The ‘Rule of Three’ Will Make Applying Concealer Properly a Breeze

Concealer is one of those multi-purpose makeup products that allows you to get a whole lot of bang for your buck. You can use it to cover blemishes and acne scars, color-correct dark circles, sculpt your brows, and highlight your face—the list truly goes on and on. But because of the seemingly infinite number of applications, it can be tempting to just dab it on everywhere and blend it out. However, in order to get the most out of what your concealer has to offer, Anastasia of Beverly Hills founder Anastasia Soare wants you to employ the “rule of three”.

Designed around Leonardo da Vinci’s theory of proportions, which purports that everything in the world can be broken down into a “golden ratio,”  Soare suggests using the “golden proportion” method to apply your concealer. This, she explains, involves sectioning off your face into three zones to create a soft and balanced look. Zone one spans from the top of your hairline to underneath the brow bone, zone two encapsulates the space from your brow bone to the bottom of your nose, and zone three stretches from the bottom of your nose to your chin. For the purpose of sculpting, you’ll want to think of each of these zones separately, and apply just the right amount of shadows and light in each area.

The process, of course, starts with choosing the right concealers—and in this case, you’ll need two: A shade lighter than your natural complexion for highlighting and a shade darker than your natural complexion for contouring. You’ll then apply the lighter shade to the light-reflecting “high points” in each zone: in zone one, that means right underneath your brow bone; in zone two, apply the concealer to the inner corners of your eyes as well as underneath the outer part of your lower lid; and in zone three, dab it on the outside of your nose and on your Cupid’s bow.

Next, you’ll come in with your darker contouring shade, which you’ll apply at your hairline in zone one, on the outside of your nose and the hollows of your cheeks in zone two, and around your chin in zone three. Now, all that’s left to do is grab a sponge and blend. Soare likes to use the brand’s new Magic Touch Concealer ($26) when doing this technique, and it’s worth noting that I am completely in love with it. However, if you want to try the method with a more affordable product, keep scrolling for some of our favorite under-$15 picks.

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Shop concealers

Anastasia Beverly Hills Magic Touch Concealer — $29.00

NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Contour Concealer — $10.00

Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer — $5.00

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Concealer — $9.00

Revlon ColorStay Concealer — $9.00

Putting on makeup for Zoom is a *whole* different animal. Check out the video below for pro-approved tips on how to do it right. 

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