I’m Always Short of Sleep, But This £12 Concealer Hides My Dark Circles
Whilst dark circles can be hereditary—in which case there isn't a huge amount that you can do to shift them with skincare`—there is one key culprit causing mine to stay stubbornly put right now: lack of sleep. (Louder, for the toddlers at the back!). Yes, pre-kids, I was a master at napping in even the smallest window of free time and I rarely woke once my head hit the pillow. My under-eyes were as bright as the summer sun and dark circles weren't a phrase in my beauty vocabulary. These days? The shadows are intense.
However, a new launch from Beauty Pie landed on my desk this week that managed to transform my grey, tired under-eyes and make them bright and glowy once more. It's an extension of the brand's best-selling Superluminous Under-Eye Genius (£12)—a brightener and colour corrector for dark circles which I'm also a huge fan of. And trust me, if you also struggle to clock in eight solid hours a night for whatever reason (kids, pets, insomnia, stress—there are so many factors that can affect our sleep), then this new launch might be just what your dark circles are looking for.
Ahead is my honest review of Beauty Pie Superluminous Serum Concealer (£12)—with the before-and-after photos to back it up.
Beauty Pie Superluminous Serum Concealer Review
If you're not already familiar with Beauty Pie then here's a quick rundown of the concept. The brand creates and sells luxury beauty products without any of the huge markups that you'd normally expect from other brands, mainly because it forgoes extravagant packaging and the products are only available from the brand's own site, which means it doesn't have to pay the retailer fees which are usually passed onto the customer. To access these savings, you sign up for a Beauty Pie membership which allows you to purchase the products at prices that are significantly lower than the RRP. For instance, Superluminous Serum Concealer would sell for £28 at market value, but Beauty Pie members can get it for just £12. No-brainer, right?
Mica Ricketts before applying Beauty Pie Superluminous Serum Concealer.
Described as half skincare, half concealer, I really wasn't sure what to expect with this product, and was concerned that it wouldn't deliver well on either front. At first swipe, it was certainly lightweight and felt super hydrating—it's enriched with hyaluronic acid so it should be great for moisturising dehydrated under-eyes—and it looks wonderfully light-reflecting on the skin. In fact, I was impressed at how dewy and fresh my under-eye area looked immediately. But what about the coverage?
Mica Ricketts after applying Beauty Pie Superluminous Serum Concealer.
First thing to note: Beauty Pie itself describes this product as having a "light touch of cover", so it isn't coined as a full-coverage concealer. There are eight shades available, and I have to mention that only two of them are geared towards deep or darker skin tones. That being said, the coverage is so lightweight that the shades are definitely stretchable.
Despite my slightly low expectations, I was seriously wowed with how well this product minimised the dark, shadowy undertones of my under-eyes and brightened up the area. I was expecting to have to layer my usual concealer on top, but this really wasn't the case. It was fast to apply—I just patted it on with the applicator and blended out with my fingertips—and I was happy enough to head straight out on the school run without any other makeup.
Shop the Beauty Pie Sumerluminous Collection:
Price shown is members' price.
This lightweight, brightness-boosting concealer has become my go-to on mornings that I'm lacking in sleep and haven't got the energy for a full makeup routine. It requires no effort, yet makes my whole face look more awake.
Price shown is members' price.
This can be patted onto clean skin to counteract the bluey-purple tones that are synonymous with dark circles. It really opens up tired eyes and illuminates the under-eye area, and I'll then layer a concealer on top for more coverage.
Price shown is members' price.
This does for my whole face what the serum concealer does for my under-eyes. It's a radiance-boosting skin tint packed with hyaluronic acid, collagen amino acids and peptides, leaving skin plumped, nourished and glowing. The coverage is sheer, but it gives a juicy, dewy finish that makes skin look so healthy.
Next Up: I'm a Beauty Editor With Dark Circles—These Are the Only Concealers Worth Buying.
Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor to Who What Wear UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked at Who What Wear UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort.
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