Should you let your concealer sit before blending?

Concealer is a lifesaver for people who want to hide dark circles, blemishes, or any other imperfections. It evens out the skin tone while enhancing our facial features.

Cooking your concealer is a technique that will level up your makeup game. It’s basically letting your concealer sit on your skin for 10 to 20 minutes before blending it.

The good thing is that this technique doesn’t require a thick layer of concealer on your face. With the right tips, even a makeup beginner can cook their concealer and make it look flawless.

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Why You Should Let Concealer Sit Before Blending?

It’s true that most people have a tight schedule in the morning, and they don’t have a lot of time to spend on their makeup.

However, you will get better results when you let your concealer stay on the skin for at least five to ten minutes before blending.

Concealer might separate under the eyes if it’s not applied correctly.  This trick allows your body heat to cook the concealer and let it melt into your skin.

As a result of this process, the air will thicken the consistency of the concealer leaving a more pigmented coverage to the under-eye area.

As the concealer sits on the skin for a longer time, it sets, which results in better coverage.

This tip works for all liquid and cream concealers. It allows for the concealer to blend flawlessly for a crease-proof look.

Letting your concealer ‘bake’ works perfectly in the summertime or if you have oily skin.

Is cooking Your Concealer Necessary?

By applying this technique, you can get the most coverage out of light coverage concealers.

You can achieve a smooth finish that lasts longer when you let your concealer sit on your face rather than blending it in immediately.

In general, this method is not a necessary step but it helps give the skin a crease-proof look.

People who wear full-face makeup and want their concealer to stay budge-proof and transfer-proof all day long will benefit from this technique.

How To Cook Your Concealer?

This technique works for all liquid concealers as well as cream concealers. It allows the concealer to blend seamlessly for a crease-proof appearance.

1. Moisturize

Applying concealer on dry skin might cause the concealer to look patchy. The concealer might cling to dry patches which gives you a cakey look.

Be sure to moisturize before applying your makeup, including your under-eye area. 

This step is especially important for anyone with dry skin. If you have oily skin, you should also moisturize by using a lightweight cream. Your face will thank you later!

Skincare can be overwhelming, but the good thing is that you don’t have to use a lot of products under the eyes. The key is to find a lightweight eye cream that sits well under makeup. 

This Deep Hydrating Eye Gel with Hyaluronic Acid hydrates the delicate skin under the eyes without leaving a greasy residue. It can be an excellent choice for people with oily skin. 

If you have dry skin under your eyes, choose a deeply moisturizing formula like this Gentle Eye Cream for Dry Skin. It has a lightweight formula that smooths fine lines while keeping the eye area smooth and hydrated.

2. Apply Primer and Foundation

Primer is the first step of any makeup look. It helps prepare the skin by creating a smooth canvas for foundation application.

Using a primer may not be necessary for everyone, so the decision is based on your skin type. 

If you have oily skin, use a mattifying primer to control shine throughout the day. 

For dry skin, a hydrating primer can help nourish the skin so that the makeup goes on smoothly.

If you have mature skin or large pores, use a silicone-based primer to blur fine lines, wrinkles, and big pores.

Regardless of the type of primer you choose, be sure your primer matches your foundation correctly. 

This can help to prevent your makeup from flaking throughout the day.

After applying primer, blend your foundation seamlessly. 

You can apply your concealer before foundation but many makeup artists recommend applying it after. 

3. Apply Your Under-Eye Concealer

Apply your concealer under the eyes using the doe-foot applicator or your fingers.

When you are using a cream concealer, apply the product on your hands using an applicator and then dab it under your eyes. The warmth of your hands can help the cream product to melt and blend easier into the skin.

If you are going for a full coverage look, apply the concealer in a triangular shape. Bring the tip of the triangle to the top of your cheekbones, and extend the outer point toward your ears. Avoid bringing the concealer down to the outer corner of the nose. Stay in the cheekbones area instead to avoid a cakey look.

For an everyday natural look, apply some dots of your favorite concealer under your eyes on areas where you need to hide dark circles.

Be sure to select the right shade of concealer. Using a lighter color can make your concealer look grey. When matched incorrectly, concealer can make your eyes appear smaller so always make sure to choose the right shade. On the other hand, choosing the wrong undertone can make your concealer look orange. Opt for a concealer that’s only one shade lighter than your foundation.

Tip: Mix Your Concealer With Foundation to make it darker. You can also add moisturizer to a concealer to get a sheer coverage.

4. Leave The Concealer For at Least 10 to 20 Minutes

Allow the concealer to heat up on your skin and sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Try out different timings to find out what works best for you.

You can use this time to line your lips, style your hair, or fill in your eyebrows. Working with dark eyeshadow or doing a smokey eye look is not recommended during this time, since it can cause fallout under the eyes area.

5. Blend It Like a Pro

After your concealer has baked, use a damp makeup sponge to blend it. Make sure your concealer is blended in flawlessly and everything is smooth.

If you are going to use powder on top, make sure there are no creases.

You can also use a brush or your fingers to blend the concealer. However, a damp makeup sponge works best in this case. It absorbs any excess product which prevents the concealer from looking cakey.

6. Set It With a Powder

Setting your concealer is optional, but it provides extra staying power. Make sure to use a finely milled loose or pressed setting powder that doesn’t emphasize fine lines.

Avoid heavy powders that look cakey under the eyes. You don’t need a lot of powder to set concealer, only a tiny amount is enough. Use a small fluffy brush to dust some powder and you’re good to go.

This transparent powder sets and brightens the under-eye area. It has a light formula that helps the concealer stay put all day.

For a fresh and dewy look, spray a tiny amount of setting spray or face mist on a beauty sponge and dab it slightly under your eyes. This will give the skin a brighter appearance while preventing the concealer from looking cakey.

Conclusion

Letting your concealer sit for 10 to 20 minutes before blending has a lot of benefits. It will basically let your own body heat cook the concealer which helps it to melt into the skin.

Blending the concealer might take some extra time since the formula will not feel as thin as when you first apply it. 

However, this technique is absolutely worth it.

Leaving your concealer to bake works perfectly in the summertime or if you have oily skin.

It can help you get the most coverage out of any light coverage concealer. Plus, it gives the under-eye area a smooth crease-free finish that lasts longer.

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