I Have Dry Skin, But People Can't Stop Complimenting My Fresh Glow Since I Started Using This Concealer

Let me start by saying that I’ve become a bona fide makeup hoarder ever since becoming a beauty editor. There’s makeup hidden in every crevice of my tiny New York City apartment, and for some reason, the items I can never bear to part with are eye shadow sticks, tinted lip balms, cream blushes, and concealers. If you can tell from that list, complexion has never been my favorite category—as a teen and young 20-something, I prioritized color and shimmer when it came to full glam. However, as I (and my tastes) mature, I’ve been discovering the transformative power of a well-done base—and my secret weapon behind the recent “Your skin looks so good!” compliments has been Patrick Ta’s first-ever concealer.

Ta is the culprit behind some of Who What Wear’s beauty editors’ favorite products and glam moments thanks to a long-standing client roster that includes Gigi Hadid, Camila Cabello, and more. Though I test hundreds of beauty products per year, Ta has launched some of my everyday essentials—a cream-and-powder bronzer duo that never leaves my makeup bag, and a glowy body balm that makes me forget others exist. However, after watching the makeup artist work his magic at an exclusive master class in New York City, I knew the chances were high that I’d fall fast for the brand’s skincare-packed hydrating concealer. The only way to find out was to put it to the test.

The Formula

Shades: 25 | Finish: Natural | Coverage: Medium, buildable

In the name alone, Ta’s concealer aims to softly blur, brighten, and hydrate the under-eyes without creasing or caking. It’s a tall order, but with the fast-paced state of makeup innovation today, I had high hopes for the new addition to Ta’s growing lineup. Upon settling into my chair at the NYC master class, the makeup artist quickly showed us how versatile this formula is—especially when used in conjunction with the matching concealer brush.

But first, a bit about the formula. Described by Ta as an “everyday” concealer, this liquid formula is designed to work with all skin types—though I’ve found that it’s especially impactful on those with dry, normal, and even mature skin. It’s is infused with a cocktail of skin-loving ingredients, including sodium hyaluronate for deep hydration and a subtle plumping effect, plus vitamin E for its soothing effects and moisture retention.

The natural finish offers a healthy, luminous sheen that works wonderfully for everyday wear, offering the slightest peek of skin to make your perfected complexion appear realistic. However, should you want to build the coverage for full glam, the option is there—just let the concealer sit for about a minute before blending with a fluffy brush (or the fluffy end of the Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Concealer Brush, as the MUA himself demonstrates in an Instagram tutorial for “creaseless concealer”).

How It Works

According to Ta, there’s a certain technique to the Major Skin Concealer. It’s especially great for brightening dark circles, so the first place he recommends starting is with a few small strokes under the innermost corners of the eyes—though I’ll usually go in and add another small dot on the outer corners as well. He stresses the importance of using moisturizer under the eyes first and allowing enough time for your cream to absorb before layering on concealer.

If you want a more natural look (i.e., lightly airbrushed, light-to-medium coverage, and see-through skin), Ta recommends using the fluffy end of the concealer brush (or any fluffy concealer brush) to begin diffusing the pigment into your skin. I found that this subtle sweeping motion gave my skin the kiss of coverage it needed—covering my rosacea-induced redness and evening my texture—without overloading it with product. However, I kept some of the concealer unblended below my eyes to allow it enough time to begin settling, which is when you should strike with a denser blending brush.

Luckily, the other side of the Patrick Ta concealer brush has this exact option. Though, I often reach for Haus Labs’ concealer brush for the same effect. The angled, dense bristles of both brushes allow the tool to sit flush against the skin—ensuring that it won’t miss any spots, which can cause creasing—and offer a smooth blend similar to a sponge, just with a more painterly finish.

Though this concealer excels in the dark-circle space, you can easily spot-treat any blemishes, acne scars, or areas you wish to camouflage with a shade that matches your skin. As people typically shop concealers that are one to two shades lighter than their actual skin tone (in order to actually brighten the under-eyes), you might want to snag another shade for complexion purposes. I personally grabbed the shades Fair Rosy Neutral 4 and Light Neutral 1 for this job.

Final Thoughts

Though I'm a certifiable makeup fanatic, it's hard to impress me when it comes to a complexion product. Most concealers cling to my dry spots, crease after a few hours (thanks to my particularly expressive face), and have trouble effectively brightening my everlastingly dark under-eyes. However, this brand-new formula has managed to tick all of these boxes since I started wearing it a month ago, incurring a heaping handful of complexion compliments along the way.

Formulas that tout natural finishes and medium coverage rarely stand up to long-wear claims, yet this concealer has managed to keep my makeup looking fresh and natural throughout extra-long days of city schlepping. At $34, it’s not the cheapest concealer you'll find on the shelf, but it's hardly an unreasonable price for a high-quality formula—especially one that you’ll reach for for both no-makeup makeup and full glam alike.

However, I do hope the brand continues to expand upon the shade range, which includes 25 options from very fair to very deep. Though this may sound large already, many brands include more than 30 options to service all depths and undertones—something I'm hopeful the brand will continue to expand with future drops.

All in all, this concealer is a great purchase for anyone looking for a concealer that can do it all. Whether spot-treating or brightening, going for full glam or a soft, understated moment, this versatile concealer can service your every need. I recommend grabbing the concealer brush as well—it cuts down your brush collection, makes traveling easier, and is designed to work perfectly with the concealer—but the formula is adaptable enough to blend beautifully with a sponge or even a finger.

For more of my favorite tried-and-true concealers, keep scrolling.

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