After
much hemming and hawing (and rationalizing that I most definitely
needed a new concealer) I recently decided to order myself the
much-hyped Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer. I've heard countless
YouTubers and Beauty Gurus profess their love for this little pot of
pigmented wonder. But is it as good as all the claims? Well at first,
I definitely didn't think so.
The
product does have a lovely texture that is creamier and not as heavy
as many other pot concealers. It's pigmented and seems to last well
on the skin. Initially my biggest problem with it was that I'd pat
some on to the skin and then dab my damp beauty blender over the top
and it was like the coverage would just disappear. So, I'd add more
and more, repeating the process, and that just left me a bit
frustrated. I mean, what's the point of a concealer if it doesn't
give you enough coverage to actually conceal?
I
decided I must be doing something wrong. So I went on a quest
to figure out the best way to apply this puppy, and I think I've
found it. My preferred method is tapping a bit of the product on with
my fingertip and using my It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe ComplexionPerfection Brush #7 (that's a mouthful of a name) to stipple
the product in. You don't need to necessarily use this exact brush.
Any domed synthetic brush will do. By using a stippling motion you
can actually completely blend the product in within seconds without
shifting or removing the coverage. Once that's done I like to lightly
pat over the area with my fingertips, letting the heat from my finger
help completely mesh the product with my skin. And voila! This has
made a world of difference for me and turned the Soft Matte Concealer
into something I constantly reach for.
One
added bonus, which I had heard some people mention but didn't truly
believe until I saw the results, is that this concealer helps
camouflage enlarged pores! This might not seem like a big deal to
some but to me and people with oily skin and enlarged, visible pores,
this is a godsend. I have a good deal of redness around my nose and
cheeks so this concealer helps knock down some of that redness and
smooth out the texture of my pores. That's something not even my
beloved Shape Tape can do.
So
ladies (and makeup-loving gents), this just goes to show you
that sometimes the difference between a total flop and a product you
can't stop using it user error. Don't give up on a product just
because it didn't work for you right off the bat. Try some different
techniques, see how other people have applied it and what their
skin-types are and try to see if there's a way that you can make it
work for your needs. Unless of course something breaks you out or
causes an allergic reaction. In that case, take that crap back and
make sure you post reviews so that other lovely makeup wearers like
yourself will see that no product is infallible.
Have
you tried the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer? Did it work for
you? Have you ever tried a product that didn't work for you initially
until you changed the way you were applying it? Let me know in the
comments below!
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