Building Your Makeup Look: Understanding The Roles Of Concealer And Foundation

When it comes to curating your makeup routine, one of the most common questions is: which goes first, concealer or foundation? It’s an easy step to overthink, but these products have key differences that set them apart.

In this article, we’ll walk through the distinct uses of each formula, as well as the best ways to apply them in your daily routine for a smooth, natural and radiant makeup look.

Foundation: What It Does

Foundation provides a flawless makeup base layer for other formulas like concealer, blush and bronzer. Certain foundations can minimize the look of pores and include skincare benefits like SPF, deep hydration or oil control, revitalizing skin for a healthy, polished glow.

Concealer: What It Does

Concealer helps to blur the appearance of blemishes, dark circles, skin redness and other imperfections for seamless coverage. It can also be used as a primer to ensure long-lasting application of lipstick and eye shadow, or a highlighting and contouring tool for a more luminous, sculpted look.

What Goes First, Concealer Or Foundation?

The golden rule of makeup is that foundation comes first (after primer of course), followed by concealer.

As an essential step in your makeup routine, foundation is applied first to create a seamless uniform canvas by evening out any areas of texture and blurring any redness or discoloration. In most cases, concealer comes after foundation, helping to pinpoint any areas that may need some extra coverage or attention.

Think of foundation as the canvas for a flawless complexion, while concealer is the tool you use to perfect the details.

Concealer vs. Foundation: Choosing The Right Product

Selecting the right concealer and foundation depends on your skin type, concerns and desired finish. To begin, it’s important to identify your skin’s undertone, whether it be cool, warm, or neutral, in order to find a perfect shade match.

Be sure to swatch different concealer or foundation formulas across your jawline or neck to test them in natural lighting and ensure an accurate match.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Foundation

Identifying Your Skin Type

In addition to identifying your skin’s undertone, finding your skin type, whether it’s oily, dry, normal or combination, is essential in selecting a foundation. From there, there are plenty of options that can help you achieve either a matte look, a dewy finish, or somewhere in between.

How To Apply

Step One: Prep The Skin

Begin with cleansed, moisturized skin and a primer suited for your skin type. Hydration is essential for Clé de Peau Beauté formulas to meld into the skin.

Step Two: Select Your Preferred Formula

Opt for a foundation that complements your skin type and desired finish. If you have dry skin, go with a dewy formula. If you have oily or combination skin, opt for a matte foundation.

Step Three: Apply To Skin

For Light Coverage: Use fingers to gently press foundation into the skin, focusing on the center of the face and blending outward.

For Medium to Full Coverage: Use Clé de Peau Beauté tools like the High Coverage Foundation Brush or The Sponge to softly blend the formula across skin.

Step Four: Blend

Make sure to cover all areas of the face, including the jawline, hairline, around the nose and behind the ears for a seamless finish.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Concealer

Step One: Choose The Right Shade For Your Complexion Goals

Find the best concealer shade by determining how you’ll be using concealer in your routine. Using our multitasking concealer on different areas of the face can accomplish a variety of goals for your final look.

• To Cover and Conceal: Opt for a concealer shade that is an exact match for your natural skintone.
• To Highlight and Brighten: Opt for a concealer that is one shade lighter than your natural skintone.
• To Contour and Sculpt: Opt for a concealer that is one shade darker than your natural skintone.

Step Two: Apply To Desired Areas

• To Cover and Conceal: Following skincare or the application of a pre-makeup base, apply the formula directly to any areas of imperfections, blending gently with fingertips or with a makeup brush.
• To Highlight and Brighten: Sweep under eyes, down the nose, on the Cupid’s bow and high points of the face, blending edges to soften.
• To Contour and Sculpt: Sweep the formula underneath your cheekbones, from the hairline to mid-cheek and under the chin. Blend edges to diffuse.

Step Three: Finish And Set

Clé de Peau Beauté’s Top Products For Concealer And Foundation

Whether it’s a liquid or cream formula with sheer or full coverage, Clé de Peau Beauté has a variety of foundation and concealer makeup for all skin types and concerns to help unlock your true radiance.

• What It Is: A lightweight foundation infused with ultra-hydrating skincare ingredients for a luminous natural finish and light-to-medium buildable coverage.
• What It Does: Provides exceptional all-day wear to visibly enhance your skin’s natural beauty for a radiant finish with added hydration. Diminishes dullness and roughness while providing comfortable 24-hour wear that resists creasing and cakiness.

• What It Is: A soft, matte liquid foundation that combines a radiant finish with long-term skincare benefits to smooth and refine skin while minimizing the appearance of pores.
• What It Does: Nourishes complexion with a skincare-inspired formula and an 8-hour hydration boost. Provides comfortable 24-hour wear that resists creasing and dullness.

• What It Is: An ultra-luxurious, weightless foundation infused with skincare ingredients to blur imperfections and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
• What It Does: Instantly blurs and camouflages for an even-toned, radiant finish that lasts up to 24 hours with SPF 22 protection.

• What It Is: A multitasking concealer stick with icon status, coveted for its smooth texture, long-lasting full coverage, and seamless finish.
• What It Does: Effortlessly conceals and corrects dark spots, under eye circles, and blemishes with a lightweight formula that blurs imperfections for a full coverage yet natural look. Provides skin with deep hydration while protecting the delicate skin around the eyes with SPF 27.

• What It Is: A pearl-powered liquid concealer infused with skincare ingredients that effectively covers dark circles and dullness for brighter-looking eyes
• What It Does: Illuminates the eye area and imparts radiance. Conceals dark circles, dullness, and uneven tone with advanced optical and counterbalancing glow technology. Nourishes with potent skincare benefits that address visible eye area concerns instantly and over time. Provides sheer-to-medium buildable coverage with 8-hour wear and hydration.