How to Accentuate Your Bone Structure with Concealer

Let’s talk about concealer. Chances are it was one of your first forays into makeup, used to cover up your very first blemish—and you’ve been a fan ever since. From covering dark circles to disguising dark spots to hiding breakouts, concealer is all about keeping your complexion concerns undercover. Or is it? While it’s true that we love concealer for all of its aforementioned capabilities, it can do more than cover up imperfections. Concealer can also be used to accentuate your bone structure! If you don’t have a contour powder and highlighter on hand, but what to sculpt your face, a couple of shades of concealer are all you need. Keep reading to find out how to illuminate and define your visage—with concealer.

Step #1: Start with Your Base

Instead of applying your concealer to bare skin, you’ll want to put down a base of primer and foundation first. It may seem unnecessary, since you’ll be layering concealer overtop, but it will make a major difference in how long your makeup lasts and how well it applies. To create a smooth canvas for your concealer, apply the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Lock Makeup Primer or L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Lock Makeup Primer. Then, apply the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation or L’Oréal Paris Pro-Matte Foundation—choosing whichever one matches the finish of your primer pick.

Step #2: Highlight Key Points

Products that are loading with lots of shimmer and sheen aren’t the only way to get your glow on. You can brighten your face and accentuate your bone structure with a concealer that’s a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. Almost any concealer will do, but for an extra highlighting effect, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Concealer—which has a radiant finish. Using the concealer’s doe foot applicator, draw a line down the bridge of your nose, place small stripes beneath your arches, along your cupid’s bow, and on your chin, and add upside down triangles under your eyes and between your brows. Once your face is practically painted with concealer, blend everything out with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Concealer Blender.

Step #3: Contour Your Face

As far as great pairings go, highlighting and contouring are one of the best. After illuminating your face, it’s only right to follow up with defining your features. And once again, concealer is the way to do that. Choose the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Super-Blendable Multi-Use Concealer in a hue that’s one or two shades darker than your skin tone and use the built-in applicator to apply. Dot the concealer on the hollows of your cheeks, around your temples, along your jawline, and down the sides of your nose. Of course, you can’t leave it like that! Use a makeup blender, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Contour Blender, to buff the concealer in.

Step #4: Set with a Powder or Spray

You’ve successfully accentuated your bone structure—with concealer—but that doesn’t mean you’re good to go. Creamy products, like concealer, can wear away throughout the day if you don’t set them properly. Imagine it: You’re out and about, only to look in a mirror and realize your face is no longer sculpted to perfection. Thankfully, it’s oh-so-easy to avoid such a situation. All you need is a fluffy makeup brush dipped into a translucent setting powder, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Setting Face Powder. Sweep the powder over your skin and there you go—all set.

If you prefer to lock in your makeup with a few spritzes of setting spray—that’s an option, too. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray. Not satisfied with either option on its own? If you really want your look to last, you can always double up on staying power by using both a powder and a spray to set.

Ready to learn about another way to use concealer? Here are the 4 Areas on Your Face to Apply Color Correcting Concealer.