Last Updated on June 9, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Want to know a thick concealer trick? Cos let’s be honest, some concealers are just a pain to work with. Case in point: Benefit Erase Paste Concealer (now discontinued). It salmon hue completely covers even the darkest of dark circles and brightens up the eye area to boot. But, its thick, concentrated texture will tug at your skin. Plus, once on, it looks cakey and unnatural. It’s so annoying you’ll want to throw it away.
Don’t do that! You’ll miss out on its benefits. Not to mention the money you’ll be throwing away too. What a waste! Especially, when a simple trick can turn an unblendable concealer into one that applies effortlessly. How?
Thick Concealer Trick
Here’s a quick thick concealer trick that makes application a breeze. It’s easy. Dab or, if the concealer is in liquid form, squeeze a tiny amount of product on the back of your hand, and rub it back and forth with a finger. The heat will give the concealer more slip, allowing it to glide smoothly on the skin. No tugging. And it won’t look cakey either.
FYI, You can do this trick with pretty much any creamy, liquid, or stick concealer or foundation that has a thick, hard-to-blend texture. It works like a charm every time.
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When To Warm Up Concealer (And When Not To)
This trick is a game-changer, but honestly, you don’t always need it. If your concealer is already liquidy and easy to blend, skip the extra step. But those thicker, paste-like ones (like Benefit Erase Paste)? Warm it up every single time. It makes it way easier to blend and saves you from tugging at your under-eye area like a maniac.
Brush Or Fingers For Thick Concealers?
Let’s be real: your fingers are like built-in beauty tools for tricky concealers. They warm up the product and make it glide on smoother. But if you’re a brush person, go for something dense and synthetic. A small buffing brush is your best bet. Just steer clear of those fluffy brushes; they’ll just push the concealer around without actually blending it in.
Don’t Skip the Prep
Seriously, before you even think about putting that thick concealer on, slap on some eye cream. Let it soak in for a sec so your concealer has a smooth base to cling to. Otherwise, even the best concealer can end up looking dry and patchy – and no one wants that.
Setting It Without the Cake
Once your concealer is all blended, don’t go overboard with powder. Too much and it’s instant cake face. Just grab a small fluffy brush or a damp sponge and lightly press in a bit of translucent powder. No need to bake i. This is makeup, not a kitchen.
The Bottom Line
Thick concealers can be a pain, but they don’t have to be your enemy. With a little warmth, the right tools, and some good prep, you can totally make even the stubborn ones work like a dream. Before you chuck that frustrating concealer, give it another shot-you might actually end up loving it.
A very tiny drop of thin liquid foundation or moisturizer in a pinch, mix it with the concealer, dab it on. I use Maybelline Age-Rewind, which is a full-coverage foundation with SPF, and it seems to blend well with other things. Some of the BB creams I love have this same unfortunate quality- it’s like wall paint! x.x I have too many lines in my face for this!
BebeTaian, that is a great tip too! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
That’s a good idea! Thanks, Gio.
Trisha, you’re welcome.
When I started doing makeup years ago my favorite was a little concealer compact from Dior and this is exactly what had to be done since it was relatively thick. Heat makes all the difference in the world. I still do it when I use the Laura Mercier I have. 🙂
Icaria, it’s amazing what a little heat can do, isn’t it?
what a great tip Gio! I use a little moisturiser with my Laura Mercier concealer under my eyes so it doesn’t cake
Christina, that’s a great trick too. 🙂
I used to use a stick concealer from Benefit that was my absolute favorite, but of course, it was discontinued. I haven’t tried their current concealer. The old one covered extremely well, and because it was a soft pencil, it didn’t tug at all. Next time I’m at Sephora or Ulta, I’ll look at the concealer you mention…although the thickness issue, even with your great tip, kinda makes me wary about buying it and having to warm it up every time lol. I’ve been using cheapie essence match2cover duo under my eyes and their concealer stick on my spots and I’ve had good results for almost no $.
Allison, what a shame they discontinued your favourite concealer! I hate it when that happens. Erase Paste covers pretty much anything, but yeah, you will have to warm it up every time you want to use it, otherwise applying it will be a pain. Maybe you can try a tester to see how it works for you? The essence concealer sounds great, I’ll check that out, thanks.