How to Use Concealer: Under-Eyes, Redness and Blemishes

Updated 2026-10-24Reading time 13 min

Knowing how to use concealer helps you cover what still shows through foundation: dark circles, redness, blemishes and pigmentation marks. It looks best applied sparingly and precisely, while a thick layer or the wrong shade can emphasise fine lines and leave pale half-moons under the eyes. In this guide you will learn how to apply concealer step by step: how to choose the shade, what order to apply it in and which mistakes to avoid.

What concealer is and how it differs from foundation

Concealers vary in texture and coverage, but they are usually more pigmented than foundation and are used to target specific areas: dark circles under the eyes, redness around the nose, blemishes and pigmentation marks. Foundation evens out the tone of the whole face in a thin layer, while concealer works on the spot and covers whatever still shows through.

People often ask whether face concealer and under-eye concealer are different products. Sometimes they are: under-eye formulas tend to be more flexible and creamy, while those for blemishes are thicker and drier. Many liquid concealers, however, are multi-purpose: if the texture is light and the shade is right, you can use the same product under the eyes and on the face.

The biggest difference is quantity. You use a few drops of foundation for the whole face, but with concealer you start with one or two tiny dots per eye and add more only if needed. If you applied concealer like foundation, your face would look heavy and mask-like.

How to choose a concealer shade

The right concealer shade depends on what you are hiding: under the eyes, close to your skin tone or very slightly lighter; on blemishes and marks, an exact match.

For the under-eye area, start with a concealer close to your skin tone. If you want a little brightening, you can try one a touch lighter, but a shade that is too pale can draw attention to the darkness or leave a visible edge. On a blemish, a lighter shade only highlights the bump, because a light spot catches the eye.

When dark circles are bluish or purple rather than brown, a light concealer on its own often looks greyish over them. In that case a colour corrector is sometimes used: peach for fair skin, orange for deeper skin. A thin layer neutralises the blue, and concealer goes on top. For most people one well-chosen concealer is enough day to day, so a corrector is only worth trying if your circles are very noticeable.

Undertone matters too. If your skin has a pink or neutral undertone, a neutral concealer will suit you better; if it is yellow or golden, go for a warm one.

Concealer before or after foundation?

In most cases concealer goes on after foundation. Foundation already evens out most of the unevenness, so you need less concealer, and you won’t wipe it away while applying your base.

The order depends on what you use:

• Liquid foundation → concealer. Blend your foundation, wait a minute and look at what is still visible. Apply concealer only there.
• Cushion → concealer in dots. A cushion gives sheer coverage, so dot small amounts of concealer on top and tap in with a sponge or your finger. You can read more about this format in our guide on what a cushion foundation is and how to use it.
• No foundation. If your skin is fairly even, concealer under the eyes and on the odd mark is enough – the quickest way to a natural look.
• With a colour corrector. A corrector is optional. If ordinary concealer isn’t enough, apply a very thin layer of peach or green corrector first, beneath foundation and concealer.

If you are still choosing a base, first read how to choose foundation for your skin type – it determines how much concealer you will need in the first place.

Do you need to set concealer?

Not always. If your skin is dry or more mature, powder under the eyes can emphasise fine lines, so it is often better to skip it or use very little. If your skin is oily or the concealer creases during the day, set it with a very thin layer of loose powder.

Before powdering, gently tap the concealer once more with your fingertip and smile into the mirror: if lines have formed in the creases, smooth them out now, because powder would lock them in. Press powder on with a small soft brush or a sponge rather than sweeping it. You will find which tools to choose in our article on makeup brushes.

How to use concealer under the eyes

Under-eye concealer is applied in a few dots and tapped in, not rubbed – this keeps the layer thin and less likely to crease. The skin under the eyes is thinner and moves more than the rest of the face, so “less is more” really applies here.

1. Prep the under-eye areaApply a thin layer of eye cream or moisturiser and wait 1–2 minutes for it to sink in. On dry skin concealer settles into lines, while on an overly rich cream it slips and won’t stay put.
2. Place 2–3 dotsPut the first by the inner corner of the eye, where it is usually darkest, and the others under the eye along the darkest part of the circle. Avoid the area right next to the lashes: that is where product creases fastest.

   

   

3. Tap, don’t rubWith a clean fingertip, a small damp sponge or a brush, tap from the inner corner outwards. Don’t press hard or rub the delicate skin. Blend the edges into your foundation so there is no visible line.
4. If needed, add a second thin layerWait half a minute and take a look. If a circle still shows through anywhere, add another tiny dot just there. Two thin layers look more natural than one thick one.
5. Check and setSmile into the mirror: if product has gathered in the fine lines, smooth it with your finger. For oilier skin, a very thin layer of powder is enough.

Concealer for redness and blemishes

For redness and blemishes you need very little concealer – just enough to cover the colour. What matters most here is an exact shade match and well-blended edges.

Redness around the nose and on the cheeks

Apply your foundation first and check how much redness is left – often less than it seemed. Cover what remains in spots: place a few small dots around the sides of the nose or on the cheek, then tap with a sponge, blending the edges into your foundation. Larger areas are better covered with two thin layers than one thick one.

Concealer for blemishes and marks

For a blemish or pigmentation mark, choose a concealer that matches your skin tone exactly. Remember: concealer hides colour, not texture, so a lighter shade would only make a spot stand out.

• Squeeze a tiny drop onto the clean back of your hand or a palette and pick it up with a small pointed brush or a clean fingertip.
• Place a dot directly on the red area and wait a few seconds for the texture to set slightly.
• Tap to blend only the edges – leave the centre alone, or you will wipe away the coverage.
• If needed, add a second tiny dot and lightly powder any oilier areas.

Hygiene is especially important here. Avoid touching blemishes or inflamed skin with the applicator: squeeze a small amount onto a clean palette or the back of your hand instead, pick it up with a clean brush and wash the brush regularly.

The most common concealer mistakes

Most problems come not from the product itself but from the amount, the shade and how the skin is prepped.

• Too much product. A thick layer creases within a few hours and emphasises texture. Start with a tiny drop – it is easier to add more than to take it off.
• A shade that is too light. It leaves obvious pale half-moons under the eyes, especially noticeable in photos. Choose a shade close to your skin tone or very slightly lighter.
• Skin that is too dry. On unmoisturised skin, concealer clings to flakes and settles into lines. Moisturise the under-eye area before makeup, not after.
• Rubbing. Rubbing removes your foundation, leaves the concealer patchy and needlessly pulls on the delicate under-eye skin. Only tap.
• Unblended edges. A sharp line between concealer and foundation is more noticeable than the dark circle itself.
• Too much powder. A heavy layer of powder can make the under-eye area look drier and emphasise fine lines. What stays on the brush after tapping off the excess is enough.

How to tell if a concealer suits you

Judge it not by the brand or the packaging but by the shade, the coverage and how it looks after a few hours. A normal day wearing your usual makeup tells you far more than a swatch on your hand.

1. Shade. Put a dot under your eye and on your cheek, blend and look in daylight. The right shade melts into your skin or foundation without leaving an edge. If you see a pale half-moon under the eye, the shade is too light; if the circle shows through greyish, a warmer undertone may suit you better.
2. Coverage. A small amount should noticeably soften a dark circle or redness. For deeper discolouration you may need a second thin layer or a colour corrector underneath, but if you have to build up a thick layer every time, the product is probably too sheer for you and is likely to crease.
3. Texture. A creamy or liquid texture should spread easily and not set instantly, so you have time to blend it. A flexible rather than dry texture works best under the eyes.
4. After a few hours. At lunchtime, look in the mirror in daylight: are the circles showing through, has the concealer emphasised dry patches, are there obvious lines in the creases? Smooth out a little creasing with your finger. If the lines are obvious every day, first try using less and prepping your skin differently.
5. Packaging. A dispenser lets you dose without touching the product. An applicator makes it easy to place dots, but it needs to be kept clean and shouldn’t be put directly on irritated areas or blemishes.
6. Ingredients. The under-eye skin is thin, so it is worth reading the ingredients list: does it contain fragrance or alcohol, and does it contain softening oils?

The LUMIMI Universal Concealer for the Face and Under-Eye Area comes in a 7.5 ml bottle with a dispenser and a gold-tipped applicator that makes placing dots easy. It is highly pigmented, so start with a tiny amount and build up only where needed. It contains squalane, olive oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E, and it is free from fragrance and alcohol.

LUMIMI concealer comes in two light shades, Nude Beige and Warm Ivory, so it is best suited to lighter skin. Nude Beige has a more neutral look, while Warm Ivory is warmer and can also help soften bluish under-eye circles. Compare both against your own skin in daylight rather than choosing by undertone alone. If your skin is medium or deeper, look for a concealer with a wider shade range.

Frequently asked questions

The LUMIMI team. This article is based on our products’ ingredients and our makeup experience.