‘I tried five of the most-watched concealer hack tutorials on TikTok – and here’s the best one’
Rachael Martin
Beauty & skincare
Reading time: 5 minutes
From mixing my concealer with blush to the ‘facelift’ hack, I’ve tested them all (so you don’t have to)
Just a scroll through TikTok and we’re met with all the trending make-up inspo we could ever dream of. From jaw contouring with NikkieTutorials to Mikayla Nogueira’s enviable glass skin, these creators know just what makes a viral moment. So, we thought we’d give some love to the latest trend taking over our feeds – concealer hacks. And turns out, some are crazier than others. Ever the trooper (no need to applaud), I’ve tried five of the top concealer TikTok hacks so you don’t have to and, spoiler alert, there’s an obvious winner.
The concealer-blush hack
For years, we’ve been accustomed to applying a lighter concealer under our eyes to reflect light and minimise dark circles. But according to TikTok, we’ve been doing it all wrong. Enter the concealer-blush hack where a bright pink (you heard me right) blusher is paired with a concealer and patted under the eyes to help colour correct any unwanted darkness.
Step 1
I opted for Revolution Superdewy Liquid Blush, in Flushing For You, and No7 Lift & Luminate Serum Concealer, mixing them together on my hand to reveal a warm, peachy shade.
Step 2
I then applied it to the inner and outer corners of my eyes, being mindful that less is more here.
Step 3
Using a concealer brush, I gently patted the product in, being sure to cover the whole area and blending out.
I can’t deny that the immediate effect was a fine example of a ‘She’s been crying for hours’ look. But, shockingly, after some serious blending, the peach colour actually did correct my dark circles to reveal a brighter look. I’m officially shook. To conclude? This wasn’t as bad as I thought and, once I blended it in, it actually looked pretty good. It’s a four out of five for me.
The facelift concealer hack
The ‘snatched’ supermodel look has been all over my feed of late. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to look like a Hadid sister? The secret, it seems, is in the application. Instead of applying your concealer in the usual rounded swoop that follows your eye contour, this hack requires more strategic yet simplified strokes – meaning it’s already a trend I can get on board with.
Step 1
I applied a little of the MAC Studio Fix 24-Hour Smooth Wear Concealer, in the inner and outer corners of my eyes.
Step 2
I used a damp sponge similar to the Beautyblender Original and pressed the concealer into the skin, being careful to press in an upward motion.
Step 3
I closed my eyes and spritzed with Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, which has been a long time fail-proof for setting my make-up.
I like this hack because it’s super simple and effective – it turns out we don’t need loads of concealer to achieve a more snatched under eye area – it’s more about placement and technique. I prefer my skin to look like ‘skin’ and the minimal amount of product you need helps achieve this. It’s a five out of five for me and there’s now a chance I could be mistaken for Gigi. It’s small. But it’s there.
The no-crease under-eye concealer hack
There’s nothing I hate more than realising my concealer has decided to sit in the fine lines under my eyes. It’s just not a look I’m about. Turns out that TikTok creators also have this issue, and have taken action via a smoothing under-eye concealer hack. I’m sceptical, but I’m going to put it to the test.
Step 1
I began by applying a gel-based moisturiser under the eye. Something like the Byoma Moisturizing Gel Cream works well to hydrate the area without being too heavy.
Step 2
I applied Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, in a shade close to my skin tone and let it sit for a few seconds before blending with a damp beauty blender.
Step 3
I finished by setting the look with a fluffy brush and a dusting of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.
While the immediate result was acceptable, my make-up didn’t look that smooth by the end of the day. In fact, the setting powder seemed to clog up my under-eyes and made them look drier and wrinklier than ever. For this reason, this concealer hack is getting a very sad one out of five from me.
The sculpting concealer hack
This one wins the prize of being the scariest looking hack. The aim of the game? Using a mapping technique to highlight high points of the face and ultimately create a sculpted, brighter look using a concealer that's brighter than your natural skin tone.
Step 1
I used the Maybelline Eraser Multi-Use Concealer and applied it from the inner to the outer corner of the eye, down the side of the nose to the cupid's bow, across the lip and upwards towards the ear. I then followed this line back down under my lips and finally finished off down the centre of the chin.
Step 2
I then repeated this on the other side.
Step 3
I finished by pressing the concealer into the skin with a clean, damp beauty blender.
End results? A bit dramatic and stark for the everyday girl tbh. If you’re going for an extra look then this might be helpful. It’s very bright and very full coverage, purely down to the amount of product used, which unfortunately, looked patchy on drier parts of my skin – like my upper lip. Overall, an unglamorous experience I’ll be awarding a two out of five to.
The bye-bye blemish concealer hack
Looking for a way to successfully hide blemishes and spot marks? One trend claims to show us how and I’m most definitely on board here.
Step 1
I applied 17. Second Skin Enhancing Concealer directly onto the blemish and then blended it in with a densely-packed brush.
Step 2
I applied a layer of Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder over the concealed area. It’s got a weightless, silky texture.
Step 3
Finally, I added another layer of concealer, tapping it in with the warmth of my fingertips.
The end game? Pretty great, actually. The coverage was excellent and my blemish stayed concealed throughout the day, despite me opting for an overall “no-make-up make-up” look. I’d go as far as saying that this hack really is a winner. I’ve saved the best ‘till last – this one gets a wonderful five out of five.
The TikTok takeaway
Like most TikTok make-up trends, I was sceptical of what might work and what might not. No one wants to be taken for a fool, right? However, four out of five of these hacks have really impressed me, and may just have earned their place in my beauty routine.
