As a pro makeup artist, I have gone through my fair share of concealers. The good, the bad, and the no ma'ams. When it comes to concealers I like to treat them like I treat my men. Either you treat me right or I have no time or space for you in my life. Simple as that! With that being said, when I am shopping for concealers there are 3 things I look for.
1. Coverage
2. Brightens and Lifts
3. Formulation
My first concealer I ever purchased was horrible (much like my first boyfriend). I didn't know what I was doing. I picked the first one I could find priced at $7 and I thought I was set. Until I went home and tried to cover up my under eye area. I realized quickly we were not meant for each other. Minutes after applying the concealer I noticed small white dots started to appear on my face in the places I had applied the concealer. I thought to myself "well hell, I was better off sporting the dark circles I had before". After that horrid experience I decided to take my time and really search until I found my one true match.
After searching and putting in the work I have found my top 3 concealers on the market today. You will find at least one of these concealers on me at all times.
#3 TARTE TAPE SHAPE
Tarte Tape Shape is definitely a cult classic. It suits all skin types and skin tones. It has every shade you need to conceal, contour, or highlight. One of my favorite feature is the doe foot applicator. Most concealers I have dealt with came in a tube or pump. When dealing with a pump or tube you run the risk of wasting a lot of product. Using a doe foot applicator, the application process is perfect. It goes on the areas I want and I don't have to worry about squeezing out the right amount of product. Priced at $27 a pop exclusively at Ulta Stores or Tarte.com you can understand why this is definitely a must-have.
#2 NARS
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer was named Allure’s top concealer of the year. This award-winning concealer is a multi-action formula that instantly hides imperfections, blurs the look of lines and wrinkles, and hides dark circles and signs of fatigue. The botanical blend hydrates, firms, reduces redness, and strengthens the look of skin by helping its barrier retain moisture. It retails for $30 at your nearest beauty dept store.
#1 MAYBELLINE INSTANT AGE REWIND
I am truly a make-up snob at heart. I love expensive luxury beauty products. So the fact that my #1 concealer can be found in any drugstore for less than 8 bucks should let you know it is EVERYTHING! When I was first introduced to Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer I was a little jealous. I would hear such awesome reviews about this product but like many other women of color I couldn't test the product out because of the "limited" shade range. After it hit the market and consumers were wanting more, Maybelline decided to extend the shade range. Yay!!!!! I no longer felt left out, I could finally test this product out. When it hit shelves I went to my local Wal-mart and purchased the last 3 shades deep shades (just to make sure I was getting my correct shade) I was not going to be robbed of this experience. Let me just say, it definitely lived up to the hype. The formula is amazing. Its not too creamy or thick, its light without compromising coverage. Surprisingly, I love the applicator as well, the twist knob lets you control how much product you use. Needless to say, this is my new go-to concealer. It has a forever-home on my vanity!