Concealers Worth Coveting

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When Into The Gloss reached out to me and asked me to write an article about concealers, I was absolutely thrilled. They have covered concealers extensively, and their post about the best concealer pots is one of my favorites. I decided to choose a few of my favorites, one that I am dying to try, and to offer a few of my helpful concealer tips.

Concealers are, quite possibly, the greatest unsung heroes that pull together every makeup look. They  conceal dark under eye circles, hide pimples, cover up sunspots, and make broken capillaries disappear. Furthermore, they even-out overall skin tone and camouflage discoloration. In short, a good concealer can address a plethora of skin concerns, but finding the right one can be a challenge. On the one hand, there seems to be an abundance of concealers that dry out the skin, and make it appear crepey and aged (no thank you), and on the other hand, there are many that are so emollient that they seem to slip right off of the face. Both types can settle into fine lines, and can emphasize pore size– therefore finding the right one can become an expensive trial and error venture.

Personally, I have spent years trying to find the perfect concealer that looks like skin, rather than like concealer, and frankly all too many of them really look like the concealer is wearing you rather than doing its job to hide or blur imperfections.

 One of the best things that you can do to assure a good skin tone match, particularly with under eye concealers, is to be sure to avoid selecting a concealer that is too light because it will give you the much-dreaded raccoon eyes. Concealers that are too dark may neutralize discoloration, but they will also stand out like a sore thumb. Choose a color that matches your skin tone in order for it to blend effortlessly with the rest of your face.  If you have serious discoloration that needs to be camouflaged, then invest in specifically targeted color correcting concealers, and then blend your skin toned concealer on top to create a natural finish.

I tend to apply concealers with my ring fingers, but periodically use a nice and soft synthetic brush. One of the chief benefits to using your fingers is that you can warm the concealer up between your fingers which enhances its emollience, and it makes it glide across the skin without pulling or tugging. If your under eye area tends to be quite dry, then apply a touch of eye cream or a beauty oil to your skin a few seconds before applying your concealer to prep the skin. When my skin is dehydrated. I add a tiny amount of one of my favorite face oils to the tip of one finger and mix it with my concealer before applying it to my under eye area. This not only adds needed moisture, but it also gives the skin a gorgeous ethereal glow.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Concealer (Reviewed HERE): Maifanshi Moisture Concealer is a lovely moisturizing concealer that offers many color correcting possibilities to conceal dark circles, spots, and unsightly blemishes. The three shades can also be custom blended to create the perfect color match with a natural slightly dewy finish. It does have the obvious limitation that it will only work for pale and medium complexions- a true pity since this formula is so lovely and would appeal to a great many more people.

As a person who often gets dark circles, I first apply the dark shade to that area (either with a concealer brush or with my finger) and blend it in. If I am particularly tired I do often have to apply a second layer and blend it until the dark circles are neutralized. The concealer is very creamy and spreads very easily without any tugging or pulling, and it offers buildable coverage. Afterward I mix the three colors and apply it to the remainder of my under eye area until I achieve just the right color so as to look natural.

I find that the Moisture Concealer does not crease, fade, or settle into fine lines on me, but your mileage may vary. Many concealers dry out my under eye area, and then they look unnatural with a terrible flaky finish. but this is not at all the case with Moisture Concealer thanks to the Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil and Olive Squalane.

YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch: YSL Touche Eclat is a classic for a reason, and every beauty editor has at least one in their stash. It imparts unparalleled radiance to the skin, eradicates the appearance of under eye circles, and it effectively highlights any part of the face. It can be applied to bare skin or over makeup, and I like to apply it with its brush and blend it with my fingers. 

Giorgio Armani Maestro Eraser Dark Circle Concealer: This lightweight liquid-like concealer has a silky-smooth texture that lightly illuminates the skin and effectively brightens the eye area. It offers buildable coverage, and a lovely natural finish. It is also said to gradually fade the blue tone of dark circles, and that it moisturizes eyelids.

Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick: The TOM FORD Traceless Foundation Stick is a great foundation, and  it makes a fantastic concealer. In fact, it offers buildable coverage with a flawless, semi-dewy natural finish, and it is lightly hydrating. As a concealer, it radically diminishes the appearance of imperfections, and it neither settles into fine lines, nor does it migrate. The soft and creamy texture lends itself to finger application for perfect coverage.

Susan Thompson Cosmetics Concealer Pot (Reviewed HERE): Susan Thompson Cosmetics Concealer Pot is a luxuriously silky-smooth cream concealer that offers full opaque coverage, but can easily be sheered out when less coverage is desired. It has a natural nearly matte finish that doesn't announce that you are wearing a concealer, as many do. It spreads across the skin without tugging, and doesn't settle into fine lines. It can be applied with a finger or with a synthetic brush, and both ways offer a perfect finish. I am able to get all day wear out of a single application, but it may also be set with a finishing powder to increase its staying power. Not only do I get the perfect natural finish with this concealer, but it neither irritates my eyes, nor does it ever give me milia. Rather than drying my skin out, I actually find that this concealer imparts a bit of added moisture without being so emollient that it undermines its ability to adequately conceal.

IT Cosmetics Eyelift in A Tube (Reviewed HERE): IT Cosmetics Eyelift In A Tube is Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer & Hello Light Liquid Brightener in one. It is a full coverage, anti-aging concealer and brightener that corrects imperfections and eradicates dark circles. If you are prone to dark circles, like me, then you will absolutely love this concealer/luminizer duo. I like to use apply a few light dots of the Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer under my eyes, and then I gently blend. Once blended, I add a dot of the Hello Light Liquid Brightener to my dark circles, and they magically disappear. Furthermore, the brightener creates that highly sought-after healthy subtle glow from within. The overall effect is natural, and my eyes look refreshed, luminous and free from dark circles.

It also contains key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacin and vitamins C, A, & E that nourish and hydrate the skin.

Glossier Stretch Concealer: Glossier Stretch Concealer is the one concealer that I have really been wanting to try because not only does it contain lots of great ingredients, but it was also formulated to be, "Makeup that lets skin look like...skin!" This is precisely what I seek in a concealer, and it is definitely at the very top of my must-try list.

According to Glossier,

A traditional concealer sets to a stiff, flat, dry finish—a dead giveaway that you’re wearing it. Ours is a new type of concealer with elastic micro waxes that move with your face instead of caking on top of it, and nourishing oils that give a dewy, glowing finish. The buildable formula covers everything from dark circles to redness and zits. In five shades painstakingly developed to enhance, brighten, and—most importantly—completely disappear into the widest range of skin tones. 

How to use: Warm concealer by gently swirling fingertip over the surface, picking up a thin layer of product. Gently pat onto moisturized skin, dabbing outward to blend. Add more for extra coverage—it’s buildable.

Key Ingredients and their Attributes:

Beeswax & Microcrystalline Wax: Give concealer a super elastic consistency which allows it to move with your expressions, not stiffen and cake.

Avocado & Jojoba Oil: Nourish skin, prevent water loss, and give a natural dewy finish.

Cocoa Butter: A natural fat full of the good stuff that promotes skin elasticity and suppleness.

Adaptable Mineral Pigments: Non-toxic and non-irritating pigment blends that merge seamlessly with the widest range of skin tones for natural-looking coverage.

What are your concealer tips? Do you have any favorite concealers that you can't live without?

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