Choosing the right shade of concealer can be tricky, but there are some general guidelines to follow. Here are some tips from various sources:

• Determine your skin tone and undertone: Before choosing a concealer shade, its important to know your skin tone and undertone. You can do this by examining your skin in natural light and looking at the color of your veins. If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones. If they appear green, you likely have warm undertones. If you cant tell, you may have neutral undertones. Your skin tone can be fair, light, medium, or dark.

• Match your concealer to your foundation: The rule of thumb for picking your concealer shade is based on your foundation shade. Beauty experts advise that everyone should have two shades of concealer in their arsenal, one lighter and one darker since daily sun exposure means your skin tone shifts slightly all the time. Plus, makeup artists use multiple shades of concealer for different end effects. Swipe a few different shades along your jawline and see which one blends into your skin the best.

• Go one or two shades lighter for under-eye area: To reduce the appearance of dark circles, apply a concealer that is one to two shades lighter than your skin tone.

• Use color corrector for dark circles: Before applying concealer, apply a layer of green-toned color corrector or primer to your skin to neutralize ruddiness. Since green is the opposite of red on the color wheel, it will neutralize redness.

• For contouring, go one or two shades darker: If you want to contour, sculpt and add definition, apply a concealer that is one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone.

• Avoid concealer that clashes with your natural skin or undertone: A cool concealer on a warm undertone can make skin look pale and chalky, while a warm concealer on a cool undertone can make skin look orange.

• Pick at least three shades of concealer: We recommend picking at least three shades of concealer—not just one shade. You’ll want a shade that matches your skin perfectly, then a shade lighter and darker. This is because the shades needed will vary depending on what you are trying to cover.

In summary, the best way to choose a concealer shade is to determine your skin tone and undertone, match your concealer to your foundation, and go one or two shades lighter for the under-eye area. Its also important to avoid concealer that clashes with your natural skin or undertone and to pick at least three shades of concealer.