The Ultimate Guide to Concealer for Men

Concealer for men is an essential, versatile skincare product that can help fake a good night’s rest, erase the look of a hangover, camouflage acne, and even hyperpigmentation.  This Ultimate Guide to Concealer for Men will help you choose and navigate concealer application.

We’ve all done it–woken up to an unsightly pimple and rifled through our significant other’s cosmetic bag, searching for something to hide the unpleasant blemish.  We don’t know what it is, what it’s called, or what it really does, but we’ve seen our spouse use it to effectively hide their acne.

What you’ve searched for and used is likely a concealer, and concealer for men is arguably the sole reason Strictly Man Supply Co. and Strictly Manology are here today.

After struggling with bad acne as a teenager, my Mom gave me one of her stick concealers to try in 2003.  It wasn’t a great formula, but it helped camouflage some of the large, red, cystic acne on my face.

As a 13-year-old, I was so embarrassed to use it even though I was undeniably dependent on it for my self-confidence throughout high school and college.

I couldn’t leave the house without it.

I made a lot of mistakes choosing and applying concealers throughout the years.  This guide will help you avoid the mistakes that I made and give you everything you need to know about concealer for men.

Concealer for Men Benefits

What is concealer and what does it really do?

Aside from cleansing, moisturizing, and exfoliating, concealer is a critical component in a skincare routine if you suffer from a less than perfect complexion.  According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually”.  85% of people between ages 12 and 24 experience acne, with some people experiencing it into their 30s and 40s.

Concealer is versatile in its ability to:

            -lighten dark circles

            -conceal blemishes and acne

            -camouflage razor burn

            -brighten tired looking skin

            -even skin tone

            -neutralize discoloration

Basically, think of it as an easy, finishing touch to the end of a routine that makes a big difference, like a spritz of cologne or adding a pocket square to your favorite suit.

Types of Concealers

There are three types of concealer for men that you may come across: stick, cream, and liquid.

1. Stick Concealers

Stick concealers are what I used as a kid and throughout college.  They come in a semi-solid state and are generally shaped like lipstick or chapstick.

Although stick concealers cover imperfections well, the ingredients that keep it in “stick” form have a tendency to clog pores, make acne worse, and get cakey in fine lines.  Since men have larger pores and naturally oilier skin than women, stick concealers are not recommended.

2. Cream Concealers

Cream concealers typically come in a palette, circular tin (think shoe polish), or small pot.  They are great at covering up discolorations but are also prone to getting cakey in wrinkles.

3. Liquid Concealers

Liquid concealer is arguably the best concealer of the three and is the most versatile.  It works with all skin types and offers buildable coverage, so it can be layered more or less depending how much coverage is needed.

It doesn’t cake up and has almost no risk of clogging pores, so it shouldn’t look obvious, get into fine lines, or make acne worse.

If you have very dry skin, liquid concealer can make it more visible, so it’s important to have a solid skincare routine that includes moisturizing and exfoliating to prevent dry skin from becoming noticeable when liquid concealer is used.

Overall, just remember that liquid and cream concealers tend to look and wear naturally, whereas thicker and drier consistencies tend to crease and look a little more obvious on top of skin.

How to Apply Concealer for Men

Concealer color should be chosen based on skin tone and match as closely as possible.

For best results, apply a small amount of concealer directly to the imperfection with a clean ring finger.  A clean finger helps prevent the spread of bacteria, and warmth from the finger helps soften the concealer for a smooth finish.

Rather than applying one thick layer, a few thin layers will work best, making sure to blend outward from the blemish.

If you notice dry skin after applying a concealer, remember to exfoliate and apply moisturizer.  Exfoliating sloughs away dead skin, and applying moisturizer helps concealer adhere to skin and lock in moisture.

Proper exfoliating can be tricky, so check out 10 Tips on How to Exfoliate for Men (and Women).

For what a proper skincare routine looks like, check out the The Complete Men’s Skincare Guide.

Pro Tip: Mix a small amount of concealer with your favorite eye cream or serum and dab under eyes until blended to subtly brighten and refresh tired looking skin.  When dabbing, try to apply in a “V” shape.  This will brighten the under-eye area most effectively.  Any extra cream/concealer can be used on dry hands and knuckles.

If you research more about concealers, you may come across some sources that talk about concealer colors that are yellow, pink, peach, white, or copper.  The thinking is that if you apply a concealer color the opposite color of the imperfection you are trying to cover up, the imperfection will be neutralized.  With the exception of green concealers to cover up red pimples, the rest are complicated and can create an unnatural appearance.

So, for simplicity’s sake, just stick with the single concealer that matches your skin tone.  It will be more than adequate.

Strictly Man Supply Co.’s

Bullet Concealer for Men

In 2012, I learned about liquid concealers that would camouflage imperfections, absorb into the skin, and not exacerbate acne like typical stick concealers.

By 2018, I decided it was time for men to have access to all the benefits liquid concealers have to offer.

With the ultimate goal of improving confidence in men and giving them the edge in life they deserve, I spent months researching and developing a liquid concealer that would incorporate the best ingredients to conceal and target problem blemishes, acne, razor burn and hyperpigmentation without making these areas worse.

By incorporating ingredients like salicylic acid to gently exfoliate, bentonite to draw out impurities, mica to subtly reflect light away from the blemish, and sodium hyaluronate to help avoid dry skin, we’ve crafted the ultimate concealer made just for men.

Overall, we just want you to look and feel your best.  We created this Bullet Concealer for Men to meet that goal.

Thanks for reading!

-Chris

Get it on Amazon here!