Let’s face it: finding your perfect concealer shade can feel a little intimidating. Too light? Too dark? Too orange? Too gray? Suddenly, that “quick makeup step” turns into a whole thing. But it doesn’t have to. Whether you’re after a true skin-match to cover blemishes or a brighter shade to lift and highlight, we’re breaking it down so you can land your ideal shade match with confidence.
The secret starts with undertone, then locks in with your skin tone. When your concealer syncs with both, it melts in seamlessly—blurring dark spots, blemishes, redness, and discoloration without looking heavy or obvious. The right concealer shade doesn’t just camouflage; it enhances your natural complexion for a smooth, natural-looking finish that lets skin look like skin.
By choosing the best concealer shade for your tone and undertone, you’ll create a radiant, even-looking base that plays beautifully with the rest of your makeup routine. Contour finds its dimension and everything harmonizes for a polished-yet-real result. Quick step, big payoff, zero guesswork.
Step One: Identify Your Skin Undertone (Warm, Cool, or Neutral)
Before you even look at shade names, understanding your skin undertone is everything. Undertones are the subtle hues beneath your skin that don’t change—even if your tan does.
Need a quick and easy way to figure out your undertone? Check the veins on the inside of your wrist:
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Green-looking veins: warm undertones
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Blue or purple veins: cool undertones
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A mix of both: neutral undertones
Still not 100% sure where you land? Totally normal. Undertones can be subtle, so these extra tricks can help confirm what your skin is telling you.
The Jewelry Test: Take a look at the jewelry you wear most. If gold tends to make your skin glow, you likely have warm undertones. If silver looks especially flattering, you’re probably cool-toned. If both metals work equally well, congrats—you’re likely neutral.
The White Paper Test: Hold a clean sheet of white paper next to your face in natural light (no filters, no bright bathroom lighting). If your skin looks more yellow or golden, you’re warm. If it reads pink, red, or rosy, you’re cool. If it appears balanced—neither too pink nor too yellow—you’re neutral.
The Foundation Check: Think about foundations you’ve tried in the past. If shades labeled “warm” or “golden” usually suit you best, you’re likely warm-toned. If “cool” or “rosy” shades are your go-tos, you’re probably cool. And if you’ve always felt comfortable in “neutral” shades, that’s your answer right there.
Knowing your undertone helps you avoid concealers that look too ashy, too orange, or just off once blended.
Step Two: Decide How You Want to Use Your Concealer
Not all concealer shades serve the same purpose—and that’s a good thing.
For spot concealing (blemishes, redness, dark spots), choose a concealer shade that matches your skin tone as closely as possible. This helps create seamless coverage that blends right into your foundation or bare skin.
For brightening under eyes or the high points of your face, go one to two shades lighter than your skin tone while staying within the same undertone family. This helps lift and illuminate without looking chalky or gray.
It’s worth noting that under-eye skin and the rest of your face don’t always need the same shade—your eye area is thinner, sometimes darker, and benefits from a touch of brightness rather than a true skin match.
Consider finish and wear time, too: Some concealers can deepen slightly as they dry down or wear throughout the day (hello, oxidation), especially matte formulas. Your skin type and the finish you choose—matte vs. satin—can impact how a shade ultimately looks once set. When in doubt, give your concealer a moment to dry before committing to a shade.
Pro tip: Using multiple concealer shades is totally normal (and very pro-makeup-artist of you).
Step Three: Begin Swatching on Your Lower Cheek
Now that you’ve discovered your correct undertone, it's time to begin swatching by focusing on your lower cheek. When testing concealer shades, skip the back of your hand—your face deserves better!
The best place to swatch concealer is along your lower cheek or jawline. Test a range of cool, neutral, and warm-toned shades side by side within your undertone range and blend them out slightly. You should be able to pinpoint the concealer shade that seamlessly compliments your complexion. The shade that seems to “disappear” into your skin? That’s your match.
Finding Your Brightening Concealer Shade
Once you’ve found your perfect skin-match concealer, you can dial up the glow with a brightening concealer shade. This is the concealer shade that can help you look more awake, lifted, and refreshed.
To find your brightening shade, choose a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin-match shade, while staying within the same undertone family. This keeps the brightness looking natural rather than stark or ashy.
Apply your brightening concealer to areas where light naturally hits the face:
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Under the eyes (especially the inner corners)
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The center of the forehead
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Down the bridge of the nose
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The high points of the cheekbones
Blend well, and keep placement intentional—a little goes a long way. The goal is subtle lift and luminosity, not obvious contrast.
Common Concealer Shade-Matching Mistakes to Avoid
Even when you’re doing everything almost right, a few small missteps can throw off your concealer match:
Testing on Your Hand or Arm: Your hand or arm rarely matches your face in tone or depth, so testing there can lead to a shade that looks off once applied. For the most accurate match, always swatch along your lower cheek or jawline—where your face and neck meet.
Poor Lighting: Bathroom lighting and store fluorescents can be misleading. A shade that looks perfect indoors may appear too light, dark, or warm once you step outside. Whenever possible, check your concealer in natural light before committing.
Ignoring Oxidation: Some concealer formulas oxidize, meaning they deepen slightly as they dry down or wear throughout the day. Always check product-specific guidance and give your concealer a moment to fully set before deciding if it’s the right shade.
Mismatching Undertones: Choosing the wrong undertone can make even the right depth look unnatural. A cool-toned concealer on warm skin (or vice versa) can appear gray, pink, or orange once blended. Matching both depth and undertone is key to a truly seamless finish.
Understanding Different Concealer Formulas & Finishes
At e.l.f., we offer three different concealer types—all offer seamless, true-to-you coverage, just with different finishes and wear preferences.
NEW! Soft Glam Satin Concealer:
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Satin finish with a soft-focus effect
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Medium, buildable coverage that looks smooth and natural on skin
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Ideal for normal to dry skin or anyone who prefers a radiant (not shiny) finish
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Designed to flex with skin for comfortable, everyday wear
This satin concealer offers the best of both worlds—coverage that perfects, with a satin finish that keeps skin looking fresh and skin-like.
16HR Camo Concealer:
Our 16HR Camo Concealer has a matte finish and comes in a black cap. This formula dries down just a little darker than it appears at first, so you’ll want to match to the color on the packaging or if swatching, wait a few seconds for the concealer to dry down.
Hydrating Camo Concealer:
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Satin, full coverage finish
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Ideal for dry or normal skin
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Infused with hydrating ingredients
This hydrating concealer stays true to the shade you see in the bottle, so no waiting required—what you see swatched is how it will look on your skin!
Try Our Virtual Try-On or Shade Finder Quiz:
Can’t make it to a store? We’ve got you covered. Our Virtual Try-On lets you test concealer shades using your camera or by uploading a photo, so you can see how each concealer looks on you before buying. With Virtual Try-On, you can either use the live feature or upload a photo to find your perfect match.
Prefer guided help? Our Shade Finder Quiz walks you through a few quick questions or lets you match based on a shade you already use. You’ll find both tools directly on the product page under the shade selection—making it easier than ever to find your perfect match from anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions about Concealer Shade Matching:
How do I choose the right concealer shade online?
Use tools like e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Virtual Try-On or our Shade Finder Quiz, and start by matching your undertone and skin depth. When in doubt, check shade descriptions and look for swatches on a range of skin tones!
What concealer shade should I pick if I’m between two shades?
Go with the slightly lighter shade—you can always build coverage or warm it up with bronzer, while a shade that’s too dark is harder to fix.
Should concealer be lighter or darker than my foundation?
For spot concealing, choose a shade that matches your foundation. For brightening under the eyes or highlighting, go one to two shades lighter within the same undertone.
Do I need a different concealer shade for under-eyes vs. blemishes?
Yes—under-eyes typically benefit from a brighter shade, while blemishes look most natural when concealed with a true skin-match.
Do I need a peach or orange corrector before concealer?
If you have deeper under-eye darkness or discoloration, a peach or orange corrector can help neutralize tones before applying concealer—but it’s not always necessary for lighter shadows.
Do concealer shades look different on dry vs. oily skin?
It can—matte formulas may appear slightly deeper on oily skin, while hydrating or satin finishes tend to stay truer to shade on dry skin.
What lighting should I use to check my shade?
Natural daylight is best! Always step outside or near a window to confirm your shade looks seamless beyond indoor lighting.
How do I choose a concealer shade if I tan easily?
Stick to your undertone and consider having two shades on hand—one for your natural skin tone and one slightly deeper for when your tan kicks in!
How to Apply our NEW Soft Glam Concealer