cam•ou•flage (kam-uh-flahzh) verb
Concealment by means of disguise designed to deceive or hide.
Foundation, concealer, neutralizer, corrector, camouflage makeup – what’s the difference? What are concealers actually for? When should I use one? What about those funny colored green, pink, and lilac makeup creams? How can I use concealer on under-eye circles without looking like a raccoon – or worse than when I started? Will concealer cover a scar or a skin condition?
Essentially, what you need to know is that each kind of makeup including foundation, concealer, neutralizer/corrector, and camouflage has a distinct texture, covering ability and purpose.
All of them conceal to a degree depending on what you want to hide or cover. Selecting the right concealer type and shade for your particular “challenge” and learning how to apply correctly really isn’t tricky once you know a little about each of them.
Types of Makeup and Concealers
Foundation:
Is the most basic makeup, and by nature generally lighter in consistency and coverage than dedicated concealers. A skin-matched foundation may be all you need to even out your skin tone, conceal minor discolorations, or cover up a simple flaw or blemish. Chose foundation formulated for you skin type; moisturizing for dry, and non-oily for everyone else. Try our Fabulous Finish Foundation for a great liquid to powder foundation.
Concealer:
Makeup is thicker in consistency, more opaque than foundation, and better for actually concealing. It comes in a wide range of skin shades and can be found in tubes, compacts, roll-up sticks, and pencils. Concealer should smooth on easily and not be too thick, dry, cakey, or goopy.
Color Neutralizer:
Also called corrector, is not a natural skin shade but rather a pale color- like peach, rose, green, yellow, and lavender. It’s meant to be used under or mixed with foundation or moisturizer. Neutralizers act as a kind of “insurance policy” to block out unwanted discoloration that might show through makeup during the day. A neutralizer is an excellent base for covering extremely dark circles, bruising, and for blocking redness. Try our Wonderbase™: Redness Relief primer to neutralize red skin under your foundation.
True Camouflage Makeup:
Is different-it’s opaque, by using more pigment, and much heavier in consistency than a foundation or concealer. It also comes in a range of skin-tone shades. Because of its thicker consistency, camouflage makeup is not normally suitable for the eye area. Use only where it’s needed. Try our Killer Cover™ block out makeup for serious coverage.
Tinted Moisturizers:
Are perfect for those who need just a little neutralizing or simply want a veil of color without makeup.
Under Eye Concealers:
Judith’s own under eye problems inspired a 25-year business in corrective cosmetics. She understands dark under eye circles, under eye bags, puffy eyes and other under eye discolorations, and has designed a collection of concealers for your particular needs! These formulations have been mastered to give flawless coverage. Try our Orange Masking Crème™ for serious under eye circle coverage.
Light-Reflective Formulas:
Today, the newest concealers boast light-reflecting ingredients. These products rely less on heavy pigments and more on micronized mica quartz, pearl, and titanium dioxide which all have light reflecting qualities. They’re also thinner in consistency than traditional concealer formulas. In the opinion of many makeup artists this kind of concealer is good minor problems, but tends to be less effective for very dark or discolored areas.
Mineral Makeup:
It all started in the 1970’s, I had the privilege of being involved with the first Mineral Makeup, a cosmetic called “Indian Earth” where I was the training director for people demonstrating the product. True “Mineral Makeup” is a natural resource from the earth, finely ground without chemicals, dyes, and preservatives. It contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which provide “natural sun blocks”, plus mica, which gives shine. Try our August Minerals™ Finishing Powder for a great translucent look with no shine.
The Everything Pencil™:
Is a unique set of corrective color pencils that cover, conceal, and enhance everything-everyday-for everybody. You can be your own make-up artist with this easy and convenient mix and match system. Pencils contain Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. They are fragrance free, doctor approved, water resistant and long lasting.
Types of Skin Conditions
Acne and Blemishes:
Blemishes, acne and zits are caused by bacteria build up in the pores, excessive shedding of skin cells, production of oil by the oil gland, hormones, oil gland reproduction and less likely to cause problems with blemishes, acne and zits but still a problem for some is irritation or sensitizing reactions to cosmetics, specific foods (rarely), or medicines.
Bacteria forms inside the oil gland to produce a blemish due to dead skin cells and excessive oil inside the oil gland. Most blemishes are red and swollen and can be itchy and irritating. A common way of covering blemishes, acne, and zits are special antiseptic color cover creams. Judith August Cosmetics has created a unique acne treatment concealer in an “All In One Pencil” which not only conceals the blemishes, but heals because it contains tea tree oil and camphor, antibacterial healing ingredients. Judith August Cosmetics has provided acne treatment and concealer products since the early 80’s. Customers who have acne love the easy convenience of the pencil and its effectiveness. Men use the EraseZit™ to help heal major nicks and scrapes. It’s unique oil bottling formula that makes a perfect concealer for oily skin. Try our Acne and Blemish Kit for the best acne treatment and cover up.
Age Spots:
Age spots and hyperpigmentation occur as people age, the skin becomes thinner, fat padding under the skin is lost. Skin pigmentation disorders occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin, a pigment that creates hair, skin, and eye color. Melanin protects the body by absorbing ultraviolet light. Age spots and hyperpigmentation are caused from aging, sun exposure, stress, smoking, exhaustion, hormonal changes, pregnancy and heredity. Covering up age spots and hyperpigmentation requires different concealers. Use our KillerCover™ total block out makeup to cover unwanted age spots.
Birthmarks:
An irregularity in the skin that is present at birth. It can be located on any part of the body. Birthmarks are caused by overgrowth of blood vessels, melanocytes, smooth muscle, fat, fibroblasts, or keratinocytes.
Bruises:
Bruises often happen when the small blood vessels (capillaries) near your skin surface are ruptured by the impact of a blow or injury. This causes blood to leak out of the vessels and a bluish/black mark will appear. As your body reabsorbs the blood, the mark slowly disappears going through a variety of skin color changes, each one needing a slightly different color spectrum to camouflage. Our products are designed to help you customize concealing your bruise as it changes color and severity.
Port Wine Stains:
Is a vascular birthmark consisting of superficial and deep dilated capillaries in the skin, which produce reddish to purplish discoloration of the skin. They are so called for their color, resembling that of Port wine. Port wine stains are present at birth. The incidence is 3 out of 1,000 people. Port wine stains occur most often on the face but can appear anywhere on the body. Early stains are usually flat and pink in appearance. As the child matures, the color may deepen to a dark red or purplish color.
Post Surgical Cosmetic Coverage:
The time period that allows healing after surgery, particularly cosmetic or plastic surgery, can be prolonged and the skin and body’s reaction, are ever changing. Bruising, blotchiness, prolonged redness of the skin is normal after effects of surgical procedures. I designed my post surgical coverage products to allow you to cover up and conceal your surgical side effects while at the same time being gentle and nurturing. Always consult with your doctor before applying any foundation. Try our Aquatint™ for post laser treatment.
Rosacea:
Doctors do not know the exact cause of Rosacea but believe that a combination of genetic predisposition and several types of environmental factors are related to its development. Rosacea is not contagious. Rosacea sufferers have a tendency to flush. Rosacea symptoms are redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead, small visible blood vessels on the face, bumps or pimples on the face, watery or irritated eyes may be sign of Rosacea. Rosacea concealer or Rosacea cover up can help you conceal the disturbing effects of Rosacea. Use our Special Care Cover™ to cover up sensitive red skin.
Scars:
Scars come in varying degrees of severity. To cover up scars, you need an opaque concealer that blends perfectly and stays put. Concealer makeup needs to be a heavier consistency than the average concealer. Scars vary in color so your cosmetic color choice is critical.
Vericose Veins:
Varicose veins are commonly found on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg. During pregnancy, varicose veins called hemorrhoids can form in the vagina or around the anus. Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can be flesh colored, dark purple or blue. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Until appropriate treatment, they can be covered up with a good concealer cover-up product.
Spider Veins:
Spider veins (broken capillaries) are similar to varicose veins, but they are smaller. They are often red or blue and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. They can look like tree branches or spider webs with their short jagged lines. Spider veins can be found on the legs and face. Broken capillaries are more common with advanced age because the skin becomes thinner. Broken capillaries are actually dilated blood vessels. These broken blood vessels can become more prominent with sun exposure, harsh cleansers, alcohol or even some food allergies. Varicose veins usually enlarge and worsen over time and severe varicose veins can cause health problems. Spider veins usually do not need medical treatment.
Once again, cover up makeup is great alternative to camouflaging those spider veins or varicose veins and it is not painful! While you are awaiting treatment for varicose veins or spider veins there is something you can do to hide the presence of those broken capillaries (spider veins and varicose veins) with the use of a good cover up product such as those by Judith August Cosmetics. Cover up and camouflage has been the trademark of Judith August Cosmetics since the early 80’s. In our 20 years in the corrective make-up business, Judith August Cosmetics has been dedicated to helping disguise and conceal spider veins (broken capillaries) and to diminish the unsightly look of varicose veins. See the story of Judith August, “a former New York model” and how she found a personal need for camouflage make-up products in order to continue her career.
Tattoo:
A tattoo is a series of puncture wounds that carry dye into different levels of the skin. To camouflage tattoos takes patience: blending the right color for the area is the key. Blending the most important to create a radiant look. It may be necessary to layer product two or three times to cover completely. Powder after each layer- then reapply the tattoo cover. The inks used in tattoos and permanent makeup (also known as micro pigmentation) and the pigments in these inks are subject to FDA regulation as cosmetics and color additives. However, FDA has not attempted to regulate the use of tattoo inks and the pigments used in them and do not control the actual practice of tattooing. Rather, such matters have been handled through local laws and however, with the growth in popularity of tattooing and permanent makeup, the FDA has begun taking a closer look at related safety questions. Among the issues under consideration is tattoo removal, adverse reactions to tattoo colors. Another concern is the increasing variety of pigments being used in tattooing including more than 50 pigments and shades and growing. Using an unapproved color additive in tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all.
Vitiligo:
Vitiligo is a disorder in which white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. The hair that grows in areas affected by Vitiligo usually turns white. This happens because the cells that make pigment (color) in the skin are destroyed. The cause of Vitiligo is not known, but doctors and researchers have several different theories.
One theory is that people develop antibodies that destroy the melanocytes in their own bodies causing Vitiligo. Another theory is that melanocytes destroy themselves causing Vitiligo. Finally, some people have reported that a single event such as sunburn or emotional distress triggered Vitiligo; however, these events have not been scientifically proven to cause Vitiligo. It is important to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about Vitiligo. As a Vitiligo patient, you should learn as much as Vitiligo as you can to determine your treatment choices. There are many avenues to coping with Vitiligo. Seek a support group or family and friends to help cope with Vitiligo. There are many treatment options for Vitiligo, including medical, surgical, and other therapies. Vitiligo cosmetics that cover the white patches help those with Vitiligo feel better about them while going through Vitiligo treatment. Judith August Cosmetics has provided concealer products for Vitiligo and other skin disorders since the early 80’s.