Waiting for a blemish to heal? Or a good night’s sleep to erase those darn circles from under your eyes? There’s no reason to put your social life on hold – or look any less radiant than you actually feel. Fashion technology, after all, has brought us far more than matching handbags and designer cell phones – it’s delivered the products, tools and knowledge to keep our faces looking their absolute, flawless best! The secret? Choosing the right concealer and application tools – and knowing how to put them to good use. Read on!                                     --Peter Lamas

Putting Your Best Face Forward . . .

Like all great weapons, concealers should come with a warning: Avoid using until properly trained! Undue caution? Not on your life. When it comes to makeup, few things are as frightful as a lovely face that’s fallen victim to a botched concealer job!

Choosing Wisely

Not all concealers are created equal. Concealers come in various textures and shades – each designed for specific types of skin. Choosing the right one is half the battle!

The Right Model

When choosing a concealer, it’s important to realize that it’s your skin – and not your preference – that should dictate whether you choose a concealer in the form of a wand, pot, stick or pencil.

Wands, for example, are best suited for those with lighter skin, because they deliver a dewy, sheer type of coverage that won’t overpower fairer skin tones.

Pots and sticks, on the other hand, are ideal choices for olive and darker skin tones, which need the stronger, more opaque coverage that such concealers provide.

Pencils, which can be used for most skin types, are best reserved for only the smallest of touch-ups – like pin-sized blemishes – and lip lines.

And for those with dry skin, there are cream concealers, which combine coverage (although less than a pot or stick!) with needed moisture.

A good way to test a concealer’s coverage is to dab a small amount on the vein found on your inner wrist. If the concealer covers the vein’s bluish tint, it’s likely to camouflage unwelcome colors on your face!

The Right Color

Concealers are meant to conceal – not to draw attention to themselves, or the area they’re meant to hide. The best way to ensure that they do just that is to choose a color that’s a half-shade lighter than your skin’s natural tone.

As yellow is the only tone that appears naturally in human skin, you’ll want to choose a yellow-based concealer (which is especially helpful beneath the eyes, as yellow cancels out bluish-purple tones) and avoid those with undertones of pink, peach and orange.

There is a place for concealers in color-correcting tones – namely green and mauve: Green cancels out the redness found in acne scars, blemishes and birthmarks; and mauve counteracts overly yellow skin tones.

To test the shade of a concealer – other than a color-correcting one – stand in natural lighting and place a small amount on your inner neck, next to your ear. If the color is a half-shade lighter there, you’ve found your shade!

Some people like to mix their concealer with their foundation to ensure a flawless blend of colors.

A Choice of Accessories

Once you’ve chosen the right type and shade, you’ll want to add the best application tools to your arsenal.

The best tools, depending on your preference and needs, are your fingertips – namely the middle finger or ring finger, a wedge-shaped makeup sponge, and a small, slightly pointed or square makeup brush.

Putting It All Together

The first step in putting it all together, is to prep your face by applying an eye cream or gel to your undereye area and a moisturizer to the rest of your face, and allowing a few minutes for both to absorb. Then, as an added precaution, gently blot your face with a tissue to ensure that the surface is dry, as well as smooth and moisturized.

Moisturizing is an important step, as it helps the concealer adhere to the skin without slipping.

To apply concealer to the undereye area, place two or three equi-spaced dabs of concealer, starting just beneath the inner corner of the eye and following the sloping curve to the point parallel to the iris.

Blend the concealer into the undereye area - extending it just short of the outer corners of the eye to avoid accentuating the fine lines found there. To do this, you'll want to use a wedge-shaped makeup sponge or your middle or index finger and employ a gentle, dabbing motion called stippling.

By using this technique, you'll avoid unnecessary wear and tear on your eye's delicate skin and ensure that the concealer is placed most effectively in the undereye area.

At this point, you should also cover blemishes - or naturally occurring colorations such as freckles or birthmarks - by using your makeup brush to apply concealer via small, circular motions.

Be especially careful when applying concealer in the lip area, however, as it can interfere with lip color!

Once the concealer has been applied, you should follow with your foundation, eye makeup -- being careful to avoid dirtying the concealer with stray sprinklings of eyeshadow and mascara -- and blush. You'll then want to set the makeup with a light dusting of powder. (See our story titled Laying the Right Foundation for more information.)

For times when undereye circles are especially dark, it may be necessary to lightly apply an additional amount of concealer after the foundation and makeup.

Of course, every theme has a variation. Some people like to apply their concealer after their foundation and eye makeup, rather than before.

The secret is to find the technique that works best for you!

When A Concealer Isn’t Enough!

When it comes to blemishes, no one wants to worsen the situation by clogging their pores. In such cases, consider using a water-based concealer with a built-in acne medication -- or try these tricks of the trade used by many of the world’s top makeup artists. They’re guaranteed to make many a blemish vanish!

Tricks Of The Trade!

Disinfect the blemish by placing a septic stick on it for about 30 seconds Take the red out by holding a Visine-treated cotton ball on it for one-to-two minutes Repeat the second step if necessary For minor inflammation or swelling due to clogged pores, dab a bit of Preparation H onto the area and leave it on for two-to-three minutes before applying makeup.