Saturday, May 11, 2013

NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer in Custard: Review & Swatches

Purchased by me
NARS suggests that their Creamy Radiant Concealer is, "a creamy concealer with hydrating, multiaction skincare benefits and light diffusing technology to create a softer, smoother complexion." 
According to NARS it is, 
Ideal for all skin types, Radiant Creamy Concealer is a multiaction formula that instantly obscures imperfections, blurs the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and hides dark circles and signs of fatigue. Hydrating and luxuriously smooth, it layers lightly for buildable medium-to-full coverage and a natural luminous finish. The multiactive botanical blend hydrates, firms, reduces redness, and strengthens the skin by helping its barrier retain vital moisture. It also delivers antioxidant protection to protect the skin against damaging free radicals. 

Skin becomes visibly smooth, soft, and more even-toned. Mineral tone balancing powder works to optically correct, not mask, imperfections to keep skin looking flawless. A single stroke of Radiant Creamy Concealer keeps the complexion looking fresh and creaseless. It goes on smoothly, blends easily, and stays in place all day. Comfortable and hydrated, skin glows with new radiance over or under foundation and looks beautiful—even when bare. 

This product is crease-proof, long-wearing, dermatologist tested, and non-comodeogenic. It is free of alcohol and fragrance. 
According to NARS, in an instrumental measurement moisturization test conducted on 61 women: 
- Skin moisture level jumped by 46% in the first hour of usage 
- Moisture level in the skin increased by 60.6% after 12 hours 
- 100% of women showed improvement in skin moisture level after 1 hour 
- 98% of women showed improvement in skin moisture level after 12 hours 

Sensory clinical test results: 
- 89% felt the product left skin looking firmer 
- 93% felt the product effectively concealed dark spots, blemishes, and dark undereye circles 
- 80% felt the product blurred lines and wrinkles 
- 97% felt the product provided comfortable wear 
- 95% felt the product smoothed out the surface of the skin 
- 93% felt the product was long wearing 
- 90% felt the product left a creaseless-finish 
- 97% felt the product was lightweight on the skin
My experience: First I have to preface this by stating that I am a huge fan of the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, so I expected that I was going to feel the same love for this largely revered concealer, but I don't. I really want to, but sadly it feels very drying under my eyes rather than moisturizing. I have tried it by itself, I have tried it on top of extra eye cream, and the end result is the same- it makes my eyes look and feel dry. Furthermore, when it dries down, it itself looks dry. I have neither a dry, nor an oily under eye area- therefore the resultant dryness is a direct result of the concealer itself. The directions say to "blend directly onto imperfections or the under eye area" which I did. I tried it with my finger, with a concealer brush, and with the wand applicator, but nothing really seemed to make much of a difference. I also don't see any of the illuminating particles that are supposed to diffuse light, but perhaps one is not meant to actually see them. 

I will say that it does lend itself to opaque buildable coverage, and that it did a very good job in covering my dark circles. Additionally, I did notice a slight lifting effect, but my skin isn't slack under my eyes so I can't ideally evaluate the extent to which these claims are fulfilled.
Ingredients: 



Select ingredients and benefits:
-Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract and Tocopheral: Provide multibenefits to improve the overall condition of the skin.
-Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract: Increases skin hydration, firmness, and elasticity in eye area; provides antioxidant benefits; reduces water loss and skin redness/irritation.
-Titanium Dioxide, Mica, and Tin Oxide: Optically correct, not mask, skin imperfections to keep skin looking flawless; optically enhances the radiance and freshness of the skin by balancing uneven skintones.
-Silica: Blurs and optically reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by diverting light.
Made without Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates 
Overall assessment: I wanted so badly to love this, but it dried out my under eye area. With as many people out there who madly love this formula, I have to wonder if I may have gotten a bad tube. It simply makes no sense that it is supposed to be moisturizing, and yet my experience has been the opposite.

Have you tried it? What is your reaction to the formula? Am I missing some key piece of the puzzle here?

$28.00 for 0.22 oz. Purchased from Sephora (Unaffiliated links provided for your convenience). Stock photo from Sephora.

16 comments:

  1. darling lola,
    sadly this concealer did not work for me. It went really dry under my eyes and I couldnt really find a color that matched my skin (I'm around nc 20) so I ended up buying the dior nude concealer. It's good, I like it (used to wear the Armani one in n3 which I loved but got tired of it)yet it doesnt cover my dark circles entirely. I heard the Dolce and Gabanna is really good and so is the givenchy version of the touche eclat. Have you tried them? Do you recommend them? My under eye circles are not too dark and dramatic yet they are tough to cover for some reason.
    xxxxxxx

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    1. Hi wefadetogray <3

      I'm sorry to hear that it didn't work for you either, but am a touch relieved that I am not alone in my feelings about it. I guess that I made the assumption that because their tinted moisturizer worked so well that this would too, but it REALLY dries out my eyes. I also agree that a color match wasn't good for me either. Custard is too yellow, but nothing else worked better. I actually felt as though the drying effect appeared to age me significantly-- hardly what one wants in what is supposed to be a moisturizing concealer!! I haven't tried ANY of the concealers that you mentioned. The only Armani one that I have is the Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer-- is that the one that you have? I initially was not very enthusiastic about this Armani concealer, but have since grown to love it. I still want one that is more moisturizing. I will definitely look into the D&G and Givenchy concealers. My under eye circles can get pretty pronounced when I'm super tree, or when I have allergies- so I definitely like the idea of something with buildable coverage so that I can spackle it on when my circles are especially pronounced. I will stay on the lookout, and you do the same-- perhaps between us we can find our new Holy Grail concealer. I'm still pretty surprised by the level to which the NARS concealer was a miss for me! Have a lovely weekend!!!! xoxoxox

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    2. LOL!!! I didn't mean "super tree" I meant "super tired" either it was autocorrect, or I was super "tree" when I typed it- ROFL!

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    3. Hi Lola,
      I think the Armani one I have is called precision or high precision. It is really good but not heavy duty and I do not like to use a corrector underneath or a highlighter atop so I need a concealer that works well by itself. The Dior nude one is moisturizing enough, for sure--it creases on me after 8 hours of wear and only slightly. I do recommend it but perhaps just get a little sample first. I like the whole Dior nude range; the foundation is stunning so if you want to try some healthy radiance for the summer by all means give it a shot ;)
      I want a multitasking concealer to cover, moisturize, and highlight that's why I was wondering about the D&G and the Givenchy. YES! let's find the best one! It seems we are looking for something similar :)

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    4. darling lola, i just posted a reply to your comment but it did not say that it was waiting for approval so let me know if it dissapeared and i post it again :)

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    5. Hi wefadetogray! It sounds to me as though we are looking for EXACTLY the same thing in a concealer! Like you, I have no interest in the added steps of a corrector underneath or a highlighter atop. Am I asking too much to want a concealer that does all of those things?! Like you, I want a multi-tasker that covers dark circles, moisturizes and highlights-- also that won't crease. It sounds as though the Givenchy and the D&G are worth looking into. Also Marcia and BooBooNinja have been having success with the Benefit Fake Up-- so I want to look into that as well. I really do love my GA Maestro concealer, but I want a more moisturizing alternative as well. Hopefully between the two of us we can find something that works well and keeps us happy! :D

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  2. It's interesting because I read a blog and the blogger had bought this and then instantly professed it was her Holy Grail. That surprised me since I need to work with products for quite a while before I'm ready to review and for sure before I'm ready to grade.

    I bought this and Benefit Fake Up at the same time therefore I've only used this as a backup to Fake Up under my eyes which is where I conceal the most. I put on Fake Up in the morning, then for touch up at night I'll use the Nars. I like it but I'm still testing. It won't be an HG item though.

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    1. That's interesting. I started out with VERY high hopes before I tried it, then it shifted to guarded optimism, and then finally I had to come to terms with the fact that my eyes had all of the moisture sucked out of them-- which was so strange. If you don't find it drying- then I really wonder if I got a bad tube. Benefit Fake Up definitely looks a lot more like what I am looking for. I don't require lots of moisture in a concealer, but I do like the idea of a treatment/concealer! I actually thought the NARS had a chance of HG status based upon the description and all of the glowing reviews, but definitely not for me!

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  3. I thought this would be *the* concealer to rule them all. I had the same experience as you -- it was terribly drying and didn't look attractive nor natural. Like MarciaF, I've been using Benefit Fake Up. The Benefit gives me the hydration I crave and is easy to use. I find Benefit products to be gimmicky generally, so I'm glad I gave Fake Up a chance.

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    1. I had the exact same high hopes, and then they were dashed! This really was a huge miss for me, and I'm still so surprised by how drying it was on me! I am definitely going to check out Benefit Fake Up- you and Marcia love it- so I bet that I will as well! Thanks for the ringing endorsement! xoxo

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  4. Aw, too bad you had a bad experience with this :-( I have heard great things about this concealer, but I haven't tried it myself, so I am afraid I can't give you any advice.

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    1. Hi sweetie, It was such a big surprise! I really expected that it was going to be the concealer version of their tinted moisturizer- that I love so much. I could understand if I just wasn't crazy about the formula or consistency or something, but I really did not expect for it to dry my under eye area! <3

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  5. Nooooooooo, that is not the answer I wanted to hear. I just ordered this from Sephora. Will have to wait & see once I get it here to try out. So sorry it didn't work for you - I've read so many reviews by bloggers whose opinion I trust that really like it.

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    1. Hi lov2read68!! I was in the same boat- I read positive reviews from trusted bloggers and figured that I would feel exactly the same-- especially given my love of their tinted moisturizer!! However, just because this didn't work for me doesn't mean that you will have the same experience. I hope that you love it and have found your new HG concealer-- I had hoped that I had!! Please keep me posted- I am super curious to hear how it works for you!!!!!!! <3

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  6. I bought this too in the same shade and I am not thrilled. I had the same drying look going on under my eyes - not pleasant :( And I found it to be not long lasting. I am just using it now on my face but anxious to use it up and toss it!

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    1. Hi Nicolle!!! I am so underwhelmed by the way this looks and performs on me that I haven't even tried it anywhere else on my face!! This was just such a huge miss for me! I initially just thought that it was me because there are so many raving reviews about this out there, but it's kind of nice to know that it wasn't just me, or that there was something wrong with the one that I got. Of course it would be better if we absolutely loved it, but that can't always be the case! <3

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