My take on: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Only recently have I actually gained interest in concealers. It started when I became wary of having to put on foundation everyday, but still needed some sort of coverage on a few breakouts and under eye circles. One of the concealers I own, it being the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, has been a makeup staple and favorite for me -it's long lasting and covers well. The only problem is that as it has gotten closer to spring, it's no longer matching my skin color. I thought at that point that if on a day to day basis concealer was all that I was going to put on, that it would justify going out to buy the best that I could find - no matter what price. And lo and behold, I finally met the product that would change my world. Dramatic? Maybe, but seriously this stuff is great!! The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is one makeup product that I now cannot live without! Reason being is because I've never really stumbled on a concealer like it before... and it performs exactly the way I want it to. I have the color Ginger which is a perfect match to my NC35, neutral/yellowy undertone.

Consistency: If you've ever tried the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation or the Jouer Tinted Moisturizer, then you'll find that this concealer has similar consistency. It's creamy - just like it says on the packaging. I find that many concealers out there are either really tacky (like my Tarte Maracuja in Medium and Benefit's Erase Paste), Liquid-y (ex. my L'Oreal True Match Concealer in W4-5), or sheer (Benefit Perk-Up). But this concealer has such a nice silky texture that doesn't come off as too sticky or too liquidy. When you're done applying it looks like second skin.

Application: It has a doe foot applicator which makes everything less messy and more sanitary when it comes to application. I still blend it out with my fingers by patting with a light touch. I feel that fingers work better and give a more natural finish than a concealer brush in my experience. It's also super easy to blend with.

Coverage: Pretty darn good coverage. I feel confident going out without eye makeup. This concealer really makes that much of a difference on my skin. It covers spots really well, and mind you, I have some problematic hyper-pigmentation spots that have been on my face for months! It's definitely buildable so if you do need more coverage, this concealer can make it happen. Because it has a silky cream finish it takes longer to dry and set than a tacky concealer would but definitely faster than a liquid concealer. Just make sure it dries out just a bit before building on more product. I would say overall: medium-full coverage. It's great for undereyes and blemishes!

Wear: I would give it a good 10 hours, nothing more. I know that I tend to touch my face and move around quite a lot throughout the day (aka working at the clinic, school, playing with dogs, working out!!) but this concealer for sure only lasts me at least 8 hours and by the end of that time I can start seeing my hyper-pigmentation spots come out, although it's still not so noticeable. I was really pulling for long wear since the finish is awesome, but unfortunately my Tarte Maracuja stumps this Nars one (that thing does not wear off, I swear!).

Color Range: On the Sephora website there are 10 colors listed. I think that's pretty fair seeing as how many lines only give 4-6 colors.

Packaging: And of course it has the rubberized-ish finish to the cap. It wouldn't be a Nars product if it didn't right? I like the chic packaging. But unfortunately, just like all Nars packaging, this gets dirty so easily! I clean it often with a makeup wipe.

Overall Pros: Wonderful finish, great coverage, and a good match for my skin.

Overall Cons: Not as long wearing as I had hoped and it costs $28?!?!?!? Does the performance justify the price? Yes...ish. Maybe $23-25 would have been more fitting for this concealer. But like many face makeup items you get what you pay for. My favorite concealers all happen to be high end, and they certainly don't break me out any more than I already am - which is why I prefer them as they tend to work well with my sensitive skin. Still, this is certainly not an item I regret buying!

Jacq