Rant & Rave: Pot Concealer
Tell us what you love and hate about...
Pot Concealer
They tend to have richer coverage, which makes them great for covering up darker spots or under the eyes. They also have less slip, so they may not crease as badly! Sometimes,
though, they can be drier and harder to blend out.
— Christine
I am in love with the glossier one, but other than that I have not had a good experience with pot concealers. For the same reasons Christine mentions- creasing and the dryer texture.
I like the consistency of pot concealer in general- throw some good recommendations at me (for undereyes), beauty community! I love the coverage that Bye Bye Undereye offers, but I hate the sticky texture. It creases and holds on to so much setting powder it can get cakey.
Julia, I have the same problem with pot concealers…they grab too much powder and crease up so bad in my undereye area. Ends up drawing attention to that area in a bad way too.
I had never used a pot concealer until relatively recently when I purchased the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer and I have really been using it a lot. I have several areas of hyperpigmentation and this has worked better than any other concealer I have tried. I continue to use my Tarte Shape Tape for general under eye concealing but have replaced it with the KA for my hyperpigmentation. What I don’t care for is the fact that I have to carry a separate brush to use the KA. If I try to use my finger then I get too much product and I don’t love the idea of repeatedly sticking my fingers in the pot. I saw a YT video where the presenter said that she uses the little foam sponges that come in drugstore eye shadows to apply concealer into her inner tear duct area and over smaller skin imperfections that need concealing and she feels she gets better outcomes. I have used that technique for two days now and I am really liking it. It has the added benefit of using those sponge applicators for something and they are small and easy to carry.
Deborah S.,
I’ve been curious about Tarte’s Shape Tape, do you like it? In all my research it seems people either love it or they hate it. That’s kept me from taking the plunge. A big complaint seems to be a learning curve for the application. Just wanted to get your opinion, if you’d be so kind. I trust the opinions of this community.
I realize your question wasn’t directed to me, but I hope you don’t mind my opinion. I absolutely love Shape Tape. Its quickly become my HG. The only caution I can offer is that you don’t need very much which is also a good thing. A little bit goes a long, long way. I find that it blends out very nicely with a beauty blender. And once set with powder it hasn’t creased on me yet. I’m in to my 2nd tube so I’ve had enough time to decide whether I like it or not and I love it.
ShariP,
Thank you for the feedback 🙂
Miska,
I am happy to give you my opinion but as in all makeup, everyone’s experience is different. The most frequent complaint that I have heard is that after using the Tarte Shape Tape under the eyes the area looks heavy, dry and cakey. I did have some of those issues when I first started using it and found that I was applying way too much of the concealer. Use 1/2 or less of what you would normally use. It really takes miniscule amounts. It is not too thick or too thin of a product. It has a slight mousey texture and comes in quite a few shades. I don’t know your age but I think some younger women with supple skin can get away with globing the concealer on but once you are in your 30’s and older it becomes more difficult to get a good smooth look. I then prefer to use my finger to tap out and blend. You can choose to set with powder but frankly I don’t have any issues with creasing. I usually set only because I want the lighter shade under my eyes so there are some powder products that give me that brighter look in my under eye area. The applicator is huge and will definitely apply too much product unless you scrape some back into the tube or use your brush, beauty blender or finger to get the product off. The tube has a lot of product in it and I have been using the original tube for at least a year now. I have been watching it for spoilage but so far seems to be the same as when I purchased it so I think it is very cost effective for me. I use the very lightest color and wish there was one shade lighter to use as a highlight shade. That would probably be white, LOL since the lightest shade is pretty lite but I am super pale. Oh, one other thing, if trying to cover super dark areas I like to let the product sit there for about a minute and then tap out. It seems to give a little better coverage but seriously, this is one of the better coverage concealers I have ever used. Hope this helps.
Deborah S.,
Thanks for your detailed feedback. It’s appreciated. I’ll have to get to a store so I can find my color match. I’m fair skinned myself and am happy to read that you’re not mentioning any problems with it being too dark or too orange for your fair skin. I think a lot of things like to oxidize on my face. Thanks again for your reply 🙂
I find that most work better with the heat of a finger to pick them up and apply them but that leads to fluff and dust in the product, even with the most pristine of hands. But I love the coverage I get from them, especially the new Boiing Brightening one I have from Benefit.
Is Boing Brightening the original or something new?
I’ve tried a few, but I’ve never had any luck with them. Too dry and cakey.
I love the coverage level, and with the soft matte finish there’s usually less creasing on me… What I don’t like is how fast the pots can dry out. I’m also not keen on dipping my fingers in to the product directly, but most brushes don’t pick up super thick creams too well…
They *can* be useful as an undereye concealer, especially if one has seriously dark circles! I used to have to use one when I was going through a period of time in my life where I was so I’ll, my undereye area had that sunken, dark circled look to them.
What I’m not a fan of, is that they go bad or dry up before they even get 2/3 used! Never got close to finishing up one before I had to toss it.
Would like to try. But I found pot foundation to be too thick and rather reddish/yellowish when I used for vacations. Haven’t tried one more. They are great consistency for traveling though I think I hope they come up with a better range of light ‘albino’ color. Please? Lol!
I almost always get it under my fingernails even if I use a brush.
I’m obsessed with NARS Soft Matte pot concealer right now, the coverage is great and the finish is so smooth. I mostly use it to cover up redness on my cheeks and I love how it doesn’t cake and how velvety it looks without even setting it. Its super easy to touch up too, still doesn’t cake on me at all even when I add more a few hours after putting it on. I usually use their Radiant Creamy but I haven’t touched it since I got the Soft Matte. I’ve never been much of a pot concealer person before this, I had Time Balm from theBalm before and it was ok but not enough coverage and a little too greasy for me.
I love pot concealers for spot concealing! I’ve been loving the Nars Soft Matte concealer!
I am not a fan of pot anything generally, as the product tends to dry out more easily.
If you were using concealer on a daily basis, this would work for you as the formula is much thicker and easier to apply – but not if it settles into fine lines or wrinkles.
I am in my late 50s with minor lines under my eyes. I use a Mac concealer pot and I have no issues with creasing under my eyes and I powder after I use it. I do use a primer and Oil of Olay line filler before I put my foundation on as well as Dior liquid concealer before the Mac concealer. I use the Mac concealer elsewear on my face with no issues with caking or creasing.
No rants! Pot concealers tend to not have volatile silicones–something my skin has an immediate negative reaction to. I was a fan of Bobbi Brown pot concealers and correctors until I discovered the more affordable Graftobian HD glamour cremes. I also love Laura Mercier secret camouflage and Kevin Aucoin SSE. I mix any of these with a thinner concealer if I want something lighter, something like Clinique airbrush concealer.
Have only found one pot concealer I love: NARS soft matte. I find it easy to achieve light layers. The concealer sets with powder perfectly. I do not find this one drying (caveat: I always prep my undereye area)
Other pots I have tried in the past are too dry and stiff for my needs.
I have used up one full container of NARS soft matte complete concealer, and that’s pure love!! It’s super creamy, almost fluffy.
I love to keep pot concealers in my purse for touching up my nose and chin because of my oily skin foundation just slides off there!!
I tend not to use them around my eyes!!