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Foundation vs. Concealer – here is all you need to know
Finding your ideal foundation and concealer can be a tough task. With a wide range of formulas, finishes and benefits available it can be hard to navigate to find your individual need. We are here to guide you and to explain the difference between the individual benefits of foundation and concealers, and to give you some pro tip for application and how to find your dream formula, finish, and shade match.
What is foundation and what does it do
Foundation is a product designed to even out the complexion and enhance the skin's overall appearance. With the right formula, finish, and shade it vanishes into your complexion creating a beautiful base and canvas that allows complementing products to appear more flattering. Depending on what you prefer, the foundation can make your skin look more matt or more luminous and dewier. It is all about your skin type and preference.
How to choose the right foundation for your skin
The key to finding your most suitable match starts with understanding the coverage and finish you want. A matte foundation typically provides fuller coverage, making it a suitable choice if you're looking to even out your skin tone, conceal blemishes, or blur scars and pigmentation.
If you prefer a more natural look, opt for a radiant or luminous foundation. These tend to offer lighter coverage and allow your skin’s natural texture to shine through, creating a fresh and glowing appearance.
Finish also plays a big role in the final result: matte formulas deliver a smooth, shine-free surface that works well for oily or combination skin, while dewy finishes bring hydration and a soft glow—suitable for dry or tired-looking skin. Consider what you want your foundation to achieve: cover, balance, enhance, or brighten.
How to choose the right foundation shade
Choose your foundation shade carefully to avoid an unnatural finish. If a shade stands out too much, it's often due to the wrong undertone or because it's too light or too dark for your skin. Cool undertones have a pink or bluish hue, while warm undertones lean more yellow or golden. If you have a neutral undertone, your skin has a mix of both. Not sure about your undertone? Follow our guide here.
Start by selecting three shades that seem like a good match. Apply them as three vertical stripes along your jawline and blend slightly down onto your neck. The right shade will blend seamlessly into your skin.
How to apply foundation
Since foundation is worn over the entire face, it is important to know how to apply it. You want people to compliment your complexion – not your foundation. You can use a brush, a sponge, or your fingers. Start in the center of the face, on the apples of the cheeks, and slowly blend out.
The application technique is buffing or bouncing rather than painting. Build your coverage slowly and work the product into your skin. To ensure a natural result, do not maximize your coverage to the fullest while applying foundation since complementing products such as concealer, blush, contouring or bronzing powder also adds coverage to your skin.
What is concealer and when to use it
Concealer is a spot coverage product that enhances your complexion by covering up dark spots or pigmentation, and is not meant to be used all over the face like foundation.
Concealer can be applied with brush, fingers. The key to a natural skin-like result is to apply the concealer in thinner, lighter layers. Once applied let it set for a minute then you can tap the product into place because the warmth will help the product to melt into your skin.
Concealer vs Foundation
Concealer is designed to color-correct dark circles, pigmentation, and blemishes while foundation works to enhance the overall skin tone. They are great on their own but together they complete each other. If you choose to wear them by themselves or together, it is entirely up to you. It all depends on your desired coverage and goal end look.
Concealer or foundation – which should you apply first?
It is a matter of preference but applying foundation first often makes you use far less product while applying concealer since much of the redness and discoloration can be corrected by the foundation in the first step. However, if you experience deep darkness around your eye area, applying color corrector plus concealer is best applied first to neutralize the issue.
The little black dress of your beauty bag
So, at the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal preference of coverage, length of wear and finish. Foundation and concealer are the “little black dress” of your closet, the perfect fit can be hard to find, but once you do, it is your everyday hero that makes everything else in your beauty bag look great.