Are you supposed to use concealer or foundation first?

Benefits of applying foundation first

If your aim is to even out your skin tone, you’ll probably want to apply foundation before concealer. A major pro for applying foundation first is that you’ll usually have to use less concealer to perfect your skin’s complexion afterward. Additionally, if you were to use a thick concealer underneath a thin foundation, blending the foundation out could cause your concealer to move and lead to patchiness. When you apply concealer on top instead, it’s less likely to disrupt your base.

How to apply foundation before concealer

Begin by applying a foundation like L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation, an ultra-thin liquid that goes on smoothly and gives your skin a fresh, even, and healthy-looking appearance. After you’ve blended your foundation, you can add a concealer like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage to help correct any areas needing extra coverage or highlight your face.

Pro Tip: You’ll want to ensure that your foundation and concealer have a similar consistency. For example, you wouldn’t want to apply a liquid concealer on top of a powder foundation, as it could cause pilling or spotty coverage. When using powder foundation as a base, this is one of the special instances when you should apply concealer first and foundation last.

Benefits of applying concealer first

Color-correcting concealers are a major exception to the concealer-or-foundation-first debate. These products (often found in colorful hues like peach and green) should be applied before foundation and flesh-toned concealer to help neutralize discoloration and create a more even-toned appearance. This way, your foundation can mask any hints of color left behind by the color correctors.

If you aren’t sure why you’d want to use a colorful concealer in the first place, think back to learning about the color wheel in art class. You may remember that colors positioned opposite on the color wheel cancel each other out. The same principle applies to makeup. You can simply look at the color you want to disguise, then reach for a concealer in the contrasting color to help counteract that tone. To balance out any red or purple pigmentation, opt for green concealers or yellow concealers (respectively).

Underpainting is another trending technique where you apply blush, brightening concealer, and cream contour before foundation for a more natural and blended look. Our how-to guide on underpainting makeup can teach you exactly where to apply concealer when using this method.

How to apply concealer before foundation

For color correction, use a small concealer brush to blend your concealer onto problem areas. You can also pat in the formula with clean fingertips or a makeup sponge. Some concealers (like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Color Correcting Crayon) come in convenient stick forms for a more targeted application. No matter which formula you choose, we always suggest starting with a light layer and adding more until you reach your desired coverage. Once you’re satisfied, you can go ahead and apply your preferred foundation.

When using concealer to disguise dark circles, just dab a little on your under-eye area before applying foundation. You can then add another light layer on top of your foundation to help brighten that area even more.

Concealer or Foundation First: The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, do what works best for you—whether that means applying foundation or concealer first. With so many TikTok creators introducing hacks into their makeup routines, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more and more people reversing the order of their foundation and concealer. If you’re someone who likes to keep things simple, you can stick to the basic rule of foundation first. Or, if you prefer to experiment with your makeup routine, try switching it up and see what you prefer.

Next Up: ​​ Where to Put Concealer: A Guide to Concealer Application

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Ah, the age-old complexion question: When doing a full face of makeup, does foundation or concealer go first? While some makeup is self-explanatory—primer should go first and setting spray should go last—concealer and foundation are two things that don't have a specific order.

The short answer is that both orders are fair game since there are pros and cons to each. Some people swear by foundation first, while others are hardcore team concealer. Since this is a tricky subject, we tapped three professional makeup artists to get their hot takes, as well.

The Case for Applying Foundation Before Concealer

Most makeup artists and beauty editors fall under team foundation. Foundation is supposed to be the foundation of your makeup, so it only makes sense that it goes first. This is especially true if your goal is to hide skin unevenness, redness, or blemishes. "As a pro artist, I prefer to apply foundation first so that when I blend my concealer into the foundation, it looks completely seamless," says Kim Baker, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Glamazon Beauty.

When you apply concealer first, it often results in moving the concealer off of the area you originally intended to apply your coverage to. This means that if you're trying to hide blemishes, it will be much harder to achieve a high-coverage result, and you might wind up having to apply concealer after foundation on those spots again.

Plus, it's a waste of product. Foundation is meant to even out your skin tone and reduce the need for concealer, so until you've applied your foundation, it's hard to judge how much concealer you actually need to use. If you apply too much under your foundation, it can result in your final complexion looking cakey.

Celebrity makeup artist and Brand Ambassador for CATRICE Cosmetics Robert Sesnek says he almost always likes to start by applying a light layer of foundation, and sometimes that is enough if you're using the right formula. "I would say 90% of the time, I'm able to achieve flawless and perfect coverage with just foundation—and then I'll layer the concealer over if necessary. This allows for a softer, lighter, and more natural finish while still concealing blemishes."

The Case for Applying Concealer Before Foundation

However, there are some benefits to applying concealer first. If you're planning on being photographed, for example, it might be a good idea to opt for concealer before foundation as flash can accentuate the points where concealer was applied.

"On the rare instances where I do apply concealer first, I'm almost always doing this technique for an editorial, photo shoot, or television appearance where the studio's lights can wash out the face easily," says Sesnek. "By adding concealer first and then highlighting and contouring, you're putting the tones of the skin back in, but in a more precise and controlled manner."

Another instance where you want to apply concealer first is if you're planning to spot-conceal and your concealer isn't a perfect match to your foundation. "If your concealer is too light, that is when it makes sense to apply the foundation over the concealer to conceal the fact that the product is not the same shade," says Baker.

Lastly, Sebastien Tardif, celebrity makeup artist and co-founder of Veil Cosmetics, adds that if you have extremely dark under-eye circles or discoloration that need color-correcting, it might be worth applying color-correcting concealer before foundation, then following up with concealer again. Some concealers for dark under-eye circles, like Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector, are actually meant to be applied before traditional concealer. "The benefit of applying concealer first is that it goes exactly to the root of the issue. Foundation doesn't really do anything for concealing discoloration or fatigue around the eyes, so having a color-correcting base can effectively neutralize the appearance of fatigue."

If you're looking to contour, you can follow up with a concealer that is two shades lighter than your skin tone again (after foundation). "A concealer that is one or two shades brighter than your skin tone acts as a highlighter, which is what we see all the time on social media," says Tardif. "By doing this, you can brighten the eye area and get a contoured look—it's a win-win."

The Takeaway

While the majority of experts recommend applying a light layer of foundation before concealer, we admit there are instances where you benefit from a concealer first—if you're getting photographed, your concealer shade isn't the same as your foundation, and if you're color-correcting discoloration. Besides those exceptions, keep in mind that concealer is much thicker than foundation, so apply sparingly and after foundation if you want your makeup to look as natural as possible.