Concealer is an essential step in any makeup routine, covering up imperfections, spots, blemishes, and dark circles to create smooth, even-looking skin – but concealer can only work its magic if the colour matches your skin tone and undertone. Keep reading to discover how to choose a concealer shade that complements your skin, as we explain how to find your undertone and match it to the right concealer colour.
What is my skin tone?
Skin tone refers to the amount of melanin (the pigment that gives skin its colour) in the top layer of your skin. While your natural skin tone is genetic, exposure to the sun can increase melanin production and alter your skin tone temporarily.
When choosing a concealer shade, first determine whether your skin tone is fair, light, medium, or dark. Cleanse your skin of all products, find a room with natural light, then use a mirror to examine your jawline and determine your surface skin colour.
What is my undertone?
Your undertone refers to the subtler hue that comes through your skin tone. Unlike skin tone, though, the undertone isn’t affected by sun exposure or skin conditions. It can be warm, neutral or cool.
How to find your undertone
To determine your undertone, try one of the below tests.
The vein test
In natural light, look at the appearance of your veins beneath the skin. Green or greenish-blue veins suggest a warm undertone, whereas blue or purple veins suggest a cool undertone. If you can’t tell whether your veins are green or blue, you likely have a neutral undertone.
The jewellery test
Alternatively, determine whether silver or gold jewellery best complements your skin. Silver jewellery better complements cool undertones and gold jewellery better complements warm undertones.
If you’re still unsure about your undertone and want some reassurance before purchasing concealer, visit a beauty counter and request a skin tone test.
How to choose your concealer shade
It’s important to avoid concealer that clashes with your natural skin or undertone. A cool concealer on a warm undertone can make skin look pale and chalky, while a warm concealer on a cool undertone can make skin look orange.
Concealer to cover imperfections
To hide imperfections and blemishes, concealer should match your skin tone and undertone, seamlessly blending into the skin. To reduce the appearance of dark circles, though, apply a concealer that is 1 shade lighter than your skin tone.
Concealer to highlight and contour
If using concealer to highlight your facial features, apply a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. To contour, sculpt and add definition, apply a concealer that is 1 shade darker than your natural skin tone.
The best concealer for your skin tone
Available in 5 shades ranging from fair to golden, No7 Lift and Luminate Triple Action Serum Concealer is designed to complement a wide range of skin tones. It’s also formulated with anti-wrinkle peptide technology, Matrixyl 3000 Plus™, optical blurrers and light-reflection particles to instantly blur the appearance of lines and wrinkles, conceal age spots and pigmentation, and cover imperfections and blemishes.
