Top 5 Concealers + 1 dud

L-R: Benefit Fake Up in Medium, MUFE Full Cover Concealer in 7, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, MAC ProLongwear in NC30, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium (I think), Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light-Medium

Hello! I have made an impromptu trip to Bangkok, so the next few posts will be scheduled posts! Since I'm someone who has plenty to conceal, and with that, plenty of concealer, I thought a round up was in order. I apologize in advance for the majority of them being high end concealers, but I do find that with concealers you get what you pay for. So since coverage is one of my top concerns, the drugstore does not really cater to that - hence the high end concealers. I might be slightly biased towards liquid type concealers due to overall ease of use and blendability.

Best All-rounder - Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (SGD$42)
The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is a concealer I tend to keep for special occasions, or for adding coverage on top of already done makeup before heading out the door. This has a thicker creamy and slightly sticky consistency. It provides instant photoshopping to any dark marks on the face, even if applied on after powder, which is probably one of the highest praises I can give. Also does not disappear on an oily face (unless of course you're one that touches your face).

Best for spots/dark marks - MUFE Full Cover Concealer (SGD$52)
What can I say, the MUFE Full Cover Concealer is high coverage indeed. It's all there in the name! The consistency of this concealer is definitely on the thick, creamy side and it goes on darker than it looks on the tube. Be warned, this sets to a budge-proof finish very quickly so quick blending will be your friend. I'm pretty certain that this is water-resistant, or if not, sweat resistant.

Best for large areas - MAC ProLongwear Concealer (SGD$30)
There were points in time I was literally using the MAC ProLongwear Concealer as foundation. The texture of this is very liquidy and thin, yet it still has extremely high coverage and blends well into the skin. 2 layers gives full coverage. I think the thin texture of the concealer has something to do with this concealer looking very natural (for such a high coverage product) on the skin. I've read some reviews that the MAC Prolongwear Concealer was extremely drying on the undereye area, but I've had no such problems myself.

Best for undereye - Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (SGD$39)
The Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Conconcealer is the concealer that not only has high pigmentation to colour correct my dark circles (of course, please choose the correct undertone), but also is a concealer that creases very very minimally. It's texture is really very much a sticky cream and it doesn't completely set so it has a sheeny reflective finish. I find that this texture helps it to adhere very well to the uneven surface and into the fine lines on the undereye area so that it doesn't crease or migrate, and keep the area well hydrated.

Best drugstore - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is amongst the cheapest drugstore concealers I've tried and yet boasts the highest coverage of all the drugstore concealers. It actually reminds me of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in texture, however the coverage is definitely not as good. It also doesn't layer great - probably 2 layers max before it starts to look cakey. However, for the price paid, it definitely is the best.

Big Fat Dud - Benefit Fake Up
I dislike Benefit Fake Up so much I saw it as my duty to put it into this post so that you are warned. The concept itself is great, a twist up balm type concealer with a pigment centre core to give hydration and coverage at the same time. I really wanted to like this as the attraction of the ease of use was really great. The finish of Benefit Fake up is the same as the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in that it never ever sets and has that reflective sheen, which ultimately makes it a mess. Application is a mess because the 2 parts (balm and pigment) never quite mix together evenly. Then because it doesn't set, it migrates in seconds. I've tried to use this on dark spots, undereyes, pretty much every part of the face, and each time it just seems to pool in areas of the face. The hydration part will work you think, but a big fat nope. The balm/oils in this product just sat as a disgusting layer of oiliness on my face. How about pigmentation you ask? Actually quite decent, but it migrates away from your spot anyway, so I would say - final answer, zero. Please don't waste your money on this product.

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Hope everyone's having a good weekend! And if you have any good concealer recommendations for me, I'm all ears!

Current Concealer Face

I have a confession to make. I am a concealer hoarder. I am fickle and unable to stay loyal to any one concealer and have enough concealer for many families. In order to use up my concealers, I have a face routine that consists of no foundation and all concealer. This works for my acne prone and scarred face, because it avoids slapping on a full face of foundation and spot covers instead.

If I could only live with 2 concealers, they would be the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (SX10) and the MAC Mineralize Concealer (NC30). Together, they manage to blur out most of my imperfections. If you've followed me for a while, you would know my great love for the SSE. The Kevyn Aucoin SSE is great for coverage and is very thick and creamy. When used with a tiny brush to spot cover, it can really look flawless. Used with fingers however, it can look unnatural on the skin if too much is used.

The MAC Mineralize Concealer has a thin liquid consistency, though not as liquid as the Pro Longwear Concealer. It has medium coverage and can really be built up without looking cakey but I use this mostly on lighter scars or redness. I tend to forget about this concealer sometimes because it does wear off during the day, but is something I always go back to when I'm in a rush. Great concealer that gets lost in all the hype about the other MAC concealers.

The little worn out stub in the top left of the picture is the MAC Studio Touch Up Stick (NC30). This was the very first concealer I have ever used (thanks mom!) and I've forgotten all about it till very recently. What I love about it is that it feels like the Studio Fix Concealer in a stick! I just draw and dot it where I need and it blends and covers like a dream. Sadly, it's discontinued so I've got my eye on the Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil Concealer...

Benefit's Fake Up (Medium) is a much newer purchase of mine and I'm still on the fence about it actually. I don't find that it works under the eyes (wrong colour, too greasy, gets into all the lines). It is however, very easy to just swipe onto my cheeks for great coverage and a non-drying formula. I tested this together with the Laura Mercier Concealers at Sephora and found that this had better coverage actually. Go figure. As this is a very slippery, glossy formula, SET SET SET WITH POWDER PEOPLE, or I guarantee you it will disappear.

The Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener (Light to Medium Peach), Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Peach) and the Collection 2000 Concealer are my serious eye army. Depending on the coverage I need, I will use either of the Bobbi Brown products and if I feel like even more coverage, I will use the Collection 2000 Concealer. The creamy concealer has better coverage than the tinted eye brightener but it is also more obvious on the skin so it's really a preference. I do prefer the eye brightener with another liquid concealer over it for a more natural finish.

I would love to put my face up, but it's not doing too well and I'm not that confident yet so, hopefully the swatches help!

I think my concealer collection is rather expensive, but ultimately, like foundation, the quality and colour match makes up for the price. For skin like mine (ie blemish prone and not blemish free) a colour match is important because I am unable to sheer concealers out to blend into my skintone. Ease of application is also very important to me. So, what are your everyday concealers and criteria?