Six swipes of this everyday item will give your face an instant lift

During her recent tour of Australia, international make-up guru Charlotte Tilbury shared a trade secret for achieving facial lift using only a concealer one to two shades lighter than your usual shade.

The trick is to draw six lines on the face, using a product such as Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer ($53). Take the applicator and, beginning at the corner of each eye, draw a line towards the temple. Then draw a line from the bottom corner of each nostril towards the top of the ear, ending at the cheekbones. Next, draw a line from the corner of the mouth up and out towards the jaw. Finally, blend the lines thoroughly using a buffing brush.

As with all face-base options, skin should be prepped, moisturised and primed. Shade choice is also vital: use one that matches your skin tone for covering blemishes and redness, and blend using a small brush like Make Up For Ever Concealer Brush Small ($37). For highlighting the under-eye area, go one shade lighter than your skin. I am also a fan of eyelid primer, worn on its own, or as the perfect base for coloured eyeshadow. Try Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer ($28).

Blending is the cornerstone of great concealer coverage. Using a brush, blending sponge or your fingers, work in small, circular motions. To ensure your concealer lasts all day, use a translucent setting powder with a brush and press it into the skin. We love Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($75).

Now that we know that concealers aren’t one-size-fits-all, here are six to try.

Best all-rounder: Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer ($56) has a light, matt, creamy consistency with moisturising hyaluronic acid.

Best for redness: Kosas Revealer Concealer ($52) for its smoothing formula, which includes caffeine, squalene and sunflower seed oil.

Best for tired eyes: Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer ($53), a bestseller that contains sea buckthorn oil to target inflammation.

Best for full coverage: Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Liquid Concealer ($53), which also has a waterproof formulation.

Best for lighter coverage: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Lightweight Liquid Concealer ($77) or Dior Backstage Face & Body Flash Perfector Concealer ($58), both of which are great for mature skin as they don’t pool in fine lines and wrinkles.

For best concealer application, dot a small amount on the under-eye area closest to the nose and blend outwards with a brush or dampened beauty blender. Finish by dabbing fingers gently over the top. Remember that it’s much easier to build up coverage than to remove over-zealous dollops. If you still want more coverage, opt for a tinted moisturiser rather than foundation for a lighter summer finish. We like Lancôme UV Expert Youth Shield BB Complete SPF 50+ ($122).

ASK STEPH

Where are the best spots to apply bronzer?

To get a natural glow, bronzer is best applied to the high points of the face where the sun naturally hits – cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, temples and chin. Look for a foolproof, fuss-free bronzer such as By Terry Tea to Tan Face and Body Hydra-Bronze Skincare Mist ($138).

Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.

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