How to Use Concealer as Foundation

As the no-makeup makeup look, demi makeup and clean makeup aesthetic continue to dominate the trend cycle, influencers and beauty lovers are continuing to find ways to make their makeup routines easier. The latest trend that’s been taking over TikTok is foundation-less makeup, substituting the base product for lighter options like tinted moisturizer or — a recently popular option — all-over concealer.  

This may seem criminal for die-hard foundation lovers, but it’s possible to get a similar full -coverage look with concealer depending on your method and which products you use. Keep reading to find out how to use concealer as foundation for a seamless, full-coverage look.

How to Use Concealer as Foundation

If you’re used to always wearing foundation, you may be wondering if you can even use concealer in place of foundation. But, replacing foundation with concealer actually makes your routine shorter while giving you more breathable coverage. 

Step 1: Before jumping right in, you need to prep the skin and apply your products in a certain way for the best results. It’s best to start with moisturized skin that’s still tacky and damp so that it’s easier for the concealer to blend and spread. 

Step 2: Take a wet beauty blender and apply the concealer, starting from the T-zone and blending outwards until you have the desired amount of coverage. Another smooth application hack is to use your ring finger to blend in the concealer. Your body heat will warm up the product so that it looks melted into the skin.

The Best Concealers to Use as Foundation

To replace your foundation, opt for a creamy concealer, since they can blend easily while giving a sufficient amount of coverage. Here are some of our favorites to use when applying concealer as foundation. 

L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer with Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine

The latest addition to the L’Oréal Paris concealer family, this skin care-makeup-hybrid hydrates like a serum while providing smooth, creamy coverage. The formula is crease-proof, lightweight and lasts for up to 24 hours. smooth it all over the face to conceal imperfections while giving the skin a natural-looking glow. Since this concealer is part of the True Match family, you can choose the same shade you wear in the True Match Super-Blendable foundation for a perfect match.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Concealer with Hydrating Serum

This concealer is formulated with a hydrating serum and glycerin to illuminate and nourish the skin, making it a perfect, blendable base option. It’s also great for mature skin, as it can brighten the skin and doesn’t settle into fine lines. 

L’Oréal Paris Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage

Even though this concealer has a matte finish, its creamy consistency makes it a great choice to use in place of foundation. It also has a waterproof formula — so you don’t have to worry about creasing, transferring or fading. 

L’Oréal Paris Eye Cream in a Concealer, 0.5% hyaluronic acid

This skin care-makeup hybrid is great for the under-eye area, as many concealers can often look patchy and cakey in that area if the skin is dry. It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, making it easy to blend all over the face for a natural finish. 

Next: How to Reduce the Look of Puffy Eyes With Under Eye Makeup

Photographer: Nelson Huang, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Producer: Becca Solovay, Beauty Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Wardrobe Assistant: Jazmine Alzado, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Digi Tech: Jacky Jiang, Photo Assistant: Tyler Andrews, Model: Mecca Allah