Your face raises so many questions: How should you prep your skin? What products go where, and in what order? Concealer or foundation first? How do you enhance and conceal without looking cakey or overdone? And why does your concealer keep creasing?

Katie Jane Hughes has the answers—or rather, the techniques for a flawless, crease-free finish. The British makeup artist, beloved by stars like Dua Lipa and trusted by Hailey Bieber, Ashley Graham, Kylie Jenner, and Hailee Steinfeld, recently shared an Instagram video breaking down the secrets to perfect concealer application every time.

As Hughes puts it: If your concealer keeps creasing—whether under your eyes, around your smile lines, or in fine wrinkles—you’re probably using too much product.

For the under-eye area, she grabs a small, flat brush. It doesn’t have to be labeled a “concealer brush”—any small, pointed brush will do. “Brushes shouldn’t have names because they’re not limited to one use,” Hughes wisely notes. (Her own brush line follows this philosophy.) “Use it however you want, and take tips from other artists or friends.” The same brush that works for concealer can also apply lip color, cream eyeshadow, or even eyeliner. That precise tip gives you control over placement and pressure—key for spot concealing. (A trick also favored by Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber’s makeup artist, Mary Phillips.)

Next, Hughes suggests dabbing a bit of concealer on the back of your hand, picking up just a tiny amount with the brush, and gently applying it. She sweeps the concealer along her eyelid, avoiding the center where creasing happens, and instead presses a small amount in with her fingertip. “If I loaded that area with too much product from the brush, it would crease—just like if I piled concealer directly into my smile lines,” she explains. The trick is to avoid overloading problem areas.

Hughes demonstrates with light taps under her eyes and on blemishes, instantly smoothing out redness and dark circles. “See? There’s barely any product on the brush, but it’s still working.” Need more coverage? Just pick up another tiny amount and build it up—tap, tap, tap.

The takeaways? Use a small brush for precision, apply with the right pressure, and avoid putting concealer directly on problem spots. Build coverage gradually. “If you tend to overdo it with complexion products, challenge yourself to try brushes like this,” Hughes says. “You’ll learn so much about application, product amount, and pressure—and realize how little you actually need.”

In simpler terms? “Think of yourself as a painter,” Hughes advises. Your face is the canvas, and concealer is your paint. You wouldn’t slap paint straight onto a wall—you’d use a tray, the right tools, and a careful hand. Now go channel your inner Bob Ross and create that flawless finish.

Shop the Best Concealers & Brushes:
– Kosas Revealer Concealer ($32, Blue Mercury)
– Lancôme Teint Idole Serum Concealer ($31, Nordstrom)
– Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Concealer ($34, Blue Mercury)
– Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer ($9, Amazon)
– Shiseido Tsutsu Fude Concealer Brush ($25, Nordstrom/Saks Fifth Avenue)
– Chanel Flat Eyeshadow Brush N°20 ($42, Chanel)