<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Forget diamonds\u2014concealer is a girl's best friend. And the sad thing is, most girls go their entire lives without really tapping into its myriad wonders. Perhaps that's because, kind of like the perfect pair of jeans, the right concealer can be pretty hard to find. Some are too yellow, some are too pink; others, too tacky, or they crease too easily.\n\nSo we took careful notes on the technique of Diane Kendal, a legendary makeup artist seen backstage at all of New York Fashion Week's biggest shows, who rarely\u2014if ever\u2014uses foundation. Instead, she's never without a handy arsenal of NARS Radiant Creamy Concealers in hand, diffusing them over the skin for a flawless, natural look that's now become her signature.\n\nBut she's not the only one who swears by the stuff, which is, we'll have you know, the best. Beyonc\u00E9's most trusted makeup artist, Sir John, gushed over the exact same concealer as Ms. Kendal. And he would know\u2014his top client practically embodies \"flawless\" (it's even the name of a song on her latest album!). \"Oddly enough, it was Teen Vogue's Beauty &amp;amp; Health Director, Elaine Welteroth, who first introduced me to the NARS concealer,\" he says. \"It has a convertible quality to it that allows you to use it in so many ways.\"\n\nThe cardinal rule of concealer is that you actually need a bunch. \"One should match your complexion, but you also need one in a shade lighter and one in a shade darker, because your skin changes with the seasons,\" Sir John says. \"Then, you need one in a warmer tone just for under the eyes.\" Who knew?\n\nHere, with a little help from Sir John, we break down a few inventive ways for you to wear this magical stick of makeup.\n\nAs foundation: \"For a really lit-from-within look, start with a luminous moisturizer,\" advises Sir John. (He recommends Embryolisse, but try Dr. Hauschka Melissa Day Cream if you're oil-prone). \"Then, take the wand out of the concealer and smear the product on the back of your hand. Next, with a big, fluffy brush, buff the concealer in all over the face. You'll have undetectable foundation for the first time ever.\"\n\n As always with foundation, make sure to start in the center of your face and work product outwards to the perimeter, causing light to diffuse in a non-shiny, realistic-looking way. Dip your brush and start smack dab in the middle of the forehead, working the product towards the hairline. Repeat that motion at the corners of the nose, moving up the cheekbone, and on the chin, working towards the jawline. We recommend the Shiseido Foundation Brush or the larger end of a damp BeautyBlender sponge.\n\nFor dark circles: Late night studying? \"Choose a warmer concealer for under the eyes\u2014it'll neutralize cool tones like blues and purples,\" says Sir John. \"You're not really covering up, you're just tricking the eye and creating an optical illusion.\" He suggests placing two dots\u2014one right underneath the tear duct and one right in the middle of the undereye\u2014and diffusing the product with MAC's #224 Eyeshadow Brush. \"I have eight of them in my kit,\" he adds. \"It makes concealer look airbrushed.\"\n\nAs eyeshadow: An oft-forgotten step in the concealing process is brightening your eyelids. When you don't sleep enough, the eyes don't just get darker underneath, but also on top. Bummer, right? But all you need to do is take your lightest concealer and dab a tiny dot in the middle, then feather it out with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. Awake in an instant!\n\nFor acne: Good skincare is always essential, but especially if you're dealing with a breakout. \"Once you've finished your skin regimen, wear a sheer foundation using the method we described above,\" Sir John says. (We know\u2014it feels counterintuitive, but this will help prevent caking around the problem area!) \"Then, put some product on the back of your hand and use a tiny brush to stipple it onto the spot or scar.\" Try Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage Brush, or use the rounded top of a BeautyBlender sponge, which'll provide coverage to the whole area.\n\nTo prime the lips: It's the oldest trick in the book. If you have naturally dark lips, or you want to pull off a major color, prep your lips with a thin layer of concealer. Set it with powder, then apply your lipstick.\n\nSo, have we changed your life or what?"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/best-concealer>