NYLON Team Picks: Concealers That Save The Day

Bless you if you don’t need them, but for most of us, concealers are the thing that can transform a really bad skin day into one that’s not too bad – all just by covering up that damning pimple. For the ones that have to fight the panda eyes, a good concealer also helps us look a bit less like a zombie. Here are the ones we reach for on the regular.

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Shiseido White Lucent OnMakeup Spot Correcting Serum SPF25/PA+++, $55 at Shiseido counters/ Bourjois Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue Concealer, $17.50 at Watsons and Sasa
Yes, I rely on concealers so much, I’m recommending two of them. Shiseido’s White Lucent is one of my favourite brightening lines, mostly for its lovely oral scent and how soft it makes my skin feel. So when they added this spot-correcting serum/ concealer into the lineup, I immediately added it to my daily purse essentials – I like the idea of my concealer being able to lighten my dark spots while it’s covering them up, plus the signature White Lucent scent is nice to have. As for a budget option, Bourjois’ Healthy Mix complexion range has always been a star – this concealer smells lovely and blends beautifully, and that’s really all I need.
– Tami Lai, Associate Editor
 

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer, $50 at the MAKE UP FOR EVER store and Sephora
I use this really minimally, like a miniuscule dot every time, only because a little goes a long way. Its liquid but buildable texture means it’s quite the multi-tasker: I blend it under my eyes to cover dark eye circles, as well as tap it over any blemishes I’m trying to hide from the world (or, myself). It’s also more reliable than our MRT trains – and then some – because it doesn’t fade away!
– Amelia Tan, Associate Editor
On most days, my usual foundation is enough to conceal my dark circles, however, we all have days when we just don’t sleep well and thus, we end up looking like a raccoon’s relative the next morning. That’s where this product comes in. It blends well, lasts throughout the day, and doesn’t cake or crack. Most importantly, of course, it gets the job done. The tube is tiny, but a little goes a long way. Be careful not to squeeze out too much, though.
– Patrene Mathieu, Designer
 

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $45 at the NARS store and counters
This pot concealer came as a benefit of a hand-modelling stint for our Instagram account. It’s matte and blendable, offering good coverage for spots and pigmentation. I apply it with my fingers, dotting and blending onto problem areas. I like that it doesn’t feel too heavy, and the texture smoothens out very well.
– Joanne Cheah, Designer
 

Bareminerals Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer, $26, at cosme-de.com
On days where I don’t want to wear a full face of foundation, I’ll reach for this concealer and cover up any red patches and blemishes. I won’t mask my panda eyes with this, though – the formula tends to wear off easily around that area, but that’s also partially due to the fact that I can’t seem to keep my fingers away, so yeah, that’s on me. The concealer stays pretty true to its name; its thin, serum-like consistency goes on smooth and it packs on a ton of pigment, so you just need the tiniest amount to hide everything. When it dries, it leans towards a dewier finish, which is fine – I’ve learned to embrace my grease-face. The only downside is that Sephora has stopped stocking the brand and it’s where I usually get it from, but there are always beauty webstores to solve that issue. The Internet is truly a magical place.✨
– Jade Yeo, Writer
 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, available in the USA
I think most beauty junkies would agree that the Maybelline Fit Me concealers are one of the best drugstore concealers that does its job well. In a previous edition of team picks, my NARS stick concealer is my go-to when I only require just a light coverage, but these Maybelline Fit Me concealers are part of my full makeup routine. It has higher coverage and stays all day as well, though it does wear off slightly as the day goes by. I use two shades from the range, applying the “light” shade to brighten my undereyes and “sand” for everywhere else, mainly to conceal redness and blemishes. The creamy formula and wand applicator makes it really easy to glide on, getting even hard-to-reach areas, and it is even dubbed as the dupe of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Although most would agree the latter is slightly better in terms of coverage, the Fit Me concealer does a pretty decent job for its affordable price point. Also, this concealer is easy to blend and does not crease or go into fine lines at all. The hype over this unassuming concealer is justified for sure.
– Phyllis Guo, Editorial Assistant
 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, $12.90 at Watsons
Finally, a part of the gene pool that worked in my favour — I’m humbly blessed with a lack of under-eye bags, as well as minimally faint dark eye circles. They are the least of my skincare woes, which is why I never quite saw the need to invest much in concealers, considering how on lazy days I can even skip out on that step. I still do own a couple of drugstore ones though, and the one I’m currently quite impressed with is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. I appreciate the fact that the lightest shade (Ivory) is a cool-toned, pinky hue that blends in well with my skin tone. Most drugstore concealers tend to be very yellow, for some reason, but this one works out well enough to cover my dark eye circles and acne scars.
– Chelsea Tang, Editorial Assistant