Among cosmetic products, there are many products that are not so easy to understand. For example, concealer and highlighter - what's the difference? Very often, girls confuse these names for the simple reason that both products are designed to work with skin imperfections. In addition to the fact that both of these tools are the most effective helpers in disguise, each of them has features and rules of use. Let's look at all the nuances in more detail in this article.
Skin features
After applying a tonal foundation and powder to the face, it becomes dull, loses its natural volume, visually looks “flat”. An unnatural appearance is obtained due to the fact that the bends of the face that form the relief (cheekbones, eyebrows, back of the nose) become faded. In order to denote these facial features, a highlighter is used. This is a cosmetic product that gives the skin radiance and volume, it also hides small wrinkles, and perfectly refresh the face. The question arises: "Concealer and highlighter - what is the difference?" Everything is very simple: the concealer is designed to correct skin imperfections. Such as pimples, for example, or bruises under the eyes. Such a cosmetic product is available only in bodily shades and looks like a foundation cream. In general, the range of cosmetic products in these areas is very diverse, what are these products, how to use them, we will consider below.
Concealer
This is a relatively new, but very popular product. It is used pointwise to correct minor skin defects. Many women confuse it with foundation. And when it is necessary to solve the problem of masking redness, age spots, facial wrinkles and other nuances, they most often choose the basis, sincerely believing that there is no difference between these means. However, the concealer has a denser texture and it is thanks to this feature that it better conceals flaws. The foundation is most often applied after the concealer and highlighter are applied. What is the difference between primer and concealer - this question often arises. The fact that the primer is a tool that prepares the skin for applying makeup. It contains moisturizing components and silicone, all this makes the skin smooth, well-groomed and ready to apply decorative cosmetics. It is believed that the concealer partially works as a highlighter. It consists of reflective particles, so that the skin looks fresh and shines.
What is it needed for?
As a rule, our skin is not safe from the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, age spots and other imperfections. To correct just such shortcomings, a concealer is used. Among makeup artists, he is rightfully considered the most necessary of all masking tonal means.
In addition to decorative concealers, there are therapeutic ones. Depending on their formula, they not only even out tone, but also fight acne, moisturize, and cope with local redness. You need to soberly assess the features of your skin before choosing a concealer and highlighter. What is the difference? Different problems are solved depending on the form of release of corrective and masking agents. Concealers may vary and be suitable for different skin types in terms of coverage.
How to use?
The product can be applied to absolutely clean skin, on top of foundation or primer. If pressed powder is used as a base, then the concealer is applied first.
When choosing a product, you need to focus on its color, composition and texture. For example, an antibacterial concealer pencil is ideal for masking pimples. For thin, transparent skin, a product with a liquid texture is appropriate. It must be applied with a sponge or brush and gently shade. It should be noted that makeup artists do not recommend using a highlighter or concealer over the entire area. What is the difference between concealer and foundation, we noted. And therefore, if applied completely, the dense texture of the product will give the face an unnatural appearance. In addition, concealer cannot replace a full-fledged tonal foundation, only a skillful combination of these two products gives a perfectly even complexion and skin.
When buying this product, select a color by applying the probe to the face, not the hand. Funds in jars, palettes, designed to correct large areas. Such products are especially relevant for people with strong pigmentation and other similar nuances.
Important: the color of the concealer should be the exact opposite of the color of your problem. So, pimples are corrected by a green tint, bruises are orange or yellow.
Highlighter
This is another new and unusual product for us, which also won the recognition of makeup artists. By analyzing all the nuances of this tool in detail, we can finally understand how the highlighter and concealer differ, what is the difference between them. So, in translation from English highlight means - "highlight, emphasize." The product is designed to highlight individual areas of the face, make them voluminous. It is not a masking agent, rather, on the contrary, it emphasizes enlarged pores, acne and other shortcomings. But there are times when a highlighter is used instead of a concealer. For example, to camouflage traces of fatigue on the upper eyelid. When applied to these areas, the concealer can roll up, but the highlighter, due to its dry texture, will hold perfectly and, besides, with its reflective effect it will distract attention from blood vessels, redness.
How to use?
So, what is a highlighter and why is it needed, we have determined. What is the main reason why no makeup artist can do without this product, while ordinary women rarely use it? The fact is that there is one simple nuance of using the tool. It can be expressed in one word - moderation. If you apply the highlighter to the wrong places, then the face begins to shine as if it was smeared with fat. This completely discourages the desire to use the tool.
In order to give your face a sleek, healthy look, apply the product with a thin, transparent layer. A small amount of the product, applied on the sides of a narrow forehead, can visually expand it due to the radiance. Can be applied to the apples of the cheeks, cheekbones. Never apply highlighter to areas where oily sheen may appear.
Highlighter rules
Now that the difference between the highlighter and the concealer has become clear, we will analyze the main application areas. Before using this product, the face should be prepared: cleaned, moisturized, covered in tone, because it is used to create the finishing touches in the makeup. Highlighter is applied:
- on the cheekbones, but not on the cheeks;
- on the back of the nose, but not on its tip (if the nose is short, apply a small amount of product on the sides);
- on the outer edge of the eyebrows (on the superciliary arches), the skin under them, this makes the eyes open;
- in the middle of the upper lip.
The tool is applied to these places, if there are no obvious skin defects. Also, to brighten dark circles under the eyes, you can mix highlighter and concealer. What is the difference, the differences we have considered. It should be noted the main nuance that distinguishes them: a clarifier is not able to mask defects, it only highlights the skin.
In general, if you are not a professional, it is better to handle highlighters with care. It is better to apply less than more, use it delicately, without frills. If you still overdo it, you can apply friable powder on top , it will remove the excessive radiance of the face.
Highlighter, shimmer, concealer, bronzer - what's the difference?
In simple terms, all of these tools, except concealer, are needed to give the skin a radiance. Despite the fact that these products can be listed in one cosmetic section, they still differ in their effects and effects on the face.
So, a shimmer is not an independent product, but the property of individual products, for example, blush, powder, to restrained radiance. Such products are appropriate for evening or holiday makeup. They are saturated with a large number of reflective particles and perfectly illuminate the skin. Unlike highlighter, they have a more intense radiance.
Bronzer is most often a powder having a tan color. It is used to sculpt faces. Sometimes a bronzer is applied over the powder to give the face a hint of light tan.
Concealer and corrector: what is the difference, how to choose?
Very often there is confusion between concealer and corrector. They have the same function - masking, but the mechanism of their work is different. The concealer acts by applying a large amount of pigment. Its consistency is always dense, due to which a good camouflage effect is achieved.
The corrector is able to mask completely different skin imperfections due to the ability of colors to neutralize each other. The tone of each corrector is selected in accordance with the shade of the “problem”. Both products - concealer and corrector - are used pointwise, and the base is applied on top of them.
In this article, we examined modern popular means for masking and correcting the face: this is a shimmer, bronzer, corrector, concealer, highlighter. There are differences between them, although at first glance it may seem that these products are very similar. As makeup artists say, you need to know how to properly use these tools and practice several times to achieve a good result.