Among cosmetics, 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 its own features and rules for use. Let's look at all the nuances in more detail in this article.
Features of the skin
After applying foundation and powder to the face, it becomes matte, loses its natural volume, visually looks “flat”. An unnatural look is obtained due to the fact that the curves of the face that form the relief (cheekbones, brow ridges, bridge of the nose) becomefaded. In order to designate these facial features, a highlighter is used. This is a cosmetic product that gives the skin radiance and volume, it also hides fine wrinkles, cool refreshes the face. The question arises: "Concealer and highlighter - what's the difference?" It's 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 flesh tones and looks like foundation. 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, mimic wrinkles and other nuances, most often they 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 masks imperfections better. Foundation is most often applied after concealer and highlighter have been applied. What is the difference between a primer and concealer - this question often arises. The fact is that the primer is a tool that prepares the skin for applying makeup. It consists of moisturizing ingredients and silicone, all this makes the skin smooth, well-groomed and ready for applying decorative cosmetics. It is believed that the concealer partially works as a highlighter. Formulated with reflective particles to leave skin looking fresh and radiant.
What do you need?
As a rule, our skin is not immune 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, it is rightfully considered the most essential of all concealers.
In addition to decorative concealers, there are healing ones. Depending on their formula, they not only even out the tone, but also fight acne, moisturize, and cope with local redness. It is necessary to soberly evaluate the characteristics of your skin before choosing a concealer and highlighter. What is the difference? Depending on the form of release of corrective and masking agents, different problems are solved. Concealers vary in coverage and are suitable for different skin types.
How to use?
The product can be applied to absolutely clean skin, over foundation or primer. If pressed powder is used as a foundation, apply concealer first.
When choosing a product, you need to focus on its color, composition and texture. For example, an antibacterial concealer stick is ideal for masking pimples. For thin, transparent skin, a product with a liquid texture is appropriate. Apply with a sponge or brush and blend gently. It should be noted that makeup artists do not recommend usingall over the face and highlighter, and concealer. What is the difference between concealer and foundation, we noted. And therefore, if it is applied completely, the dense texture of the product will give the face an unnatural look. In addition, a 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 the color by applying a probe to the face, not to 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 with a green tint, bruises with orange or yellow.
Highlighter
This is another new and unusual product for us, which also won the recognition of makeup artists. 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, translated from English, highlight means - "to bring to the fore, to emphasize." The product is designed to highlight certain areas of the face, to make them voluminous. It is not a masking agent, rather, on the contrary, it emphasizes enlarged pores, acne and other imperfections. But there are times when a highlighter is used instead of a concealer. For example, to camouflage signs of fatigue on the upper eyelid. When applied to these areas, the concealer can roll, but the highlighter, thanks todry texture will hold on 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 summarized in one word - moderation. If you apply highlighter in the wrong places, then the face begins to shine as if it had been smeared with grease. This completely discourages the desire to use the tool.
To give your face a sleek, he althy look, apply the product in a thin, transparent layer. A small amount of 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.
Rules for applying highlighter
Now that the difference between highlighter and concealer has become clear, let's analyze the main areas of application. Before using this product, the face must be prepared: cleansed, moisturized, covered with tone, as it is used to create the finishing touches in makeup. Highlighter 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 makeslook open;
- on the middle of the upper lip.
The product is applied to these places if there are no obvious skin defects. You can also mix highlighter and concealer to lighten dark circles under your eyes. What is the difference, we examined the differences. It should be noted the main nuance that distinguishes them: the brightener is not able to mask the defects, it only highlights the skin.
In general, if you are not a professional, it is better to handle highlighters carefully. It is better to apply less product than more, use it delicately, without frills. If you still overdid it, you can apply loose powder on top, it will remove the excessive radiance of the face.
Highlighter, shimmer, concealer, bronzer - what's the difference?
In simple terms, all these products, except for concealer, are needed to give the skin a radiance. Although these products can be listed in the same cosmetic section, they still differ in their effect and effect on the face.
So, a shimmer is not an independent product, but the property of individual products, for example, blush, powder, to a discreet 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 a highlighter, they have a more intense glow.
Bronzer is most often a powder that has a tan color. It is used to sculpt the face. Sometimes bronzer is applied over powder to give the face a hint of a light tan.
Concealer and corrector: what's 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 works 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 foundation is applied on top.
In this article, we reviewed 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 use these products correctly and practice several times to achieve a good result.
