This post is basically a stream-of-consciousness-babble regarding my journey to find the perfect under eye concealer. How is it possible to own such a large array of possibilities and yet still be unsatisfied?
It’s not as though I’m asking for a lot: My under-eye circles are moderate at worst, I don’t experience dryness around my eyes and I’ve not yet received my share of fine lines (touch wood… and recite countless immature rhymes to repel the jinx).
Listen to my rant mini reviews?
By Terry Touche Veloutee Concealer – Cream
This is most perplexing as Touche Veloutee made it into my 2012 favourites! Something about amazeballs coverage and illumination sans creasing. I’m not sure if this particular tube is nearing its demise but wtfbbq? Why an ashy Sahara under my eyes? Straight into the bin, still deliberating repurchase.
Armani Precision Retouch Concealer – 3
Another former favourite, I will still reach for this one for night events but I can no longer tolerate it during the day due the discernible shimmer. At first, it was only a minor irk – I enjoyed the feather light texture, the impressive coverage and the brightening effect (it can veer into Kim K highlight, practice restraint). Eventually the twinkle grated on my patience and I was once caught a glimmer in a store-front reflection. Reserved for evenings.
Mac Prolongwear Concealer – NW20
You need this… said every Youtuber ever. I downright hated it on first application, cakey and crepey. I’ve since tweaked application, the Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush appears to be the best tool when buffing on the smallest amount of product; the result is no longer repulsive but I’m less than blown away?
Also. Omfg. The packaging. Worst design flaw in makeup history, dispenses enough product for 23 faces.
Edited to add: I’ve come to like Prolongwear for another purpose, read about it here.
Rouge Bunny Rouge Luminous Skin Wand – Alula & Orionis
I actually quite like this formula: light in consistency, no crepe-paper-effect and is kind to dryness. Shade Orionis has a strong peach undertone so ideal for combating dark circles (while Alula is deeper and leans yellow) but my only gripe is the minimal coverage and hence, reserved for boring day-to-day looks.
YSL Touche Éclat Pen – #1.5
I know, I know… Not an undereye concealer per se, Touche Eclat provides beams of light reflection with negligible coverage. On occasion I’ll use it alone for illumination where coverage isn’t paramount but again, not a concealer by definition.
Bobbi Brown Correctors and Concealers (University Palette)
Wins first place for cult product that doesn’t live up the hype! Go Bobbi! I harbour a strong aversion to this formulation: sticky, heavy and prone to creasing even when set with a powder. The only reason this palette is still in my possession is because it can come in handy when working on either extreme pale or deep skintones (a rarity and as such, will be blogsaled).
The New Contenders…
NARS Creamy Concealer – Custard
L’Oreal Dream Touch Lumi – Ivory
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind – Light Pale (that sponge applicator is… heinous)
Desperate for other suggestions, leave them in the comments pretty please and thank you!
xxkarima
I feel like I’ve tried all of the same ones! But I have darker circles. Plus I’ve tried Amazing Cosmetics (not so amazing), OCC (very thick), theBalm, CdP (overpriced crap), Laura Geller real deal (I actually liked the coverage but consistency was weird and it separated quickly). The search goes on and on. I was going to try PLW but not after your post. Next, maybe MUFE and Hourglass.
Oh god, that CdP concealer is so incredibly overhyped and mediocre. MUFE Full Cover? I have that in my spot concealer collection, I didn’t really enjoy it under the eyes (I tend to prefer pens due to the lighter consistency). Maybe try PLW at a counter or something because it’s so popular, I’m really meh about it.
xx
Hi karima, my favourite concealer is the instant light eye perfector by clarins. It looks like skin after blending it in with my finger. I don’t wear foundation and it still blends into my natural skin colour. I tried the nars creamy concealer, the bobbi brown concealer and the chanel and they look either ashy or noticeable. The clarins one is not full coverage but you can always build up and can achieve full coverage.
Ooh I haven’t heard much about Clarins in a while! Thanks for your rec 🙂 xx
I like the instant age rewind undereye concealer well enough but you’re right. That sponge tip applicator is just BEGGING to harbor bacterial fugitives. Which is why I just twisted the damn thing off. I don’t apply concealer straight from tube anyways. I twist a couple times to get a little product out, and dab some on my face with a fluffy eye blending brush, then pat with my finger to smooth it out.
I’ve tried it on one occasion, it’s veryyyy light reflective! Still forming opinions but I do like the ultra thin consistency. That sponge has GOT TO GO though, I will probably rip it off as well. Ergh! x
Yeah I’ve ripped mine off. It’s one of my favourite under eye concealers, even though I don’t think it’s perfect… I get eczema ONLY around the eye area so I’ve always been a lost cause when it comes to eye concealers. And even when eczema isn’t a problem, EVERYTHING CREASES on me which isn’t fair, I’m only 22???!?
Are you setting your under eye concealer? I like fine silica powders like the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening- I don’t find that it exacerbates dryness and I’m sure my concealer would migrate and crease without it. xx
Hi Karima!
It´s unbelievable that you don´t have Clinique AirBrush Cocealer adored by Lisa Eldridge!!
I actually tested them at a counter recently and I found the shade range very confusing! The lighter shades seemed very dark and orange but I will likely give it a try soon 🙂 x
I like the NARS cream concealer in ginger. It’s buildable but never gets cakey or settles into fine lines. I have a concealer duo in pressed form though, so maybe the sticks might be a bit different. However, my all-time favorite is Skinfood’s salmon concealer. I know you probably won’t be able to find it in Australia but I like whipping that bad boy out after pulling an all-nighter. 😀
Yep, I have worked with the NARS brand before and the stick concealer and the compact concealer are different formulas (I actually purchased the fluid concealer, new one bla bla). I’ve heard good things about Skinfood Salmon Concealer! Have you tried the Eve Pearl counterpart? I loved the look of it at the last IMATS but they no longer had my shade in stock D:
x
Ohhh I didn’t like the Skinfood one, I found it to be unusably sticky. But I guess my dark circles aren’t too bad to begin with?
I am quite satisfied with the MAC mineralize concealer in NW20 (not to be confused with the select moisturecover anti cernes – that one didn’t work for me at all and they come in similar packages). I haven’t tried many of the ones you mention in your post, but this one is definitely working for me. I don’t have dark circles (I have actually whiter circles under my eyes in comparison with the rest of the skin in my face), but I do have fine wrinkles (sigh).
Hey Gloria, thanks for your input! Is this one illuminating? I may check it out at a counter 🙂 x
The bT pen does get a bit dry when it’s on it’s last legs. How long have you had yours for? Touch expert advanced might be a contender. No shimmer but it may be too matte for your liking.
NARS radiant: it’s only nice when used with foundation. By itself it’s obvious where it’s located on your face, and it seems to accentuate my lines on my undereye. Using MUFE HD powder in pressed form tends to help it a bit. I’m not won over by the NARS.
Hmm maybe nearing 6 months? My first tube lasted forever and I didn’t have this issue so maybe it’s my skin. What’s your favourite undereye concealer?
I tried the NARS today and I’m my first impression was meh: the coverage was average and I did find it looked a tad dry. xx
I understand you sooo much! I’m still looking for The Concealer 🙁
My last purchase was NYX HD Photogenic Concealer, not bad at all!
It’s pigmented, creamy, blendable and elastic, and stays put with dignity!
Is it my HG? Don’t know yet… But has put aside the others (Bobbi Brown, MAC Pro Longwear, Collection 2000, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Benefit Erase Paste).
🙂
Hmmm I will definitely try that out now that NYX is available in Australian Target (new addition, everyone is very excited!). Thanks a bunch xx
Have to agree-that CdP concealer is awful-drying and overpriced and I couldn’t stand the smell of the By Terry concealer..I’ve tried so many concealers and my favorite has been the one by it cosmetics. Though I am much older than you, I still think you may like it. Good coverage, not drying, long lasting…
Yes By Terry definitely has a strong scent to her products, I actually like it but can see why others may not! I’ve been pondering IT cosmetics, I’ll have to buy online though and buying shades online can be such a headache. Thanks for your suggestion 🙂 x
I’ve tried all of those with the exception of by Terry. The NARS is perhaps the best I have come by, but by no means is perfection as i find it settles into my fine lines. I do like it for undereyes and for other areas of my face which is why I have repurchased. I am still looking for something better. Alas, I am hoping the new Shiseido Eye Zone concealer will be the one (packaging is similar to YSL and by Terry).
I think I prefer the clicky pens, I don’t mind the NARS so far but I’m not sure it’s doing it for me 100% texture wise. Ooh I haven’t yet seen the Shiseido counterpart, I’ll keep an eye out for it! x
I like the MAC mineralize concealer. I went one shade lighter than my skin. It hydrating, doesnt look cakey. I blend out with a fluffy brush, and set with loose powder on a sponge.
Two votes for MAC Mineralize! Will check it out in store, thank you! x
I use Bo Ing, from Benefit, but it has a undertone yellow that its not ok for every tones of skin, cover very much and doesn´t move, but his most important fail is in the colour of tones.
kisses from spain
Greetings from Australia! I think I prefer peach undertones in my under eye concealers but I have heard great things about Boing! x
I believe every concealer application should be immediately predicated by a thin layer of under-eye moisturizer. It helps with dryness and blending. I know above you said that the CdP is overpriced crap, and I will agree that it’s over-priced but not that it’s crap. I also like to set any/every concealer with a light dusting of Bare Minerals Well Rested powder. It’s yellow, brightening, and adds extra coverage. I love it.
That’s an interesting application technique, how do you apply the moisturiser so it doesn’t displace the concealer? I was not a fan of the CdP but I think I don’t fare well with stick style concealers under the eye, I much prefer the pen variety. I also use an under-eye setting powder, Laura Mercier Secret Brightening, which I think is comparable to the BM Well Rested. xx
Well, well, well.. I have really awful undereye circles regardless of how much sleep I had the night before so I’m also trying to find a perfect concealer. So far, nothing really seems that great. I kinda like the NARS radiant creamy concealer and the MAC Prolongwear, but they’re both drying (MAC is worst) and settle into fine lines. My everyday routine lately is: eye cream + NARS and MAC mixed together (NARS in custard is too yellow, MAC NW25 is too dark and orange) + translucent powder (very lightly). That way I can keep the drying and creasing under control, but I’m still left with slight shadows under my eyes.
I’m really enjoying the Clinique airbrush concealer. I don’t think it has as much coverage as I need, but it has some and I like that it’s light reflecting. I have it in medium, wich is a peachy tone and I think it blends well into my skin over foundation.
I’m still waiting for my BT pen, but I think I’ll have it by monday!
At least we can share our struggles! 😛
MAC Prolongwear is just a bit dry looking under my eyes, I do like the NC20 shade for spot concealing, though. I will try your little concoction and see how I fare! The clinique is definitely on my to try list, once I figure out what shade I need!
Let me know how you like the BT pen 🙂 xx
Such a good read! Who doesn’t love to talk about concealers? (Actually it turns out that 0 of my coworkers will chat concealer with me…)
My favourite currently is the Armani Maestro. it comes in a sooper stoopid leaky tube which is a tragedy. I have to store it with the cap facing up or it vomits enough concealer onto the back of my hand that one day i just said “fuck it, i’ll use it as foundation today”. It’s very expensive. I love the actual product though, peach toned for some correction, very light texture and never creases.
I also love the Clinique’s Airbrush Concealer, recommended by (surprise) Lisa Eldridge, it doesn’t offer a lot in the concealing department, but as a shimmer-free brightener, I love it. I often use it for highlighting.
I have the By Terry Touche Veloutee, but can only use it when I’m super tan as for some reason I bought it in the darkest shade?? All the rest of my skin products say things like “porcelain” on them. I was obviously feeling rebellious that day. Anyways, I like it, but I don’t love it. No particular reasons 🙂
LOL this whole comment made me laugh- you should be writing a blog!
I had a lot of Armani Maestro recs on my youtube actually (once mentioned that I wasn’t satisfied, got trillions of recs, thank god for the internet). The Maestro foundation was such an epic fail on me that I didn’t even consider the concealer but I will definitely check it out!
Clinique is at the top of the list (Lisa Eldridge effect).
Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth 🙂 xx
ELLIS FAAS. The concealer is amazing. I had one but lost it somehow – it’s good enough that I’m going to repurchase. I think you’d love it – it’s very very lightweight and somehow has quite good coverage.
Ooh yes I did go through two tubes of the Ellis Faas a few years back! I recall liking it, I have no idea why I stopped using it. Thanks for jogging my memory 🙂 xx
I haven’t tried it myself but the Cle de peau concealer gets really good reviews. It’s super pricey though. I am using the loreal dream touch lumi in radiant and I like it. I get some creasing but for the price (I paid $5.99), it works fine for me.
Yeah I tried the CdP and it was an epic fail on me 🙁 I’m not a fan of stick concealers for the most part, that could have been the issue. It just sorta sat on top of my skin. Drugstore recs are good! I’m working on an all-drugstore tutorial so I’m trying everything I can (getting expensive!)
xx
LOVE the Nars concealer and is my fave at the moment. I’ve also had luck with Clinique’s concealer pen (Lisa Eldridge uses this sometimes in her videos) depending on what shade my skin is.
Hmm yes the Clinique interests me but I can’t figure out what shade I am- may I ask what shade you use? xx
Is more easy use the Maybelline concealer if you remove sponge applicator 😉
Oh absolutely! It is getting ripped off right away 😉 x
I love the University palette for my professional kit but for day to day wear I love the Nars concealer 🙂 It’s beautiful!
alex @ pinkelephantbloggin.com
The University palette is so hit and miss, it looked good on some and bad on others (BAD on me) so I’m afraid it has gotta go. xx
Have you tried the Laura Mercier secret concealer pot? Not the duo/camouflage one. It has a salmon undertone to color correct. It is really creamy and a little goes a long way. I use the concealer under eye, then I very lightly top it with powder foundation to match the color of the rest of my face. Then set it with the LM secret brightening powder.
Sounds like a lot of steps but it is the only routine that gets the most natural finish while still covering the dark circles! It’s pretty long lasting and as a teacher, I am very grateful for that!
Yes I have! I do like that one, I mainly keep it for others since I like clicky pens for everyday. LM Secret Brightening Powder is awesome, right?! One of my all time favourites. xx
I’d been super happy with my NARS Creamy Concealer, but still felt the need to buy the By Terry (it’s a sickness). It does not work as good at all, though I sometimes put it on top of the NARS. I think/hope you’re going to like that choice!
Shani x
https://shedreamsinperfectfrench.com
Still testing, we’ll see how I go! I think I might repurchase the BT for old times sake and hope that I love it again (sickness). xx
Hi Karima! I have the WORST dark cicles ever, and being a full-time student certainly does not help. I’ve tried a few different concealers and sadly, I’m still searching for the perfect one. Benefit Erase Paste (too orange), Benefit Boi-ing (too dry and ashy), Bare Escentuals Multi-Tasking Concealer (loose minerals take waaay too much time), Estee Lauder Brush-on Illuminator (too little coverage), Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (creases way too much), Maybelline Instant Age Rewind (undecided on how I feel about it) and Clinique All About Eyes (this one actually wasn’t bad, decent coverage with brightening properties at the same time). At the moment, I’m desperately trying to finish up a tube of MUFE Full Cover (nobody told me it was way too dry to be used for the undereyes. Sad days indeed). Next on my list is also the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer. I’m now starting to wonder, does the perfect concealer even exist? Lol
Hey Nika! Lots of us are having the same issues, apparently!
My first impressions of age rewind: very light reflective and not a great deal of coverage (not a bad thing, totally depends on my look/preference of the day). Yeah :-/ Didn’t like full cover under the eyes, that is another one I have in my kit but for spot concealing.
If I ever find the holy grail concealer, I will definitely let you guys know! xx
Make up store- cover all mix = old favorite <3 Not to creamy like the bobby brown but still not dry.
Bump up the coverage with the NARS creamy concealer in vanilla or the clinique airbrush concealer 🙂
Ohh I’m lucky enough to have a Makeup Store near my home (generally not widely available in Australia). Are there any other favourites from that brand? I’d like to try some more stuff out 🙂 xx
Oh how lovely! I usually use the eyeshadow in “masai” for contouring, a good dupe for chanel notorious, though I know that you already own that one 🙂
Other microshadows that I like from them are smog (a bit like mac soba) and volga (think mac club)!
By the way Karima, I am moving to Sydney from Sweden just this springterm (I study medicine and have a exchange at Nepean hospital)… I so would like som beauty shopping tips! What is your favorite beauty store in Sydney? I would like to buy Burberry, Tom Ford, Suqqu and Fancl <3 Lots of love!
I’ve actually seen Masai used for contouring (on the youtubes) and I love Notorious so I’ll pick it up next time I’m there 🙂
I think you asked about Sydney on my facebook page? Copy and pasted response from me:
My advice for makeup shopping in Sydney would be: Don’t. lol.
If you can get those brands at home or even on the stopover (duty free) to Australia, do that. We have a very similar range to the rest of the world but double the price.
If you don’t mind paying more, you can get Burberry and Tom Ford at David Jones in the city. SUQQU is only sold in the UK and Japan so I order online from Ichibankao.com
There is only one store I know of that sells Fancl (at a markup) and that is a Japanese cosmetics store on George St (opposite Union Square).
Enjoy Sydney! Go to the beaches xx
Thank you so much Karima <3
Always a pleasure, m’dear 🙂 xx
I’ve been loving the Maybelline Fit Me concealer for under eye, especially when blended in with a beauty blender. I haven’t had any problems with creasing.
I forgot to photograph that one but I do indeed own it 🙂 I’ll try using the beauty blender with it! xx
I have tried them all as well. CDP was overpriced – I am still not sure what the hype is all about, even for blemishes. Bought the chanel concealor in a tube, didn’t work great and moved about all the time. Don’t get me started on MAC – breakouts galore. Bought the collection 2000, maybelline age rewind and nars creamy concealor recently, but still none of them have hit HG status. Suffered pretty much all the same issues that you have had!!
I think I rid myself of the CdP a week after purchase, I just couldn’t find a use for it :-/ Let us all wallow in our concealer woes D: xx
The NARS is not bad… I was using way too much when I first got it but now I use half of what I thought I would need and it works okay… Still a little too dry for me. Lisa Eldridge’s Clinique Airbrush concealer works very well on a daily basis, as the lightest shade is super pink and helps correct the bluish discoloration I suffer from. I also LOVE the NYX HD concealer (the one with the wand). Great shade selection, very inexpensive and good coverage without any of the attractive settling under the eyes. I hope you get a chance to try that one!!
Multiple votes for Clinique and NYX HD! They’re at the top of my list 😉 Drugstore suggestions are always welcome (we’re branching out, here at the ShamFrip). xx
Hi Karima! Long time lurker but I was scrolling through the comments and noticed that no one had mentioned Burberry. Now I have somehow managed to not use undereye concealer for the first 27 years on earth but I’ve been on the look out as of late because I’m starting to look like a dead person. A lot of people on MUA have been recommending Ellis Faas and Kate (MUS/drivol) thinks that Burberry is the best concealer pen she’s tried – I think it’s blogger duty to test them out!!
Hey Andrea!
I was actually ready to purchase the Burberry concealer at the counter but they haven’t had my shade in stock D: From what I could tell, the coverage was sheer but it looks to be a versatile option that I will revisit 🙂 xx
Lisa Eldridge’s favourite (and mine): Clinique airbrush concealer! It sits in between a light reflective pen and a medium coverage. : )
So many recs for the Clinique! Sounds like a winner, thank you! xx
Dream lumi and age rewind are the only concealers that dont crease on me.
Loved reading this post. My under eye area is similar to yours, so not very problematic. I really like the Ellis Faas concealer, I noticed others have mentioned that too. I think the colour s202 would be perfect for you. Other than that one I tend to use my Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics one a lot. It has quite a high coverage and is fine if your under eye area isn’t too dry. I have not tried the estee lauder double wear concealer myself, but have read so many raves about it, so that could be an option. I have a tube of CdP concealer lyig around the house that I haven’t used yet, I might resell it if it really is that bad. I must say that the reviews are so mixed, I’m not sure if I should even try it.
Yes, I really enjoyed Ellis Faas back in the day so I may revisit that, I’ll keep s202 in mind thank you! You may like the CdP, I didn’t but it seems a bit of a waste to sell without trying? xx
Honestly, your dark circles aren’t bad, so you don’t need something heavy duty. I suggest the MUFE HD concealer. It’s hydrating and you can build layers to create full coverage while still looking invisible on the skin. I’m NC20 and use shade 330. HTH!
Ooh thanks for that recommendation, Helena! I’ll keep it in mind. xx
Oh I wish I didn’t struggle with under eye circles! *shakes fist* I’m terrified of cakey, heavy, under eye concealers so I try and stay away, even though the lighter hydrating formulations don’t cover as much. My go to concealer for everyday is the Dior Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer. It’s not cakey and doesn’t make your eyes look 10 years older than the rest of your face.
I do have the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, which is very peachy and very thick. Theoretically, this should be perfect for me but I just can’t be arsed to use it. I did just invest in theBalms Time Balm concealer and I like that its a lighter consistency than the LM concealer, not AS peachy (which for me is better as it looks more natural) and generally easier to use. Not that exxy either! Time will tell how we get along, but first impressions are pretty good!
I’d like to try the new Nars concealer, so i will be waiting impatiently for your thoughts 😉
I totally agree, Sylvia. I’d go for less coverage to avoid anything cakey or heavy (which is why I don’t do well with the Bobbi Brown products). First impressions on the NARS: it’s not super light reflective (which is good, no reverse panda eyes), the coverage is moderate when using sparingly and the texture is okay (doesn’t seem particularly dry but I did notice a small amount of creasing). Still gathering my thoughts, though! x
I would say give the Dior Diorskin Nude and/or Diorskin Sculpt concealers a go. You barely have any dark circles, to begin with …and the Dior concealers both lean the way of your coloring. I think the MAC Pro Concealer palette thing is pretty functional, as well. But like, I know a lot of people hate the Studio Finish formulation. In this palette, I think the texture is a little smoother and almost less dense, as opposed to the regular, potted version. Anyway, I enjoyed this post 🙂
x
Rachel
Yeahhh I’ve been looking at that pro concealer palette by MAC but it’s a pro product, and those aren’t easy to acquire in Australia unless you do the whole pro card song and dance (snooze). Might try to pick it up online! Thanks for stopping by, Rachel 🙂 xx
I think the MUFE to try for under-eyes is the HD Invisible Cover … it’s applicator is really irritating, but I do think it’s a good formula, applied sheer and I like to press in with a finger to make it meld with skin. I like it better not set with anything.
I also like the LM secret concealer + secret brightening powder.
Personally I find the Clinique Airbrush so-so … maybe it’s because I don’t love the shade offerings, and probably partially that it cases breakouts for me if I use it anywhere but under eyes (can’t use under brows, down middle of nose, above cupid’s bow etc.) I think it picks up dryness more than most click-y pens do.
I think the Burberry clicky pen will be my next concealer purchase
Nooo Clinique was the next on my list but I can’t do anything that picks up on dryness, too finicky for my liking 🙁 x
Hi Karima.. important info! With the Clinique airbrush, don’t look at the numbers religiously as a guide to pale/dark… I am very similar in skin tone to you: shade 4 in Armani Lasting silk-although starting to think maybe 4.5 would be sliiightly better if it’s a shade yellower-do tell!; and a B20 in Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.
Look to shade 4 ‘neutral fair’ of the clinique, I also have shade 3 ‘light’ but it’s a very strange shade, it’s good but very yellowy and could easily suit one of a much darker skintone. Good luck, and great post as usual!
P.S I sometimes mix the 3 and 4 together depending on whether my eyes are a bit red or sallow throughout the year… xx
Thank you, Clara! Interesting that their shades aren’t particularly linear. I recall Lisa Eldridge uses shade 2? I think she’s a similar colouring to me (but looks paler due to her strong studio lights, her foundation matches are often darker than mine, actually).
4.5 in Lasting Silk is definitely yellower than 4 but it’s also a hair darker. 4.5 is much lighter than B20 in Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, though.
Thanks for all your help 🙂
Oh no I’m absolutely positive she uses number 4- Natural/neutral Fair (can’t remember the name exactly, maybe check some of her vids to be sure? Because I bought that shade purely because she used it and her colouring, like yours, is very close to hers. I’d never have thought to look at a shade 4 otherwise assuming it would be too dark.
Oh I may be wrong, I thought she used #2 in a video and I made a mental note but I’ll go back and double check. Thank you thank you!
Hi Karima!
I recently discovered your blog and YT channel and I’m a fan!
I have a question though. I have freckles. Quite dark freckles and fair skin. But I dunno if it’s the lack of sleep thanks to the copious amount of work I have from uni or just old age ( I’m 21!!!) but I’ve started to get sort of dark circles around my eyes.
The problem is that it’s hard to find a concealer that won’t make my freckles look washed out but sill gives me coverage. Any ideas?
Hey there! Glad you’re enjoying my blog/channel 🙂
Do you have freckles in the most inner corner of your under eye area? I generally apply concealer just near the tear duct (if you’re doing it in large placements or down onto the cheek, you may find it interferes with freckled areas). xx
I don’t use a lot of concealer under my eyes, but on the Sali Hughes beauty forum quite a few people have been raving about the new Bourjois Happy Light, and the Dior hydrating one. And what about Benefit? They do Erase Paste and that weird Fake Up that hydrates as well as covers.
The variety is so large and overwhelming. I almost can’t be bothered because under eye concealer is the ‘boring aspect of makeup’ to me, I’d much prefer to play with colour lol.
I use the nars radiant creamy concealer in vanilla and love it! It has great coverage and a good texture. Despite being brightening, it works alright for spots too. I tried the dream lumi in ivory under the eyes for a while but found it too sheer and brightening so I use it as a highlighting pen (poor person’s YSL pen).
Dream Lumi is sooo light reflective, I think it works best as a highlighter, too. I have the YSL pen and they’re rather comparable, to be frank. xx
I’m still looking too! Now using MAC studio finish in NC20 which does a decent job covering the purplish tint in the inner corners of my eyes. Texture is not great though. I have to warm it up with my fingers an apply with fingertip. And I LOVE YSL Touche Éclat for illuminating. One thing I can’t figure for the life of me is how to settle concealer with power without making everything look dry and cakey. Must be doing something wrong :-/
What powder are you using? I don’t use a face powder under my eyes, I like the very fine silica powders like Laura Mercier Secret Brightening (and you only need the slightest amount, I take off most of the powder on the back of my hand). I also use a crease brush for that purpose. xx
Hi Karima,
I’m also pretty meh about the Nars concealer. I have the clinique one in neutral (4), but I actually like the Maybelline dream lumi highlighting concealer pen better. I don’t know how it compares to the Loreal one, or why they have the same name, but you could give it a shot!
(side note – I think the pic you have up is actually the Maybelline one, not the loreal one)
Liz, apparently I’m a moron and the one in my post is in fact Maybelline Dream Lumi. I’m going to correct that now, d’oh! xx
Hi Karima,
Have you tried Mally Roncal’s Cancellation Conditioning Concealer? The texture is non waxy; it’s creamy but there is minimal settling into fine lines or feathering. It stays put for hours and has become my holy grail of under eye concealers! The pigmentation is excellent, my under eye bags don’t stand a chance. Not sure if you can get it outside the States, but if you are not already familiar you can check it out here:
https://www.mallybeauty.com/face/concealer/cancellation-conditioning-concealer
I do wish there were more shades, currently there are only 5. Totally worth the price tag!
Love your blog and all the demos! Addicted!
-Joelle
Hey Joelle,
I don’t think that brand is widely available in Australia and I’d like to be able to touch and swatch, sadly. I’ll keep it in mind for the next time I go to the US though, thank you! x
I really like the Nars… and just like you, I’ve been in the never-ending quest for the perfect under eye concealer. For me, so far seems Benefit Erase Paste #2 is in the lead, since I’ve used it most of 2013 and keep using it this year.
Hmm interesting, thanks Anne! I hear the Benefit Erase Paste has a rather unusual shade range? xx
Hi Karima,
I love the Nars creamy concealer in honey (salmon toned) and custard on top (my skin tone but brighter) which I love for undereye (just repurchased both yesterday). I just finished YSL touche éclat and Dior skinflash which I used on top of honey instead of custard and now I’m looking to repurchase a pen one too (I’d personally choose Dior out of the two because of the better coverage) but am looking into the Becca radiant skin cream concealer next – in a clicky pen also and in a huge range of shades. Was a fave of Sam from pixiwoo in one of her vids, might be worth a look?
Ps so glad I skipped on by terry, and I can’t stand Bobbi Brown either!
Pps Love every vid you have ever posted on yt, even your private hauls x
Hey Jasmine,
I like the idea of the Becca one, I might check that out in store. I feel bad saying negative things about the By Terry since it used to be a favourite, I might repurchase to see if mine was just old. So glad you like the videos, hun! xx
I use my KA SSE, but I mix it down with MAC Face & Body so it’s not so dense. I’ve also been ok with the NARS Radiant Creamy concealer, but I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it…I mean, it looks one way in real life and another way in pictures, and that always irks me. Use the teeniest amount possible, though, or it’s gonna slide everywhere and cake up like woah.
Hmm I will try the KA SSE and Face and Body mix! Do you mean flash photography? I can’t even remember the last time I took photos with flash so for most purposes, that isn’t an issue for me. xx
I have to confess to owning and liking the Bobbi Brown concealer, but I also must warn you about that Nars, which I also own. The coverage is great and applies creamy and smooth, like its name suggests. However, after I set with Laura Mercier Translucent Powder and go about my day for 3-4 hours, it becomes horrendously dry-looking and highlights every tiny crease (I’m only 20 and am not particularly dry so this shouldn’t be happening). Something about the texture also exacerbates the “chicken skin” at the inner corners. The last straw was its transfer problem even after setting with powder– if I offhandedly brush lightly under my eye a couple times over the course of the day (because obviously wiping away invisible ghost tears) and by 3 pm my coverage will be patchy. Doesn’t seem to happen with others I’ve tried, including Bobbi. My aim isn’t to make you go in biased, but just to know you’re not the only one experiencing these issues if you notice them!
P.S. I still use Nars to cover up blemishes and it seems to work fine.
Oh my gahhh yes! Chicken skin lol. I also have a few fine hairs around my tear duct (wut?) that concealer often exacerbates. I tried the NARS yesterday and it works but I think the coverage is moderate at best? First impressions only. xx
Oops, it looks like you were talking about the Bobbi Brown corrector/concealer combo and I was going on about her Tinted Undereye Brightener. You might want to check that one out 🙂
Interesting! Thanks for the rec 🙂 x
I love Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Undereye Concealer! I use just a dab of BB Corrector on my dark circle, and then the Lancome all over the undereye area. The Lancome is nice and thin with very minimal creasing if any, and brightens really well. I have bad circles, hence the corrector, but you get probably get away with just the Lancome.
So many suggestions! Thank you everyone! x
Urgh my undereyes are bad. Hereditary dark circles that are almost dark brown and folds under the lower lid. I finally found my best corrector but it’s a cream (Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Emerge) so it’ll hang on to the dry bits if I’m not careful but I think my eye cream is doing a fairly good job!
I liked the Maybelline Age Rewind for a while but I wasn’t in love with it. I’m trying Fit Me now and I’m not in love with that either. it doesn’t offer me much coverage under eye and can sometimes look ashen but going darker in the shade range means it won’t blend since the rest of my face is pale. I really wish there was a NARS counter near me so I could check out RCC. MAC Prolongwear was pretty nice with a sponge application but over time it irritated my eyes. I’m trying Clarins Instant concealer next. If that doesn’t work I’ll try Charlotte Tilbury’s Retoucher or Dior Hydrating/Sculpt concealers.
I have the Maybelline Fit Me as well, I purchased it because it seems to be one of the few drugstore concealer that isn’t like reflective like WHOA. MAC Prolongwear has the tendency to go sticky yet dry on me 🙁 I just don’t know. x
The nars creamy concealer is my HOLY GRAAL, hope you love it as much as me !
Still testing it! x
Some disclosure first: like you, I can’t say I have dark under-eye circles and I don’t have fine lines. My under-eye area is dehydrated and sometimes a little dry due to the harsh Canadian winters. I am also prone to getting a bit of milia so I choose my concealers carefully.
I have two favourite concealers that I’ve used faithfully for the past few years. The first is the Clinique airbrush concealer (Lisa Eldridge effect). My skin tone is neutral and slightly darker than hers and I can use both ‘neutral-fair’ (the one Lisa uses) and the ‘fair’ (has a pinkish undertone). The ‘neutral-fair’ is more yellow and the ‘fair’ works really well to correct blue/purple discolouration (very mild on me). The only things I dislike about the clinique is that it has the tendency to pick-up dryness in the winter and you get very little product for the amount of money you pay.
The second is the MUFE Lift concealer. I usually stay away from products that are aimed at ‘older’ women (I’m in my early twenties), but I tried it on a recommendation of a friend and loved it. Kim K. apparently loves this product as well. It gives good coverage and has a highlighting effect. Coverage is slightly heavier than the Clinique but still light-medium. You get very good bang for you buck and I love the applicator/packaging. Shades are weird, though. Shade 3 is actually lighter than shade 2 and might be more suitable for you.
Note: Shiseido high beam white highlighter works really well at amplifying the highlighting effect of both these concealers while remaining very subtle.
I hate clutter and like to curate a small collection of loved makeup items. I will probably repurchase the MUFE over the Clinique next time but I’ve been looking to try the Burberry Sheer Luminous Concealer for a while now so I might give that one a try.
I think my next purchase is the Clinique in Neutral Fair. The dryness thing kinda bothers me though, I’ve heard that on a few platforms. Ooh I own the Shiseido High Beam White! Totally loving the effect, I’ll try it under my eyes. Good on you for a well curated stash, I had to revamp my storage solution because it’s all getting out of control :-S xx
Have you tried the Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer? Definitely worth charming the Armani Counter Reps for a sample.
Not yet but I’ve heard multiple raves! I do love Armani face products (except Maestro, hot mess on me) so I’ll definitely swatch it. Pity that Armani counters here are so stingy about samples 🙁 xx
You’re so right, some counters are easier to charm than others. As a fellow Aussie, I’d happily send you a small pot of the one I have to sample, although the skin match might not be perfect (I’m a NW20), it’s colour 3. Let me know! 🙂
Thank you for the offer, Sophie! That is so kind of you <3 I'm pretty sure I'll purchase it to review anyways, but I appreciate it 😀 xx
Hi Karima!
Concealer is definitely one of the most frustrating categories of makeup IMO. I feel as though the ones that look nice always have a very low level of coverage (which is sometimes impractical), while the high coverage ones always have terrible textures.
My favourite so far is the By Terry Touch Expert Advanced. It works really well for the ‘triangle-of-light’ technique too (if that’s something you like on yourself). Have you tried it yet?
Totally frustrating, right?! My friend panties (the blog Black Panties) actually recommends the Touch Expert but I’m yet to try it myself! Definitely will add to the to-try list (I’m actually opening up a notes on my Iphone as we speak!). xx
firstly – ” (that sponge applicator is… heinous)” LMAO!!! people at work gave me weird looks for chuckling to myself in my corner when I read that! I also agree its gross >=(
and I’d be super interested in hearing your thoughts on teh NARS concealer as it’s been on my lemmings list for a while now.
Also something to try, I barely use under eye concealer however when I do I’ve been reaching for my Rimmel Match Perfection concealer over my MAC one – not that either are blow your mind awesome, but the RImmel seems to do a fairly decent job when I’m desperate to hide a weeks worth of night shift.
Sponges on concealers are RANK. Yuck. lol.
So far I’m a bit conflicted on the NARS Concealer, I’m not sure it’s much better than others on the market. I haven’t tried the Rimmel Match Perfection… will do. xx
Wow – Concealers are a very popular topic! 🙂 Look at all these comments!! I’m loving it – lots of good suggestions. I want to try the Ellis Faas that several seem to like. And maybe RBR too. My appointment with “the” Terry of ByTerry is this week so perhaps I’ll give her concealer a go too.
I’ll throw my thoughts into the mix: I am REALLY loving IT Cosmetics “Bye Bye Undereye” but not for my undereye 🙂 It is excellent at concealing the redness around my nose. It looks good first applied undereye, but gets super dry in an hour or two. Super unattractive.
I am also trying Hourglass. I loooove the way this feels. So emollient. And it looks good. I have lots of lines and at first application it even soothes the lines and improves the look of the eye area. Problem is…. it doesn’t stay put. Gone in an hour. I may try it in combo with LM Secret Brightening and see if that gives lasting results.
Others: cdp is crap, le mer is *ultra* crap, armani crap, bobbi is ick, Trish is also bad on me, jury is out on NARS… just got it. why is it so hard to make a good concealer?!?!?!?!?!?
Thanks for this post!!
xo sj
Oh apparently people share my frustrations on concealer! The Ellis Faas Concealer is lovely (if I remember correctly) and don’t be turned off by my sulky review- try the Touche Veloutee and let me know what you think.
Are you setting the Hourglass concealer? still moves? UGH. Such a tricky part of makeup. xx
Hi Karima,
This is my first comment (love your blog, btw!). Have you tried mixing one of your solid type concealers with one of your liquid? This is the only thing that has worked for me. I mix La Mer’s concealer with Clinique’s Airbrush (neither of which I like alone) on the back of my hand and it gives wonderful coverage without being overly heavy/cakey. You could try this with any of your solid and liquid products to get the right formula for your particular skin…
Good luck!
P.S. Thanks for your post on TF’s Cocoa Mirage; it is probably my favorite palette atm. 🙂
Hey Angela!
Welcome to the ShamFrip, reading comments is my favourite part of the day 🙂
I actually do mix concealers on a day-to-day basis (currently mixing the NARS with the Armani Precision Retouch) and while it works, I’d love a convenient option for everyday (and a less verbose option for tutorials and blog posts). May I ask why you don’t like the Clinique Airbrush? It was a contender for purchase!
TF Cocoa Mirage is such a winner, I use those shades with so many look 😉 xx
Hey Karima,
The colors of the Clinique Airbrush don’t work for me. The lightest shade was pink-based (which I personally hate) and I felt the second lightest (Neutral Fair) was just too dark for my NC15-20ish skin. But I do like the formula/texture, which is why I decided to mix it with other concealers to see what might work. If you don’t mind pink-based concealers then you might like the Clinique AB in Fair.
We are the same shade – Or at least very similar – And I bought the Suqqu Frame Fix in 002 after reading/stalking your post on it. 😉 Also purchased the 101 but it’s a bit light.
I have purchased so many things after seeing them on your blog – So, love it and hate it!
Thanks for your response Angela! Hmm I’m on the NC20 side so I’ll have to try Neutral Fair to ensure that it isn’t dark. How was SUQQU Frame Fix 002 on your NC15-20 skin, out of curiosity? Decent colour match?
xx
I *can’t* wait to hear your thoughts and discoveries with these concealers! I have really dark circles and no matter how much sleep I get, I still seem to have them (thanks, genetics). I’ve tried Benefit Erase Paste (too orange on my pale skin and it cakes up), the Nars Radiant Concealer is great for my zits (yay) but surprisingly didn’t work well under my eyes (boo), the RMS Un-Cover Up just didn’t provide enough coverage for me… Sigh. Lots of stuff I’ve tried hasn’t seemed to get the results I’m looking for.
Currently I use the Bobbi Brown corrector in Light Peach (sometimes a bit cakey but it does seem to help cancel out the blue in my circles) and then use that hideous sponge on the Maybelline Age Rewind haha. YSL Touche Eclat is ok to add a bit of brightening if that’s needed too.
I can’t wait to hear what you find out there since I’m always always always looking for new concealers to try!!
Hi Karima. Clarins Eclat Minute Pinceau Perfecteur is very similar to Clinique in formulation, but works way better to my taste. The best so far.
Interesting, thanks for your recommendation Marie! I’m making a checklist 😉 x
Hi Karima,
I’m new to your blog site, but have been enjoying it immensely. Your latest topic so resonated with me that I felt compelled to add on to the all the great comments above. Looking for the ultimate concealer is like looking for the ultimate man, an eternal search – overhyped, high expectations with low satisfaction, exciting at first and then loses its allure, initially dependable, but then expectations increase and we find ourselves starting all over again 🙂
My newest infatuation is IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Antiaging. It was developed by plastic surgeons and includes that peachy undertone you mentioned above, which I agree is very effective for dark circles. It has also won numerous awards. This concealer is creamy, but heavier since it can also cover tattoos. So a light hand is recommended and “a little dab will do ya”. I’m in NYC and order it from QVC. It’s USD24.00.
Best, Angela
Haha Angela, your comparison of concealers to men is perfect. Couldn’t have said it better. Sadly I’m in Australia so I’ll have to order that online but I will look into it! xx
Hi Karima! Love your blog and YT videos. I have pretty dry undereyes but if its a decent day I’ve been using the pink colour from the MAC light concealer palette (to correct my darkness) followed by the charlotte tilbury concealer or the armani (or sometimes just touche eclat) – which is one of the best combinations I’ve found so far. Also the Collection lasting perfection concealer which I think you can only get in the UK (I have the two lightest shades) which I discovered when I was over there & they are pretty great for under eyes – I buy them off ebay now for a decent price (even with an ebay markup they’re still quite inexpensive because they’re already so cheap over there!) – not drying and they have great coverage. Good luck in your search!
Hey Miranda!
How’s the Charlotte Tilbury Concealer? I haven’t heard much about it on the interwebs! xx
I had trouble finding any details as well – and like you I’m in Aus and as you know we can’t try out the products here! I purchased the lightest shade (Fair 1) which is pretty good for me (around NC15-20 – tend to wear MSFN in light in the day with a bit of bronzer to warm me up to my slightly tanned body), it is a similar consistency to touche eclat, but more coverage though still fluid, creamy, more moisturising. I was impressed that it didn’t make my undereye dryness look noticeable, and it has also done well with covering areas of mild acne scarring/blemishes (nice that it is multipurpose). Have only had it for a week (ordered from netaporter along with some more of her products). I just put a bit on the back of my hand, if this helps at all (sorry terrible lighting atm rainy and dark weather in sydney today so may be a little off!); it is lighter than touche eclat no 2, but darker than armani precision retouch in 1 and studio finish NC15, while it makes the TE look slightly pinkish, but is more beige/neutral than the armani which seems to pull more yellow (only slightly though seeing it is so light) on me. As you can tell I’m not great at describing undertones!! But HTH 🙂 x
Reporting back on the By Terry Touche Veloutee! I used it for the last couple of days by itself and it definetely does NOT have the coverage my awful genetic dark circles need. On the other hand, it feels quite delicate and seemless and it’s not drying, so I do like it. I still want to experiment with it, mix it with correctors and whatnot. But I have to say that so far it does’t seem worth the ridiculous price tag. We’ll see!
Thanks for reporting back! I think I will purchase another and let you guys know how I feel about it (the third time around!). xx
Karima,
Love your blog! And your videos (please do more!). You and Lisa Eldridge are probably the closest makeup artists to me regarding skintone, eye and hair color, so I LOVE to see the products you use because usually if they look good on you, they will look decent on me! SCORE! I am just super confused by the shimmer in your Armani Precision Retouch. This is HG concealer for me. It is SO blendable and natural looking under the eyes. I use shade 2 and there is absolutely 0 shimmer in it. None! Do check color number 2 and see if it works for you. I, too, have tried 4587 concealers and this is the most natural looking under the eyes. I am wondering if some shades have shimmer and some don’t? Anyway, check out shade 2. I am thinking it will work for you since it works for me! 🙂
Thank you, dear! I’m glad you’re liking the blog/youtube 🙂
That’s very strange indeed. I’ll try number 2 again (did own it once upon a time) and double check for shimmer. Have you inspected it in bright sunlight? So strange. xx
Karima! I had to tell you that I went and swatched my Armani HPR in natural light and still did not detect any shimmer on my arm, but when I looked at the finger I blended it with….. SHIMMER! Egads! I had no idea! I will say that I have never noticed it on my skin, but it is definitely present! It is still the best one I have used so far. I am forever on the hunt for “the one” but this is the closest yet. And, for what it’s worth, I tried the Clinique Airbrush concealer (Lisa Eldridge Effect) and found it truly awful. I also didn’t like Cle De Peau, Le Metier De Beaute, Nars Radiant Creamy, Bobbi Brown, Armani Maestro (close, but it is VERY shimmery), MAC Pro Longwear, and the list goes on. Why is concealer so complicated?? Anyway, thanks for the reply!
And what about Chanel Correcteur Perfection? I think it´s quite decent, more covering than Clinique´s, lighter than MAC´s… Anyway, still looking for the Holy Grail myself! Best wishes from Spain!
I’ll take a look at that one! x
Ellis Fass has wonderful concealers. La Mer is beautiful too.
Gotta revisit Ellis Faas! I remember it being dependable. xx
Another vote for Ellis Faas! I went through 3 of them, and only moved on because…. Well, I was bored? And the pen broke, so I decanted what was left into a tiny pot & it went into a drawer. Since then, I have spent a small fortune on other concealers (really dislike the Nars one everyone raves about, by Terry is ok but nothing amazing, Bourjious Healthy Mix is a too creamy, CdP is okay as well but too fussy…. ) however after reading this post I dug out my tiny pot of EF & have fallen back in love with it – it’s just the best one (for me & my under eye circles) on the market.
Go Ellis Faas! Appears to be a favourite here! Good to rediscover an old favourite huh? This and Clinique Airbrush are next on my list. xx
I wanted to come back to this & say I just received a replacement pen for my old EF concealer (their customer service is OUTSTANDING – they send samples for color matching & replace faulty pens without a question – this makes me love them even more).
While I was waiting, I dug out a sample of It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye, the pixie corrector, as well as using various bits & pieces all which which were fine, but not great. Using EF this morning was like the heavens opening & angels singing – its so pigmented yet with the most natural finish. The MOST natural finish – shall I say it again? 🙂 I’m in awe. Its not going to cover everything, but what it does cover it does so so well, not sure how else to describe it. Especially because everyone has some darkness under their eyes, so knocking it out entirely looks a bit weird.
What I also love about it is that it can be used all over the face, so no need to schlep around separate concealers when traveling.
Please keep us updated on your own trials, I’m glad this one is on your list. 🙂
Hey Poulette!
I actually received the Ellis Faas Concealer yesterday and my thoughts are still a bit mixed but it is the best option that I’ve encountered recently. I totally agree that it works well all over the face, which is so handy!
x
Hi Karima, so glad you share in the undereye concealer frustration. So UNglamorous, yet so neccessary in order to not look like an old hag!
I am currently using the No.7 one and find it very pigmented and opaque. So much so you have to be careful of the reverse panda. Definately conceals though. It’s high end twin is the Clarins Instant Light – damn I loved that one….but hard to justify the price when you get Boots vouchers thrown at you across the counter every coupla months!
BTW, I bought that Bobbi Brown corrector last year and whilst I liked the shade range I was underwhelmed. It creases, and stays tacky so its hard to layer concealer over it. Yeeuuuch. It also seems to fade so the circles peek through as the day passes. I also tried the Skinfood and it was ok, not amazeballs, and it’s for yellow undertones being more peach than pink and I’m a pink little piggy so no joy. Also I cling to the idea that you shouldn’t have to fork out for corrector + concealer. Just make a product that does everything, dammit!
Hey Stella! Thanks for your thoughts 🙂 I haven’t heard much about the No.7 concealer but i’ll keep an eye out for it (wish this brand was easily accessible in Australia!). Bobbi has a wide shade range but that formula… I couldn’t deal. I want to pick up the Eve Pearl corrector while at IMATS this year, I swatched it and it seemed lovely! xx
Hi, Karima!
I really like the NARS Creamy Concealer and have been using it a lot lately.
I read you mentioned you would be blog sale-ing the BBU palette? I’m quite interested in it so I’m going to leave my email here in case you do end up selling it because I’d like to purchase it from you. x
Best,
Coco
thebeautymilk@gmail[.]com
Hey Coco!
Still undecided on that NARS concealer, I think I prefer it mixed with other illuminating pens. My blogsale is going up tomorrow and the BBU palette (and pictures + usage) will be detailed in the post so keep an eye out! xx
Karima try LM Secret Concealer+Corrector, much better than Secret Camouflage for under eyes in my opinion. Ellis Faas and the Clinique Line Smoothing are great too. Again I prefer the Line Smoothing over the more popular Airbrush.
Thanks Alex! I have tried the LM Secret Concealer but I didn’t repurchase because I tend to like clicky pen thingies. Just a textural preference. Ohh I’ll check out the Line Smoothing before I buy the Airbrush! Thank you 🙂 xx
I really like benefits erase paste, but having been really wanting to try the jouer concealer!
Wish they sold Jouer in Australia 🙁 I’ve heard great things! x
Hi , I know this product I expensive but the La Prairie caviar foundation is great when applied as a concealer.It comes with a concealer but the foundation alone is all you need.
I once owned the La Prairie clicky pen concealer but I gifted it to my aunt, wasn’t really doing it for me. I hadn’t considered the foundation though so I’ll check it out 🙂 x
Another vote from me for KA’s Sensual Skin Enhancer. It does need thinning out, as a pin dot of this stuff is enough to do a ton of concealing. I mix mine with BB cream (MAC) or even my under eye gel when I warn it really sheer. This concealer looks the most like skin for me. I am 45 and dryness is just beginning to be a factor. I also use LM Secret Brightening Powder to set, and it looks great. Of course, SSE is one of the great all-purpose concealers anyway.
Good luck!
Hey Robin!
I actually own the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer but the texture/finish just doesn’t mesh well with my under eyes, despite all application and mixing I always feel as though it looks a bit heavy on me.
LM Secret Brightening is the BOMB <3 x
*want it really sheer
Sorry, my Ipad is autocorrecting me into idiocy.
Hi! The best concealer of all time for me is MAC mineralize concealer NC20, a very nice formula, smooth and hydrating. I´m a person who has under eye bags, puffiness, dryness, and i´ve tried a looooot of concealers and I can say that finally I´ve found the best for me. If I want a little more coverage I mix it with MAC Select cover up NC20. Also, I really liked the Benefit “Fake Up”, really nice.
Best regards from Spain!
Karima! I had to tell you that I went and swatched my Armani HPR in natural light and still did not detect any shimmer on my arm, but when I looked at the finger I blended it with….. SHIMMER! Egads! I had no idea! I will say that I have never noticed it on my skin, but it is definitely present! It is still the best one I have used so far. I am forever on the hunt for “the one” but this is the closest yet. And, for what it’s worth, I tried to Clinique Airbrush concealer (Lisa Eldridge Effect) and found it truly awful. I also didn’t like Cle De Peau, Le Metier De Beaute, Nars Radiant Creamy, Bobbi Brown, Armani Maestro (close, but it is VERY shimmery), MAC Pro Longwear, and the list goes on. Why is concealer so complicated?? Anyway, thanks for the reply!
Please feel free to delete this comment and the one above.. I replied in the wrong spot. I am a comment-leaving noob.
Hey Sunshine!
Yeah the cheeky shimmer in the Armani HPR is hard to detect but once you do, you cannot unsee it 😉
I also tried the Clinique Airbrush, a resounding meh from me. A bit dry, bleb.
I’ve tried most of the ones you’ve mentioned and again, so meh.
These are our first world problems, huh 😛 x
You like pens, you say? Try the Sensai by Kanebo concealer. It only comes in 3 shades, but the coverage is divine, no discernible shimmer, yet it illuminates wonderfully. I like the NARS creamy concealer as well, but the Sensai one is a lot more natural looking.
Ooh Interesting, I’ll have to buy that one online but I’ll keep an eye out! x
I’ve been doing makeup for 16 years professionally and I still have a hard time finding a concealer I am in love with. Recently tried the NARS creamy concealer too and while I wanted to love it, it was just ok and I ended up returning it. It didn’t seem radiant and smooth like it claimed and the colors didn’t work great. I keep going back to the MAC mineralize concealer because it looks natural and does wear well – no settling into lines and moisturizing enough. I am curios about the hourglass concealer. May be my next purchase. Sephora rep told me it doesn’t last though.
Hey David! Good to know I am in good company with my concealer frustrations!
The NARS seems a touch dry for my liking (and also settles a bit). Quite a few votes for MAC Mineralize, I couldn’t see it on the Australian counter though! x
Clinque Airbrush Concealer – Do not buy if you have issues with dryness, I don’t have dry skin but it just seems to highlights all this flakiness under eyes that I was other wise oblivious was even there!
Nars radiant creamy concealer – agree with what everyone else has said, very drying, sits in lines like no other, even when set with Ben Nye power, very dry, wouldn’t repurchase. Shame because the colour range for those concealers is amazing!
Mac Pro long wear – I was expecting to be blown away by this one but pretty average. Ok coverage and to be honest I like my concealers to cover every hint of darkness under eyes and this just doesn’t do it. Also I was disappointed at wear time, saw the dark circles peaking through throughout day. Good not great and certainly not HG!
Mac Studio fix concealer- haven’t seen this mentioned. Love the stuff. Yes you must warm it up, I usually stick mine on top a radiator for a couple minutes before applicaition but I love the stuff. Very opaque doesn’t accentuate dryness, covers everything, I can use it on spots as well as under eyes.Usually pop a little bit of YSL touche eclat over the top for highlights and it’s a dream! Only downside I find is when I’m not tanned this concealer is either super yellow or super pink in the lighter shades so find I have to keep it for when I wear fake tan. Wish I knew of one similar to this but with better colour range for pale skins?????
Love your blog and reading all these lovely comments 🙂
GAH, I already purchased the Clinique Airbrush (my blogger duty and such) and I really hope it doesn’t lean dry on me :-/
I’m inclined to agree with your NARS Creamy Concealer opinions, it’s a bit meh to me (coverage not great, a little dry, settles a bit).
MAC Prolongwear doesn’t conceal all discolouration, totally agree (but it does last rather well on me).
I’ll have to check out studio fix! I think it’s one of those love or hate products.
So many suggestions, my readers are the BEST 😀 x
Hi Karima,
Great post, I have ByTerry (in shade Cream) but I have got a slight tan now, and I couldn’t afford a darker shade so will keep my ByTerry until I have gone fairer.
I am currently using Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer (in shade Classic Beige) which is surprisingly really good! It has a salmon undertone, not drying, not cakey and has a good coverage.
I used to be an NC20 now I am a NC25.
Hmm I’ll take a look at the Rimmel Wake Me Up, so far most of the drugstore concealers I’ve tried are more like highlighting pens. xx
I have tryed almost ALL concealers, hight end and affordable and I have had undereye circles ALL my flipping life and LA MER the concealer has been so far the BEST !!!
I know I know is very pricey but I use it every SINGLE day and I had have it for 16 months and I think I still have at least another 2 more months of use out of it.
Does not creases, stays solid 6-7 hrs on me, seriously brightening, non cakey, and if I do not suffer from extremely dry skin I could go without sealing it with powder…
In my opinion is amazing better than many overhyped and over priced ones.
Hope you give it a try !!
Ooohh I’ll check out the La Mer concealer, is it liquid or paste-in-a-pot? Curious about this. xx
I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in the search for the perfect concealer for the under-eye area. I’ve tried tons, and I’m still looking!
I tried MAC Pro Longwear, it works on some days, some days it doesn’t. Does it only happen to me that one day your makeup turns out great and the next day, the same face turns out like crap?? Is it my incompetency or my face? Help! Mini first world problems breakdown.
Well, moving on, I tried the Maybelline Lumi thingy and it turned out to be too drying for the under-eye but works as a brightner for the rest of the face.
I also tried the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage and it was a HUGE mistake. I ended up returning it because I already had spot concealer and did not need another one.
Benefit erase paste and booing did not work, they crease and move and run down ma face. I look like a crazy person after an hour of wearing them.
And right now I’m using the bareMinerals Stroke of Light™ Eye Brightener. It’s alright, brightening, doesn’t crease (I’m 25 and already have fine lines under my eyes) but it’s quite sheer.
Hey Lucia!
Sorry about the late response, some comments seem to slip through the cracks!
I TOTALLY agree about the MAC prolong wear! Some days it works fine but it’s a fickle one, I’ve found that a thin layer of a very emollient cream (I like Sisley Black Rose Mask) seems to make it sit closer to my skin.
I tend to avoid stick/pot concealers under the eyes, I actually don’t mind the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage but I much prefer clicky pen formulas because they seem to be thinner.
Let me know if you find your holy grail! xx
Hi Karima,
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but I really love the Givency Mister Light Instant Light Corrective Pen for under eyes; I use a real techniques brush to buff it in. I have dark circles, and it’s enough coverage for me. I’m a concealer fiend, so I’ve tried quite a few, and I’ve been using this faithfully for a year now. I got my two sisters hooked as well.
Second one I’d suggest, for spot concealing but not under eye, is the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. I’ve been using it for 6 years now, and can’t find anything to beat it when it comes to covering marks and redness.
I do like the NARS creamy concealer, but yea it’s tricky–I only like it applied with fingers directly on bare moisturized skin, with no setting powder–otherwise it tends to look crepey under the eye. So basically if there’s no time or want for foundation.
That’s all! You’re so awesome, love watching/reading your posts. 🙂
Hey Kate, I’ve actually used Mister Light on others in the past, I recall liking it. Apparently people have issues with visible shimmers though? Sadly, it’s not available in Australia so I’d have to do some shifty, online looking. I have Secret Camouflage coming in the mail 😉 Don’t know how it will top my favourite spot concealers though! (Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer and Dermablend Fluid Corrective).
Thanks for your comment 😀 xx
My dry skin and dark circles (winning combination eh) love the Ellis Faas concealer. Best i’ve found – creamy but not greasy, good coverage and blends like a dream
Now that I’ve tried the Clinique Airbrush (mehhh), the Ellis Faas is next on my wish list 🙂 I do recall liking it. x
I also have the same problem but i have a darker,dehydrated circles. YSL was too shiny for day to me personally… maybe i should try the NARS one!
hi there!
i have been reading your posts for a while now but this is my first time commenting- what can i say? the topic seemed fitting!
our skintone and coloring are quite similar (fair skin w/ yellow undertones and a LOT of redness) but unlike you i have very noticeable around-the-eye dark circles (a combination of genetics and deep set eyes). they were actually the reason i started wearing makeup. i have since been on countless concealer searches, gone through phases of loving/ hating different products, but for the past six months i have been embracing the natural look for every day, no longer trying to cover so much as to tie in the undereye skin color to the rest of my face. i find this best accomplished either with a really light layer of whatever base you’re using (i use really sheer ones) or the lierac anti-cernes tinted eye cream. the end result is very natural looking, surprisingly even given the lack of coverage used but in the end preferable to completely covering them up.
i generally find people in the youtube community just use way too much product on their faces and imo that never looks good in real life (our facial architecture is such that some shadow under the eye is natural and using too much concealer esp on such thin skin is a dead giveaway that you’re wearing makeup) and i appreciate the fact that you seem to share a similar philosophy on skin with me- using as little as you can in strategic places, aiming for your skin to look as un-made up as possible!
anyway, i guess my -rather long- point in commenting here is since you hardly have any dark circles, you could maybe consider embracing them as part of your features (like your red cheeks) and not look for full coverage products to completely blank them out? i tried it and im loving it-especially the extra cash to spend on lipstick and other essentials!
ps just read your blog post abt your eye before this. i applaud you for adressing it the way you did. comments should be constructive not criticising plus nobody’s perfect and its very brave of you to expose yourself the way you do. should you ever find yourself in need of a pep talk my email is eleni.a.pappa@gmail.com
my greetings from greece xxx
Hey Eleni 🙂
Welcome to Shameless Fripperies! Replying to comments in my favourite part of the day 🙂 I agree it’s not the best idea to completely blank out under eye circles, it looks unnatural and cakey, it kills some of the definition around the eyes too. By no means am I going for full coverage under the eyes, but frequently when I’m doing a strong eye I feel that a medium coverage works best (as dark/bold eyes can really accentuate under eye circles and make the look rather tired).
I think it’s possible to get a medium coverage with a decent finish, I’m trying to pin that perfect medium 🙂 x
Hi! I’m an avid follower of your blog! I’m so happy with this post as undereye concealers are simply my favorite. With exception to the Rouge Bunny Bouge, I’ve tried all of the concealers posted here and all of your descriptions are SPOT ON! (with exception to Pro-Longwear, which doesn’t really work with me no matter what). 🙂
I however found 2 HG concealers which works beautifully on me. Le Metier’s Peau Vierge Correcting Concealer and the Cle De Peau one. 🙂 I use the Le Metier every single day as it’s one part corrector, one part concealer, and one part illuminator. It also NEVER creases on me. 🙂 The Cle De Peau I reserve on days where I do photoshoots and it’s for me the best concealer for the undereye (I only use Le Metier everyday because its skin care properties serves as an extension to my eye cream.) Without any skin care benefit though, I’d rate Le Metier at 9.5 and Cle De Peau a Solid 10. 🙂 Hope you try my recommendations! Till your next post! 🙂 Thanks.
Hey Geneve!
Strangely, the Cle De Peau just didn’t work for me. I think I don’t do well with stick/pot style solid concealers, I just prefer pens. Such a pity because everyone seems to love it!
xx
Hey lady I just did a drugstore makeup concealer/foundation post and for it I tried like a million different products. I ended up liking the maybelline dream lumi the best. I saw somewhere you said that it was too shimmery for under the eye, but I haven’t seen any shimmer yet, so now I’m scared that it’s all in the bottom and I’m going to have a glitter explosion when I get halfway through lol. Here’s the post https://www.katelyngalloway.com/blog
I actually didn’t mind the Dream Lumi but probably prefer it for highlighting because I didn’t quite achieve the coverage I would have liked. No serious glitter though, don’t fret 😉 x
Dior Skin Nude shade 2 and Hourglass Hidden Concealer in Warm applied with a Sigma P84~ amazing. Both work even better on me with Chanel Le Blanc in Mimosa on my face / little bit under my eyes as well. Love your blog name!
LOVE Diorskin Nude but for around the nose, it’s amazing for flaky patches! Sadly, a bit sheer for my under eye 🙁 x
Bobbi Brown under eye concealers and correctors I can’t deal with either. Mac select moisturecover was rubbish as was Laura Mercier secret concealer on me. I hated the Clinique air brush concealer too. I’ve liked the Estée Lauder Double Wear concealer (had a sample) and Origins plantscriptions anti-aging concealer has been decent. Recently I’m also trying the Maybelline age rewind concealer. Why is nothing amazing? I do love the Laura Mercier secret brightening powder. Amazing. Still hunting for a HG under eye concealer though. Maybe it’s mixing some together that’s key and ensuring it’s the right shade right amount, right application. Argh. Very frustrating.
I just can’t with Bobbi Brown :-/ Agreed. Also disliked the Clinique Airbrush which was sad. I might hunt down that Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer, I feel like I’ve tried everything else lol. x
I know I’m late to this party, but here we go nonetheless.
I’m enjoying my Nars Creamy concealer like a lot of ladies here. I purchased the Clinique airbrush concealer… it’s a bit too dark for me so I don’t use it often but when I do use it, it seems to look quite dry under my eyes, even though I always use eye cream prior to application. One of my favorite bloggers says La Mer Radiant concealer is her HG undereye concealer- it’s not a pen dispenser but maybe it’s worth considering.
I don’t mind the NARS Concealer but I actually prefer it for spot concealing, it just reads a little heavy under my eyes (but you’ll read more about it in my next concealer smack down!). Clinique Airbrush is dry-looking on me, too :-/
xx
oh! and i totally forgot! i haven’t tried it but have you considered The Retoucher by Charlotte Tillbury? It looks promising and I’ve heard raves!
I actually haven’t! I’m heading to the UK soon so I’ll test it out in store and perhaps pick it up 🙂 x
my favorite under eye combo is a take a highlighter pen thats a couple shades lighter than my skin (i use the maybeline dream lumi) and then i got a mac prolongwear in a shade too dark and i mix them to my shade so that its light and natural looking from the highlightening pen but its longwearing and adds extra coverage from the mac concealer
Hey Sunny 🙂
Yeah, I’ve also been mixing concealers lately. It’s a bit of a hassle, wish I could find a one-product solution! x
My dark circles are hereditary and sooooo difficult to get rid of. If there’s one product I need on my face, it’s under eye concealer! I’ve tried a ton of different products and I think I’ve finally found the right ones: Hidden Agenda Concealer Pallete, Liquid Light Concealer (both by Sonia Kashuk) and Pixi’s Correction Concentrate. I use either the Pixi or the correcting shade from the Sonia Kasuk pallete first and then top it off with the liquid light concealer (for a brighter look) or a shade from the pallete that matches my skin tone.
It works great for me… maybe you’d like to try it out!
Interesting! Sonia Kashuk isn’t available here in Aus but I will check it out next time I’m in the states 🙂 x
Have you tried the Estée Lauder double wear concealer? It’s pretty good not too thick
I also like the mufe concealer super thin and not cakey…not the full cover one though!
Hey there,
So I know your not a fan of stick concealers, but I must add that Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer is great for under eyes. It’s great because it’s emollient (I even use it during NYC winters) and depending on what color you get it can be brightening (some have a strong peach base). I normally roll the case around between my hands to get it warm, swipe it under my eyes (I know, less hygienic) and then tap to blend it out. It melts into my skin. Worth a try…and I too have tried the CdP and it was good coverage but way too dry.
Hello. When you have time, I would appreciate if you could review of Charlotte Tillbury’s new “Retoucher Conceal & Treatment Stick”. I have looked at some You Tube postings and the reviews largely seem favorable but the color selection is rather limited.
Also, several years ago, I tried Ellias Faas, but returned it because I felt it did not cover my very dark circles (with hollows) and the applicator was poor. I would like to know if other readers of this website have recently tried Ellias Fass–especially persons with really dark circles and dry under eyes. If you liked it then maybe I will try it again.
Thanks.
I would be interested to hear what you think of MAC moisture cover. Thanks, great idea for a segment!
Hey Karima,
My favorite concealer is the Re-Touch Light-Reflecting Concealer by Catrice. It stays on all day, doesn’t crease, has no shimmer but still hilights and covers my very blue undereye circles.
You could check it out, it’s also very cheap.
Cheers
xx
It seems we’re all spending a fortune of time and money trying out one hyped concealer after another and coming up short, grrr this is a tough category to get right! I recall an old youtube video with Charlotte Tilbury I believe, before she launched her own makeup line. Instead of concealer, she used a blend of shades of the Estee Lauder full coverage camouflage makeup in a tube. Something I’d never want to spackle onto my entire face. Hmm…I’m curious to try it as a concealer! Might be a thinner consistency with denser pigment than a traditional concealer…thoughts?
Hey Susan,
I like the idea, I might look at the Estee Lauder Full Camo line. Wonder if it sets well… xx
hi karima, I am still on the hunt for an under eye concealer for medium-severe circles, what are your thoughts on the laura mercier secret camouflage palette ? i have dry skin and currently using the bobbi brown corrector with maybelline age rewind concealer on top as my under eye coverage routine, and as you’ve said in your video, the maybelline concealer does give the ‘reverse panda look’. I would really appreciate your help! 🙂
Hey Nat,
LM Secret Camo is VERY dry. I imagine you could mix it with something like the Maybelline Age Rewind but you’d have to be pretty expert-y with application and blending because it’s not very pliable.
xx
Karima, first of all I have to say I’m a huge fan of yours! I love the way you approach makeup (skin-like, flawless and undetectable! An I-woke-up-like-this kind of makeup 😉 ). It’s how I do it too 🙂
I’m also after an HG concealer and can’t seem to decide! I live in Brazil, so I have to do some serious research before purchasing anything. I start all my research with Paula Begoun’s website (beautypedia.com), have you heard of it? She’s also the owner of Paula’s Choice cosmetics (which do WONDERS for my skin and are very affordable)!!
Anyways, I wish you all the best in your hunt for THE concealer (please share if you do find it)!
xx
Hey Luciana,
Occasionally I check Beautypedia but I have so many favourites that the team dismisses as overpriced/irritating, so the reviews aren’t always accurate for me.
x
Hi, gorgeous. I’m looking for a good under eye concealer too. I’ve heard so many good things about the clarins one and the burberry one. It’ll be so helpful if you could do a review. Thank you.