Foundation vs. Concealer: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About It!

With so many products on the market, it’s easy to be confused about them when you start beginning to use makeup. Foundations and concealers are available in galore and you may well be asking, ‘what’s the difference between the 2’? Given that these 2 products look similar, are used together but serve totally different purposes, there’s surely a lot you need to know about them. Before you get into the debate on foundation vs. concealer, we’ll give you the complete round-up on these 2 distinct products. Let’s get going...

Table of Contents

1. Foundation vs. Concealer: What’s the difference?
1. What is concealers?
1. Liquid Concealers
2. Cream Concealers
3. Balm Concealers
4. Stick Concealers
2. What is foundations?
1. Liquid Foundations
2. Powder Foundations
3. Cream Foundations
4. Stick Foundations
2. Which should be applied first?
3. Pros and cons of applying foundation first
4. Pros and cons of applying concealer first
5. Wrapping up

Foundation vs. Concealer: What’s the difference?

Let’s start answering the foundation vs. concealer difference question. You must understand well that the key foundation vs concealer difference lies in their formula.

1. What is concealers?

Concealers are meant to specially cover the under-eye dark circles, spots, blemishes, marks, redness, or acne and pimples on the skin. If you’re still wondering, ‘what does foundation vs. concealer do,’ the answer is, that they are not applied all over the face. Concealers are applied to the exact spots that need concealing. They should be a couple of shades lighter to your skin tone so that it blends evenly with the surrounding area after the concealing is done. Concealers come in different formulas as liquids, creams, sticks, or balm forms for specific purposes.

i. Liquid Concealers

Liquid concealers are among the most popular and also versatile among all the different types available on the market. They are easy to apply and offer different types of coverage. They do not clog skin pores and give a variety of finishes ranging from matte to dewy and satin. Liquid Multi-Color Foundation Concealer from De’Lanci is among the top-of-the-line products in this segment.

ii. Cream Concealers

Cream concealers usually give off a satin or creamy finish and are good to hide discolorations. They are neither too light nor too heavy but thicker the liquid variant. As a result they give more coverage and yet blend in with the surrounding skin well. They are best used with pressed powder as they might tend to crease if used for long hours without the finish.

iii. Balm Concealers

Balm concealers have thick textures and are available in singles as well as color-correcting palettes for hiding different types of marks and blemishes. With their balm-like texture, they are good to neutralize discolorations: yellow for under-eye dark circles; green for redness; peach for blue colors; orange for dark spots.

iv. Stick Concealers

Stick concealers come in thicker formulas and give more skin coverage compared to liquid, cream of balm types. Because of this they are good to mask all types of skin blemishes and dark circles that need more camouflage. They tend to be heavy on the skin and good for special occasions requiring intense makeup looks.

2. What is foundation?

Foundation is a lightweight formula that is used to the entire face to smoothen out the skin tone and set it as the base for applying other products. It helps create that smooth canvas by reducing all possible discolorations and marks on the face. Foundations may come in liquid, cream, powder, or even stick forms depending on the type of coverage they offer.

i. Liquid Foundations

Liquid foundations are either water-based or silicone-based, and they provide light, medium, or full coverage to the facial skin. The formula blends into the skin easily using fingertips, a makeup brush, or a makeup sponge. Liquid foundations are among the most popular of all 3 different types because of their lightweight formula and easy blendability.

ii. Powder Foundations

Powder foundations come as loose or pressed formulas and are lightweight too. They also have oil-absorption properties making it a favorite of people with oily skin. Some formulas offer a natural silky finish that is just right for the minimal makeup look. In fact, powder foundations are a good choice when you don’t want to apply too much makeup product. It is ideal for keeping it clean and simple with no blush or bronzer but with just some lip colors and eyeliners.

iii. Cream Foundations

Cream foundations have a thick formula and are heavily pigmented compared to liquid foundations. The main difference between liquid and cream foundation formulas is the texture and coverage that they offer. Cream foundations are good to cover discolorations, acne, and pimples.

iv. Stick Foundations

Stick foundations come in tubular form and are thick and creamy. Because of their formula, they provide high coverage to the skin. Their form makes them easy to carry and apply on the move making them a makeup staple for those who have to travel frequently.

Foundations come in multiple shades and are made to suit your skin tone. The best foundation for skin is one that matches its shade and undertone. This ensures that the product gives the skin a natural look. Also, different foundations offer varying degrees of coverage such as sheer, medium, or full coverage.

• Sheer coverage foundations blend into the skin to give it a natural look and are a great option for everyday use. They do not hide much of skin discolorations or blemishes but are great to use on a daily basis.
• Medium coverage foundations are probably the most used among all the different types. They contain medium pigments and spread out on the skin giving it a thicker coverage compared to the sheer variant. They are good to use when you are applying moderate makeup for informal times.
• Full coverage foundations are heavily pigmented and give the skin more coverage than the other 2 variants. These are good to use when you want totally flawless-looking skin for special occasions or photoshoots. They are meant to set the base for very carefully done makeup looks.

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Coming to the finish that they offer, there are types. Foundations can give the skin a matte look which is good for oily skin or a dewy finish that is suitable for dry skin.

Which should be applied first?

Understanding which comes first is a critical part of the foundation vs. concealer debate. A wrong step here could end you with a cakey and patchy look.

Foundation is the base of any makeup because of which it called what it is. So, remember to start with the foundation all over your face. It is important that you blend the foundation into your skin giving off a smooth and flawless finish immaterial of the type you’re using.

Concealer should be applied after you’ve applied foundation well all over. Apply concealer only on the places that need concealing like marks, blemishes, pimples, or dark circles. Blend in the product with the surrounding area so that there is no patchy mark on the skin. The finish should be flawlessly looking even skin that is fresh and appealing.

Once you’ve applied foundation and then the concealer, make sure to set it all with a loose or pressed powder to prolong the longevity of the products on your skin.

Pros and cons of applying foundation first

Makeup artists are univocal in using foundation before concealer. The product is meant to even out the skin tone, and reduce all types of blemishes and discolorations. This also brings out which part of the skin really needs concealing and which tone of concealing. Until you use a foundation, it is difficult to judge the type and amount of concealer you need. Foundation should match the skin tone and the texture of both foundation and concealer should be the same for an even, flawless skin look.

Pros and cons of applying concealer first

Applying concealer first is likely to end up creasing the skin or letting the pimple and acne see through. This is because the concealer product gets diluted by the foundation products and loses its purpose. Applying the concealer over the foundation helps hide all unwanted skin anomalies.

There are of course rare cases like heavy dark circles where one may want to start with a concealer followed by foundation and top it with another layer of concealer. This should clearly bring into perspective all confusion about foundation vs. concealer.

Wrapping up

Concluding the foundation vs. concealer debate, we must say that majority of makeup artists opine that foundation should come first and then the concealer. Applying the foundation first helps in reducing all types of blemishes. Now that you understand ‘what is concealer vs foundation,’ you’re in a position to know what more needs concealing and correcting. As concealers are thicker than foundations, it helps cover up the spots easily when applied over it. Keep reading our blogs to get the best makeup tips as you explore our high-quality and cruelty-free makeup products at De’Lanci.