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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Emily Sleight

I found a £9 concealer from Boots that's 'way better' than my £26 MAC one

The older I get, the worse the bags under my eyes become, and I absolutely hate it.

For years, I've relied on my trusty MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, but since it's priced at £26, I really can't afford to regularly purchase this item anymore. With the cost of absolutely everything going up, I've been really trying to find affordable alternatives for makeup that won't break the bank.

I've been a huge fan of the Mac Pro Longwear concealer for a long time, and have even used it as a foundation in the past when I've wanted a lighter coverage. I never thought I'd be able to find a product that offered just as much coverage that still felt light on the skin, but Maybelline may have changed my mind.

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My once firm favourite MAC concealer certainly isn't for everyone as it has quite a thick formula. Despite this, it's still very easy to blend, but can still crease under my eye due to its high coverage. Because of this, I really wanted to find a concealer that blended more seamlessly onto my face.

MAC have always offered a range of different shades and I've always stuck with NC15, unless I'm wearing fake tan. Another thing I love about the MAC concealer is the fact that it really does last for months.

Sadly, I've been using a lot more product than I used to because I'm constantly knackered, so I wanted to find a cheaper alternative that I could regularly buy. Cue the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, which might just be my new 'holy grail' concealer.

On the Boots website, the full product description reads: "Discover the iconic, fan favourite concealer - Instant Anti Age Eraser Eye. Maybelline Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer has coloured pigments that perfect the under eye area, covering flawlessly. A hectic social life or lack of sleep can wreak havoc on the eye area – but say goodbye to dark circles and fine lines with Eraser Eye!"

The product description particularly spoke to me, because recently my sleeping pattern has been a bit naff, and I've been going out a lot. I was really hoping that this concealer would give my eyes a refreshed and revitalised look, and it did.

The Maybelline concealer

I purchased the concealer in the shade 'Ivory' which is slightly darker than NC15, but it was still a good shade match for me. The twist applicator with a sponge on top was easy and effective, and made sure that the product really sunk into my under eye area.

I usually find concealer to either be drying, or generally uncomfortable, especially if my eyes are extra sensitive due to tiredness, but this product was quite the opposite. The nourishing concealer was almost moisturising, and the sponge applicator was soft and gentle to an already compromised and sleepy area.

The best part? You really don't need much of the concealer at all. I simply swiped the product once across my under eye area, blended it with a sponge and I looked instantly refreshed.

I put a tiny bit of powder on my face to set it all in place, and had no issues with under eye creasing. I think the main difference between this product and the MAC one was the fact that although it offered high coverage, it was thinner in consistency, which is a lot better.

The verdict

I absolutely adore how refreshed this concealer make my eyes feel, it almost feels like a skin treatment as opposed to just a makeup product. The fact that it stays put throughout the day and doesn't need touching up is a bonus for me, and it's a lot more affordable than my MAC favourite.

It's advised that for 'extreme dark circles' you should apply this product underneath more concealer, but I find that this one works just as well on its own without an extra boost. It's also very brightening for key points of the face such as the bridge of the nose and cheek, and doubles up as a subtle highlighter.

Shoppers can purchase the £9 concealer from Boots here.

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