Foundation Vs Concealer: Differences, Benefits, & Key Uses

Q: Is concealer the same as foundation?

No – though similar, foundation and concealer have several differences and can be used for different purposes: Foundation provides a base coat for your face, covering large areas with a coat of makeup that is perfect for layering or covering up large, lighter blemishes. Concealer is a targeted product that is best used to directly cover up areas of discolouration or blemishes.

Q: Should concealer be lighter than foundation?

It is not necessary for concealers to be lighter than foundation. The best concealer for you will depend on your skin tone and the areas you are trying to conceal. If you have light skin, you may want to choose a concealer that is one shade lighter than your foundation. If you have medium skin, you may want to choose a concealer that is the same shade as your foundation. If you have dark skin, you may want to choose a concealer that is one shade darker than your foundation.

Q: Can I use concealer as foundation?

Technically, you can use concealer as foundation, but it is not ideal. Concealer is typically thicker and more pigmented than foundation, so it can look cakey if it is applied all over the face. However, if you have very few blemishes or dark circles to cover up, you can use concealer as a spot treatment instead of foundation.

Q: Do you apply concealer before or after foundation?

In most cases, you’ll apply concealer after foundation (if you’re using both products). Foundation is light and designed to be layered on; it also has a subtle concealing effect, meaning once applied, it is easier to see the areas that clearly need direct concealer application.

Makeup is a powerful tool that can be used to enhance our natural beauty and express our individuality. Two of the most essential makeup products are foundation and concealer.

If you’ve ever wondered if foundation and concealer are the same thing (kind of like BB cream and CC cream), then you’ve come to the right place. While both products can be used to improve the appearance of your skin, they serve different purposes and are best used in different ways.

In this guide, we will explore the difference between concealer and foundation, before looking at how to use foundation and concealer, and which one you should apply first for best results!

Foundation Vs Concealer: Key takeaways

Foundation is a complexion product that people use as a base for their makeup. It is ideal for layering and can vary from lightweight, barely noticeable formulations, to more covering, heavier tones ideal for concealing.
Concealer is a targeted form of makeup designed to correct blemishes and neutralise discolouration. It is usually applied directly to specific areas and helps rebalance your skin tone subtly.
Most people will apply concealer after foundation, as foundation provides a base layer of coverage against blemishes itself.
Discover Maybelline's range of foundation and concealer to unlock the full benefits of each product, or use our Virtual Try On Tool to see how they would work for you.

Foundation vs Concealer: What’s the Difference?

Before we get into how to use foundation and concealer, let's look at the main differences between foundation Vs concealer:

What is foundation & what does it do?

As its name implies, foundation is a complexion product that is used as a base for the rest of your makeup. It is meant to even out your skin and create a smooth canvas (a foundation) for the rest of the makeup that will follow.

It can help to improve your skin tone, cover up blemishes and dark circles, and give you a more polished look. Foundations come in a variety of formulas, including liquid, powder, and stick, so you can choose the one that best suits your skin type and needs choose the one that best suits your skin type and needs. There are also varying levels of foundation coverage: light, medium, and full, each referring to how much of your natural skin will show through.

Light coverage foundation is a step up from tinted moisturiser and shouldn’t feel too heavy, while full coverage foundation looks to fully coat the face and is perfect for breakouts or blemishes you’re looking to cover.

What is concealer & what does it do?

Concealer is a thicker, more pigmented product that is used to target specific areas of the face, such as blemishes, dark circles, and redness. Concealer tends to come in a much smaller size for a few reasons:

It’s meant to spot-treat smaller areas
Less is more & a little bit goes a long way

Many concealers will feel thicker than foundation, and need to be blended well to appear seamless on the face. A few areas that are prone to discolouration are the t-zone– the forehead, nose, and chin– along with the under eyes.

Concealer is also great for camouflaging active breakouts or the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that’s left after a blemish has flattened. You’ll notice that concealers are often packaged in a way that makes it easier to treat smaller areas, whether that means it comes with a strategic sponge applicator like Instant Eraser Colour Correcting Concealer or a flexible, tapered wand like Super Stay 30H Full Coverage Concealer.

What Are the Benefits of Foundation and Concealer?

Benefits of Foundation

In order to create your perfect makeup look, you need a solid base, and this is exactly what foundation gives you. There are several benefits of foundation that make it an essential part of many people’s makeup routine, some of our favourite benefits include:

Foundation can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Can partially cover up blemishes.
Foundations like our Lifter Plump and Glow Foundation use niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin as well as cover it.
Foundations like our Super Stay 30h Lumi-Matte Foundation last for up to 30 hours, making it ideal for full-day wear.

Benefits of Concealer

While there is crossover between the two, there are numerous benefits of concealer that also mean it is a crucial part of many people’s skincare routine. Some of our favourites include:

Colour concealers can hide hyperpigmentation and other unwanted areas of discolouration on the face.
Concealers can fully cover distinct blemishes and areas of discolouration.
Concealers can even out skin tones and restore balance.
Concealers like our Super Stay 30H Full Coverage Concealer last up to 24 hours, making them perfect for all-day coverage.

When to Use Foundation vs Concealer

Now we’ve been over the differences between concealer and foundation, let's take a look at when to use each one:

Blemishes: If you’re struggling with blemishes and are looking to cover them up, then using both foundation and concealer is probably your best bet. A base of your favourite foundation can help to partially obscure blemishes across your face, while a good concealer can target them specifically and work to create a flawless finish across the face.
Breakouts: Larger breakouts are best combatted with a coat of foundation. While concealer works well for targeted application, one of the key benefits of foundation is its ability to cover large areas and obscure larger cosmetic issues.
Discolouration: If you’re struggling with discolouration across your face or neck, then a colour correcting concealer. Colour correcting is an art form in itself, so for more info on the shades you need to use, check out our colour correcting guide!
Every day makeup: For a casual, natural look, both concealer and foundation can work. Skipping foundation for a day and just targeting individual blemishes with concealer, or applying a simple light coat of foundation, are both great ways to subtly use the products.

Should You Apply Concealer Before or After Foundation?

Ultimately, whether you apply your foundation or concealer first is a matter of preference, but typically, foundation is the first step.

Technically, the first step in your skincare routine should be a primer, which would then be followed by foundation, but in terms of foundation and concealer, foundation would go first. Using it in this order may also show you that you don’t need as much concealer if your foundation is already laying an even base.

The exception to this rule, however, is if you have some areas of discolouration that you’re looking to cover. In these cases, it may be more beneficial to use concealer or colour correcting concealer first to neutralise darkness or discolouration and then apply your foundation on top.

If you’re having a no-makeup makeup day, you may want to skip foundation altogether, instead focusing on really good skincare and then using your concealer to cover certain spots. In this case, it’s even more important to blend so that you can sheer out the thickness of the concealer, allowing it to appear more natural and skin-like.

Do You Need Both Foundation and Concealer?

In the end, how or if you use foundation and concealer is entirely up to you. Though there are plenty of differences between concealer and foundation, they complement each other well and can both be used to great effect to cover blemishes, marks and provide a base for your makeup routine.