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cream concealer 101: placement tips and more

table of contents:

cream concealer 101: placement tips and more

cream concealer 101: placement tips and more

our dms have been full of questions about cream concealer like: what is a concealer? should concealer be lighter than foundation? where does concealer go? do you know how to find your concealer shade online? because we like to be your go-to travel makeup resource, we thought it was time to make a cream concealer 101 guide to answer all your burning beauty enquiries. 

keep reading to learn the ins and outs of cream concealer, including what it is, where to apply it, how to find your shade, and a comprehensive cream concealer faq filled with your questions: 

cream concealer 101: what is a concealer? 

cream concealer 101: what is a cream concealer?

are you wondering what is a concealer? cream concealer is a product commonly used to hide imperfections like blemishes, dark spots, under eye veins, sun spots, and dark circles. unlike foundation, concealer is used on specific areas, not all over your face (more on this soon). 

the key to getting your desired look with cream concealer comes down to its formula. 

subtl beauty's cream concealer is a tiktok fan fave for a reason; it’s ultra-light weight and infused with coffee seed oil – or arabica – to reduce puffiness, giving you the appearance of a full night’s rest (a true jet lag and busy mom savior). check out this video on subtl's cream concealer: 

@subtlbeauty Replying to @Dezeray Lewis we spent a LONG time working on this new formulation, using over 4 years of customer feedback to develop the perfect concealer! “Love this concealer! Great color match and texture, it didn't crease or anything all day!!! Love it for under my eyes!” -jennifer #thebestconcealer #creasefreeconcealer #cleanconcealer ♬ original sound - Subtl Beauty

shop subtl beauty’s cream concealer here. 

cream concealer 101: the history of concealer

cream concealer 101: the history of makeup

concealer has been a beauty staple for centuries, having a solidified place in the makeup compacts of ancient egyptian women. but it didn’t always look like the creamy formulas we’re familiar with today – egyptians, for example, crushed natural ingredients like ochre, mixing them with nourishing oils to mask skin imperfections, leaving a soft, even complexion behind. 

fast forward to the roaring 20s, hollywood celebrities started to popularize flawless skin on the big screen. this trend resulted in the creation of max factor’s first concealers. during the 1950s, concealer became a mainstream go-to makeup product. today, concealer has evolved into a versatile product that comes in an extremely large variety of shades, textures, and purposes. 

want to learn more about the history of makeup? click here to read our in-depth blog post.

cream concealer 101: where does concealer go?

on to the next question: where does concealer go?

pro mua kirin bhatty, whose clients include lola tung, tells vogue: “concealer is my favorite product; i’m never caught without it and goes a long way in my kit. not only can it be used in the sense of concealing imperfections, there are so many uses for this multi purpose product.”

she continues by saying: “i use it as an eyeshadow primer, a color corrector, in place of foundation, as a highlighter, and as a contour. you can also mix it into your foundation or skin tint to make it have higher coverage. with so many uses, there isn’t a wrong way to apply it. ”

let’s cover (see what we did there?) some common areas you can apply your cream concealer:

  • under your eyes: one of the most traditional places to apply cream concealer is under your eyes to hide dark circles and brighten the area. we recommend using a concealer shade 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone for a fresh, vibrant look.
  • around your nose and mouth: cream concealer can help neutralize redness or discoloration around your nose and mouth, evening out your complexion.
  • on your face’s highpoints: to highlight and enhance your unique features, apply cream concealer to the center of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, and on your chin. this adds brightness and dimension.
  • above and below your brows: for a lifted, defined look, you can also apply cream concealer above and below your eyebrows to clean up any edges for a sharp finish.
  • on imperfections: using a cream concealer that matches your foundation, apply the pigment on any blemishes, acne scars, or redness for coverage. subtl beauty kiera says to pat it in with your fingers, never dragging:
@subtlbeauty This concealer application changed the game for me! #concealertips #howtoapplycreamconcealer #subtlstack #stackablemakeup #mommakeuproutine ♬ original sound - Subtl Beauty

cream concealer 101: how to find your concealer shade

cream concealer 101: take the subtl beauty quiz to find your perfect concealer match

wondering how to find your concealer shade? the best way is by using our beauty quiz. all you have to do is answer a few questions about your skin type, skin tone, and makeup preferences, and we’ll provide the perfect stackable makeup cream concealer shade recs.

here are some tips to consider when choosing your cream concealer shade:

  • figure out what you’re using cream concealer for: if you’re using concealer for blemishes or redness, go for a shade that matches your skin tone. when brightening areas like your under-eye, opt for cream concealers 1-2 shades lighter than usual. 
  • know your undertone: if your veins have a green appearance to them, you may have warm undertones, meaning yellow or peachy cream concealers would work great for you. if your veins are more blue or purple, you could have cool undertones, meaning a pink or red-based cream concealer is ideal. those with neutral undertones can pick either. still not sure about your undertone? take this quick undertone test to find out.
  • swatch, test, and go: to test your cream concealer shade, swatch it on your jawline, blending to see if it matches your skin. make sure to double check in natural light!

click here for our beauty quiz to help you find the perfect cream concealer shade.

cream concealer 101: subtl beauty concealer resources

cream concealer 101: click here to explore our bite sized beauty blog for cream concealer resources and much more

have you explored our bite-sized blog? not only do we keep it updated with makeup tutorials, but it’s also filled with articles providing useful travel tips, vacation destination ideas, info on brand formulas, and more. check out these cream concealer resources from our blog:

cream concealer 101: subtl beauty reviews

cream concealer 101: kayla p's glowing five-star review of subtl beauty

are you a subtl fan who has tried our cream concealer? if so – we’d love to hear from you; we value reviews as they help us evolve our products to fit the lifestyles of travel-loving people.

new and looking for some word of mouth? check out these 5-star subtl beauty reviews: 

  • “matches my tone perfectly, using the shade matching tool on their website. super handy and incredibly accurate! lightweight, buildable, and can double as a foundation or pair with your personal favs. up to you!” - bea
  • “i love that i can use this concealer to brighten my under eyes, cover some pesky blemishes, or use it as an overall foundation if i need to. it’s so versatile!” - kat
  • “the best cream concealer i have ever used! i also love to use it a foundation. great coverage and matches my skin tone perfectly! i also love how lightweight and spreadable it is and that it does not settle into fine lines.” - caelin

below is the story of subtl beauty from our founder, rachel reid:

@subtlbeauty Our Story #storytime #storytimemakeup #simplemakeup #convenientmakeup #quickmakeuptutorial #getreadywithme #grwm #5minmakeup #MakeupRoutine #momtok #easymakeup #easymakeuproutine #creammakeuphack #convenient #womanownedbusiness #womanownedbusinesscheck ♬ GASLIGHT - INJI

cream concealer 101: faq

cream concealer 101: FAQ

what is a concealer? what’s it used for?
cream concealer is designed to cover blemishes, under eye veins, sun spots, dark circles, redness, and other skin imperfections; it’s more targeted than foundation. concealer can also be used to highlight certain areas of your face like under your eyes.

should concealer be lighter than foundation?
yes! here’s a little cheat sheet: if you're using cream concealer for brightening or under-eye coverage, choose a concealer that’s 1-2 shades lighter than your foundation. when applying it for blemishes or redness, it’s best to match your cream concealer to the foundation you plan to use.

where does cream concealer go?

cream concealer is usually applied under your eyes to brighten, on blemishes to cover imperfections, around your nose to reduce redness, and on any high points.

how do I find my perfect concealer shade?
use subt beauty’s comprehensive and fast beauty quiz. 

can I use concealer without foundation?
absolutely! you can use cream concealer alone to spot-treat areas or for a minimalist makeup look. don’t forget to blend well with your travel makeup brushes for a natural, seamless finish. 

what’s the difference between cream concealer and liquid concealer?
cream concealers tend to have a thicker, more buildable consistency, making them great for any kind of coverage. liquid concealers are usually lightweight and a perfect match for oily skin.

however, subtl beauty’s cream concealer is the best of both worlds: lightweight and buildable. 

can I apply concealer with my fingers?
100%! using your fingers helps warm up the product, making it easier to blend into your skin. you can also use a subtl travel makeup brush or applicator for a more precise, less-mess finish.

how do I prevent my concealer from creasing?
try prepping your skin with a moisturizer and primer. for an ultra-bright, hydrated base, use a vitamin c serum in tandem with a gua sha. next, apply your cream concealer in thin layers, setting it with a light dusting of translucent shine control pressed powder to minimize creasing throughout the day.

want to learn more? check out this blog on how to reduce creasing. 

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