The Stick Concealer That Covers All Your Spots

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Just like my skincare regimen, my makeup routine involves a stupidly high volume of products and a whole lot of layering, all resulting in what I consider a “very normal face.” I guess it’s a version of the popular and maligned no-makeup makeup look, the one that gives the appearance of even, glowing skin and naturally rosy cheeks and in fact takes a fair amount of time and money to achieve.

This has always been the beauty aesthetic I’ve been drawn to, never wanting to appear like I’m trying too hard, but very much wanting to be beautiful, or at least more beautiful than I am without makeup. I know there’s all sorts of patriarchal bullshit tied up in these feelings, but also, fuck it: I look better in makeup. I just do. You probably do, too.

I’ve spent the last 17 years perfecting my cosmetics lineup as new brands and products have come onto the market, and I’m quite pleased with my current concealer of choice. Concealer, of course, is the most important component of the no-makeup makeup look.

It’s by Hourglass, and there are many things to love about it. It comes in stick form, which is far preferable to bacteria-breeding pots, and gives just the right amount of coverage, which is to say as much as possible without being conspicuous. It covers red spots and dark spots equally well, dries to a nice matte-but-not-flaky finish, and doesn’t cause any further breakouts.

It is not, however, great for undereye circles. And here’s where I admit I actually use two concealers every day: the Hourglass concealer for blemishes and discoloration, and the Clinique Airbrush concealer for undereyes and shadowy areas that need a bit of brightening.

Anyway! The Hourglass stick! It’s great! It’s also reasonable at $34, half the price of its closest competitor, the $70 cult Clé de Peau concealer. The CDP version is slightly larger than the Hourglass one, though certainly not double the size; I only have to replace my Hourglass concealer once every six months. Hourglass also comes in ten shades to CDP’s six, though neither are as inclusive as the similarly-priced Nars version or the Bobbi Brown version, both of which come in 17 shades and both of which I haven’t tried.

Bonus tip: Instead of throwing away a totally used stick, I like to wear it down to the almost-bottom, make that my on-the-go concealer I can throw in any purse/backpack/what have you, and buy a fresh stick for my makeup bag.