We all know the mantra:-
- Prep Skin
- Concealer
- Foundation
I’m going to turn it on its head and tell you to try applying your concealer AFTER your foundation. Weird tip?
I used to do the whole concealer before foundation thing and have been doing it for years. But recently, I found that when I apply my concealer and then my foundation, I sometimes have to touch up my concealer because in applying my foundation, whether with brush, sponge or hands, some concealer may get rubbed off.
So, I got irritated and the next time I did my makeup, I put on my foundation first and then touched up with concealer.
Voila!
There was no need for additional touch ups, and I found I was using less concealer because some problem areas may already be sufficiently covered by the foundation!
These days, I apply my concealer after foundation – its faster and more efficient use of my time in the mornings – cuts time by half actually 
The concealers I use regularly for now are:-
- Undereye: Revlon, L’Oreal or Dior Skinlight concealer pen <- love!
- Blemishes, pigmentation: Make Up For Ever Full Cover
One caveat: This tip might work better if you use liquid concealers. You can blend it over powder or liquid and it doesn’t get cakey. I love Full Cover for this purpose. It works over and under foundation, covers beautifully and I seriously need to replace mine!
Have you tried this tip? Do you already practice it and am I the last to know? 
Paris B
If you enjoyed this post, please share the love with your friends!
[ 60 comments… read them below or join the discussion ]
Next Comments →
Twitter: yvonnechow87
September 14, 2010 at 9:11 am
Have definitely gone for that route and it’s pretty good : ) Lately though I’ve not been using liquid foundation so doing concealer first and then powder works okay for me.
I do it even over powder which is great!
But for powder it does work just as well with concealer under.
I do this and it works! It makes the dark areas appear lighter too! You’re right on saving up on concealer
Great tip!
Yep! I don’t know what took me so long to work this out
I recently got know that too
Was trying to cover a blemish but the blusher after the usual concealer and foundation made it more obvious. As a desperate attempt, a tiny dot of concealer did the trick hehe!
Yay for working it out!
I am loving this method so much now.
I think this is a good tip. But I wonder can I use this while I’m using powder foundation because it seems cakey.
I do it with powder too. I only use liquid concealers and the ones I use (MUFE Full Cover for blemishes) works excellently over powder foundation too without looking cakey or thick. In fact, it helps make it look so much better
LOL Honestly, I thought I was a weirdo applying concealer after foundation
Now I know, am not the only one and can’t define it as a weird tip anymore
xoxo
Yay for not being weird!
I think I’m probably the last in the world to realize this, based on the comments 
Twitter: HannyiNefMor
September 14, 2010 at 10:08 am
Hmmm… I basically alternate between the concealer first or foundation first routine and found nothing different. Perhaps I’m too blur to notice?
Or maybe there isn’t much to conceal
I do this for a long time, learned it from a MA a while ago. It works well for me with both liquid and creamy concealers (like Bobbi Brown’s one by ex), I like it a lot this way because sometimes I skip it (foundation is enough) and when I don’t it looks much better applied over foundation, brightens my under eye are and the inner corner of the eye.
Yeah! I love it for brightening the under eye area too. Applied this way it seems to make the under eye area look brighter some how
Twitter: stacey_1805
September 14, 2010 at 10:34 am
Yes I have just changed to this method recently after i realized i’ve wasted quite alot of product and time by applying concealer first!
now its base make up, 2 way powder, concealer and light dusting of loose powder over to even it out.
Yay! I do this too
Twitter: shusheshe
September 14, 2010 at 10:41 am
I’ve been doing this from the get go; concealer after foundation. I find that I don’t have to use as much concealer since foundation does half the work for me already!
You’re absolutely right! less concealer = more savings!
i want the full cover! my stupid MAC concealer does nothing, either it doesnt conceal, or if u put more then it becomes a reverse conceal, like white panda eyes. zzz
I’ve never tried MAC concealers but I’ve been round the block and the MUFE Full Cover is the best ever! I so need a new tube. Mine is very nearly finished!
Good tip. I have always done it with concealer on top as my dark circles can get quite bad, so can layer on and gauge how much concealer is needed.
Sugar – If after using concealer it looks white-cakey then just take a smidge of the foundation and pat it on the area, but don’t wipe or rub in.
ooo. ok thank you, wil try it!=)
Thanks for sharing your tip for Sugar!
Been doing it this way all the time……but thanks for the tip PB!
Hehe… I knew I was the last to know
Ehhhh? This is the normal practice? I’ve always applied concealer after foundation because somehow it just made sense to XD Funny how I’ve been oblivious to how the rest of the world has been putting on their concealer.
Well it was “normal” when I used to have makeovers done. They’d always do concealer first then foundation. Maybe the techniques have changed with the times
i do so if i’m using liquid foundation but if powder / compact foundation I’ll do my concealing first… I use concealer after liquid foundation because sometimes I do find my liquid foundation coverage is enough to conceal my undereye dark circles hence I don’t need additional step to use concealer. As for my powder foundations, they tends to be more on light coverage, doesn’t hide any dark circles at all and cakey if I apply the concealer before powder… Normally, I don’t conceal scars or blemishes because of laziness… hahahaha…
With this method of foundation then concealer, I find I use less undereye concealer and I can make do with just brightening to hide some shadows. Its great!
And I have to hide my freckles 
Your “known mantra” actually came as quite of a shock to me! For as long as I’ve been wearing makeup (not very long actually), I’ve always done foundation first and then only concealed. I think I read it on either a beauty blog or magazine, but I just accepted it as the norm. I do use liquid foundation though, and I thought it just made sense or else I’d end up rubbing my concealer right off with my foundation brush!
I was taught the concealer then foundation trick. Maybe times have changed
Or maybe it was because I was usually into powder foundation and not liquid foundation. I’ve only just found liquid foundations I can use comfortably, and so this is a new trick to me 
That’s what I do all the time, concealer after foundation
teehee i knew it! i’m the last to know!
Oh I always apply foundation first and then concealer. But most of the time i skip concealer because i will end up with ‘piggie eyes’ and i dont like that look :p
Why do you end up with “piggie eyes”? I find a dab of concealer or highlighter around the eyes help me look more awake
just curious though, how do you like the Anna sui concealer? =) will you do a review on it?
Yes I will review it soon
Hmmm….I’ve been practicing this foundie-then-concealer regime since few years ago after seeing it in a magazine (was trying to learn how to put on makeup). Works a treat for me and definitely made the skin go as near-perfect as I want to
Glad you found your way here too…:)
hehe… do you use it with liquid foundation? On reflection it might be that I was doing it the other way round coz I was into powder foundation before not liquid. But using liquid, this method makes sense.
Well, when you put it that way, yes, many use concealer b4 foundie. For me, I found that putting concealer before foundie (liquid or powder) helps me to even it out and I used the patting motion for powder ones as not to mess up the concealed area.
I found that patting motion also helps to control oillies, as dragging it on skin sorta ‘activates’ the glands (someone told me this and I gotta say, they were right)
Twitter: sher88
September 14, 2010 at 10:01 pm
haha… I always do this… Well, I don’t actually use a concealer… I use BB cream as my foundation… Then on any part that needs concealing, I just dab a little bit more on it…
For those for whom BB creams work, I’m told this is a good way of using it too! Glad to know you’re saving on products
I’m glad you’ve found that way better. I’ve always used concealer after foundation. Have never tried it the other way round. I want to try MUFE Full Cover but I don’t know what shade to go for. I’m N1 with L’oreal, same as you
What colour are you using for Full Cover concealer? What’s your HG concealer? I’m still searching for mine!
I’m using Full Cover in #4 which suits my skintone to a T. I swear by this one for blemishes and marks and freckles/pigmentation. For the undereye area, I am presently loving the Dior Skinflash or Revlon Spa Concealer for a drugstore alternative
That’s my routine too! =)
hurrah!
That’s what I always do.1 of Shu Uemura make up artist teach me when I just learn how to make up ,:P but I did not apply any foundation and I only use the BB cream.Before BB cream launching ,I just use the SU UV under base.
That’s what my Shu makeup artist told me, too! LOL. Concealer AFTER foundation
I was a makeup noob, so she had to teach me. Haha.
At least she taught you well
Sigh… I knew it! I’m the last to know about this!
I always do this. I thought its common sense? hehee…no offence.
I do the concealer first before foundation when I was in my early 20s. That was when I have serious bouts of acne and the area for concealing is about 20% of my face. The foundation is just to even everything out.
No offence taken! I used to conceal too then foundation but then now it seems that it might be because I was using powder foundation a lot. Now that I use liquid foundation, this way works best
I have been trying out this method for quite some time and it really works for me. I am using a liquid concealer too, i usually apply concealer after using BB cream and I am good to go!! =)
Great to know this method is a popular one!
Next Comments →