DIY Concealer For All Skin Types

DIY Concealer For All Skin Types

By Laura | Updated: 03/12/2024 | This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

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It’s one of those must-haves, I think. Concealer! My makeup bag wouldn’t be the same without it.

3 homemade concealers in small glass jars with a fine brush applicator.

Concealer takes me right back to the days of school where I’d smear it on to cover my angry spots, wishing to the heavens that they’d just disappear.

Or that it would last the day at least and keep them covered so that no one would comment on my skin.

Thankfully, the days of heavy concealers are long gone.

Nowadays, there are so many concealers available, but the great thing is when you make your own, you know you’re able to get an ideal skin color match.

I’m personally eager to reduce the amount of toxins and chemicals I use, too – particularly if I’m putting something on my skin.

So I thought of sharing this concealer recipe with you, where I’ll show you how to make a natural DIY concealer from scratch.

DIY concealer with extra piles of shade pigments on white marble.

Table of Contents

What is a concealer used for, and how concealer works

I’m a huge fan of making my own natural concealer. It’s a great alternative to the manufactured, heavily processed concealers you’ll find in the local beauty supply stores.

You can tweak the ingredients to help balance out the oils in your skin. And the fact that DIY concealer uses only natural products means it’s so much healthier.

Concealer works in a similar way to foundation, but it’s applied in small areas with precision to cover blemishes, pockets of redness and spots.

In some cases, concealer can be used in place of blush cream.

It’s also useful to cover dark under-eye circles and fine lines, as well as scars and insect bites.

Concealer applicator brush with several different concealer shades.

Can I use concealer as foundation?

My answer is – please don’t! Simply because it’s a thicker consistency than foundation and doesn’t spread as easily or thinly.

If you were to use concealer as a foundation, it would leave a thick layer on your skin which may clog the skin’s pores and not give you the look you want.

So use concealer as it’s intended – only on small areas of the face and neck to cover spots and blemishes, and remember to blend it in well.

Does concealer go on before or after foundation?

Foundation always goes on first before concealer. Try and think of concealer as one of the last products you use in your makeup routine.

It’s a ‘finisher’ for your skin – to hide stubborn blemishes which don’t get hidden with foundation.

Homemade concealer for dark circles being applied with a fine applicator.

The best natural concealer

I absolutely love this recipe for a DIY concealer that I’ll share below. It’s jam-packed full of natural products which are gentle on the skin, and because it’s oil-based, it blends easily without feeling too heavy or clammy.

I use it nearly every day to cover my blemishes, and I love how the tint matches my skin perfectly.

I’ll explain how to make the concealer and how to adjust the tint in the following sections.

If you are looking to lightly cover skin imperfections, try this tinted moisturizer.

Choosing the right shade

This is something that you’ll need to judge for yourself, but my best recommendation is to make this DIY concealer in natural light during the day, so you get the best tint matched to your skin color.

This DIY uses the same coloring powders as my homemade eyeshadow and setting powder.

Cocoa powder is great to use on darker skin tones, cinnamon is ideal for medium skin tones and ginger is the best for light skin tones.

Wooden spoons with different concealer shades on a white marble vanity.

These are my recommendations for natural colorant tints but use your judgment to make the right tint for you.

Another little trick is to test the color on the inner wrist area, as this is the closest in the color match to your face.

When adding colorants, start with ¼ of a teaspoon and mix, then add more until the desired tint is reached.

Keep testing the concealer on your face or wrist as you make it to make sure you get the right color match.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

DIY Concealer recipe

Ingredients

1 teaspoon each of jojoba oil, argan oil and mango butter
1/4 teaspoon of emulsifying wax
1 teaspoon of castor oil
1 tablespoon of non nano zinc oxide
1/4 teaspoon of colorant of choice (see ‘choosing the right shade’ above for tips on getting the tint right for your skin.

Instructions

Add the jojoba oil, Argan oil, mango butter and wax to a small saucepan.

Melt over low heat. Stir to combine as it melts.

Remove the pan from the heat.

Add in the castor oil, zinc oxide and cocoa powder or colorant of choice (see shade options above)

Leave to cool completely before using.

For best results, use after primer and foundation.

Top 3 best natural concealer recipes in small glass containers with the different color pigments in wooden spoons.

Tips on how to apply concealer

I use a clean finger to apply my concealer, but others choose to use a fine brush. Of course, it’s up to you what you use, so give both a go and see which works best.

If you do use your fingers, remember to give them a wash beforehand. And always blend your concealer well – either by gently dabbing it onto the blemish or stroking it on with your finger or brush.

Can you wear concealer without foundation?

Yes! If you’re blessed to have skin that you don’t need to put foundation on, and you only want to cover the odd spot here and there, then concealer is great.

Natural concealer for lighter skin tones on white top.

And that’s it! Why not try making a DIY concealer yourself and see how it goes? Or for more great makeup and skincare recipes, check out some of these favorites below.

I’d love to hear how you get along with this DIY concealer recipe, so comment below and let me know what you think.