Concealer Reviews
27 January 2006
One thing I can never go without is concealer. I use it mostly to cover up those nasty undereye circles and redness around my nose. Below are some reviews of concealers that I liked and disliked from my many years of hunting for the next best concealer. Please note I have dry skin and what works on me may/may not work on everyone else.
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Concealer by Barbara Daly for Tesco (~$7) Created by world famous makeup artist Barbara Daly, this is available only at larger Tesco stores in the UK. It comes in a black square-shaped plastic pot with a transparent lid that says makeup-up on it. There are 3 shades available – Fair, Light and Warm. I ended up with the darkest shade, Warm, which is a yellow-based color for light to medium skin (NC30/Stila C). Not only does this concealer offer excellent coverage but its creamy texture makes it really easy to blend and perfect for the undereye area and blemishes. It never creases nor accentuates fine lines and it works with or without an eye cream underneath. It also stays on for hours and I never have to touch up. I have been using this every day ever since I got it and I am proud to have become a convert. Best drugstore concealer ever! |
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Becca Compact Concealer ($35) I have this in Banana. It comes in a HUGE variety of colors so you are bound to find a match. Unlike Inoui The Enhancer, there are two different versions of the same shade. The one on the right has a creamy texture while the one on the left is waxier with a heavier coverage. I use the right side to cover up undereye circles and the left side to camouflage zits and other imperfections. The overall texture of this concealer is slightly drier and thicker than the Inoui concealer and it does have a tendency to get cakey if you use too much. |
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Bourjois Imperfection Concealer ($15) Having a concealer in a cute tube with a built-in mirror on the cap is definitely a genius idea! This is so easy to carry around and makes touching up on the go so easy! But other than the cute packaging, this concealer is a very average product. The texture is creamy and blendable but the coverage is not enough to eradicate my undereye circles completely. The color selection is another thing that sucked. There are only two shades available – a pink-based beige and a golden-based beige both in light shades – so if you do not fall under those two shades, you will not be able to find a match. Save your money for something else – there are definitely better products out there for this price. |
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Chanel Pro Lumiere Correcteur Professional Finish Concealer ($38) Chanel has finally come out with its own version of Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat and the good news is, this is soooooo much better too! Unlike the Touche Eclat, this actually provides medium coverage that covers AND highlights. Almost all of my undereye circles are gone with one single stroke! The texture is also very creamy and easy to blend, leaving a velvety smooth finish. Loves it! |
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Christian Dior Hydrating Concealer ($25) I have this in Medium Beige. This concealer is very true to its name – it is indeed very moisturizing. However, since it is liquid, the coverage is not as heavy as a cream concealer and if you pile it on, it will get cakey. So as much as I like the fact that it’s not drying, I ended up not using this that much. My other complaint is the color selection. Most of the shades available are way too pink to be used as an undereye concealer. |
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Cle de Peau Concealer ($65) Named winner of Best Undereye Concealer in InStyle magazine’s “Best of Beauty”, this concealer has long been a favorite among pros and celebrities. It contains Revitalizing Moisture Complex to lock in moisture and the texture is the creamiest out of all the concealers I have used. The coverage is also excellent! A few swipes of this under my eyes and my undereye circles are completely gone! I also love how this dries to a very semi-matte finish so I never had to set it with powder. So yes, it is expensive but it is also worth the whopping $65. Click here for before and after pictures of me wearing it. |
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Giorgio Armani Skin Retouch Concealer ($35) This cream-to-powder concealer comes in a sleek little compact. The product claims to melt into skin to mask imperfections and dark shadows, leaving skin with natural, seamless coverage. I tested this out at the counter and yes, the silicone does makes it very silky so it blends like a dream. It also does not settle into fine lines or get cakey and I do not need an eye cream underneath this. However, the coverage is far from sufficient for those with major imperfections. I would recommend this only as an eyeshadow base or for those with not much to cover. GA also jacked up the price a LOT over the past year or two. This used to retail for $26 but is now listed as $35 on the GA’s website – not cool! |
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Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch ($35) Similar to Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat, this contains light reflective pearls to “blur away imperfections, treats dark circles, and highlights the complexion.” I have #3.5, which I like to use on my undereye circles, bridge of my nose, center of my chin and forehead. I really like how it feels so creamy, non-drying and does not crease or settle into fine lines. Plus it added radiance onto my skin and lightened up my eye area. Coverage-wise, it is also better than the Touche Elcat but if you have serious undereye circles like I do, it will not suffice to camouflage them completely. I would suggest layering this on top of your foundation or concealer instead of using it alone. |
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Inoui The Enhancer (~$45) A lot of models, celebrities and makeup artists in Asia swear by this and I can totally see why. It consists of two shades – a peachy color and a lighter yellow-based color. The texture is very creamy and moisturizing. Coverage is medium to heavy and buildable. It also lasts all day and does not crease. The retractable brush it comes with is great for mixing and application too. I cannot rave about this enough – it is my holy grail and I always go back to this when everything else fails. * This has been discontinued =( |
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Kesalan Patharan Under Tone Light-Up (~$30) This comes in a set of two tiny tubes in two different colors – a peach and a yellow. They can be mixed together to create the perfect shade or used separately. I use the orange under my eye followed by a thin layer of the yellow on top. The liquid texture makes it very easy to blend and the coverage is really good too. The only thing I do not like is the packaging. It leaks and whenever you squeeze the tube, a LOT of product comes out so it can get really messy. Other than that, I really like this. I would definitely repurchase it if it was not so expensive. |
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MAC Full Coverage Foundation ($27) I have this in NC30. Although it is a foundation, I find it a little too heavy to be used all over the face so I use this as an undereye concealer and for covering up zits. The creamy texture makes it super easy to blend. It also stays on pretty well and it does offer excellent coverage. A dab of this stuff under my eyes and my undereye circles are gone. |
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MAC Studio Finish Concealer ($14.50) This is the first concealer I ever bought. Even though it is by MAC, I have to say it is not that great as an undereye concealer. The texture is pretty dry and really hard to blend compared to some of my other concealers. I have tried “melting” it by blasting it under a blow dryer in hope to make it easier to blend but that did not work at all – it only made the texture even drier! I never touched this again. |
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MAC Touch-Up Stick ($14.50) This cute little pencil came out with the Blot Loose Powder and Studio Fix Liquid Foundation. It has a super creamy formula which is great for camouflaging undereye circles, spots, blemishes and for touch-ups. The coverage is medium and can be built up gradually. The pencil style design also gives it on-the-go portability. I always keep this in my purse for touch-ups. |
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MAC Select Cover Up ($14.50) When MAC first released this, I thought it would just be one of those gazillion liquid concealers out there that offers zero coverage and cakes easily. But when I finally tested it at the counter, it totally blew me away! The texture is very creamy and blendable and the coverage is surprisingly good. All I need to do is squeeze a teeny weeny bit out, dot under my eyes and blend. I can totally see why this is one of the winners of Allure Magazine’s ‘Best in Beauty’ Award. |
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MAC Studio Stick Concealer ($15.50) This is definitely one of the best concealers for blemishes and freckles. It is super creamy and feels more moisturizing than MAC’s Touch-Up Stick. Coverage-wise, it is medium and buildable. It also stays on pretty well and hardly ever cakes. I also love that it comes in a slim tube which makes it so great to travel with. I always keep one in my purse with me. |
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MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer ($16.50) OMG I am in LOVE with this! The Studio Sculpt Concealer is a cream concealer that comes in a pot about the size of MAC’s Paint Pots. The texture kind of reminded me of Kevyn Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer. It is thick, creamy and provides great coverage but compared to the SSE, it is a lot more blendable. All you need is the tiniest bit and your undereye circles and other imperfections will disappear! I also love the fact that it is not drying and you do get a lot of product. This is definitely the best concealer from MAC so far and it is one of my HGs! |
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Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer ($28) The HD Invisible Cover Concealer is an oil-free, lightweight liquid concealer with four major ingredients – Amino Acids, Sericite Mica, Fucogel and Silocone Elastomeric Powder – to cover and conceal while looking completely natural on the skin. It comes in a twist-pen design that is super portable and easy to use but what makes it really stand out is the unique applicator. Normally, most pen-style concealers come with a brush applicator that tends to get moldy within months (I’m talking to you, Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat!) The HD Invisible Cover Concealer, on the other hand, has a soft, flexible silicon tip applicator that can easily be cleaned with a tissue after each use to prevent bacterial contamination. There are a total of 14 shades to suit different skin tones. I wear #120 Soft Sand for the Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation and use #335 Medium Beige for the concealer. The color has neutral undertones and blends in seamlessly with my skin. Texturewise, the HD Invisible Cover Concealer reminds me a lot of MAC’s Select Cover Up. It is uber creamy and highly blendable. Coverage is medium so all it takes is a few dabs for my circles to disappear. Thanks to the Fucogel that it contains, it is also highly moisturizing and perfect for the undereye area and around the nose. The best part is how natural the finish is. It conceals without feeling heavy and looks like I have nothing on so I can just wear this on its own. Another one of my HGs for sure! |
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Milani HD Advanced Concealer ($6.99) This claims to rival the famous Yves Saint Laurent Radiant Touche Eclat by promising to “soften the look of facial lines and wrinkles and reduce visible age spots by more than 50% after 28 days”. The concealer contains Rona-coated pigments to disguise dark shadows; Invisaskin moisture base to keep the eye area hydrated and soften expression lines and wrinkles; Gran X gamma amino-butyric acid to plump out creases, lines and other imperfections; and Granactive RD 101 to help brighten and gently resurface the most delicate skin. The first thing I noticed about the HD Advanced Concealer is the packaging. Just like the Touche Eclat, the HD Advanced Concealer comes in a gold tube with a clickable pen-brush. Love the portability and how easy it is to use. The brush also dispenses just the right amount of product so nothing goes to waste. There are 4 shades available – Light, Medium, Medium Beige and Medium Honey. I was sent Medium for this review, which is a medium color with a tinge of peachy undertones. To my surprise, it works perfectly on my NC30 skin and does not show up pink at all. Texture-wise, the HD Advanced Concealer is definitely comparable to the Touche Eclat. It is very creamy and blends easily without accentuating fine lines/flakes or looking cakey. It also does not contain light-reflecting particles so it will not work as a highlighter like the Touche Eclat. The coverage is medium and so much better than the YSL. All I need is a few clicks with a dab here and there, and roughly 80% of my undereye circles and the redness around my nose are gone. The concealer also wears very well throughout the day without creasing or fading and no touchup is required. Finally, the HD Advanced Concealer only retails $6.99 at drugstores nationwide, which is less than 1/5 of the Touche Eclat! If you are looking for a cheap, easy-to-use concealer that will cover and stay put, this is it ladies! |
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NYX Concealer In A Jar ($17.50) This comes in 12 colors – 9 flesh colors and 3 correcting colors in the shades of Yellow, Green and Lavender. Since I have light skin with yellow undertones, I was sent CJ04 Beige and CJ05 Medium. CJ04 Beige is a light yellow-based color similar to MAC NC20 whereas CJ05 Medium is darker with just a tad more peachy undertones. I like to apply CJ05 Medium directly on my undereye circles and CJ04 Beige sparingly on top. Click here to see a comparison of the two. Similar to most cream concealers, this contains your typical ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Mineral Oil, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexarosinate, Sorbitan Sequioleate etc. It comes in a 0.25 oz jar that is about the same size as MAC Fluidline and is perfect to pop in any purse. The texture is amazingly creamy and glides on very nicely without accentuating dry patches or fine lines. It also leaves behind a velvety finish that reminds me of a silicone-based primer and I never had to set it with powder. Coverage-wise, it is on the opaque side and a few dabs here and there will erase my undereye circles. It is also very buildable and never looks fake or caked on. The only thing I can pick on if I must, is how strong the scent is. I personally am not too bothered by it but if you are not a fan or are simply allergic to strong fragrances, this might not be for you. All in all, this is one of my favorite low-end concealers! |
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Prescriptives Camouflage Cream ($17.50) I have a love-and-hate relationship with this concealer. When I first put it on, I really loved the results. It is very creamy and easy to blend. The coverage is also decent. But after a few hours, it starts to fade and if you put more on, it will look cakey and gross. I also do not like the packaging. I always end up squeezing way too much product out of the tube and wasting it. I will not be repurchasing this. |
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Redpoint NOC-Out Cover-Up Compact ($38) For some reason, this concealer reminds me a lot of Inoui The Enhancer. Perhaps it is the oh-so-sleek red compact that is about the size of a MAC powder compact or simply the fact that it contains different colors to “neutralize, obliterate and conceal” imperfections (hence the name NOC, how clever right?) The yellow is meant to neutralize the appearance of redness; the salmon color to obliterate dark spots or any heavy pigmentation; and the beige to conceal any discolorations on the eye area. Texture-wise, this feels slightly waxier than most concealers yet it goes on very smoothly and does not feel a tad dry nor heavy at all. I use mostly the beige color to cover up my undereye circles and it has never failed me. Two dabs of this baby under my eyes and more than half of my undereye circles are gone! The uber natural finish also means you can use it with or without foundation. This is totally worth the $38! |
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RMK Super Basic Concealer (~$25) I have this in the lightest shade. It is pretty thick so a little goes a long way. Although it does a pretty good job covering my undereye circles, it is definitely too dry for the eye area. If I use this without applying a rich eye cream underneath, I get little fine lines under my eye and my skin gets really flaky. |
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Stila Eye Concealer ($18) I have this in Light. I really like the cute packaging and the small pot makes it easy to travel with. However, like RMK’s Super Basic Concealer, this is too dry to be used around the eye area (even with an eye cream underneath). Therefore, despite the medium coverage and decent lasting power, I will not recommend it as an eye concealer. This is only great for covering spots. |
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Yves Saint Laurent Anti-Cernes Multi-Action Concealer ($30) I use #2 and it is definitely one of the top five stick concealers on my list. It is very creamy and glides right onto my skin without settling into fine lines or accentuating flakes. The coverage is medium and one swipe can cover pretty much all of my undereye circles. It also stays put all day and looks natural under any kind of light. Definitely check this out! |
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Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat ($18.50) Although this can be used as a concealer, I see it more of a highlighter. I use #2, which is the only yellow-based shade out of the three shades they have. The texture is very creamy and easy to blend. Its light-reflecting particles is definitely a plus. One thing I do not like, however, is the packaging. Although the pen dispenser does seem like a good idea, it is very hard to control how much product you are squirting out. Plus since the product is moist, it is very easy for bacteria to grow on the brush. Mine started growing mold only after a month so I ended up throwing it away. Ugh! |
Hey, your blog is great. I love it.
Awesome revies you do here ^^
I have a question about concealers, which is maybe a bit stupid but do you use concealers only under your eyes or can I use them everywhere on my face to hide flaws ? I’m not really sure about it but I never used concealer before, I just put on my fav foundation as basement.
PS: I’m German, so sorry for all grammer mistakes I make ^^;;
you can use concealers pretty much anywhere – under your eyes, around your nose, on zits, freckles or any other problem areas! basically, what concealers do is that they cover up whatever you don’t want other people to see. having said that, not everyone needs concealer. if you are born with flawless skin, a little tinted moisturizer would suffice. it’s really up to you.
Hi I really want to get Inoui The Enhancer foundation but I couldn’t find it. I was wondering where you got yours thanks!
Inoui is a line created by Dick Page and it is available only in Japan. I got mine when I was at the Tokyo airport. The line was revamped and renamed Inoui ID – you can check it out at http://www.inouiid.com.
hi~i hv been reading ur posts for quite a few time!
nice to meet u chinese n i m from HK
how do u think abt Bobbi Brown n Laurer Mercier Concealer
i think they r both good except that BB is too dry but the coverage is very good
LM is mosturizing but coverage is medium tho
Hey you blog on concealer is awesome!! Know what, I can’t live without concealer!!!
In fact, I bought INOUI concealer in Japan. I do agree that this product is very nice. Yet, due the lauguage problem with Japanese sales by the time I bought it, they picked the darkest color (no. 3) for me. I think it’s a bit dark for me. What color are you using?
the Inoui concealer I got only came in one shade (as shown on the picture). I think the one you got is from their new line – Inoui ID.
hi!
i have been wearing underye concealer for years, but my main problem is when im red. in pictures, my concealer no longer matches my skin color and it is so obvious. do you have any suggestions??
Hi Phylz
Thanks for your great reviews! I’m a make-up artist and my favourit concealer is the “Forget It” by Biotherm. It covers dark circles perfectly and doesn’t crease. I also love YSL’s Touche Eclat.
I’m desperate to find out where I can buy Kate Moss’s favourit foundation by Kesalan Patharan. Do you know where I could find it in the US or Europe?
My email is infoNOSPAM@beautyimpulse.com
(remove NOSPAM)
Kind Regards,
Benjamin
hey Plylz: your bly is so great, ilove it. i also from HK too and i used lived in Chicago close to Chinatown. anyways, i want to know where i can buy Inoui Concealer? if not what other brand you recommnad? and what’s best lipgloss u have used? thank you so much!!
the Inoui concealer is available only in Japan and certain stores in Hong Kong. Sadly I have not found anything as good. My other favorite concealers are MAC’s Select Coverup and their Full Coverage Foundation.
hello,
i really like your blog. it’s really informative!
i’m using Bobby Brown creamy concealer because many ppl recommended it. have you ever tried it? how would you compare it to the other concealers you have posted up there?
hello, can i ask what shade of the MAC select cover up is best for yellow Asian skin? i have a light skin complexion. and as looking at your photo, i think we have the same skin color. i’m ordering online so i can’t test it on my skin. thanks!
I use both NC20 and NC30 depending on how pale/tan I am during the year. If you have a yellow-based complexion, definitely pick a color in the NC range – the NW ones are pink-based.
Woa thanks for the list!
But which works the absolute best for dark undereye circles?
Here are my faves for undereye circles:
Concealer by Barbara Daly for Tesco
MAC Select Cover Up
Inoui The Enhancer
Thaaaaaaank you for reviewing the mac concealers. I’ve been looking for a good concealer to cover my cheek blemishes/hyper-pigmentation from acne. I’ve always used liquid, thinking that it’ll blend easier but turns out blemishes and spots should be covered with stick concealers.
oh! I have a question. Does the studio touch up stick from mac have any shimmer or sparkling effect? I’ve used a concealer that had this subtle shimmer effect and I hated it.
Hi! Woooow! I really love your reviews!
What do you recommend for hiding acne (pit) scars so that it would be less obvious? 
Thanks so much!
By the way, good thing you reviewed about the YSL touche eclat, i was supposed to buy it yesterday! good thing i didnt! i dont want a mold on my face! xD ive heard great reviews though…but not about the mold…xD
Hi Phyllis,
I just chanced upon ur website a week ago (too late I must say!) and must so excited about ur raves for the Tesco concealer and the INOUI one.
I have been scouring the web to see how i can lay my hands on them but sad to say, I saw that INOUI has been discontinued!!! I am shattered..
Any updates so far?
And just to say, I am sure u heard it million times b4, but hey, I think God has really blessed u with great looks and talents! I am glad to find this webbie and keep up the great work! *wink*
Hi Phyllis, have you tried benefit erase paste? It’s a new concealer here in the UK and I would like to try it to cover my dark under eye circles .
Sheepscarf,the MAC Touch-Up Stick does not contain any shimmer.
Super Jihan, try a cream concealer like MAC’s Studio Stick Concealer for acne scars.
u know i gotta disagree with ur review of the prescriptives camoflauge concealer because i really like it…it has been the best concealer so far! n believe me ive tried many…altough ive had the same experience like u where it pumps out blobs lol i hate that its so annoying lol but besides that i think the product itself is very good! havent tried the mac one though…
Hi Phyllis!
Thanks for replying me on my email! I appreciate the prompt response!
Anyway, was wondering if u have ever tried the Laurier Mercier Secret Camouflage? Can u do a review on it? Was wondering how it measures up against ur favourite concealers!
Thanks! Keep up the fab work!
Concealer by Barbara Daly for Tesco (~$7)
is there a way to buy this online..? and in what shade does this come?
Yongwonhi,
Like I said in the entry, the Babara Daly concealer is only available at certain Tesco stores – you cannot get it online anywhere.
It comes in 3 shades: Fair, Light and Warm.
Wow, thank you for the reviews! It definitely helped me put together a shortlist of concealers to check out. =)
hello,
thanks for the reviews! may i know what’s your favourite concealer for covering blemishes? also can the same concealer be used for undereye circles and blemishes? thanks (:
I feel really really stupid asking this question but i am a total beauty zero-i am 27 and just now trying to learn how to use makeup! i just got Stila illuminating concealer, do you put foundation on first? then concealer? omg-im sorry this is prob the stupidest question ever! I also have tinted moisturizer….not sure when to use that/concealer/foundation….please help!
Hi Mel,
To cover up blemishes, you need a creamy/pencil concealer. My picks are:
* MAC Touch-Up Stick
* Concealer by Barbara Daly for Tesco
As for whether you can use the same concealer for undereye circles and blemishes, it all depends on the individual. I personally don’t just because
1) my undereye area tends to be drier so I need a slightly more moisturizing concealer.
2) certain undereye concealers contain light-reflecting particles to blur away circles/fine lines and using this type of concealer on the pimple may highlight it instead of camouflage it.
3) you need an exact match to cover up pimples but depending on your skin tone, you may need a lighter match to cover up your circles.
Deena,
Concealer is supposed to go after foundation/tinted moisturizer.
Hello
If you were to chose between MAC Select Cover Up and Studio sculpt concealer which one is the best? I have often problems with fine lines when I add concealer under my eyes. Thanks 
Hello
I have SEVERE dark circles under my eyes. I do not have any wrinkles, but my dark circles are deep and dark.
What concealer would be best for me?
Thanks!
Hey Phyllis, I was wondering what you thought of the MUFE Full Cover Concealer and what shade would you use? Thank you
Leave your response!
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