What Is a Full Coverage Concealer?

Full coverage concealer is a type of makeup that is designed to cover up major imperfections on the skin, including scars, burns, tattoos, dark circles and other discolorations. It's a highly concentrated form of concealer that can help cover these problems by itself or with the use of foundation and other beauty products. Though these concealers can be purchased at stores, the effects of a full coverage concealer can also be attained by layering foundation.

As concentrated forms of concealers, full coverage concealers usually are designed to stay matte and last for several hours after their initial application. In addition, they are intended to cover more area with less product than traditional concealers. Their opaqueness makes them the concealer of choice for individuals who have many problems areas. They also can be designed with or without special properties and ingredients to increase their effectiveness. For example, they can be made without oil to ensure that the concealer does not smear during the day, and they can be made waterproof so that they don't wash off easily.

Concealers are made by numerous beauty product companies and can range from inexpensive to very costly. Some can be marketed as being able to be used on different areas of the body. To save money, some consumers find a full coverage foundation and apply layers of it to trouble spots instead of using a concealer. For those who have patience and extra beauty tools such as brushes and sponges, this can be an easy and inexpensive way to achieve the effect of a full coverage concealer.

For even more intense coverage, some individuals use a corrector in addition to a full coverage concealer. These correctors are usually applied before concealers. They are tinted with extra colors to conceal discoloration on the skin and act as an extra base for the concealer.

After the two layers of corrector and concealer are set with powder, the concealing properties of both will be enhanced and the effect can last for hours. When buying a corrector, beauty enthusiasts will have to select a corrector that is tinted with the appropriate neutralizing color for their specific flaws. Simply choosing a corrector based on skin tone won't conceal as many flaws as selecting a corrector that has neutralizing tints.

In general, when choosing a full coverage concealer, a consumer should select one that is a shade lighter than his or her usual foundation. Full coverage concealer is highly pigmented, so it might be able to be thinned out with a cream moisturizer, spread across the face and used as a quick-fix foundation. Concealers can even be used to highlight certain areas of the face if they're applied properly.