How to Choose the Right Concealer Shade for Your Skin Tone

Reviewed by Ashley Rebecca

It can be a challenge to find complexion products that match your skin—it's true for foundation, and it's just as true for concealer shades. Growing amounts of brands, shades, and formulas available are a good thing, but if you are unsure what exactly fits your particular needs, finding the right match can take a lot of trial and error.

Whether it's because you misread your undertones or didn't take into account what you'd be using the concealer for, it's easy to end up with an almost-perfect bottle that's just not strong enough to join your makeup roster. There are numerous factors to consider before you even shop that'll guarantee you're picking a shade that fully matches your face and needs. If you're not sure where to start, fear not—ahead, pro makeup artists Katie Mellinger, Neil Scibelli, and Tobi Henney offer their top tips on how to color-match concealer for dark circles, hyperpigmentation, acne, and beyond.

Meet The Experts

• Katie Mellinger is a bi-coastal celebrity and editorial makeup artist. Her clients include Amy Poehler, Emma Watson, and Naomi Watts.

• Neil Scibelli is a New York-based editorial and celebrity makeup artist. He received his training under brands like Kevyn Aucoin and Laura Mercier.

• Tobi Henney is a bi-coastal makeup artist from Sydney, where she was previously the L'Oréal Paris Makeup Director for Australia.

How to Choose a Concealer Shade

When you're color-matching concealer, you'll want to think about what you're trying to conceal—both shade and undertone are important factors to optimally cover pimples, dark circles, and more. "People often make the mistake of using the same concealer that they might cover a pimple with to cover their dark circles, and this doesn’t usually work," Mellinger tells us.

For Under-Eyes

When choosing a concealer for the under-eye area, Mellinger suggests using a formula with a peach or orange undertone in your eye area to help with color correction. "For under the eyes, I always recommend something with a peach undertone (for lighter skin) or an orange undertone (for darker skin) to cover," she says. "The orange in the concealer will cancel out the blue in the dark circles, making a more seamless transition into [your] general skin tone." Fenty Beauty's Bright Fix Eye Brightener Concealer ($28) has 16 shades designed specifically for your under-eyes. Henney adds that she "Always uses a shade lighter than [the] skin tone to really brighten that area and give that awake feel to the eyes."

For Blemishes and Dark Spots

Looking to conceal your blemishes? Scibelli says to mix in a bit of green—which sits across from red on the color wheel—to counteract the redness associated with your pimples. "I would suggest color-correcting with a green-based primer or concealer first, then applying your complexion color concealer over it," he explains. "Green really counteracts redness and is great for target areas on the skin." Try this green-hued Blurring Primer ($42) from Cover FX, which comes conveniently packaged in an easy-to-use tube to counteract any redness before you apply your regular concealer.

Undertone

Skin undertone is the color hue underneath the surface of your skin. "Skin undertones fall into warm, cool, and neutral categories," Henney says.

Learn More: How to Figure Out Your Undertones and Find the Best Makeup for Your Skin

The Best Method for Color Matching Concealer

Whenever you have the chance, the best way to pick your ideal concealer color is to try out a few options in real life. Scibelli says that a great way to figure out your undertone is to try a product along your jawline or inner wrist. Also, make sure to test concealer in natural lighting when possible, as artificial lighting can yield a wrong shade.

Liquid Concealer

Liquid formulas are one of the most popular types of concealers, and they typically come in a small tube with an applicator wand. A couple popular options are the Kosas Revealer Concealer ($30) and Tarte's Shape Tape ($31).

Benefits

• Suits all skin types: Liquid concealer is the most versatile formula and is suitable for normal, oily, and dry skin types.

• Buildable: When it comes to coverage, liquid concealer is on the thinner side and can either take on a more sheer appearance or be built up to fuller coverage without looking cake-y.

• Has many finishes: Liquid concealer comes in a slew of finishes, such as dewy, matte, or satin. With this range of options, you can choose a formula that works well with your skin type and helps you achieve your desired result.

Best For

• Dark circles

• Blemishes

How to Color Match Liquid Concealer

First, determine your undertones, overall skin tone, and what you're trying to cover, whether that's acne, uneven pigmentation, or dark circles. For color correction, choose an undertone on the opposite end of the color wheel from what you're trying to cover. Most concealers are classified from dark to light as well as in warm, neutral, and cool variations, and liquid formulas have some of the most options available for you to choose from.

Stick Concealer

Stick concealers are solid formulas that work well for easy, precise application to any areas of concern. Some standout options are Bobbi Brown's Skin Concealer Stick ($33) and Olehenriksen's Banana Bright+ Vitamin CC Eye Stick ($34).

Benefits

• Good for dry skin types: Stick concealers are often available in satin finishes, making them hydrating enough for dry skin types.

• Full coverage: A stick concealer typically has full coverage, making it ideal for those with particularly dark under eye circles or discoloration.

Best For

• Spot concealing

• Dark Circles

• Blemishes

• Discoloration

How to Color Match Stick Concealer

As with any concealer, you'll want to choose an option that best goes with your skin tone, undertones, and the area where you want coverage. Olehenriksen's option has the peach and orange undertones that Mellinger suggests for under-eyes, while more general stick concealers like the one from Bobbi Brown feature a wider range of shades to match to your overall skin tone. If you're trying to counteract redness or other warm-toned discoloration, either try a cooler undertone or apply your concealer over a color-correcting primer.

Cream Concealer

If you want something between liquid and stick formulas, a cream concealer is the best of both worlds. These typically come in a compact format, and they allow for precise spot treatment with a brush or your finger. Popular options include Glossier's Stretch Concealer ($20) and the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer ($32).

Benefits

• Gives medium to full coverage: Cream concealers are lauded for their coverage and can be built up to full coverage if necessary.

• Camouflages discoloration: Because cream concealers have a thicker consistency, they work well with your foundation to cancel out any discoloration.

Best For

• Spot concealing

• Discoloration

How to Color Match Cream Concealer

Since cream concealers are best for spot-concealing, you'll want to look for undertones that counteract what you're trying to cover and are similar in shade to your other makeup. For example, if you're covering hyperpigmentation spots that skew somewhat purple, look for a formula that adds some golden or peachy tones and is otherwise similar to your go-to foundation shade.

Related: How to Apply Concealer Correctly, According to Pro Makeup Artists

Up Next: The 21 Best Concealers of 2023, Tested & Reviewed

Read the original article on Byrdie.