A Complete Guide to Mac Concealers

Hi Friends,

After choosing a correct foundation, Choosing the correct concealer is the most time consuming step.

Concealers are needed for covering different flaws like Under eyes darkness, pigmentation, scars, acne etc.

Different concealers cater to different needs and different formulations serve different purposes. There are huge variety of finishes, textures and formulations available at Mac, so I thought it might be easier to explain the uses of different textures and formulations.

Mac Studio Finish SPF 35:

Packaging: Black plastic tub packaging with a transparent flip open lid.
Texture: Cream
Coverage: Full Opaque Coverage
Finish: Natural Matte but a slight shine, somewhere between a Matte and Satin finish
SPF: 35
Skin Type: All Expect very oily and very dry skin
Staying Power: 6+hrs
Price: INR 1300 for 7gm

Personal Note: Although this is a cream based product with absorbs all the oils and gives a natural matte finish. The texture is little tight an tough to blend if not warmed up by fingers. When warmed between fingers it applies super easily. This product covers like a dream. It covers everything from acne to under eyes darkness with ease. This product is good for variety of skin textures, but very oily and dry scaly skinned people should avoid using this. It can exaggerate the dryness on the skin if not blended well. You have set it with a powder well and it will not move a lot. But yes it does creases in a while, but then it depends on how well you set the product. I personally own this product, but I have a wrong shade (NW35). On my recent visit to Mac store the MUA applied a darker shade an showed me the difference, It almost vanished my dark circles. But can be a cakey if not blended well.

Top Left : Without concealer, Bottom Left: with Studio Finish Concealer, Right: with foundation and concealer

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer:

Packaging: Bottle Packaging with a pump
Texture: Liquid
Coverage: Medium to Full Coverage
Finish: Natural Matte finish
SPF: No
Skin Type: All esp.good for oily skin, not good for very dry skin
Staying Power: 12+hrs
Price: INR 1300 for 9ml

Personal Note: This product comes with a pump which is the biggest flaw of the packaging. Lot of product gets wasted due to excessive product flow. The texture of this product is creamy liquid with runny consistency. It comes out as a creamy liquid but settles quickly as a absolute matte concealer. For moderate dark circles this has an excellent coverage. It covers acne scars and pigmentation pretty well too. The down side of this product is that it dries to quickly and you need to blend it before that. The product has extreme matte finish, which may appeal to few people. I think it will really work well as a tinted moisturizer (mixing it with a moisturizer). As a Under eye concealer I like the finish pretty good and natural. Unlike Studio Finish, Pro Longwear has a very light feeling as if nothing is applied.

Top Left : without Concealer, Bottom Left: With Concealer, Right: With foundation and Concealer

Mac Select Moisture Cover Concealer:

Packaging: Bottle Packaging with a doe foot applicator
Texture: Liquid in creamy consistency, moisturizing
Coverage: Medium Coverage
Finish: Natural Satin finish
SPF: No
Skin Type: Dry skin, Combination & Normal skin
Staying Power: 6-8 hrs
Price: INR 1300 for 5ml

Personal Note: This product comes with a doe foot applicator. Moisturizing concealer and is good for under eye area. It has a very illuminating effect and brightens up the under eye area. It needs to be set with the powder as it creases pretty easily. Dry skin people will love this concealer. It is not for oily skin. The coverage is decent and is good for moderate dark circles. I personally liked this better for under eyes rather than covering pigmentation and acne scars.

Top Left: without concealer, Bottom Left: With Concealer, Right: with Foundation and Concealer

MAC Mineralize Concealer:

Packaging: Hourglass Bottle Packaging with a brush applicator
Texture: Liquid with slightly gel like consistency, moisturizing
Coverage: Sheer Coverage
Finish: Natural dewy finish
SPF: No
Skin Type: Dry skin, Combination & Normal skin
Staying Power: upto 5 hrs
Price: INR 1450 for 5ml

Personal Note: This product comes with a brush applicator. It has a very light texture and blends easily. I am not fond of its coverage. This product is particularly good for younger girls who don't need much coverage. It works well as a illuminator. It is not good for oily skin.

Top Left: Without Concealer, Bottom Left: With Concealer, Right: With Foundation and Concealer

Mac Select Coverup Concealer:

Packaging: Squeeze tube with nozzle
Texture: Liquid consistency
Coverage: Medium Coverage
Finish: Matte finish
SPF: No
Skin Type: Oily skin, Combination & Normal skin, Can be used on dry skin with a little prep first.
Staying Power: 8+ hrs
Price: INR 1200 for 5ml

Personal Note: I have mixed opinions about this product. I like the texture and finish of this product but the quantity to be used is little more than normal. It can be used on all the skin types and covers up almost everything. It requires a lot of setting with powder as well.