce fine lines while leaving a nice smooth finish.

For foundation, either pressed or liquid works great. I have found that it’s personal preference, and that either will perform well. Jane Iredale offers a liquid minerals foundation. Next, I apply concealer under eyes and anywhere else as needed.

ES: Speaking of under eyes—how best to avoid emphasizing fine lines and wrinkles when applying foundation?

Howe: That comes when you apply your final product, which is your base. Just make sure you avoid your eye area. This will eliminate creasing and give you the smooth look you want.

ES: Are there any other final tips you’d like to share on achieving that flawless, natural look?

Howe: Yes! Always use blotting papers after using creams and primers before apply your base. This will help you avoid that cakey look. I also finish with a balancing mist from Jane Iredale. This will set your foundation with a soft finish.

Photos courtesy of Felicia Howe and Jane Iredale.

photo credit: Idhren via photopin cc

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