How To Apply Concealer Properly

It’s no secret, concealer is one of our favorite products. When used correctly, concealer has the ability to create flawless skin, make up for a few hours of missed sleep, and even make visible signs of aging less noticeable.

Applied incorrectly, concealer can look obvious, cakey, and even highlight fine lines and wrinkles. Proper application isn’t rocket science, but there are some rules you should follow to make sure it’s helping your look.

Step 1: Picking the Right Concealer for Your Skin Type

Starting out with the right product makes a huge difference in whether or not you’ll be successful with concealer application. Pick a formula that contains irritating ingredients and sensitive skin may respond with a breakout.

Pick a concealer that’s too dry, and you’ll end up with obvious flaky skin covered in makeup.

Of course, our personal favorite for all skin types is our “Un” Cover-Up Concealer. With living ingredients like organic jojoba oil, organic cocoa seed butter, organic coconut oil, and auto-adjusting minerals, our formula is flexible, buildable, and never settles into or dries out pores.

🔶If you're searching for a 2025 concealer with added skincare benefits, the new Revitalize Hydra Concealer offers medium coverage with a satin finish that looks like skin—not makeup. It’s infused with skin-loving ingredients like Tightenyl™, Eyebright, and our RMS Adaptogenic Herbal Blend to hydrate, smooth, and brighten as you wear it.

Here’s how to pick the best concealer for your skin type.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is characterized by skin that has visible pores and produces more oil than normal skin. It can be tempting to select an oil-free concealer, but sometimes the reason our skin is oily is because it is actually dehydrated.

Avoid powdered concealers, they will simply be absorbed by the oil on your skin. Instead, look for a concealer with natural oils (think coconut oil) that will apply easily. The natural oil formula will help oily areas of your skin stay hydrated, which can help you reduce the amount of oil your skin naturally produces.

🔶Revitalize Hydra Concealer is formulated to balance hydration, so it won’t trigger excess oil or clog pores—making it a great choice for oily and combination skin.

Dry Skin

It can be hard to apply makeup to dry skin. Your makeup can cling to flaky, peeling skin looking noticeable and unhealthy.

The best way to manage dry skin is by healing the dry skin, first. You can hydrate your skin by using natural oils, and avoiding chemically-laden products that contain harsh ingredients which could make your skin even drier.

When you select a concealer, opt for a natural oil-based product that you can apply with your fingertips or a brush. Make sure the product is buildable, because dry skin can tend to absorb the first thin application of product if it is still incredibly dry.

🔶Look for lightweight, hydrating formulas like Revitalize Hydra Concealer, which is clinically shown to deliver 8 hours of hydration and visibly reduce crow’s feet after 30 days of use.

Combo Skin

Combination skin will have excessive oil in the t-zone, with dryness extending onto the cheeks.

Because both oily and dry skin types can benefit from products that contain natural oils like coconut and castor seed oil, ultra-clean concealers can work perfectly to help hydrate and conceal areas of imperfection.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is usually skin that knows good products from bad. It isn’t that your skin is sensitive, it’s that the amount of chemicals and toxins allowed in our products is harmful.

Sensitive skin is especially in need of a concealer that won’t cause it to become even more irritated. Look for clean concealers that don’t contain harmful ingredients, and stay away from oil-free formulas which can cause dryness and increased sensitivity.

🔶Revitalize Hydra Concealer is hypoallergenic, dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested, and formulated without silicones, synthetic fragrances, or drying agents—making it ideal for sensitive and mature skin types.

Step 2: Prep Your Skin and Your Makeup

Before you apply your concealer, start by cleansing your skin and applying moisturizer. To fully prepare skin for your makeup and ensure proper hydration, try using beauty oil, which absorbs quickly and works better than most primers.

🔶And don’t forget sunscreen: daily use of a broad-spectrum SPF like our SunCoverup SPF 50 helps protect against sun damage and discoloration, creating a smoother canvas for makeup.

RMS Beauty Oil deeply nourishes and protects skin for rich hydration, made from the best skin-supporting oils like jojoba, rosehip, and buriti.

Using the Right Tools

• Brightening brushes – Target blemishes and highlight small features like the Cupid’s bow.
  
  

• Foundation brushes – Great for applying concealer to larger areas like redness on cheeks or around the nose.
  
  

🔶Revitalize Hydra Concealer features a built-in precision brush for seamless application and on-the-go touchups.

Step 3: Apply Concealer Under Your Eye

Although you’ve been taught to apply concealer directly under your eyes, this isn’t the best and most natural-looking option. In fact, it can cause concealer to cake in fine lines and wrinkles.

If you have bluish tones under your eyes, you’ll want to choose a concealer that contains a bit of salmon color to correct that hue.

🔶With 26 shades—including olive, warm, cool, and neutral tones—Revitalize Hydra Concealer makes it easy to find a match or a brightening shade to correct darkness under the eyes.

Use your ring finger to dab concealer into the inner and outer corners of the eye area, and blend lightly. Less is more when it comes to the outer corner—where creasing can occur.

Step 4: Blot the Spots

Even if you're breakout-prone, the right concealer can help you achieve a flawless finish.

• For older blemishes: Use a brightening brush and apply a thin layer over dry, healing skin.
  
  

• For new blemishes: Use a buildable concealer and layer as needed, setting lightly with powder between coats.
  

  

🔶Because Revitalize Hydra Concealer is buildable and designed not to clog pores, it's ideal for both types of blemishes.

Step 5: Fill in Untouched Areas

When applying concealer to a larger area:

• Dab, don’t rub
  
  

• Target areas of real discoloration
  
  

• Use light layers to avoid cakiness
  
  

Step 6: Set with Powder

To ensure your concealer stays in place, you can set it with a translucent powder. The best method is layering: concealer > powder > concealer again (if needed), to lock in coverage without drying out the skin.

Summary

Concealer is a miracle product for correcting discoloration and creating a flawless look—when used correctly.

🔶For those wondering how to choose concealer shade in 2025, start with your undertone, your skin type, and your needs. Then select a clean, high-performing product like RMS Beauty’s Revitalize Hydra Concealer to brighten, correct, and hydrate while blending like second skin.

Sources:

The Toxic Twelve Chemicals and Contaminants in Cosmetics|EWG 

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics-Working for Safer Cosmetics|safer Cosmetics.org 

Dry skin: Diagnosis and Treatment|American Dermatology Association