Top tips: The versatility of concealer

How to execute the great cover-up with Clinique's global colour artist Jenna Menard.

Get skin-perfect with these tips from Clinique.

A make-up staple, concealer can hide a multitude of beauty imperfections. It covers dark circles, spots and discolouration, plus it can work as a highlighter, complement the perfect shade of lipstick and, according to experts, knock years off your appearance. Jenna Menard, Clinique's global colour artist, shares her concealer advice.

1. Use eye cream. Prep the skin under the eye with an eye cream to ensure you have a good base. Pick a good everyday formula that helps to moisturise the delicate eye area, allowing concealer to absorb and blend easily.

2. Colour perfect. For the right shade, choose a concealer that is as close to your natural skin tone as possible. Plus, look at the colour of the area you are trying to conceal; for dark under-eye circles, pick a shade that has pink undertones to counteract the blue. For red blemish areas, choose a shade with more yellow undertones.

3. Dab and blend. Apply concealer only where you need coverage and blend, blend, blend. Concealer can also be used to highlight and brighten. Apply a small dab across the tops of cheekbones and over brow bones - you can create structure by highlighting bone areas. You can also mix concealer with a light shimmery powder before applying to the brow bone to give more definition and quickly elevate a daytime look to night.

4. Less is more. Use the minimum amount. Using more than necessary might make the product cake and draw attention to the area.

5. Troubleshoot. You say your concealer has settled into your fine lines and crow's feet. Fortunately, there is a solution. Use a clean eyeshadow brush to lightly blend and feather away the product. A brush works better because your fingertip can often wipe away too much, or worse, create a line of demarcation showing where your concealer ends.