Many of us have those busy mornings where we want to touch up an area of our face instead of trying to apply a full face of makeup. Guess what? There's a minimalist makeup hack for that, and it's called “micro-concealing.”
The technique is practical because it doesn't require a ton of products or time. You simply take a small amount of concealer to spot correct and even out your skin tone without the need of a full face of foundation.
Essentially you are using just a few dots of concealer where needed -- whether it's under your eye or to cover up a zit -- and gently blending. That's it! You aren't adding on another huge layer of complexion correcting products, highlighting or contouring. You are simply using less makeup to get the look of a flawless uniformed skin tone.
Makeup artist Valerie Ferreira has discussed micro-concealing with Harper's Bazaar UK and Allure, and she recently used the technique on actress Lucy Boynton.
Ferreira used a concealer stick from La Mer and a small pointed brush to help achieve Boynton's radiant, even finished look.
Kim Kardashian's go-to makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is also a fan of micro-concealing. "To do it, you use a thin makeup brush to place the product gently into small dots throughout your face, exactly where you need coverage," he explained to beauty website Byrdie. "Then, you feather out the product by applying as little pressure as possible to your brush. Then, pat with your fingers softly to set."
Dedivanovic also advises finding a shade that's closest to your skin color as opposed to getting something lighter that you would traditionally use to brighten dark circles under your eyes.
Experts agree that when you are micro-concealing, you need to stick with products that will seamlessly blend best with your skin's texture. Steer clear of concealers that are too oily, as they will leave your corrected spots shiny and more noticeable throughout the day. Your best bet is a matte textured concealer that will dry down and have longevity. A few staff favorites that won't leave a melted mess on your face include Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer, Milk Makeup Flex Concealer and NARS Concealer stick.