What foundation and concealer should I use?

You'll want to choose foundation and concealer based on your skin type and individual needs. For instance, if you have oily skin and would like a matte finish, choose both foundation and concealer that will help mattify your shine and give the finish you want. If you want a dewier finish, the formulas you choose should aid in keeping your skin luminous.

Should you use both foundation and concealer?

You can opt to use both foundation and concealer if they are delivering the results you need. Most people use foundation to cover their complexion and even out skin tone, while concealer is used under the eyes for dark circles, and on spots such as blemishes and hyperpigmentation. If you get the benefit from one product, you don't need to use both, whichever works best for your needs.

Do you apply concealer or foundation first?

Depending on what you're using each product for can determine when you apply it, yet, best practice is to apply foundation first, following up with applying concealer after to focus on under the eyes, around the nose, and blemishes. When you apply concealer first and then blend foundation on top, it can sometimes rub off with the foundation.

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The 6 Best Foundation and Concealer Combos, According to Byrdie Editors

By

Holly Rhue

Updated on 06/25/24 04:50PM

Reviewed by

Ashley Rebecca

Contributing Writer and Makeup Artist

byrdie editors on tan background — Byrdie

Virtually every popular foundation brand has formulated a corresponding concealer—but sometimes it's better to customize your own combination by mixing and matching. For example, someone who prefers a matte foundation might prefer a concealer with a dewy finish. And someone else who prefers a lightweight base might prefer a full-coverage concealer.

And when it comes to finding experts in foundation and concealer matching, look no further than the Byrdie editors. As full-time beauty editors, we have the luxury of trying every complexion launch before it launches, so we know a thing or two about foundation and concealer combos that are just better together. So ahead, discover the best foundation and concealer combinations the Byrdie editors can't stop wearing, from Kosas, to Danessa Myricks, and beyond.

Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Foundation + Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Concealer

Editors' Foundation + Concealer Combos — Sephora/ Yummy Skin/ Byrdie

"Without question, my all-time favorite foundation is the Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Serum Foundation (I wear shade 13N). It offers medium, buildable coverage and leaves my skin with a radiant, natural glow. In addition, this foundation is infused with jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, and olive-derived squalane, so it feels really hydrating on the skin as well. I often pair the Yummy Skin Serum Foundation with Sephora Collection's Best Skin Ever Full Coverage Multi-Use Concealer (in shade 31Y), a full-coverage liquid concealer. It effortlessly conceals and covers any dark areas, leaving my skin with a natural finish. I also love that this formula feels weightless and hydrating, thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and algae extract." — Olivia Hancock, editor

e.l.f. Halo Glow LIquid Filter + r.e.m. Sweetener Concealer

"When it comes to complexion products, I always gravitate toward lightweight formulas that leave my skin glowy. I’ve raved about e.l.f’s Halo Glow Liquid Filter more times than I can count and it’s simply everything I want in a complexion booster. R.e.m. beauty’s concealer seals the deal by minimizing my dark circles and smoothing my under-eye area. While this concealer is medium to full coverage a little definitely goes a long way. This combo is my go-to year-round." — Jasmine Phillips, social media editor

Ami Cole Skin-Enhancing Tint + Kosas Revealer Concealer

"I've fallen in love with Kosas' Revealer Concealer (and, given its virality on the internet, I'm not alone). The formula is absolutely incredible. It's a medium coverage that breathes—it offers a perfecting bath of product, applied with an easy-to-wield doe-foot applicator, and yields glowy, even, skin-like skin. It's packed with caffeine to reduce puffiness, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to keep your skin hydrated and plump, and arnica to visibly reduce redness. IMO, it's magic in a bottle. I swipe a small amount under my eyes, nose, along my chin, and a tiny dot on my forehead. I follow that up with Ami Cole's Skin Enhancing Tint, a sheer-but-buildable formula with a satin finish. I use very little to blur and even my skin tone after concealer." — Hallie Gould, editor-in-chief + GM

Fenty Pro Filt'r Foundation + Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer

"I'm big into full coverage and this duo does the job. Fenty Beauty's Pro Filtr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is the perfect base for my combination skin. It gives me a full-coverage, matte, blank canvas with very little product. It's the foundation I chose when I want to do a full beat without looking cakey. Then, Charlotte Tilbury's Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer pairs perfectly to bring some luminosity to my under eyes and high points on my face. I tend to choose a slightly lighter shade than my skin's tone to brighten my look and emphasize the glow that this concealer gives off." — Star Donaldson, associate social media director

Kosas Revealer Foundation + Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer

"I dealt with extreme acne for years, so a good base routine is like a security blanket for me. While my skin is pretty clear now, I still like a medium coverage out of habit and to keep my acne scars hidden. The problem? I'm on the drier side so foundation tends to look cakey or bunchy, especially as the day goes on. I love the Kosas Revealer Foundation so much (I'm shade 140), it glides right onto my skin and two laters give me enough coverage to conceal my discoloration but doesn't look (or feel) heavy. It has such a pretty glowy finish and stays put all day. I have an arsenal of concealers that I love, but my favorite, hands-down, is the Hourglass Airbrush in Creme. Just as the name suggests, it buffs away pimples and dark circles without ever getting crusty. It's a must in my makeup bag." — Bella Cacciatore, news editor

Too Faced Born This Way Skin Tint + Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer

"The latest addition to Too Faced's iconic Born This Way collection is this gorgeous, 'Healthy Glow' skin tint. This formula is perfect for anyone who wants a dewy glow without feeling like an oil slick—and it has the added benefit of SPF 30 (although you should still wear a regular sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher underneath). I like to pair it with Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Concealer. The counterpart to the brand's iconic Luminous Silk Foundation (which I also love for more of a full glam moment), this concealer gives me all the coverage I need for my dark under-eye circles without feeling heavy or cakey." — Holly Rhue, associate editorial director

Ciele's Tint & Protect Tinted Serum Foundation + Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Photo of Byrdie editor Eden Stuart posing for a selfie wearing glasses with hair pulled back — Eden Stuart / Byrdie

"Confession: I don't really wear concealer under my eyes. Honestly, I cannot be convinced that there is a formula out there that won't make me look as creased as laundry left unfolded for a week. But, as someone who is constantly playing whack-a-mole with hyperpigmentation, I am familiar with using concealer for blemish coverage. I've used NARS' Radiant Creamy Concealer for that task for years (since long before I was a beauty editor), and Cle de Peau's celebrity-loved Concealer does a wonderful job, too. Both pair beautifully with Ciele's Tint & Protect Tinted Serum Foundation, which provides a surprising amount of blurring and pigmentation, given how lightweight the formula is." -Eden Stuart, editor

FAQ

What foundation and concealer should I use?

You'll want to choose foundation and concealer based on your skin type and individual needs. For instance, if you have oily skin and would like a matte finish, choose both foundation and concealer that will help mattify your shine and give the finish you want. If you want a dewier finish, the formulas you choose should aid in keeping your skin luminous.
Should you use both foundation and concealer?

You can opt to use both foundation and concealer if they are delivering the results you need. Most people use foundation to cover their complexion and even out skin tone, while concealer is used under the eyes for dark circles, and on spots such as blemishes and hyperpigmentation. If you get the benefit from one product, you don't need to use both, whichever works best for your needs.
Do you apply concealer or foundation first?

Depending on what you're using each product for can determine when you apply it, yet, best practice is to apply foundation first, following up with applying concealer after to focus on under the eyes, around the nose, and blemishes. When you apply concealer first and then blend foundation on top, it can sometimes rub off with the foundation.