In case you missed the first two posts in my Makeup Series, click here to read them! Every week or so, I focus on a different makeup category and review tons of different products in that category that I’ve tried (both drugstore and high-end.) This week, I’m reviewing some Concealers for you guys! Concealer has a variety of functions depending on your skin concerns. It is a great tool to cover dark circles under the eyes or dark spots you may not like to show (freckles, melasma, acne scars, etc.) It can also be used to conceal zits or other blemishes. Lately, corrector concealers are a big trend and take the typical concealer function even further. If you’d like to learn more about these, feel free to leave me a comment on this post! Also, feel free to read all about my favorite brushes for applying concealer (very affordable options!) here. Below, you can click the name of any of the concealers that I reviewed to see more details and shop the item. First I’ll review some drugstore options. Let’s get started!
Swatches w/flash (above) & without (below): Yes To Tomatoes ‘Medium’, NYX wand ’04 Beige’, Maybelline wand ’10 Light’, Maybelline wand ’20 Sand’, & NYX pot ’04 Beige’
NYX HD Concealer Wand • $4.99 for 0.11oz – This is my favorite concealer for brightening the under-eye area! I personally do not have an issue with dark circles (yet!) but I do have some sun damage dark spots under my eyes that I like to conceal. This product does a good job of that and just brightens up my under-eye area in general. One time I was running on about 5 hours of sleep, and I actually got a compliment that I looked so well-rested (ha! Thank you, concealer magic!) It also lasts all day! This is such an affordable option, especially since the NYX brand is always on sale at Ulta or drugstores. I stocked up when they had their last BOGO sale! I use the color #4 (Beige), but it is also available in different Color Correcting options in addition to regular skin tone shades.
Nyx Full Coverage Concealer In A Jar • $4.99 for 0.21oz – This is another great product from NYX at a super affordable price. Usually concealers in a pot/jar are thicker and better, in my opinion, for when you need very full coverage. This is one I reserve only for covering major blemishes such as pimples. You can use your fingers or a small brush if you want an even more precise application. This is also available in different Color Correcting options in addition to regular skin tone shades.
Yes to Tomatoes Corrective Concealer – $10 for 0.07oz – I don’t want to say too much on this one because even though it is a favorite from my collection, I think it must have been discontinued. I bought it on clearance for half price about a year ago, so maybe that is why! If you happen to come across this though, definitely scoop it up! It is an affordable concealer that contains salicylic acid to treat acne, while concealing it – genius! When you have acne and cover it with a regular concealer, this can cause it to get more clogged up and further irritated. This concealer allows you to cover the spot up while treating it at the same time to get maximum results in clearing and hiding the acne as quick as possible! Click here to see a similar product that is currently available from Murad.
ColourPop No Filter Concealer • $6 for 0.14oz – Read my full review post + swatches here!
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer • $6.99 for 0.23oz – This is a super popular drugstore concealer that lots of beauty vloggers rave about. I’ve tried it in two different shades (Sand & Light) and just find that I reach for my NYX concealer wand way more. The Fit Me concealer is definitely a more creamy formula, but for some reason I like the way the NYX one dries under my eyes better. I also feel like the NYX one highlights and brightens my skin more. I think this also doesn’t last as long.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer • $8.99 for 0.2oz/not pictured – I have used and since gotten rid of this concealer, but it is probably the one I prefer more from Maybelline. It has such a cool application (you twist up the bottom and it releases a bit of concealer into the sponge tip which you can blend right onto your skin.) This is also supposed to be anti-aging, so if you are dealing with under-eye signs of aging such as sagging or wrinkles, you might want to give this one a try!
Now here are my opinions on some high-end brand concealers:
Swatches without flash: BareMinerals ‘Summer Bisque’, Tarte Shape Tape ‘Light-Medium’, It Cosmetics ‘Neutral Medium’, & Tarte Maracuja ‘Fairly Light Neutral’
Bare Minerals Concealer • $20 for 0.7oz – This concealer really surprised me! I’ve never used a powder concealer before and wasn’t expecting it to be able to conceal much of anything since it is not a liquid, thick formula. However, I was so pleasantly surprised! I use this with the small brush it came with to apply on top of pimples and it really does conceal them! And it lasts! Definitely would check this out, especially if you are someone with sensitive skin, as this is a mineral-based formula.
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer – $24 for 0.33oz – I was so excited to try this new concealer after reading such rave reviews by beauty bloggers/vloggers. And I must say, they are spot-on! This concealer really delivers! It has phenomenal coverage, long lasting wear, and I really like that the tube and applicator are both much bigger than those of other brands. The applicator is good for covering the entire under-eye area and honestly, since this is 3x the size of the NYX wand concealer that I like (see photo below for size comparison), it makes the price difference much smaller. (The NYX one is $5 for 0.11oz which means this size product from NYX would cost you $15 – only $9 less than the Tarte Shape Tape!) Definitely check this out next time you are in Ulta! It is marketed as a contour/concealer because they also have several super dark shades that can be used both by darker skinned beauties or to contour on lighter skin tones.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer – $24 for 0.28oz – This is honestly a holy grail concealer in my opinion! I have tried many sample sizes of this (It Cosmetics really comes thru with the samples!) and have still not run out! I know I will definitely purchase the full size at some point though! The best way I can describe this concealer is: tacky. If you have major blemishes to cover or under-eye circles, you will not be disappointed by this one! The tacky formula allows it to really provide full, long-lasting coverage without sliding around or melting off the skin. Check this one out for sure!
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer • $25 for 0.28oz – I received samples of this and think it is very similar to the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye (almost identically priced too!) I think it dries a little more matte in the skin, but it is also full coverage and long lasting. The thing that really impressed me is how many shades are offered of this product. Great job, Tarte!
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer • $40 for 0.24oz/not pictured – I received a sample of this concealer and am left pretty confused after trying to make it work on multiple occasions. It is marketed as a “serum concealer” which means it is definitely more watery and runny than any others I’ve used. I am a big fan of serums, so I thought that combining one into a concealer would be great for the skin, but this always seems to make my under-eye area look patchy and dry after I apply it. Maybe if you have oily skin it could potentially work for you, but I am just not a fan at all (especially for this hefty price tag!)
Hope this post was helpful for you all! Thanks so much for reading, and stay tuned for more posts in my MakeupSeries! Xo, Nicole