I'm going to do a second blog with more information on concealers, correctors and highlighters, and more in-depth information on colour theory, or knowing what shade and tone concealer to pick for your skin [Edit: see here for information on under-eye concealing].
This blog is essentially just to discuss MAC concealers specifically, what they are, what they look like, what they do, and which ones to use. It's going to be a short blog, mainly bullet-pointed so you can compare and contrast faster...
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| Select Coverup |
- Select Coverup is a liquid concealer, it's the one in the squeezy tube
- It has a light-to-medium coverage
- Thinnest consistency of all the MAC concealers, like a thicker version of MAC Face & Body foundation
- Sometimes Makeup Artists use this as a foundation (I don't personally, but I've seen it done)
- It's ok for under-eye concealer work for younger skin that doesn't need a lot of coverage, but it doesn't tackle heavy blemishes or more mature skin, or darker undereye circles, for example
- It comes in 16 shades, half warm- (pink), half cool- (yellow) toned
- Use with a flat brush or fingers
Select Moisturecover
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| Select Moisturecover |
- Select Moisturecover is another liquid concealer, but it's a bit more creamy than Select Coverup
- It comes in a tube, with a doe-foot applicator
- It has a light to medium coverage
- This has a "hydrating and brightening effect", according to MAC, who also says it's best for dry and mature skin
- It has silicone in it and is great for the under-eye area
- It dries to satin finish (natural matte). It has a slight vague glow to it and makes everything soft and bright. I personally feel that it's great for dark under eye circles but again, only for younger or brighter skin, as it's a light enough coverage
- This comes in 14 shades; half-and-half cool/warm toned
- Use with a flat brush or fingers
Pro Longwear Concealer
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| Pro Longwear |
- Pro Longwear is yet another liquid concealer, it's somewhere between Select Coverup and Select Moisturecover in terms of consistency
- It comes in a glass bottle with a pump applicator
- This is a medium to full coverage concealer
- You get away with using a very small amount of it, however the applicator is a major con of this concealer as it pumps out far too much, and it seems to be impossible to control the amount that dispenses, so there's usually quite a bit of waste
- It can feel a little bit tight as it dries on some skin
- This concealer really does last, one of its pros is that it lasts up to 15 hours. It's better as an under-eye concealer than a blemish concealer, IMO
- Like all the Pro Longwear range, you have to work quickly with it, and a little goes a long way. Like the Pro Longwear foundation, it gives a matte but very slightly waxy/plastic-y finish
- It comes in 15 shades, 7 are cool-, the remaining 8 are warm- toned
- Apply with fingers, a fluffy brush or a flat brush, but do work quickly
Studio Sculpt
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| Studio Sculpt |
- Studio Sculpt is a gel-based concealer, similar to the Studio Sculpt foundation
- It comes in a glass pot (similar looking to MAC Paint Pots)
- This is a full coverage concealer with a natural matte finish
- It is creamier (but easier to work with) than Studio Finish concealer, it is also less drying on the skin than Studio Finish concealer, and slightly less opaque than Studio Finish concealer
- It comes in 14 shades, half-and-half cool- and warm- toned
- This is water-resistant and long wearing, but I find it can crease under the eyes - it's better as a blemish concealer
- Apply with a flat detailer brush, blend out edges with a fluffy brush or fingers
Studio Finish
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| Studio Finish |
- Studio Finish is a cream concealer
- It comes in a plastic pot (similar looking to individual eyeshadows)
- This is a full, heavy-coverage, instantly opaque, concealer
- This has titanium dioxide in it, so I don't recommend it under the eye area for flash photography (although I have used it and haven't had problems)
- This is water-resistant and long wearing. It can crease under the eyes if used in small enough quantities, it can be used under the eyes but carefully. It provides brilliant cover for blemishes
- It comes in 15 shades, 7 of which are cool- and 8 of which are warm- toned
- Best applied with a more fluffy than flat brush, or fingers, or a sponge
Mineralize
[Edit: Added 01-03-11]
- Mineralize Concealer is a liquid concealer, it's a bit more creamy than Select Coverup and slightly less creamy than Select Moisturecover
- It comes in a tube, with a brush applicator
- This has light to medium, semi-opaque coverage
- This is supposedly long wearing, but I find it tends to wear after maybe 5-6 hours. It's mineralized so can crease under the eyes. It has a slight brightening property to it so I personally feel that it's great for dark under eye circles but again, only for younger or brighter skin, as it's a light enough coverage
- It comes in 15 shades, 7 of which are cool- and 8 of which are warm- toned
- Applied with a flat brush or fingers
The concealers I use - younger skin
- Under-eye: Select Coverup or Select Moisturecover with a flat brush OR Pro Longwear concealer, depending on the finish required
- Dark Circles: corrected first (see blog to come), then under-eye concealer as before
- Blemishes: Studio Finish or Studio Sculpt
The concealers I use - more mature skin
- Under-eye: the tiniest amount of Studio Finish with a fluffy brush or a sponge, on top of MAC Fast Response Eye Cream OR Pro Longwear concealer
- Dark Circles: corrected first (see blog to come), then under-eye concealer as before
- Blemishes: Studio Finish or Studio Sculpt