Sorry to sound snarky, but on most days I can get away with a swipe of concealer on a few areas and a dusting of powder. And yet, my foundation stash grows ever plentiful and my concealers are left in the drawer on a "need to" basis. I find that one layer of foundation also conceals my bad spots (literally) well enough.
I have a few holy grails for both the under eye area and blemishes, so be prepared for an in depth analysis of each. These have been curated based on fan hype and word of mouth, but I've kept them around for good reason!
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 is my go-to for when I really want to hide dark circles and brighten the face a la Kim K. at the same time. The pink undertone helps to brighten! My only complaint with it is the pump which dispenses way too much at a time.
Coverage: Very opaque and can cover dark circles easily. Sometimes it is a little *too* perfect and I don't use it for every day. This concealer is also ideal for blemishes but isn't as full coverage on hyper-pigmentation in my opinion.
Consistency: Very blendable and runny but doesn't drip everywhere.
Wear: No creasing or caking due to lightweight formula. I find that it lasts all day but does encourage some mascara transfer.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard is a great all over concealer that's very moisturizing and flattering. I use Custard when I'm NC25 (or NC30+ for under the eyes) and Ginger for when I'm NC30-35.
Coverage: The coverage is ideal for a natural and radiant finish without looking heavy. It won't cover heavy undereye discoloration but will do fine on dark spots.
Consistency: Thick but very creamy and spreadable with the doe foot applicator.
Wear: Looks the most natural on the skin but can cake up if over-applied.
The Make Up For Ever Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream (Waterproof) is intense! I use shade 6 (NC20-25) and 7 (NC30-35) for only my dark spots and blemishes. This WILL cake under the eyes and look haggard, so I advise that you keep it for blemishes.
Coverage: Full Cover...need I say more? A single pinprick of this product can easily be built up or sheered out to hide anything your heart desires, even tattoos. Yup, I've tested that. Remember that less is more.
Consistency: It comes out like a liquid but dries down to a powdery/matte finish. You won't need to set it down with a powder.
Wear: Won't budge.
Finally, the cult favorite Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer is perfect for daily wear. I use Light to hide dark circles and Medium to spot conceal. It reminds me of the NARS Radiant Creamy without the extravagant price.
Coverage: A solid medium coverage. I wouldn't build on it.
Consistency: A very "dry" liquid I like how easy it is to blend into your skin and I like using my fingers to do so.
Wear: Does not last all day and there is mascara transfer fail. For the price, however, I think it makes a good all around concealer.
Here are swatches of all four concealers. You can see the varying tones, nuances, and textures of each concealer.
I do have a few other concealers sitting around, but my favorites are those that are of liquid (rather than cream) formulation with buildable medium coverage. I find that the winning factor is almost always how natural the concealer looks rather than its lasting power. After all, obvious cakeface is never a good idea.
XO, Be
No comments:
Post a Comment