How To Choose the Right L'Oréal Paris Concealer Shade

When contemplating how to choose a concealer shade, it’s important to consider how you’ll use the formula in your makeup routine. These days, face concealers can do so much more than just mask imperfections. When picked wisely, the right shade can also help you neutralize discoloration, contour your features, or highlight certain areas of your face. However, knowing which color (and tone) to opt for is essential for achieving your desired results. Ahead, we share tips on how to find the right L’Oréal Paris concealer shade based on your unique needs. Whether you’re searching for the best concealer for dark circles or want a full-coverage concealer for blemishes, here’s what you need to know about narrowing down your options.

Step 1: Identify Your Skin Tone and Undertone

Finding your flawless concealer match requires looking beyond just the surface level of your complexion. You must understand both your surface skin tone and its underlying “temperature” to find your ideal shade.

What is skin tone?

Your skin tone refers to how much melanin you have on the surface of your skin, which can fluctuate depending on how much sun exposure you get throughout the year. Surface tones are generally grouped into five main categories:

• Fair: Very pale skin that burns easily.
• Light: Pale complexions with a bit more color.
• Medium: Covers a wide range of tones, including olive skin.
• Tan: Represents rich, deep sunkissed tones.
• Deep: Displays intense depth and rich pigment.

What is an undertone?

Your undertone is the underlying tint of your skin that lies beneath the surface. It can either be cool, warm, or neutral, and unlike your overall skin tone, it never changes, regardless of the season or sun exposure.

• Cool: Contains hints of pink, red, or blue.
• Warm: Features yellow, peach, and golden tones.
• Neutral: This means your skin has an equal balance of both warm and cool elements.

How to determine your undertone

There are a few simple tests that you can employ to determine your undertone:

• The vein test: Flip your wrist over and look at your veins in natural light. Blue or purple veins indicate a cool undertone, green veins suggest a warm undertone, and a mix of both points to a neutral undertone.
• The jewelry test: Silver jewelry tends to flatter cool undertones, while gold jewelry shines best on warm undertones. Those with neutral undertones can pull off either metal with ease.
• Sun exposure clues: Those who burn easily usually have cool undertones, while those who tan easily often have warm undertones. Those with neutral undertones may have burns that gradually fade into tans.

How to pick a concealer shade based on your skin tone and undertone

Choose a concealer that matches both your skin tone and undertone. Most L'Oréal Paris concealers are labeled as cool, warm, or neutral to help you find your best match.

Step 2: Decide What You Want Your L’Oréal Paris Concealer To Do

The specific purpose of your makeup application dictates exactly how you should select your product. Different goals require completely different shade rules to achieve the best results.

For concealing blemishes and mild redness

When your ultimate goal is invisible coverage that masks spots seamlessly, you should follow the rule of an exact skin-tone match. In other words, look for a concealer that matches your skin tone (or foundation) as closely as possible.

The L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer is a great option for concealing blemishes. It provides medium coverage with a skin-like finish and comes in 24 diverse shades to complement a range of skin tones and undertones.

To use this product for blemishes, simply dot a tiny amount directly onto the spot, wait a few seconds for it to set, and tap gently with your finger to blend the edges into your surrounding skin.

For brightening under-eyes

To visibly minimize the appearance of dark undereye circles, the standard rule is to select a product that is exactly one shade lighter than your natural skin tone. This provides an instant brightening effect.

You can use the L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer for this area as well, as its serum-infused base contains caffeine and hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and brighten the under-eye area. To use it, apply three small dots under the eye area, then blend upward and outward toward your temples with a damp makeup sponge for a seamless finish.

For highlighting

When your goal is to bring features forward and sculpt your face with light, choose a concealer one to two shades lighter than your base. This technique allows you to draw attention to the structural high points of your face without the shimmery finish that standard highlighters typically provide. To sculpt your features, apply this lighter shade to areas that naturally catch the light, including your chin, the bridge of your nose, your brow bone, and the high points of your cheekbones.

The L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up To 24H Full Coverage is an excellent option for highlighting, as it features an extra-large applicator for maximum coverage. Use the applicator to swipe the creamy, waterproof formula onto areas you’d like to brighten, then blend out any harsh lines with a damp makeup sponge.

For contouring

To create natural-looking shadows and add striking definition to your bone structure, select a concealer that’s one to two shades deeper than your base. This creates the illusion of depth and visually sculpts your features for a defined finish. For a contoured look, apply your concealer to the following areas:

• Cheek hollows: Sweep under the cheekbones to lift.
• Temples: Blend along the upper hairline to minimize the forehead.
• Sides of the nose: Define the nasal bridge.
• Jawline: Sculpt along the jaw to sharpen your profile.

The L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up To 24H Full Coverage works brilliantly here because its highly pigmented formula blends easily—a must for a natural-looking contour. To use it for contouring, dot the formula onto the areas outlined above, then blend out with a damp sponge. Start with less product than you think you may need—you can always go back and add more later if you’d like to up the drama.

Should Concealer Be Lighter Than Foundation?

A very common dilemma when building your routine is deciding whether concealer should be lighter than foundation. The answer depends entirely on your specific makeup goal.

Here’s a table to guide your decision:

So, should concealer be lighter than foundation? The answer is only if you're using it to brighten or highlight. For covering blemishes and redness, your concealer should closely match your foundation and skin tone.

How To Choose a Concealer Color for Color Correction

Color correctors are another type of face makeup designed to disguise stubborn imperfections by using color theory. Instead of being flesh-toned, these formulas come in bold hues—such as green, peach, or pink—that help neutralize the look of minor discolorations, such as dark spots or redness. Here’s how to choose the right shade for your needs.

Peach or orange for dark circles

If you’re wondering what color to use for dark circles, start by assessing the undertone of your discoloration. Dark circles tend to have a bluish tint that a normal flesh-toned product cannot fully hide. Reach for a peach corrector if you have a fair or light skin tone, and an orange corrector if you have a medium or deep complexion. These warmer shades help counteract the cool tones of dark circles, making them appear less prominent. Apply a light layer of corrector first, then place your everyday skin-matching concealer on top to bring the skin back to its natural tone.

Green for redness

Prominent red tones can be balanced out with a green color corrector, since green sits opposite red on the color wheel. Color-correcting prior to applying foundation and concealer can be especially beneficial for those who struggle with persistent facial redness due to blemishes or rosacea. However, keep in mind that a little goes a long way when working with green pigments.

If you have widespread redness, you can swap your everyday primer for the L'Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Redness Eraser. It boasts a minty green tint that helps neutralize the look of redness, and has a lightweight formula that helps extend makeup wear for up to 24 hours. To use it, smooth a pea-sized amount all over your face after your moisturizer and before your makeup.

Purple for dullness

Lavender and purple tones are excellent for counteracting sallow yellow tones in the skin. Again, when it comes to purple color correctors, a little goes a long way. Dot a small amount of purple corrector onto the center of your forehead, chin, or cheeks—or wherever your skin appears sallow—then blend it out completely before applying your standard complexion products.

Yellow for purple discoloration

A yellow formula is your ideal choice for neutralizing purple and blue-toned areas. This targets bruising, visible veins, and deep purple under-eyes. Choose a pastel yellow if you have a light complexion, or a golden hue if you have deeper skin, then follow with your regular foundation.

So, if you're wondering “What color concealer should I use?”, here’s your answer in short: Use peach or orange for dark circles, green for redness, purple for dullness, and yellow for purple discoloration.

How To Find Your Best L'Oréal Paris Concealer Match

Finding the right L’Oréal Paris concealer requires a systematic testing approach to make sure your final selection looks seamless in any environment.

Test shades in natural light

It’s easy to think a product is a perfect match when holding it up to your complexion under harsh store lighting. But store lighting isn’t always accurate. Instead, apply a swatch of concealer along your jawline and assess the match in natural lighting to get a clearer picture of how it blends with your skin.

Compare multiple shades

Never test just a single option on your skin. Apply at least two or three different shades side by side along your jawline or under your eyes to see which one matches your complexion. Your perfect match will be whichever shade appears to disappear into your skin.

Check seasonal changes

Your skin tone changes throughout the year due to sun exposure, meaning your winter concealer shade will likely look too pale come July. It’s always a good idea to keep at least two shades on hand so you can mix them to match your skin transitions perfectly.

Use matching foundation shades as a guide

Many product lines are developed to pair directly with existing foundation ranges. If you have a foundation that you always use, check to see whether there’s a concealer designed to pair with it via the L’Oréal Paris Shade Finder tool.

Which L'Oréal Concealer Is Right for You?

Selecting the perfect formula depends heavily on your desired coverage level and finish preferences. Each unique option caters to a distinct beauty goal.

L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer

This advanced, skin-like formula operates as an ultra-hydrating serum infused with hyaluronic acid and caffeine to de-puff and revitalize your skin. It delivers up to 24-hour hydration and provides an exceptionally radiant, dewy finish. It’s best for everyday wear, hydrating the under-eyes, creating a natural finish, and offering buildable medium coverage.

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up To 24H Full Coverage

This high-performance, ultra-pigmented formula provides full coverage with a velvety matte finish that stays locked in place for up to 24 hours. The waterproof, transfer-resistant concealer features an extra-large applicator designed for maximum efficiency in a single stroke. It is best for total full coverage, dramatic highlighting, sharp contouring, and extreme long wear.

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Skin Ink 2-In-1 Foundation Concealer

This dynamic complexion hybrid functions beautifully as both an all-over foundation and a concentrated spot concealer to streamline your makeup bag. It delivers high-impact, buildable coverage with an ultra-lightweight, skin-like finish. Use it to conceal blemishes, even out your complexion, or for all over coverage that stays put.

Quick Concealer Shade Guide

This master chart provides a direct blueprint for your next shopping trip based on your application goals.

Next Up: How To Find the Right Yellow Undertone Foundation for Your Complexion

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris