Usually a make-up bag staple, one trend currently going viral on TikTok is ditching concealer when doing your make-up. Beauty editor (and long-time fan of cover-up) tried it out…
Ever since I started wearing make-up, few make-up items have such a solid place in my routine as concealer. As, like a lot of people, I’m often aware of the dark circles under my eyes, I don’t feel fully complete without applying a dab of one of my favourite formulas to disguise these shadows.
And so when TikTok started telling us that all the cool girls and make-up pros are saying no to concealer, I was mildly horrified. However, I had noticed that my usual products and application method didn’t seem to be having the usual transformative effect on me recently. And so, in the name of beauty research, I did my normal face of make-up for a week, but just resisting reach for concealer – and the results really surprised me.
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It’s true that sometimes using a lot of concealer under the eyes – especially if it’s in a brighter shade than your skin tone – can look quite harsh. I do have dark circles under my eyes but it’s more in the form of shadows from bags, rather than pigmentation, and I sometimes find that concealer enhances the puffiness.
In recent years I’ve also noticed make-up not going on as smoothly in this area as before, looking dry and patchy throughout the day and sometimes settling into fine lines. Doing away with concealer, therefore, also eliminated these problems.
Perhaps also due to a bit of a summer glow (thank you, fake tan), but I thought that I actually looked more fresh-faced and, dare I say it, even a little younger, when I went concealer-less. Yes, my bags were more visible on Zoom calls, but I thought the overall look was much more natural.
That being said, there are other trick I used to brighten and enhance that problem area. A good hydrating eye cream is a must, and I also took my foundation or skin tint up to my eyes. On really tired days I’d also reach for a colour corrector such as Bobbi Brown Skin Corrector Stick, £29, applying a tiny bit of this before my foundation.
I definitely won’t be ditching concealer for good – they’re an essential part of more of an ‘evening’ or special occasion make-up look, or when I look especially tired – but I’m enjoying this more minimal make-up style for summer; for once, this is one TikTok trend that I approve of.
Laura’s favourite concealers
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Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Concealer, £28.50 from LookFantastic
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Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer, from £16.80 from Cult Beauty
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NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, £27 from LookFantastic
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NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, £26 from LookFantastic
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Dior Backstage Face & Body Flash Perfector Concealer, £28 from Dior
