TikTok makeup trends are always quite the crowd divider. On one hand, you often see a new generation of people learning a popular technique for the first time and having fun with it. This is the side of TikTok I like to be on.
On the other hand, for every bright eyed, bushy-tailed experimenter, there is a disgruntled commenter incredulous because they’ve “been doing that for years.”
Personally, I hate any kind of snobbery when it comes to makeup, and always welcome the opportunity to recap the basics.
With that in mind, a classic technique doing the rounds at the moment is that of using concealer where needed, instead of all-over foundation. This beloved technique has been widely used for generations, previously shared with the beauty community by YouTube royalty like Wayne Goss and Lisa Eldridge.
So, what’s the advantage of doing this when you could just use a foundation? Well, it gives you the opportunity to let your natural skin shine through for the most part, and gives the illusion that you have much less makeup on. Concealers tend to offer a much higher level of pigment and a thinner consistency, so your coverage is denser, without looking or feeling as heavy.
On a practical level, it’s also super handy if you find yourself on a weekend away or at the gym and have forgotten your beloved tinted moisturiser or full-coverage foundation. Fear not; you can make it work with a single tube of concealer.
A brilliant tool for this technique (and indeed to have in your makeup bag, full stop) is Ruby Hammer’s Magnetic Brush Set, £28, Cult Beauty. Did you ever have one of those crayons at school that you could build like a Lego, and each crayon head was a different colour? Ruby has created a brush version of this, meaning you have three handy brush heads in one compartmentalised wand. She has shared videos to her Instagram page to show you how it works.
Now for your colour of choice – and this all depends on what you want to achieve. For the simplest, easiest option, choose a concealer in the exact shade as your skin tone, and use it all over. My favourite of all time is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer, £18.75, Boots, which gives full coverage and is infused with skincare. I will note that I do work with this brand and have done for some five years, but don’t take my word for it; a simple Google will show you the endless celebrities and makeup artists that swear by this too.
On the high street, look no further than Maybelline’s Instant Eye Erase, £8.99, Superdrug, for rich but lightweight coverage.
If, however, you use your concealer to correct something (for example dark circles or pigmentation), you may prefer a colour corrector. MAC has a six-pan palette called Conceal and Correct, £32, LookFantastic, to match every shade family. This multi-use palette is a makeup artist kit essential but will also be great if you use concealer for multiple things. You may use one of these to brighten tired eyes, for example, and another to reduce high colour on pigmentation.
Whichever concealer works for you, my ultimate tip is to use a tiny amount and only build the coverage that you actually need. The main reason for concealer gathering in fine lines is that there is simply too much product on the skin. Use a small amount, warm it using your fingers or a brush, and only apply where needed.
As far as TikTok trends go, this is one I’m happy to keep in my arsenal. I’ll be showing you my take on this technique in my Eliza IG video this week. Leave me a comment there if there’s something else from TikTok you’d like to decode, and I will get to work!
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