I prefer thinner, more buildable concealers or ones that are higher coverage but a little dewy and not too thick, so they dry down but don’t look too flat/matte. Obviously, it has to come in a shade match that works for me, too, but I feel like that goes without saying!
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Decent color match (of course), but after that — it needs to be easy to apply and wear. I don’t want to have to wait for multiple layers to set, blend out with a brush and sponge out any that’s settled into fine lines, worry about it catching in dry spots/exacerbate flaking, or set it to make it look decent or last all day! Give me a concealer I can dab on, blend out quickly with a brush or sponge, and call it a day.
I prefer higher coverage (thanks to some genetic dark circles + a prominent dark vein directly underneath my eye; and lighter skin with very dark hyperpigmentation), but medium is fine too. If I wanted a low-coverage concealer, I’d just use foundation!
I almost never use concealer anywhere but under my eyes, to diminish the look of dark circles (nothing will disguise them entirely). Anything that looks dry or cakey or like a dry-gulch river-bed is a NO for me (Nars Radiant Creamy concealer is the perfect example of this – it looks scaly and awful within half an hour of application). I’m not crazy about concealers that settle into lines (or even create the look of lines where I have few or none) or any that are too emollient and so dissolve my liner or lower lash mascara (something I don’t often use, but still….). But it’s the dry, scaly and cakey issue that is the biggest turn off for me.
Little coverage, settling into lines and ones that are drying or make my undereye skin look dry.
Same. Oh and the right color. No cakey stuff either.
1.) Turns my undereye area into crepe paper or otherwise looks too dry.
2.) Oxidation into a shade I know I didn’t buy.
3.) Too oily/moist thereby causing it to easily crease/not set or travel upwards makeing my eye makeup smudge, especially mascara and eyeliner.
4.) No decent shade match for my skintone but one shade lighter.
5.) Melts in the heat of the AZ summer inferno.
Chemical sunscreens, too yellow (most are.). Peach is ok as a corrector. Ones with ingredients for bags, as my undereyes are hollow enough, TYVM. I think I like more liquid, buildable formulas. Finally got a MAC, and it’s tough to sheer out…makes me need more foundation than I want to wear. I’d prefer to see it irl, as not being able to go out in the sun and thinking I’m medium is just not true. Onlines often are fails, but I cocktail them. Ironically, I’ve had better luck with Revolution than all the mid & high ends I’ve bought. And that’s a metric ton.
I have yet to find my holy grail concealer so my search is ongoing. I have to have a concealer with good pigmentation to cover sun spots, genetic dark circles under my eyes and the occasional blemish. I have very dry skin so I need a concealer that doesn’t make my under eyes look like the Sahara desert. I don’t have a lot of fine lines under my eyes but I do need one that doesn’t settle in those lines. I need to have it dry down completely and of course, the right shade.
Flaking, creasing, cakey, too thick/thin, wrong shade, too shiny or shimmery.
I use a different concealer for under eyes vs. on rest of face. This resolves some problems I have that are unique to under eye area. That said, another trick I use for my under-eye concealer is to mix a dot of primer with the concealer before applying. This works better than applying moisturizer and/or primer under the eye first and resolves flaking issue I have had under my eyes with virtually every concealer no matter what.
Deal breakers ?
Cakes , too dry ( or oily) , emphasizes texture , bad color match breaks down over the day.
1) Irritating ingredients or fragrances. I have sensitive skin and eyes.
2) No skin tone match. I’m very fair with neutral undertones, and hard to match. Forget finding a shade lighter. That never happens.
3) Cream. Only liquids that dry down work for me.
4) Creasing, pools in undereye lines, or poor coverage.
5) Doesn’t dry down
6) Cracks when dry
7) Doesn’t stick to my oily skin. I apply over foundation and powder when concealing blemishes, so if it’s still not lasting, it’s a compatibility issue.
Lucky for me that I don’t use a concealer, but if I did, I would want it to be invisible under my eyes and not crease at all. It would need to work well with my foundation too. Nothing cakey or flaky either.
I’m very, very, very opinionated when it comes to concealer, I could talk for hours 😆
Also, for me an under eye or spot concealer are the same, I don’t work with multiple shades or formulas, I like my concealers all-in-one.
But to keep it short:
*Doe foot applicators, pot concealers, droppers or anything mildly not-sanitary: A huge deal-breaker for me, I only like concealers in squeeze tubes or that come with pump dispensers. The idea of putting back day after day for months bacteria back in a concealer is nowadays daunting. I did like them before, but nowadays I prefer more hygienic packaging. I do sometimes regret tons that Too Faced Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer comes with a doe foot… amazing concealer, lasted me almost 9 months of almost daily use.
*Creasing concealers: I was born with lines under eyes… or at least I can’t remember a time in my life I didn’t had them. Years past by and I also have nowadays dry under-eyes. Creasing is a constant issue for me.
*Low coverage: I also have genetically dark undereyes; so… a concealer without medium to full coverage is useless for me.
Dealbreakers on concealer:
1) Drying, I need some hydration/emollience for my dry under eyes
2) Emphasizes texture making my under eye area look like crocodile skin
3) Low coverage, I need full coverage for my darck circles
4) Fades quickly- better last 6 hrs
I have never really thought much about concealer.. just used the MAC paint pots, but watching youtube makes you want to try other products. I can’t really say it performed the best its just what I used for blemishs.
Then I was introduced to MAC prolong wear creamy concealer and I loved it. Perfect for everything and color matched as well.
I tried Nars based on the reviews and that one is lovely but the issue is NOT ENOUGH PRODUCT! I just got angry that it ran out so quickly!
I went to Sephora to try out concealers as I was thinking about changing products. I tried just about every concealer in the place.. WOW deal breakers 1. Making me look like I have WRINKLES! how does that happen? I guess to thick it pulls and wrinkles the under eye? 2. To sheer- if it doesnt cover whats the point? 3. Can’t get a good color match 4. Doesn’t dry down soon enough or well 5. Dosen’t play well with other products 5. Emphasizes lines or makes under eye look texture-y …
I am going to buy the new Pat McGrath concealer I love her foundation and powder…