What's the difference in between concealer, foundation and loose/finishing powder?

Self explanatory.What's the difference in between concealer, foundation and loose/finishing powder?
Generally, concealer is used to hide blemishes including discolorations from acne, dark circles under the eyes or more challenging skin problems such as melasma (dark spots) or rosacea (red shiny patches). Concealer usually comes in skin colored pigments or purple/green colored pigments. Also concealer is sometimes a liquid to be applied with a brush or often in a lipstick form.





Foundation usually is a light, smooth skin-colored cream or liquid to be applied over your entire face (don't forget your neck, decolletage and ears) that in general, matches your skin's undertones and evens out skin coloration. Sometimes you can skip concealer and just apply a little foundation to those trouble spots only and move on. The experts will advise to get a foundation with SPF-30 to prevent premature aging. I agree in this. Luckily my foundation (Revlon Age-Defying with Botafirm) suits me to a T.





Finally, you would want to use powder to either set your foundation (so it doesn't smear) or else to keep your skin from showing oil. Generally I use a big powder brush to apply a little loose powder to set my foundation since I don't have oily skin. If you have oily skin you may want to try a sponge or puff applicator to apply a caked powder since it generally lasts longer.





In all three categories, color matching is critical importance. If you have time, try to get a professional makeup artist to match your skin and get a sample. If you want, you can try to match the color at the drugstore to a cheaper color. I did this since my skin is very hard to match. The Prescriptives sample matched to an inexpensive but wonderful Revlon. I'm hooked.What's the difference in between concealer, foundation and loose/finishing powder?
Concealer does as the name suggests - it conceals, or hides imperfections like dark circles or blemishes. Foundation is the all-over face product to even out skin tone and make it look smooth and ready for other cosmetics. It may be a liquid, a cream, a solid stick or even a powder (such as the mineral foundations). Finishing powder is usually sheer and used for two things, first after the foundation and concealer, it sets it, so you can put on powder blush, bronzing powder, and eye shadows; next, finishing powder makes the blush smooth and blended, and sets everything so it lasts all day or night. It also helps to minimize any oily shine. Finishing powder can be reapplied to freshen your makeup. Sometimes finishing powder has a shimmer, to be used as a special effect for a party or evening out.
concealer: covers blemishes that are concentrated in one area. like spots/acne.


foundation: all over coverage for discoloration, just to even out skin tone, etc.


finishing powder: brightens face, mattifies it, can be used for touchups when you don't want to overcake it, are mostly translucent.





i'll add one, just an fyi.





primer: used before all those i just listed to set makeup, so it applies evenly. also mattifies the skin.





http://www.dhccare.com/DHC/BestSellers.a鈥?/a> (velvet skin coat.)





http://sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?鈥?/a>





they also have primers just for the eyes to prevent creasing and make it last longer, apply smoothly.