Not so long ago, full coverage concealers were thick, difficult to apply and remove, and produced odd, fake-looking results that often more resembled theatrical greasepaint rather than appropriate everyday makeup. Fortunately, the new generation of heavy duty concealers come in lighter consistencies, can be applied and removed with ease, and look much more natural on the skin than did their predecessors.
Tattoo Artist Kat Von D’s Tattoo Concealer
Kat Von D sells a tattoo concealer that is one of the best on the market. It is neither too greasy nor overly drying, and can be layered on for more coverage without smearing or appearing unnatural in sunlight. It is high in pigment, but none of the shades have peach, pink, or ashy tones. Best of all, it washes off easily with any ordinary cleanser and does not require an extra makeup remover to get the last traces off.
Dark tattoos would be unlikely to completely disappear under this makeup; but blemishes, undereye circles, and minor scars or brown spots are blended away or minimized very well.
Amazing Cosmetics’ Amazing Concealer
Amazing Cosmetics makes a pretty amazing oil-based concealer for dry or combination skin that is not acne-prone. It comes out of the tube thick, but blends down to a matte finish that looks fairly natural, and provides excellent coverage for most facial flaws. Although it is expensive, a little goes a long way. It contains cucumber extract to deflate puffiness, and a small amount of Vitamin E as an antioxidant.
As a dark circle concealer, it has a tendency to quickly slip into any creases under the eye; but for all other blemishes, it does a great job. Special setting powders are sold by the same line, but any face powder will set and keep the concealer in place all day. Like the Kat Von D product, it washes off with ease. Note that some of the light shades are too pink for some skin tones.
Makeup Forever Full Coverage Concealer
This is another good product, which provides heavy duty camouflage while looking relatively natural on the skin. It is somewhat more difficult to take off than the above products, but a few swipes with any decent eye makeup remover will do the trick.
Sources claim that Laura Geller and Smashbox both put out decent heavy duty concealers, which perform much like the above products.
Inexpensive Full Coverage Concealer Options
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer is very inexpensive; but comes highly recommended by users, consumer advocates, and makeup artists. The colors are neutral and it does not crease or fade. One end of the product is a slightly pinkish highlighter that can be used to minimize facial lines or add an extra layer of coverage under the eyes.
While not as capable of full coverage as the above products, Soap & Glory’s Trick and Treatment still performs as a terrific neutral concealer. It comes in only one shade called “Bright On;” but if that color happens to suit a consumer’s skin tone, it is a very effective cover-up, but does not work well on very dark undereye circles. It costs about $10.00 and is available at Target.
Sources
- Begoun, Paula & Barron, Bryan, Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th edition, Beginning Press, 2008.
- “Here I was spending hundreds of dollars when Maybelline had the answer for $5,” epinions, June, 2005.
- Place, Stan Campbell, The Art and Science of Professional Makeup, Milady Publishing Company, 1989.
- “ Serious Coverage: These concealers are no joke,” Beauty Junkies Unite, May, 2009.
Amy Sillup - I have a B.S. in Chemistry from Delaware Valley College and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. I have worked as a ...
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