#theSOproject Concealer

Concealer, how I love thee!  Basically a thicker, more pigmented version of foundation that covers all manner of skin imperfections; mainly spots and dark circles but also red patches, rosacea, broken veins, sallow complexions - the list goes on!  Concealer is usually a thick liquid or paste and can come in pots, tubs, palettes, sticks and brush-tipped tubes.  It comes in a range of colours to combat different issues but I just stick to skin tones.

TOP TIPS
1.  Avoid applying directly to spots or pimples with an applicator as this can harbour bacteria and make your spots worse.
Use a clean finger, cotton bud or fresh brush instead.

2.  Choose your colour carefully.  Aim for as close to your natural skin tone as possible to hide blemishes and a shade lighter for dark circles.  Ask at a counter for a match or use a tester on your jaw line then check the shade in natural light.

3.  To hide blemishes effectively, apply the concealer to the area then blend it out with a brush.  The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (£9.99) works wonders for this.  I usually apply extra to the spot after this to ensure full coverage.

TOP PRODUCTS
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19
I'm sure this concealer will be on just about every blogger's post - it is fab and very popular!  With strong pigmentation, long lasting power and a snip at less than £5, it is a great choice.  I have medium 3 for blemishes and light 2 for under-eye darkness.  The only problem I have with this is that the black writing on the packaging smudges off so it looks cheap and I end up with black streaks everywhere, yuck!



After a few uses:


Witch Concealer £4.99
This concealer is fab to cover pimples as the anti-bacterial witch hazel combats them at the same time.  It is less pigmented than the Collection one, so I sometimes double up on particularly stubborn spots.  I need to repurchase this which is why I borrowed the photo from Boots.com!  

YSL Touche Eclat £25
The original and best under-eye highlighting concealer pen, this brightens and perks up the eye area.  It can be used to highlight the cupid's bow, cheek bones and brow bone too.


Garnier BB Eye Roll-on £6.66
I have the old style version of this (which seems to be the same, just not called BB!) and it is lovely for rolling on to make your eyes feel refreshed and tightened whilst providing cover at the same time.

What is your favourite concealer?

If you have written a concealer post, leave your link - I would love to check it out!