THE STARTING OFF PROECT WEEK 2: CONCEALER

Hello lovelies, I can't believe it's been a whole week since the first Starting Off Project post! If you didn't catch it, have a look here. Last week we talked getting better skin, but let's face it, we all still have blemishes or dark circles or a little difference in colour that we want to hide. The first thing you really need to know about concealer is the types. While some miracle concealers will manage to cover all flaws for some of you, most people will need two types of concealer- one for under the eyes to combat dark circles, and another to cover blemishes and most importantly spots!

Under The Eyes

Firstly, a concealer for under the eyes should never be too heavy! If its too think it will just sit in those tiny eye wrinkles and just feel very thick under the eye. Many people recommend a peachy-toned concealer to combat the yellowness of the under eye area, but personally I think its most important to make sure your concealer, for both the eyes and blemishes, matches your skin and matches your foundation. If your foundation is one shade darker than your skin and you blend it, but your concealer is one shade lighter, it's not gonna match. Don't be sucked into getting too light concealers and end up with some kind of backwards panda eye (and if you already do this don't worry, who hasn't been there?). A few tiny dots on the line of the eye bag blended with your finger should be fine, you don't need any complicated technique here, but I would recommend using translucent powder over the top if you'll be wearing this for a long time without touch ups and it will stop that pesky creasing!
I love Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch, £6.99, or Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, currently £3.69 for under the eye!

(Swatches L-R) No7 Perfect Blemish Cover in Medium, Benefit Stay Don't Stray, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch in Nude, Benefit Boi-ing (mixed to match skin).

(Bottom Left) Collection Lasting Perfection, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch, No7 Perfect Blemish Cover.

SPOTS!!!!

Now onto probably the concealer we're all most focused on- covering those spots. The same applies to small blemishes here, but I'll focus on spots for now. I swear by Benefit's Stay Don't Stray for big red nasties. Marketed as a concealer and shadow primer, as you can see in the picture it has an opaque colouring which covers spots itself, so I use this directly onto spots under my foundation, then add a small amount of concealer on top to cover anything still showing. This way you can cover those bumps without caking the face which looks better, feels better, and is better for the skin so fingers crossed that spot will go away much quicker. For small spots, blemishes, discolourations etc just a concealer will do however, no need to splash the cash if you don't need to! For spots I prefer thick creamy concealers to cover, so look towards No7 Perfect Blemish Cover (£7.00) or Benefit's Boi-ing (I have it in this well loved concealer set but you can buy these separately in a shade to suit you). Again I would use translucent (or for more coverage a tone to suit you) powder to keep that concealer in place.


Finally I would say remember concealer is for concealer, foundation is for creating an even base. Do not try to cover your face in concealer - you just need a higher coverage foundation- and do not try to pile on more and more foundation to conceal- use concealer!
Everyone's concealer needs and tastes are different, so please throw any questions at me, any comments, or post your links to your own #thesoproject posts on concealer! I hope you enjoyed this beauties, and remember to follow me on bloglovin to keep up!
Lots of love,