Edith | PinkFemme

When it comes to doing your makeup you have likely already discovered how vital it is to use makeup brushes for flawless application. By now you should have at least used a foundation brush and perhaps some oval brushes or a stippling brush. However, there may be one makeup brush that you’ve been missing out on and that is a concealer brush. Even if you already know where to apply concealer, using a concealer brush will instantly upgrade your overall look. The best way to use a concealer brush is to apply a little product at a time to your concealer brush and dab it into your face in the exact spot where you need concealer. By dabbing your concealer brush you will be able to blend your concealer as you apply the product to your face. Let’s learn more about using a concealer brush so that you can explore the wonders of adding a concealer brush to your makeup routine. What Is A Concealer Brush Before we start to look at all the benefits of using a concealer brush, you will need to know exactly what it is. Otherwise, you might not know which brush to select from your set of makeup brushes, like this set (available on Amazon). As you likely guessed, a concealer brush is a small makeup brush that is specifically meant for applying and blending out liquid, cream, and powder concealer formulas. Normally, a concealer brush will feature a small brush head with densely packed bristles, a flat, tapered shape at the end, and a long handle. Your concealer brush is designed to give you maximum control, thus making it easy to provide desired areas of your face with even coverage. The small shape of the brush-head also allows you to reach every inch of your skin so you can place the product exactly where you need it. Do You Need A Concealer Brush With all of the makeup brushes that you are already using, you may be asking whether you actually need a concealer brush. The answer is an emphatic yes from my make-up artist friends. A concealer brush comes in very handy when you highlight desired areas and help you disguise blemishes and under-eye circles and do so with a flawless finish. While it isn’t “wrong” to use makeup blenders to apply concealers, the concealer brush helps you be more precise. If you have been using your fingers, stop. Firstly, you don’t want to have any fingerprints marring your look, and more importantly, it prevents spreading bacteria from your hands to your face. One of the key factors that allow some girls to have such soft facial skin is to touch their face as little as possible. So, blenders are better than fingers, but the benefits of using a concealer brush outweigh both. What Is The Best Brush For Concealer Just when you thought that this was a one size fits all kind of brush I’m here to tell you that concealer brushes come in a myriad of shapes and sizes. Below, I’ll give you the breakdown on which brush you should use to make sure you nail your beauty look. However, if you are new to all of this then the classic concealer brush is a good place to start. Classic Concealer Brush: If you are looking to show your under-eye area some love then the classic concealer brush will make the application process extra easy. With its flat flexible bristles, this brush allows you to buff and blend product under your eye for a smooth application. Small Precision Concealer Brush: If you have any minor blemishes that you want to target with concealer, a small precision concealer brush will get the job done for you. Because it has tight and compact bristles, you can target really small imperfections with ease. Flat-Top Concealer Brush: Both mineral and powder concealers can be applied with a flat-top concealer brush. This is the tool that will help to quickly dab the product onto your skin for a seamless blend. If you are setting liquid and cream concealers with powder then this brush will work perfectly for that too. How To Use A Concealer Brush Now that you know exactly what a concealer brush is and how the three types of concealer brushes differ, it’s time to learn how to use one. Here is a five-step makeup routine to help prevent any concealer mistakes. Always Start With Primer The essential first step in every makeup routine should be using makeup primer. Primer works to create a smooth “canvas” or base for the rest of your makeup and helps it stay in place all day. I use a thin layer of the L'Oreal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer (available on Amazon) smoothed over my entire face. Color Correct Any Complexion Concerns Once you have applied your primer, it’s time to pay attention to any complexion concerns. Choose the correct color for what you want to achieve. Check out the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit (available on Amazon) like I use. For redness, use a green concealer can help neutralize the red look of blemishes and blotchiness. For age spots or broken capillaries, yellow concealer will be your choice. If dark circles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation greet you in the mirror, then peach, bisque, and orange shades can help hide your complexion concerns. Once you’ve selected the correct color-correcting crayon for what you need, apply it really sparingly exactly where needed and blend with your concealer brush until even. Apply Foundation To Perfect Your Complexion When you apply your foundation you’ll want to give your skin a clear, even complexion without the cakey appearance. Use a foundation blender onto your skin using rolling and dabbing motions until even. Alternatively, use a stippling brush to apply your foundation for an airbrushed effect. I explain exactly how to use a stippling brush in this article here on Pink Femme. Check it out once you have finished learning about concealer brushes. I use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation (available on Amazon) Conceal Imperfections Over Foundation When your foundation is in place and you notice that you still have some imperfections peeking through on your skin, then reach for a concealer that matches your skin tone. I use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage (available on Amazon). Use a small precision concealer brush to cover any minor imperfections. For your under-eye area, use your classic concealer brush to apply concealer in an upside-down triangle under your eyes. Then use that same brush to blend out. Finish up by sweeping some loose setting face powder under your eye area to keep your concealer in place. Always Finish With Setting Spray To Preserve Your Hard Work Although your face makeup is now complete, you will want to make sure that all your hard work lasts from day to night. Spritz some makeup setting spray in ‘X’ and ‘T’ shapes over your face and you’re done. I’ve also written an article about why you need setting spray here on Pink Femme. Can You Use A Concealer Brush For Eyeshadow By now you are aware that concealer brushes are multi-tasking beauty tools. You may be tempted to repurpose yours the next time you’re working on your eyeshadow application. When it comes to eye shadow, however, it’s best to trust your eyeshadow brushes to get the job done. Just as there are different concealer brushes to suit your specific, you will be able to find the perfect eyeshadow brush to bring any eye makeup look that you want to life. The good news is that there is one exception to this rule. If you look closely, you may notice that a classic concealer brush is almost the same as your cream eyeshadow brush, and you are correct. It is possible to use this type of concealer brush for cream shadows if you want. Be sure to clean it off when switching from concealer to shadow. I have done this when my cream eyeshadow brush hasn’t yet dried after washing it. More on washing makeup brushes in this article on Pink Femme. Four Extra Concealer Bush Hacks To be an absolute expert at using a concealer brush, here are a few hacks you should know. Use A Concealer Brush To Apply Eye Primer Instead of using your finger to apply eye primer, why not use a concealer brush instead. Not only is it more hygienic, but you’ll be able to cover the corners of your lids much easier. Use Just A Little Concealer On Your Brush At A Time One of the worst things you can do when using a concealer brush is to load the bristles with tons of product. Not only are you wasting expensive products but your makeup will look like it's caked onto your face, which often looks quite tacky. A little concealer goes a long way. It’s a better idea to start small and gradually add product and work your way up to achieving your desired look than having too much product on your face. Use A Concealer Brush To Fix Lipstick Mistakes I am sure that we can agree that smudged and feathered lipstick can instantly ruin your makeup look. What’s more, when you are new to makeup the chances of making a mistake with your lipstick are very real – so it is useful to have a hack at hand to rescue the situation. The best way to solve this issue is to use a small precision concealer brush. Just trace your lips with a tiny bit of concealer after applying lipstick to help it stay within the lines. Use A Light Hand With Your Concealer Brush You may be used with using a heavy hand to apply concealer with your fingers or a beauty blender. There is no need for that when using a concealer brush. Just use light pressure to tap or press the product onto your skin. How To Clean Your Concealer Brush Unfortunately, you cannot go on forever using the same concealer brush daily without ever cleaning it. So, it’s time to learn how to take care of your concealer brush correctly. You need to clean your concealer brushes regularly to keep them working perfectly just as you would with your other makeup brushes and blenders. What’s more, using dirty makeup brushes can take a toll on your skin according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Dirty makeup brushes can irritate your skin and could even lead to an outbreak or an infection. Generally washing your makeup brushes every seven to ten days is enough to keep them bacteria-free and protect your skin. If you’re not too sure of the best way to clean your beauty tools you can learn by reading the Pink Femme article, How to Clean Foundation Brushes.