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Rant & Rave: Liquid Concealers

Tell us what you love and hate about...

Liquid Concealers

From my experience, they can be less pigmented if they’re thinner (but easier to spread, though they can be streaky if you’re not careful), whereas they can be really pigmented but harder to spread if they’re thicker.

— Christine

18 Comments

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Tammy B Avatar

I don’t love concealers at all. They settle into my wrinkles and cause me to look older than I looked before I put them on. Many of them turn grey on me, so in addition to accentuating wrinkles, they also give me under eye discoloration. I don’t have under eye circles unless I wear concealer. I wish I could find something that actually enhances my under eye area but this has not yet happened. I did discover I can use Clinique’s combo foundation & concealer product but I don’t like the packaging.

Nicole Avatar

maybe instead of a flesh toned concealer, you might want to try a light peach/salmon toned corrector. It wouldn’t leave your under eyes grey and would brighten the under eye area.

But I also agree that ALL of them, I don’t care what anyone says, ALL concealers settle into fine lines/wrinkles. It definitely makes you look older. I’d love to not be able to wear concealer under my eyes, I’d look so much younger haha

Ray Avatar

Make Up For Ever’s Full Cover is the best concealer I’ve ever tried, in terms of concealers meant for covering blemishes and small spots of discoloration. I get the impression that a lot of newer concealers are formulated serve highlighting functions, which is why they stay dewy.

Nell Avatar

Agree with Christine.
Thin concealers spread much easier than thick ones, but cover less. Blending sponges help with both thick and thin.
Where O Where is the perfect concealer for under eye darkness?

Alecto Avatar

I’d say pretty much the same. I used to use them only because at one time I was using concealers with anti-acne ingredients and those are (or were) always in liquid form, but I was never happy with the coverage. If I was able to tap on enough multiple coats to actually completely cover, the texture of the spot was bizarre enough to draw attention; fortunately (???) the odds of building coverage to that degree were lower than the odds of accidentally removing what I had already laid down. Very frustrating.

Cream concealers have always worked better for me as straight concealers (without attempting any other benefit, like anti-acne). I do have Touche Eclat, which would be considered a liquid concealer, but it’s the only one I’ve found that works the way it does, though my recent experience with liquid concealers is minimal.

Nancy T Avatar

I love the one I’ve been using FAB 5 in 1, it color-corrects, is very crease resistant, lasts all day, and spreads out and blends seamlessly. So, I would have to say that as long as it works as nicely as that, I do love it.

BUT; some are VERY drying and look terribly aging because as they dry, they *can* make the undereye area look krinkley.

KJH Avatar

Thanks. Will try this in the never ending search….thank god I wear glasses. Never found a liquid to be particularly good for under eye. Especially as you age. Need a corrector first. Use the FAB triple duty, but have not tried this one. Triple has a light correction. It’s not marketed as a concealer. Think creams are better, if needed, set by an HD powder.

Mariella Avatar

I’m not sure what would be considered a “liquid concealer”. I have Clarins Instant Concealer, MAC Pro Longwear and some others in squeeze tubes like the Clarins one. Would those be considered “liquid”. All are fairly thick-ish and have really good coverage, so I have the feeling I don’t actually know what a liquid concealer is and maybe I don’t actually have one.

Iron Maiden Avatar

I use GA High Precision Retouch and it is my HG. Perfectly pigmented, really covers, looks natural, doesn’t disappear, and applies like a dream. It works under eyes and on the face, too. I don’t even look at concealers anymore (which is a relief!).

Rachel R. Avatar

They tend to either not give enough coverage, melt off my oily skin, or settle into undereye creases. It’s hard for me to find a match for my skin tone. I like a fast drying, brightening/yellow formula for under my eyes. I’ve been using e.l.f. HD Concealer in Brightening for under my eyes, and it work perfectly for me. Over blemishes, I use e.l.f.’s oil free formula, dermablend stick, or bareMinerals Original Foundation patted on with my finger (their actual concealer powder is too dark for me).

Anne Avatar

I prefer liquid concealers over other types. I use primer (and plenty of moisturizer) to prevent creasing, and I have pretty good skin aside from some redness so don’t need to put on heavy amounts so don’t tend to get noticeable creasing. I also prefer the doe-foot applicator types (UD and Nars are my go-to) even if there are some sanitary issues with them. I consider some “corrector” products like Tarte’s CC under-eye salmon colored one to be more in the concealer category as well, and love that one as it makes me look less like someone dealing with long-term health issues and more like someone who actually gets enough sleep, even though I dislike using a brush or my fingers for getting the product on.

Stephanie G Avatar

Liquid concealer is no match for my dark circles. It hides absolutely nothing and only turns my dark circles a different shade of dark. All this while settling into creases. I can’t think of a single redeeming characteristic of liquid concealer, at least as it pertains to me.

Sabrina Avatar

I have the exact problem.
Liquid formulas just can’t get the job done. And they crease horribly.
Usually I wear something more thick, like MAC Studio Finish concealer or Maybelline Cover Stick (wich also creases but at least have more coverage) and then dab a little bit of a liquid one to brighten the area.
But with dark circles it’s a never end battle with concealer.

Lesley A. Avatar

I always thought liquid concealers were worse than useless but I recently tried a sample of the Bobbi Brown serum concealer and it was fantastic — well pigmented, great coverage, no creasing. I just bought the full size.

Alison Avatar

If I only could wear two products, it would be concealer and lipstick. (The third would be a brow product) Seriously. I have a lot of pigmentation in the whole eye area and correcting it totally changes and brightens my appearance. I’ve worn the Clarins Creamy Concealer for a while and love it, but recently I’ve been changing it up a little. I feel application makes a difference. I tap it into the area and then tap blend it with a Zoeva concealer brush and it’s great. A few years back a MUA suggested that I needed a lavender color correction to counter balance the sallow eye pigmentation on my otherwise fair neutral skin. I tried several lavenders (I think probably a By Terry and a YSL) and they did not work, but I always remembered the suggestion. So when Sephora began showcasing color correcting concealers, I gave all the lavender shades a try. I ended up getting three products and they all work. I use them with the concealer and as an eye primer, and it took a decade off my face. Highly recommended.

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