Have you ever bought a concealer and then regretted it because the colour was wrong or you didn’t like the texture?
I always end up with the wrong colour. I’m so pale, the lightest shade often tends to be too dark for my complexion. And if, by some kind of miracle, I get the shade right, you can rest assured it’s too thick and hard to work with.
I know what you’re thinking: why don’t you just return it?
Because not every country has the same generous return policy as the US. Here in Europe, once you’ve swatched a concealer once, you’re stuck with it for life. No returns allowed.
But not all hope is lost. There are still ways to make the wrong concealer work for you. Here’s how:
What To Do If You Buy The Wrong Shade Of Concealer
Has this ever happened to you? You try on a concealer at the makeup counter and you swear it’s the perfect match. But as soon as you get home and put it on, you realise it’s the wrong shade for you. Those glaring shopping lights had sent you astray!
You can fix this in two days:
- Mix it up: Mix your new concealer with a foundation or other concealer in your stash to create the right shade for you. If you’re on the paler side, consider using a white or colour-adjusting mixer. These are magical little products designed to lighten or deepen your makeup without changing the texture or finish.
- Layer it up: Instead of putting on concealer after foundation, do the opposite. Apply your concealer first to counteract any dark circles or angry pimples and then layer foundation on top to even out the skin tone.
If you’re worried about the undertone being off, try colour-correcting underneath with a peach or orange concealer for dark circles or a green concealer for redness. That way, even if your concealer is slightly wrong, the undertone mismatch will be less noticeable.
If you’re wondering how to avoid mismatches in the future, here’s a tip: always swatch your concealer on your jawline or neck, not your hand. Your face and hands often have different tones, and testing it where you’ll actually wear it gives a better match.
Problem solved.
What To Do If Your Concealer Is Too Thick
Does your concealer have a very thick texture that’s hard to spread? It’s one of the most common complaints, especially with formulas meant for full coverage. Don’t worry, you don’t have to toss it. Here’s what to do:
- Warm it up: Don’t apply it straight from the tube. Instead, pick up a little product with your fingers and put it on the back of your hand. Then use your finger to rub it. The heat will dilute the texture so that it’s easier to apply.
- Add a little hydration: If warming it up isn’t enough, mix your concealer with a drop of lightweight moisturizer, facial oil, or even a hydrating primer. This not only makes it easier to apply but also keeps your under-eye area looking fresh instead of cakey.
- Use a damp sponge: After applying the concealer, gently press it into the skin using a damp makeup sponge. This can help blend out thick formulas beautifully, leaving you with a more natural finish.
A pro tip? If you’re struggling with creasing or heavy coverage under your eyes, try applying the concealer in small dots instead of a full swipe. A little goes a long way, and layering sparingly prevents that dreaded cakey look.
What To Do If Your Concealer Is Too Thin
What if you have the opposite problem and your concealer is so thin to the point of being runny? You’re trying to place it on your under-eye area, but it keeps slipping down your face. Argh! Don’t give up on it just yet—there are ways to salvage it:
- Mix it with powder: Add a tiny amount of loose powder to the concealer and mix it on the back of your hand. It’ll thicken the texture and increase the coverage.
- Layer smartly: If you’re dealing with a thin concealer, try layering it with a colour corrector first. For example, if you’re covering dark circles, start with a peach corrector and then layer the concealer on top. The corrector will do the heavy lifting, so the thin concealer has less work to do.
- Dry and fix: If you accidentally use too much powder and your concealer is now dry, don’t panic. Simply add a drop of moisturizer or foundation to rehydrate it. The goal is to find the perfect balance of coverage and texture.
If you’re wondering why some concealers are so runny, it often comes down to their intended purpose. Lightweight, serum-based concealers are often designed to be hydrating and natural-looking, which makes them trickier to use for heavy-duty coverage. They’re fantastic for minimal makeup days, but for stubborn blemishes or intense dark circles, you’ll need a little extra help.
The Bottom Line
Buying the wrong concealer doesn’t have to mean wasting your money. If the shade is off, try mixing it with other products to adjust the colour or layering it strategically with foundation. For thick concealers, warm them up or mix with a little moisturizer to make them easier to apply. If your concealer is too thin, mix in a touch of loose powder to thicken the texture or layer it with colour correctors. With a few simple tricks, you can make almost any concealer work for you!
I always wear my concealer under my foundation now. I don’t know why, it’s just something I started doing and it stuck. My concealer is definitely way too light, anyway.
.-= Simone´s last blog ..My new make-up drawers arrived! =-.
I melt it with some brown and red lipstick to make a perfect nude shade. Concealer can make the most drying lipsticks so smooth and creamy!
.-= shasta´s last blog ..The End to Hair Gripes! =-.
Simone, that’s what I do often as my concealers are usually a bit too dark for me. I know that makeup artists always recommend to apply concealer after foundation, but I find that inverting the order works well too. 🙂
I give them to my friends or some, I use them for my lips if the texture ain’t that bad to conceal my natural lip color prior to lipstick application!
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..AMW Reviews: Coffret D’Or Fluffy Shine Eyes =-.
Shasta, ohhh that sounds so nice! I never thought of using concealer to make lipsticks but now I’m intrigued. I have a few concealers that are too dark for me so I’ll try that soon, thanks for the tip.
Nikki, it’s nice of you to give them to your friends. And thanks for the tip. Using concealer has a base is a clver idea. It will make lip products more true to color and last longer, I have to try that, thanks.
Not so much a concealer tip but related; you can take foundation that doesn’t work for your coloring and mix it with any lotion to give your arms and legs that perect “airbrushed” look.
Rachael, thanks for the tip. It sounds lovely and it’ll be very handy when spring arrives and we can finally wear lighter clothes 🙂
I use it as an eyeshadow base…Works wonders for me!!
if it’s liquid/ cream, i’d use it for my lips as a concealer. but if it’s a stick or pencil type, either i throw it or give it to my sisters.
still can’t understand why the right foundation n concealer shades are so hard to buy!
.-= plue´s last blog ..Neutrogena Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser =-.
Ohh, nice tips! Its always hard to find concealers that work for me, which is why I rarely ever use it, lol. I have a concealer that is dry, and I’ve tried your tip with the moisturizer. Works nicely, thanks!
.-= Dee´s last blog ..Show & Tell – New Goodies! =-.
Hi Gio! Really nice advices here. I don’t have so much experience with concealers because I didn’t used any until La Mer sent me their concealer. 🙂
Vanessa, thanks for the tip. Concealers (and foundations) have never worked too well on my slightly-oily lids but I’m glad they do work great on you!
Plue, that’s nice of you to give them to your sisters and thanks for the tip about using concealer for lips. I agree with you, buying foundations and concealers shouldn’t be so hard! And some companies don’t even have testers or only keep a limited range of shades. How are you supposed to find a good match then?!
Dee, thanks and I feel your pain. I didn’t wear a concealer for years cos I coudln’t find one that worked for me either. I still haven’t found a concealer I’m 100% happy with. They either are too dark or too thick and even though I find ways to make them work, I can’t be bothered to repurchase them lol. But if you don’t need them, there’s no reason to use them. 🙂 And you’re welcome, I’m glad it worked well for you. That’s a really handy tip, isn’t it?
Tavia, thanks and I’m so jealous La Mer sent you their concealer, lucky you! But you deserve it, esp after all the nice posts you wrote about them. 🙂 You really made me want to try their products, but they’re out of my budget at the moment.
Thank you for this! I bought a concealer that I thought looked perfect for my olive skin (big mistake; “olive” colors are never right) and it turned out a pale orange! Thanks to this article, I poured the tiny bit of foundation in a bottle that was too light for me, and now my concealer is a perfect match. Awesome!
Christina, my pleasure! So glad I could help.