Concealer, as the name suggests, is used to conceal facial imperfections and hide blemishes, under-eye circles, spider veins, dark spots, pimples, scars and birth marks and give us the look of flawless skin. Denser than foundation, concealer comes as sticks, cream and tubes and cab also be used to cover ruddy areas and freckles on the face. Since concealer is mostly used to cover up the darker spots on the face, generally one shade lighter than the foundation is chosen for the concealer though sometimes, people also use concealers that are two shades lighter than the foundation. Concealer, which is much lighter than foundation, or a mismatched concealer may result in over-emphasizing a spot rather than covering it up. For people with dry skin and need to camouflage larger areas such as under-eye circles, liquid concealer is the best foundation while solid concealer is better to hide definite areas such as pimples, scars and bruises.

Cream to powder foundation can also serve as a concealer than blends easily with the skin. For the perfect skin look, gently pat the concealer on with fingertips and be sure to cover entire under-eye area and outside area of the eyes as it often ends up red and dry after a long day. If you are using liquid or solid foundation, you should use foundation first and then the concealer but if you are using a cream-to-powder foundation, use concealer first and then the foundation. A concealer type may also depend on the area you want to cover. Drier concealer is better for covering up the face in general but for more delicate areas such as under-eye area, a creamier concealer is much better.

Concealers with white, green or pink base most often do not match with the skin tones and the foundation of a person, leaving the imperfections highlighted rather than covered, so be sure to buy a yellow-based concealer to match your foundation.