Where to Apply Concealer for a More Lifted, Youthful Look

A concealer wand is basically a magic makeup tool, able to erase a poor night of sleep, delete a gnarly blemish, or hide stubborn discoloration. You can also strategically apply concealer for a lifted, youthful look that instantly perks up your eyes and gives your face a more uplifted appearance. (Conversely, some application methods have the opposite effect!) We asked professional makeup artists to share their best tips on applying concealer that brightens and subtly sculpts your face.
How to Apply Under Eye Concealer for a Lifted Look
There are all sorts of approaches to applying concealer under eyes for a youthful look, but the common denominator among all techniques is that less is more. Use a light hand, a lightweight formula, and focus only on dark or shadow-y spots versus large areas.

“Apply concealer in a lifting, upward motion, focusing on the inner and outer corners of the eye,” advises T. Cooper, a professional makeup artist based in New York City. “Instead of covering the entire under-eye area, place small amounts where discoloration is most visible, then blend outward. This technique brightens up the eyes without the cakey buildup, and reduces the chances of creasing.”

Cooper notes that you can always add more if needed, so build coverage slowly versus applying big globs.

Where to Apply Concealer
Beyond eyes, you can use concealer to create a lifted, youthful look across the entire face. Think of it as an extension of contouring where you create subtle highlights that draw attention to the high points.

Corners of the Mouth
A shadowy part of the face that often gets forgotten is on either side of your mouth where your lips meet. “Slight darkness can drag the face down, but a touch of concealer lifts and brightens the area,” notes Lex Smith, professional makeup artist for Tarte Cosmetics.

Below the Cheekbones
You can also use a touch of concealer just below your blush for a lifted look. “Placing concealer just under the cheekbone subtly lifts the face and sculpts your cheeks,” Cooper says. “This technique creates a chiseled effect without needing heavy contour products.”

On the Eyelids
This sounds like a strange place to apply concealer, but eyelid skin gets thinner with age and can make veins and discoloration more appearance. Drita Paljevic, head makeup artist at Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, recommends applying here as a primer or base that brightens and evens out color. You can use this with or without eyeshadow.

Along Your Nose
Paljevic says you can apply concealer “right down the center of the nose as a form of ‘reverse contour’ to brighten this high point.” You can also use just a touch on either side of your nostrils if you have a lot of shadowing here.

Under Your Brows
Smith is a fan of using a tiny amount of concealer under the outer edge of your eyebrows. “This instantly lifts and defines the eyes for a more awake look,” she says. Remember, a little goes a long way, and make sure to blend it out!

On Your Ears
Hear us out on this one. “If redness or discoloration is present, applying a small amount of concealer to the ears can seamlessly tie the entire makeup look together,” Cooper says. “This is especially true when wearing short hairstyles or updos.”

How to Apply Concealer So It Looks Natural
When applying concealer, use the makeup artist technique of “priming the brush.” Instead of directly applying to your skin, you first apply the product to the back of your hand. This adds warmth to the formula and creates a more natural effect, Paljevic explains. Also, instead of a flat brush or sponge, she says to use a small fluffy brush—similar to an eyeshadow brush.

“Dip it into the concealer, and ensure the product is evenly coated across all bristles. Swirl and buff around in small circles in the area of concern,” Paljevic says. “This creates the most natural, skin-like effect and the tiny bristles help the product settle into fine lines or the texture of a blemish perfectly, without any caking.”

Set with a powder or setting spray after application.