4 Cool Concealer Tricks You Didn't Know Existed

Our not-so-secret secret is that we expect most, if not all, of our products to work double-duty. Cheek stain doubles as lip pigment, and brown eyeshadow helps fill in our brows. But, there's one tube in our makeup bags that could do so much more: concealer.

What we normally slather onto zits and undereye circles has many other applications. We tapped makeup artist Tina Turnbow to show us five techniques that turn our old cover-up into a highlighter, brow accent, lip definer, and more. 

Ahead, find her step-by-step instructions for using concealer to get a gorgeous face. Don't you just love a good multitasker?

Hello, Highlighter

 

If you haven't plunked down the cash for a contour kit with a shadow powder and highlighter, your concealer could sub in a pinch. "Make sure you're using one that's about two shades lighter than your skin tone," Turnbow says.

Start with your contour powder. Find your cheekbones, and slide the pigment just below them in a downward motion. "It should end a couple of inches away from the corner of your mouth," Turnbow says.

Next, apply your concealer. "It should create a halo effect around your eyes," Turnbow says. Use your fingers to pat it on along the tops of your cheekbones. Then, bring it up until it reaches just above the tip of your eyebrows. "Look for a concealer with a radiant aspect to it," she says. "This will help attract the light."

For your nose contour, use the same shadow you swept under your cheekbones. Focus it along the two edges of the bone. "Start right under the ends of your brows, and bring it down to the tips," Turnbow says.

Your concealer should sit in the center of your nose. Swipe it in a downward motion, to the tip. Then, blend your three lines together. "When you blend, make sure you're still able tosee the product," Turnbow says. "People tend to over-blend and erase the work they just did. Instead, just blur the edges so that they're less noticeable, but still there."

The result is bright, beautiful, and so easy to do. It's contouring that works in real life — not the crazy sculpting you see on the red carpet all the time.

The Cara Effect
Bold brows aren't going anywhere. But, if you weren't endowed with a pumped-up pair of arches, there’s a way to use concealer to subtly enhance what nature (and a brow pencil) gave you.

Fill in your brows first. "This will help guide where you'll place your concealer," Turnbow says.

Next, sweep on your concealer. It should start in the inner corners of your eyes and extend to the tips of your brows. "This will immediately open your eyes," Turnbow says. "It's like a non-permanent eye lift." Again, make sure your concealer is about two shades lighter than your skin tone.

You just won the brow game, lady.

Lip Service
Your cheeks and nose aren't the only facial features you can contour. If you strategically place your concealer around your lips, and throw on a bold hue, you can make your pout stand out more than usual.

"You're really just refining the shape of your lips," Turnbow says. So, place some concealer in the corners, on the Cupid's bow, and in the dimple under your lip. Blend all of these together.

Then, just swipe on your lipstick!

Step aside, Kylie Jenner: There's a new power pout in town.

Double-Duty Beauty
Your concealer is about to work overtime. It can enhance your lipstick and smoky eye, adding up to a bold makeup look.

Start by applying concealer to your lips. "Choose one that's the same color as your skin tone," Turnbow says. "You're just blanking out your natural lip shade, so the lip color you choose will be brighter and more true." Then, put on your lipstick.

And, just like that, the shade on your lips looks exactly like the one in your tube. 

Next, sweep on your smoky eye. "Just focus the pigment along the lower lashline and in the crease of your lid," Turnbow says. "Keep it off the lid itself."

Now is when the concealer comes in. "NYX makes a concealer pencil that works as an eyeliner," Turnbow says. "Start by sketching it into the corner of your eye, and then over your lid so it fills the space between your lashline and the shadow you just applied."

For the final touch, sweep on some mascara.

Can you say, "glamour girl"?