

The first concelar i wil talk about is liquid. If it is a drug store brand (cover girl, maybeline, ect) it will probably come in a tube with a screw top and one of those applicators that come in cheap lip gloss. If you are buying a higher end liquid concealor, it usually comes in a sort of pen that has a brush at the end to help with application. sometimes, high end liquid concealor will come in a tube. I find that liquid concealor works best when i'm trying to cover up a bunch of smaller things. for me, it dosnt allways work on those zits that are 3D but does a fine job covering up slight discoloring, and also hides under eye circles as long as they are not really bad or baggy.
when applying liquid concealor, i find it easiest to use the given applicator, and create sevral small dots in the area needed, then i usually use my finger to blend. Most people use a concealor brush. I got a foundation brush at forever 21 that cost $4. at first, it was really stiff, and even after spending up to 10 minutes, there would still be streak marks. i found this to be the result of having a brush with to manny hares, and being too stiff. to fix it, i just jammed the end of the brush into a table a few times, and then the brush was softened. so if your using a brush, i reccomend gently sweeping it over the concealor to get it spread out, then use your finger for finishing toutches.

Concealer Stick/ Cover-up


My recommendation: if you think you really need a concealer stick, splurge. I heard coverfx has a great cover up that's $40. If you'r just looking to experiment, i heard maybeline and e.l.f both have cheap cover up but it's a bit chalky and encourages breakouts.
Cream concealer


when ever i apply cream concealer, first i put clearosal on any acne then i use that foundation brush i discussed in the liquid concealer section. i just press a side of it against the surface of the concealer and then dab away exes on the side of the container before dabbing the tip of the brush on the nessecary area. i then use my finger to blend and ajust the concealer. if you are using a cream concealer with a consistancy closer to that of a liquid concealer, just use the process for that.
if you are thinking about a cream concealer, here are my reccomendations.

for brightening dark or discolored skin: Benefit erase paste, $26
for general long wear coverage: mac studio finish spf 35 concealer, $16.50 (its water resistant!)
My conclusion: experiment. go to makeup counters and try different things out. i believe concealer is one of those things that everyone has a different preference. Have fun!
emma