Now, this one will come as no surprise: everyone knows concealer, well, conceals. However, have you been using yours in the right way? We consulted the experts for their ultimate hacks.

For Caroline Brooks, founder of Dubai’s Glass House Spa And Salon, it’s all about the way you apply concealer. “The application technique plays a crucial role in maximising its effectiveness,” she says.

“I always emphasise the importance of employing a blotting or dabbing motion. I would avoid dragging or swiping the concealer back and forth or in vertical motions, as it essentially undoes the concealing effect.”

Caroline Barnes, Max Factor’s make-up artist, says: “The best way to quickly and effectively conceal blemishes is to apply directly to the area with a cotton bud.

“Then, use a quick tapping movement with your finger to push the concealer lightly into the skin and surrounding area. Use a puff and powder to set.”

It’s time to forget your usual contour kit: your humble concealer is here to save the day.

“Concealer can absolutely be used to sculpt and contour your features,” says Barnes. “To do this, you’ll need three shades: one lighter than your natural skin tone for under the eyes, one your exact skin tone and then a concealer three shades darker.

“To achieve a perfect finish when contouring with concealer, try and mimic the natural shadows in your face: your jaw, cheekbones and eye sockets. Look at your features in the mirror and try to use these natural tones as your guide.”

For Brooke Simons, make-up artist to stars such as Laura Whitmore and Leonie Hanne, there are a couple of TikTok-approved concealer hacks she leans on to lift facial features. “You can use a lighter concealer on the higher points of your face to create a lifting illusion,” she says.

“You can also use a concealer underneath the contour line on your cheeks to give the illusion of higher cheekbones.

“I also love the TikTok hack where you add a dot underneath your eye and a dot at the corner of your eye, rather than the usual big splodge of concealer. This will help lift the eye area.” 

We’ve all leant on concealer to mask a late night from time to time, but how you apply makes all the difference. 

“I like to get people to imagine they are applying their superhero eye mask,” says Barnes. “For concealing dark circles, take your lightest concealer shade, apply under your eyes and sweep up into your temples. This gives a great lift to your face and eyes.”

Opting for the right kind of concealer is also key. “Choosing a concealer with light-reflecting properties will help brighten the under-eye region, achieving a more refreshed look,” says Brooks.

Max Factor’s Facefinity Multi-Perfector Concealer offers a creamy formula with those all-important light-reflecting pigments to seamlessly blend into skin, conceal and bring a healthy glow. 

Gone are the days where our make-up bag needed five palettes to do the trick – now, a stick of concealer truly does it all.

“Concealer isn’t just for covering up imperfections – it can also be your secret weapon for brightening and highlighting,” says award-winning skincare expert Sasha Core.

“To achieve the perfect highlight, choose a concealer that’s one or two shades lighter than your skin tone and apply it in a triangle shape under your eyes.

“I recommend blending it out with a damp beauty sponge. You can also apply a little bit on the bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow and chin to add some subtle highlights.”

When perfecting a make-up look, a primer can feel like just another product you need to build into your routine. Not any more (you guessed it): turn to your hero concealer.

“As long as you set the concealer with powder, you can use it as eye primer before applying any eye shadow products. This is a major win, because you don’t need to buy a separate primer,” says Simons.

“A thin layer of concealer on eyelids before applying eyeshadow creates a smooth canvas for your eye make-up to adhere to, making colours pop and preventing creasing,” says Core.

Concealer can even be used as lip primer. “Apply a small amount of concealer directly onto your lips using a lip brush or your finger and gently blend,” says Brooks.

“This helps neutralise the natural colour of your lips and brings enhanced colour payoff to your chosen lipstick.

“Additionally, the concealer acts as a barrier that helps lip products last longer, preventing bleeding or feathering outside the lip line.”

“Max Factor’s Facefinity Multi-Perfector Concealer has a super-flexible and hydrating formula, which doubles up as the perfect primer product,” says Barnes. 

“I use it constantly to polish up a final make-up look or to perfect a graphic liner on a client’s eyes.”

Multi-purpose magic. 

Concealer as bronzer, anyone? Yes, truly.

“I like to use darker shades of concealer to add a long lasting sun-kissed glow to the skin,” says Barnes.

“It’s such a versatile product, so I strongly recommend having a few shades to hand to give you application options.”

Perfect for the holiday season, it’s worth stashing a few shades in your make-up bag. 

Clean, minimalist make-up is the beauty trend that’s here to stay – gone are the days of caked foundation and spider lashes (sorry for reminding you).

Concealer is the perfect does-all product to lean on when you want a little something extra, but would prefer to achieve a more natural look.

“The tools to have in your arsenal for the perfect ‘no make-up’ look are a great concealer that either matches your skin tone or is slightly lighter – particularly for those under-eye areas – and a tinted SPF for your base,” says Cecilia Ross, skincare expert, facialist, and founder of Cecilia London.

“It really is as simple as that. Start by using a small amount of product and slowly build coverage until you’re happy with the result.”

“If you want lighter coverage, blend concealer out with a foundation brush,” says Barnes. “Alternatively, you can tailor your finish with a damp sponge for a more natural feel.”

BRB, popping to Boots to stock up.