Part II - How to Conceal Those Trouble Spots

How to use a concealer to cover YOUR specific problems, including acne, under-eye circles, fine lines, age spots, large pores, etc...

Common complaints that need covering include: acne, under-eye circles, spots and splotches, liver/sun/age spots, rosacea, sunburn, wrinkles and fine lines, brown spots, white spots, etc.

I'll talk about how to conceal first, then later, get into correctors (yes, they are two totally different things).

TO CONCEAL:

I recommend a loose powder mineral makeup cover-up. They come in various colors, to match your skin tone.

I normally recommend choosing a shade that is slightly lighter than your skin tone. This way you don't end up with brown spots on your face.

Remember that mineral makeup can deepen just slightly after mixing with the oils on your skin (this happens about 30 minutes to an hour after applying). So choose a shade that is just slightly lighter than your mineral foundation color.

Experiment to find the best way for you to apply. I recommend applying it before your mineral foundation. But some apply it after. Sometimes I will do both.

Acne

I recommend a small, pointed brush. Pick up a small amount of powder on your brush and dab in the jar lid to pack the powders into the bristles.

Dab onto acne, but don't blend. You will now have a bunch of pale round circles all over your face.

Touch up any other areas that need help (under your eyes, for example) and then apply your mineral foundation.

If you find you are wiping off the initial powder with your mineral foundation, just TAP ON your mineral foundation, instead of swirling. This is an EXCELLENT tip that I use every day. It allows you to achieve greater coverage.

Apply everything else, then if you still have a blemish or two poking out, just dab a little bit of powder on them with a q-tip to cover them up.

If you are headed to a special event that you MUST look fabulous for, then take a little bit of mineral makeup with you, along with a q-tip to touch up, should you need it. You never know! You'll feel better having it, anyways.

Another tip is to apply your concealing powder underneath the blemish... Pimples can stand out from your face, causing a slight shadow under them. When you conceal under them as well as on them, you help to eliminate that shadow, thus disguising the pimple better.

Baggy, Puffy, Gray Eyes

Pick up some cover-up powder on a concealing brush and beginning at the inner corner of the lower eyelid, sweep your brush outward toward the outer corner of the eye.

Try to not apply much powder around the crow's feet area, or you'll accentuate wrinkles.

Keep applying a few layers till you achieve the proper amount of coverage.

Dab some of the powder on the inner corner of your eye for a brightening effect.

Sweep a slight amount on your upper eye lid, up to the brow bone, for an excellent eye shadow primer.

Finally, take a small amount of powder and sweep underneath the bag (on the SHADOW of the bag) if your eyes have a puff. This extra step can make all the difference in hiding that baggy eye. I use it every day!

Age Spots

And other blemishes...

Simply apply your concealing powder to desired areas, and top with mineral foundation. Follow the directions for acne above.

Rosacea, Sunburn, and Other Large-Area Problems

If you have a large area that needs covering, like your cheeks and nose, I recommend simply using your kabuki brush for this. Apply as you would mineral foundation.

To cover trouble spots and imperfections, think color.  Now, correctors are different. They are not meant to match your skin tone, but rather correct certain discolorations.

Green correctors help to cancel out redness.

Yellow correctors help to cover up blue/gray circles under your eyes.