How to Pick the Right Shade of Concealer for Your Skin Tone

Good makeup relies heavily on whether or not it matches your skin tone. This goes for all elements of your makeup—from your foundation and lipstick to concealer.

Now, there are a lot of options when it comes to concealer shades, and for Filipinas, it can be quite challenging to find the right one. Thankfully, there are ways on how to choose a concealer shade that’s perfect for you.

This article will provide tips on how to pick the concealer shade for your skin tone.

How to Find the Right Shade of Concealer

Here’s a five-step guide on how to find your concealer shade:

1. Identify the area you want to conceal

The first step in choosing the right shade of concealer is knowing the area you want to neutralize. Then, based on the color of the target area, pick a concealer with a base that’s complementary or opposite to it on the color wheel. For example, in the case of dark circles, since they’re generally purplish or bluish, you’d want to brighten the area with a yellow or orange-based concealer.

Under the color theory, two colors across from each other on the color spectrum are opposites; they cancel each other out when used for color correction—orange is the opposite of blue, yellow is the opposite of purple, and red is the opposite of green.

So, for blemishes and pimples, the Maybelline SuperStay Concealer should do wonders for your skin. With a full coverage yet lightweight formula, it can create a more seamless transition into your face’s general skin tone.

2. Know your skin tone and undertone

Skin tone refers to the color of your skin’s surface. It can be categorized as either fair, light, medium, or dark. Meanwhile, the undertone is the subtle hue underneath your skin’s surface, and it can either be cool (pink, reddish, or bluish hue), warm (peach, golden, or yellow hue), or neutral (mix of yellow and blue hues). Getting both right is essential for a seamless blend.

As a general rule, you should choose a concealer half a shade lighter than your foundation, especially for your under-eye when you want to look bright and awake. In particular, if you have a light to medium skin tone, a yellow-based concealer would make the perfect fit. Meanwhile, if you have a medium to dark skin tone, a concealer with a red or orange undertone can get the job done.

In terms of undertone, concealers that come in cocoa, rose, porcelain, and sable colors blend best with a cool undertone. On the other hand, a warm undertone matches best with beige, chestnut, golden, caramel, and tan-based concealers.

Lastly, nude-based concealers, such as the Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer, are perfect for everyday use with various shades fit for every Filipina. The Fit Me! Concealer can provide you with a full and even coverage that is also non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, fragrance-free.

3. Make sure to color correct

If you want to erase fine lines and dark circles, the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer provides instant coverage. The Instant Age Rewind Concealer is a treatment concealer to make your eyes appear radiant and your skin looking smooth and flawless.

Opposite pairings or complementary colors on the color wheel cancel each other out, and the effect gives your face a toned and flawless appearance. Generally, a pink or peach corrector works great for neutralizing purple, blue, or red marks, while a golden or yellow corrector is ideal for canceling out the olive, sallow, and brown areas on the face.

4. In general, choose the same shade as your skin tone

When choosing a concealer for your face, the general rule is to pick one with the same shade as your skin tone. However, for the under-eye area, go for a concealer that’s one or two shades lighter than the one for your face. If you want to find a particular match, try swiping a few different shades along your jawline and then see which one best blends into your skin.

5. Swatch the concealer under natural light

If you’ve ever bought a concealer that ended up not matching your skin, you could blame bad lighting for it, or it could also be that your foundation is too light or too dark. In either case, the combination creates an unnatural appearance.  

That’s why it’s highly recommended that you swatch a concealer under natural light, as artificial lighting can yield the wrong shade. Head outside and look at your jawline in a hand-held mirror or go near a window so you can accurately evaluate how the concealer blends into your skin.

3 Reasons Why You Need to Match Your Concealer with Your Skin Tone

Choosing the right concealer shade is key to getting the best results for your makeup. Here are some other benefits for matching your concealer to your skin tone:

1. Look fresh (or tired)

Depending on the shade you’re using, your concealer can make you appear fresh or exhausted. By picking the right color, your concealer can work its magic and refresh your tired-looking eyes. It can also lighten dark areas of your face, making you look more awake and glowing.

2. Correctly hide blemishes and dark spots

When your concealer perfectly matches your skin tone, it can effectively cover blemishes, scars, and dark spots. It can also disguise puffiness and pigmentation, giving you a flawless look. Moreover, when done right, it can work wonders and highlight your cheekbones and blur your fine lines.

3. Achieve smooth skin and consistent tone

When concealer is applied after a foundation, it provides additional coverage for an even skin tone. It also helps smoothen skin texture while hiding the discoloration in the dark areas on the face. And when used as an eyeshadow primer, it creates a soft palette for application.

The best-selling Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer is best paired with the Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation for natural coverage and seamless finish.

A Must-Have Formula in Your Makeup Arsenal

From brightening dark circles and blurring fine lines to covering pimples, concealer is the holy grail of masking skin concerns, making it one of the most versatile makeup products. But to get the best results, it’s important to choose the shade that matches your skin tone. To do this, make sure to swatch the concealer under natural light so you can accurately assess if a shade best blends into your skin.

Thinking if you can find the right shade of concealer for your skin tone? Try out our Maybelline Virtual Try-on tool for an interactive experience! See how the Maybelline products will look on you and you are one step closer to finding that perfect concealer shade.

Make someone’s day by sharing this article with your friends and family on social media!

Ready to pick out a concealer? Visit our Maybelline New York official stores on Shopee and Lazada and enjoy the perks and benefits just for you!