I got a message from the makeup goddesses the other day. Do you wanna hear it? Well, you’re gonna have to, even if you don’t want to, because it’s CCI (Crucial Concealer Info).
Here it is: when you’re working with concealers…or doing just about anything else in life, timing is everything. With concealer, I’m talking about the timing of when you apply setting powder to it.
Because it’s gotta happen right away, and I mean immediately after you’ve done that last pat, blend and whatever. Right at that moment, grab a brush, and dust your setting powder on top with a quickness, girl!
It’s like when you find a good cat… You gotta lock that ish down right away. I did it with Tabs, and I usually do it with my concealer, buuuuuut I didn’t do it that way the other day.
I was putting on my face in the morning, and, as you know, I have a pimple (I keep talking about him because he’s basically been running my life for the past month or so). His name is Julian, and he’s a lovely shade of dark purple now, so I’ve been color-correcting him with an orange lip pencil, of all things.
Anyway, I did the color corrector, set it with powder, then applied a liquid concealer on top. Now, normally I would have immediately set it with a powder at that point, but I got distracted and started doing other things.
When I went back to the mirror five minutes later, the orange color corrector had bled through, and I ended up with a big orange spot on my chin.
Whoops!
That never, ever happens when I set my concealer with a powder right away.
The whole timing thing also applies to under-eye concealer, too. If you really want it to stay in place, have your setting powder ready so you can quickly dust a sheer layer on top. This stops it from creeping into fine lines and whatnot.
Thanks, makeup goddesses, for the gentle reminder. 🙂 I totally got the memo. Don’t dilly-dally!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Noted. I usually take my time, maybe that was my problem? I will see if it makes a difference first thing tomorrow.
Hi LindaLibraLoca,
I hope it works out! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Yep, I do the same thing. I set it with powder right away and make sure it’s blended.
Hi Chris,
Great minds think alike. 🙂
I’m not sure about spots (I tend to powder these when I want flawless coverage so not often) but for under the eyes this trick hasnt worked for me as yet somehow (although I can acknowledge it works for most). What has worked though is the following: apply concealer, blend the edges well, wait for five minutes. Concealer creases (all concealers do this on me). Smooth concealer out again. Powder immediately. I powder super lightly and it still works well on my skin at least :). Maybe it’s because I have some fine lines under my eyes…
Hi Eleni,
Yes, powdering lightly is key!
LOL, “Julian”! I’m dying! You poor thing. I wish this tip worked for me (under the eyes) but it doesn’t seem to matter how quickly I work. Concealer – even top of the line concealers – crease and even sometimes cake up on me, not to mention wear off quite a bit by lunchtime. 🙁
Hi Ash,
You could try adjusting the amount of concealer. Maybe try using less? Or, it could be a matter of what you’re using underneath it. Sometimes it’s an issue with your eye cream breaking up the concealer.
Karen, not to be alarmist, but if Julian has been hanging around so long I hope you’ve gotten him checked out to make sure he’s not something worse.
Semi-related, I’ve gotten really good at covering bruises thanks to BJJ. My formula goes like this: a layer of something pinkish (I use an Erase Paste sample in medium since it doesn’t really work for me otherwise), a very light dusting of powder, a layer of MAC Painterly, another very light dusting of powder, foundation (apply carefully so you don’t undo your work), then whatever final concealer fine-tuning you need. It sounds like a lot but nobody had a clue that I had two black eyes for two solid weeks.
Hi Amber,
Julian has moved through his active pimple stage and is now a dark spot on my chin, le sigh. Post-acne pigmentation takes a while to fade on me of, so remnants of our time together will remain for at least a month or two. It suuuucks!
When did you start taking BJJ? I’ve been actually wanting to try that for years but have always been super intimidated.
Oh good, I’m glad that’s all it is. Post-inflammatory pigmentation lasts forever for me, too.
I started BJJ a little over two years ago. It’s great for all ages and there are more and more women getting into it! You can usually try a class free.
See, in my brain, I *know* this.
And yet, I didn’t try this until just the other day – I have a distant relative of Julian’s on my chin. I was lamenting the fact that I’d conceal, finish my face, do pressed powder, and by the time I got to work this zit was waving to the world.
And so two day ago I did my green color-corrector, dabbed with powder, then regular concealer, powder…finished my face…and what do you know, it stayed all. day. long.
Miracles, I tell ya!
Stupid adult acne. Seriously, what gives?!
Hi Christine,
I’m so glad this worked for you! It’s amazing how just a little tweak in technique can change everything.
When my chin acne was at its worst it was awful. I did a few things to help move it along, but one thing that seemed to make a big difference was cutting down on the dairy and sugar.
I feel you. I more or less use concealer only under my eyes, and that shizz has to be powdered within seconds. If not, there’s the danger of it running into my fine lines. Interestingly, I also have this issue with my lid primer. I have to set my primer with a translucent powder, too. If not, that stuff takes on a mind of its own as soon as I blink!
Hi Karen! Yes, agree with the powdering right away. I’m still looking for my holy grail under eye powder. Great to meet you at storytime, hope to see you around!
Hi Judy,
I searched high and low for mine and it’s been my favorite for a couple of years now — NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder. I use just a tiny bit and apply it with a rolling motion using the side of a tapered eye brush (something similar to the MAC 224). If you ever get the chance give it a go! It’s fantastic.
It was really great to meet you too. Hopefully we’ll run into each other again soon (and maybe the babies can have a play date)!
That’s great advice. Especially for someone who has always let concealer dry and then put BB cream all over my face, including that spot. And then wondered why the concealer never really worked for me. The upside is I continue to learn. HAHA!
???Rofl! Your pimple has the name of my son!!!