The Case For Marinating Your Concealer

We love a good beauty hack, especially when it comes to concealer. It's a staple in every makeup routine (unless you were blessed with perfect skin and zero under-eye circles), so if there's a way to improve application and wear time, we're all ears. Thankfully, there's a new tip floating around the internet that does just that — it's called marinating your concealer. Similar to how you might improve the taste of your chicken or vegetables by allowing them to sit in a marinade before cooking, marinating your concealer involves allowing your concealer to sit on your skin before blending it out. If that seems simple enough, that's because it is.

Apply your concealer as you normally would, then leave it be for a few minutes — no more than five, or it becomes difficult to work with. Then, go ahead and blend it out using your finger or a damp beauty sponge. SubtlBeauty recommends the finger method because it warms up the product, making it easier to blend, but the choice is up to you; marinating your concealer is what makes the bigger difference, no matter which blending method you choose. Don't believe us? Take a look at some of the perks of this new beauty hack.

One of the greatest benefits of marinating your concealer is the amazing coverage it provides. Think about how many times you've applied concealer and blended it out, just for it to immediately disappear. Now, you're right back where you started — with uneven skin, dark under-eye circles, and redness. But when you allow the concealer to sit on your skin before blending, you're giving it time to dry down on the places you applied it so it isn't as slippery when you blend it. This prevents it from moving around as easily, so you can blend without wiping away all of that coverage.

Certain concealers dry down quicker than others and are more difficult to blend, so we suggest testing out a few different options until you find one that works for you. Instead of spending a ton of money on different products, head to your local makeup store and ask for samples. That way, you can get a sense of what's out there without breaking the bank.

Speaking of breaking the bank — the more makeup you use, the more money you'll spend to keep your go-tos on hand. But when you marinate your concealer, you don't have to apply more layers to get the coverage you want, so you're using less product. That's especially important if you're trying to watch your expenses. Depending on the brand of concealer you use, you could be spending upwards of $70 (as seen on Ulta), and that can really add up when you're consistently buying a new tube. Of course, you don't need to use the most expensive concealer on the market — there are several affordable options available — but even then, purchasing a new $8 product every few weeks isn't ideal.

This is especially helpful if you purchase a few different shades. According to Maybelline, you should have at least two concealers — one to brighten your under eyes and another for concealing redness or blemishes. (Think about it; you don't want to highlight your blemishes or have areas of your face that blatantly don't match your foundation.) So especially if you keep more than one color of concealer on hand, you'll want to marinate your concealer if you want to save yourself money.

If you're someone who doesn't like wearing a ton of makeup and prefers a more natural look, marinating your concealer is the perfect technique for you. It gives your skin that more realistic, lived-in appearance because you aren't applying multiple layers of product. It looks even more natural without any foundation underneath, though the decision to go without it is entirely up to you and your confidence level. It's great for days when you want to cover up a few spots but don't feel like putting on a full face of makeup.

Maybe you're spending a day at the beach or a night out dancing and know you're going to be sweating a lot. When you wear only concealer that you've allowed to marinate, you won't have to worry about it looking messy or blotchy because it already resembles your normal skin. The only difference is you're concealing a few areas you don't want others to see rather than painting on an entirely new face, which can slide around in less-than-optimal conditions. By marinating your concealer for a more natural look, you basically have a foolproof way to get the flawless skin you want.