Remember when dark circles were something that only happened to other people? Back when you had no clue that you yourself would someday be visited by those evil purple half-moon monsters at the crack of dawn?
Yup. Good times…
If you get as nostalgic as I do for those days of yore, let me get straight to the point. Dark circles are a serious business, and we have no time to waste. The new NARS Radiant Cream Concealers ($28) will cover those bad boys brilliantly.
Like a knight’s vorpal sword, they’re designed to vanquish! — only in their case, they vanquish the darkest of dark circles, as opposed to more traditional enemies. 🙂
The new line of under-eye concealers has a thick mousse formula that dries to a satin finish, and NARS says these will disguise imperfections all day long, without creasing, by diffusing light and applying a soft focus filter to fine lines.
The shades from lightest to darkest, according to the official PR:
- Chantilly: A true ivory for the fairest complexions
- Vanilla: A slight pink cast for fair complexions
- Honey: A warm peach tone for light and medium complexions
- Ginger: A golden undertone for medium complexions
- Biscuit: A medium dark shade with a natural balance of pink and yellow undertones
- Caramel: A medium dark yellow with golden undertones
- Amande: A medium dark shade with golden undertones
- Cafe: A dark shade with warm red undertones
- Cacao: A dark shade with deep golden brown undertones
One swipe — just one, because a little goes a long way — of Ginger with the doe-foot applicator, followed by some brief blending with a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, and my under-eye area appears noticeably brighter, which in turn makes me feel considerably better/less grumpy.
Sh*t covers EVERYTHING! — yet still looks like real skin. Not heavy or cakey, even with multiple layers. Plus, it stays put and photographs well.
You can use it anywhere on your face, too, like for blemishes and skin discolorations, but it really excels under eyes.
Um…I think it’s kind of amazing, really, and when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror with it on, I’m like, “Who’s that!?” That girl looks almost like the 23-year-old Karen who stayed up all night before graduation and took pics the following day without any under-eye concealer.
Ah, those were the days…
Of course, there is one catch (isn’t there always?).
After 5-6 hours, the full-coverage formula starts to break apart, ever so slightly, along my fine lines (fault lines?). I like to keep my blending brush close to quickly buff and smooth things out, but patting down the product with my fingers also works…
I just think a brush head creates a more natural-looking, airbrushed finish.
For really long or grueling days, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer is still my number one crush, but Radiant Creamy runs a close second. It’s an easy everyday concealer capable of covering everything, but it takes a little babying if you have fine lines.
PRICE: $28
AVAILABILITY: Coming February 20 to NARS counters, boutiques and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Tuesdays that feel like Mondays…
Shoot. I desperately wanted to make it to Trader Joe’s tonight to get more of these new Coconut Chips I’m straight-up addicted to, but it didn’t work out.
I bought a bag last weekend and thoroughly intended to take a picture of it for you, but then I started watching Locked Up Abroad on Netflix (yes, it’s real show!). Next thing I knew, the bag was empty, and I was thinking, “Remind me not to try to smuggle gold bars from Hong Kong to Nepal.”
Hope you had a nice Tuesday. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
CrystalCandy says
February 19th, 2013 at 9:12 pmDid you use this concealer for your last posts too? Because I noticed that you looked younger, I don’t know what it is but something is different! You look great! 😀
heartgirlystuff says
February 19th, 2013 at 9:22 pmSo excited to read the review til I got to the longivity part. Tried pro longwear concealer, like it but I HATE wasting so much. Tried your suggestion of the sample jar, BUT I dont wear makeup everyday so a lot still gets wasted 🙁
Love Locked Up Abroad, only catch it when Im visiting my mom, my hubs put it on Netflix for me but hadnt started the marathons – yet. Mostly cause I know I’ll get even less accomplished than usual if I do.
Chelsea says
February 19th, 2013 at 9:31 pmI definitely don’t need to be buying makeup right now, but I’ll have to go swatch the light shade. I usually use an orange/peach concealer for my undereye circles (which are prominent because my skin is basically see-through, yo)
Tracy@BeautyReflections says
February 19th, 2013 at 9:36 pmWHAT??? OMG that’s AMAZING!!! I need one of these for sure!
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Rose says
February 19th, 2013 at 10:39 pmAck! I’m not even going to wait for Barney’s to call me. Must. Go. Tomorrow! I love the Pro Longwear, but I waste so much with that pump. (MAC, do ya hear me??) I have been using Bobbie Brown’s correctors, but would love a smoother concealer. Plus, I hear you about age (gotta few years on you) and dark circles. Along with my eyebrow products (never leave the house without grooming them), I have a huge arsenal of concealers and correctors!
Been watching the 3rd season of Downton Abbey I TIVO’d cuz the Hubby is away. Ate my daughter’s entire package of PEZ candies from a Valentine’s gift (set of Hello Kitty PEZ dispensers)!! Now I have to go buy some more before she notices! ðŸ˜
Vineetha says
February 20th, 2013 at 1:59 amGood shade range…. Must check this out 🙂
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Sunny says
February 20th, 2013 at 3:32 amOK this sounds my dream concealer! I don’t like anything in a pot, so I’m always looking for something like this. My latest experiment with the Clinique pen didn’t go too well (I’m between two shades and it just doesn’t match), so I’ll be waiting for these to be available on UK-based webshops! I already know my shade as well (Custard), which is convenient!
Advah says
February 20th, 2013 at 4:26 amOh these sound just like my beloved Estee Lauder concealer! I’ll have to check them out when I run out (although a little goes such a long way, I’m not sure when I’ll ever get to the end of the tube..)
Jay @ Wayfaring Beauty says
February 20th, 2013 at 5:27 amI’m currently in lovvvve with Benefit’s new undereye concealer but this also looks like a possible contender – your eye area does look brighter! It seems like most products settle into my fine lines after about 5-6 hours. Sigh.
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Chris says
February 20th, 2013 at 6:09 amThe brightening effect this concealer has on your eyes is amazing! I definitely need to try this soon!
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Arianne (Glitter Geek) says
February 20th, 2013 at 7:14 amUgh this is at the top of my wishlist right now. Looks amazing Karen. 🙂 Look at you, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Scherbs sends her purrs, and she made you cookies. 😉
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Emi at Project Swatch says
February 20th, 2013 at 7:19 amThis is a really lovely looking finish – and it looks so opaque! I’m not sure about a shade match for me though, all the lighter shades look pink or peachy to me, and I’m quite yellow. I’ll have to wait and check it out in person.
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Jennifer says
February 20th, 2013 at 8:05 amI so want to try this!!! I use amazing concealer, how does this compare?
Erin @ The Grass Skirt says
February 20th, 2013 at 8:26 amI love Nars products, so I need to check this out. Most importantly, I need to get some of those coconut chips! They sound great.
Monika says
February 20th, 2013 at 11:18 amHey Karen, do you have a recommendation for which shade would be best for NC40 skin? I don’t use concealer under my eyes and need it to match my face instead of being lighter to brighten up my under-eye area. I’m thinking Caramel would be best?
tracey says
March 14th, 2013 at 6:40 pmCaramel would be way too dark. Im NC45 and caramel is a perfect match for me.. just a hair or two lighter. Try biscuit or ginger.
Meghan says
February 20th, 2013 at 12:28 pmWow! Those look so creamy! I love how they seem to catch the light, that would be fantastic for brightening. It looks so good on you too, Karen! I need to go and see these soon!
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 6:51 pmHi Meghan,
They’re super creamy! Almost good enough to eat. 🙂
Jade says
February 20th, 2013 at 2:45 pmI want..!
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 6:49 pmI hope they work for ya, Jade!
vanessa says
February 20th, 2013 at 5:09 pmHey Karen, how much weight comes in the tube? Does it have any scents?
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 6:47 pmHi Vanessa,
Each tube is 0.22 ounces, and they’re unscented, far as I can tell.
Sylvia says
February 20th, 2013 at 6:55 pmWhich colour would you recommended for fair skin Karen (sorry, you must get these type of questions all the time – but I’m no where close to shops where I can swatch them). I have neutral fair skin but bad under eye circle which are purple-sih blue, and don’t like concealers that are either to yellow or to pink… Thank you 🙂
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 8:34 pmHi Sylvia,
I’m tempted to say Honey, but if you’re very pale it may not work for you. It has a lot of peach in it, which works great to cancel out those purplish/blue tones.
Sylvia says
February 20th, 2013 at 8:48 pmThanks Karen, I was thinking about honey as well. I’m not uber pale (I do tan in summer) but in winter and if I’m careful in the sun Id say i have very similar colourings to Naomi Watts. I just hope I can find a match cause they look so great!
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 9:29 pmYou’re welcome. 🙂 Okay, then, if you tan, then Honey will probably work for you. If it’s still too dark you could always mix it with something lighter in your stash. I do that all the time when my skin’s acting wonky.
Iris says
February 20th, 2013 at 9:03 pmI like how they have a wide range of shades. Vanilla may work for me; I’ll have to take a look at these when I need a new concealer.
Colleen says
February 20th, 2013 at 9:16 pmI have never used concealer before, but these look like something I would be willing to try. Also, the coconut chips are AMAZING. I hope they never get rid of them. I made my own snack mix with the chips, pretzels, and candied walnuts. I could eat the entire bag of chips by itself though, haha.
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 9:27 pmHi Colleen,
Your snack mix sounds amazing! I’ll have to try it. Do you get the pretzels from TJs?
Ankita@corallista says
February 20th, 2013 at 9:56 pmIf NARS was available in my part of the world, I would have definitely given it a try! I absolute love the Pro Longwear concealer, more so since I’ve found my perfect shade match!
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Colleen says
February 20th, 2013 at 9:58 pmNo, I use Butter Snaps pretzels (can’t remember the brand-they are square-ish pretzels and so buttery) that I get at Target or the grocery store. It’s really good. I get the nuts at TJ though.
Karen says
February 20th, 2013 at 10:04 pmYeah, I’ve had those nuts from TJs before. Great in salads!
I’ll look for the pretzels next time I’m at Target, NOM.
Nadia says
February 21st, 2013 at 12:35 pmHi Karen,
If i have fine lines, and MAC pro longwear doesn’t work with me…. Is this one good choice?
Thank you
Jenny says
February 21st, 2013 at 5:48 pmThanks for the swatches! I need to go pick this up asap!
Rozae says
February 23rd, 2013 at 10:17 pmOh Karen I must try & pick myself one
Linh says
February 24th, 2013 at 4:48 amHey Karen, wonderful post! I totally giggled when I read that you thought you would never have dark circles because I was under that illusion until my mid-twenties. “Sh** covers everything!” also was giggle worthy.
Make Up Forever’s full cover concealer in 6 has been perfect for my NC35 skin for years now. When I was on an eye brightener kick, I tried Mac’s Prime and Prep Highlighter in Bright Forecast to great success but alas, like other Mac concealers, it produced small bumps on my under eye area. So I tried Make Up Forever’s HD concealer in 320 (light peach). It was awesome for brightening and hiding dark circles but the formula was awful, very thick and cakey.
I think I’ll exchange it for the Nars concealer!
Michelle says
April 10th, 2013 at 7:04 amHi! Looks great on you!
I’m wearing Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc, any recommendations on what colour you think would suit?
Kelly says
April 16th, 2013 at 4:42 amHi Karen,
Would you use a setting powder with these concealer to prevent it from settling into fine lines throughout the day? I’m 23 years old, but I have really fine lines and I have bright blue veins that run under each eye (hereditary, yay!) I have tried every concealer on the market I’m pretty sure. I bought this Nars concealer yesterday at Sephora in “Vanilla”, so far it seems alright, but would I have to use setting powder do you think to set this or would it just defeat the purpose of the illumination?
Thanks lady 😉
Katrine says
June 7th, 2013 at 9:17 amI’m not her, and cannot comment on the concealer either – but as another person with very visible veins around the eye area, I’ll just recommend Bobbi Brown correctors. Not for general under eye concealing, but just on the bluest parts, for neutralising. On me, that means I don’t need a concealer on top, as the pinky colour and the blue cancel each other out. It is also pretty kind to fine lines, as you don’t actually need enough product to cover it entirely.
Kelly says
June 7th, 2013 at 9:32 amI have the Bobbi Brown under eye corrector in “light bisque” for my NC15 skin. I find it to be extremely thick and creamy, so yet is covers, but it feels so cakey and it creases really easy on me. The comment I made above about the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in “Vanilla” was written back in April, so now having used this product for the past few months I can honestly say that is it in the most incredible product I have ever used to conceal my hereditary dark blue veins/discolouration under my eyes. I don’t have to wear a corrector under it or set it with a powder, I just apply it and tap it in with my ring finger. It stays on all day and conceals and looks healthy. I will use these forever, as long as they make them!!
Jenna says
June 18th, 2013 at 1:05 pmHello
Do you know what Nars concealer colour will suit my NC35 skin ? Help mere