NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Review

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer has been around for years, but I still think it holds up because it does something very simple very well. It gives enough coverage to brighten under the eyes and cover smaller imperfections without immediately looking thick or obvious on the skin.

I would not call it a full coverage concealer. NARS describes it as medium, buildable coverage, and I think that is a much more accurate description. I can use a very small amount for everyday makeup or add another layer where I need more coverage without the formula becoming heavy too quickly.

The main thing I wanted to know was whether it could brighten my under eyes, stay smooth around fine lines and still look good several hours later.

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What the coverage actually looks like

The finish is creamy and slightly luminous rather than flat or matte.

Under the eyes, that works particularly well because it gives a fresher look without making the area appear shiny. The coverage is strong enough to soften darkness, but I can still keep it looking natural if I use a small amount.

I think this is where Radiant Creamy Concealer is strongest.

Some concealers give so much coverage immediately that they can make the eye area look dry or overdone. This gives me more control. I can blend one light layer and then add a little extra only where the darkness is strongest.

For everyday makeup, that is usually enough.

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How I use it under my eyes

I do not paint a large triangle of concealer underneath each eye.

A couple of small dots are normally enough for me.

I concentrate the product around the inner corner and wherever I can actually see darkness, then blend it out rather than spreading concealer over the entire under eye area unnecessarily.

I like using a small damp sponge or my fingertip depending on the finish I want. A fingertip gives me slightly more coverage because less product is absorbed, while a sponge keeps everything very soft and diffused.

The formula has enough slip to blend easily, but I try not to keep working it for too long once it starts setting.

Using less product also makes a big difference to how it wears around fine lines.

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Does NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer crease?

It is crease resistant, but I would not describe any creamy concealer as completely crease proof.

On me, it wears well when I keep the application light.

If I apply too much under the eyes, I am much more likely to notice product collecting in fine lines as the day goes on. That is not really unique to NARS. The more makeup you put over an area that naturally moves, the more opportunity there is for it to settle.

I usually give the concealer a moment to settle after blending, check underneath my eyes again and gently tap away anything that has moved into a line before adding a very small amount of powder if I need it.

I do not heavily bake the area.

Too much powder can take away the softer radiant finish and make everything look drier than it did before.

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How I use it on blemishes

I use the same concealer differently when I am covering a blemish.

Under the eyes, I am happy for the shade to look slightly brighter.

On a spot, I want the concealer to match my skin or foundation as closely as possible. A lighter shade can actually draw more attention to the area.

I place a small amount directly where I need it, let it sit briefly and then blend around the edges rather than rubbing away the coverage from the centre.

Because the finish is radiant, I sometimes add a touch of powder over a blemish if I want the area to look more neutral rather than luminous.

It is versatile enough to do both jobs, but I do not use exactly the same technique for each one.

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Choosing the right shade

NARS currently offers Radiant Creamy Concealer in a broad shade range, and I think undertone matters just as much as depth.

If I am choosing a shade for blemishes or general concealing, I want it to sit as close to my skin tone as possible.

For under eye brightening, I can go slightly lighter, but I would not automatically jump several shades because that can start looking obvious.

NARS advises letting the concealer dry down before deciding whether the shade is right, which is sensible.

The colour you see immediately after applying any complexion product is not always exactly how it looks once it has settled.

I prefer checking the shade in daylight after a few minutes rather than judging it from a fresh swatch under artificial lighting.

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Do I use concealer before or after foundation?

Usually after.

I prefer seeing what my foundation has already covered before adding more product.

If I am wearing a fuller base, I often need much less concealer than I first think. I simply add it underneath the eyes and to any areas where the foundation has not given me enough coverage.

That helps stop the finished base becoming too heavy.

I use exactly that approach with NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, which I have reviewed separately in my NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation review.

If I am only wearing a skin tint or very light base, I may use slightly more concealer and let it do more of the work.

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How does it wear through the day?

NARS claims up to 16 hours of wear and 24 hours of hydration for Radiant Creamy Concealer.

I do not really judge concealer by whether it reaches an exact number of hours. I care more about whether it still looks presentable later in the day.

On me, it wears well.

The under eye area stays covered for hours and the finish does not suddenly become dry or chalky.

I may see a little movement around fine lines as the day goes on, particularly if I have used more product than necessary, but I do not find that it breaks apart badly.

On blemishes, I usually get the best wear when I set the area lightly with powder.

That is also where I think this concealer's versatility is useful. It can stay softer and more luminous under the eyes while being set slightly more firmly where I need extra hold.

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Is the radiant finish actually shiny?

No.

Radiant is probably better understood here as softly luminous rather than glossy.

The formula reflects enough light to stop the under eye area looking flat, but I do not find that it creates an obvious sheen.

That makes it especially good for under eyes because the skin looks fresher without appearing wet.

On blemishes, I may still prefer to powder because I do not necessarily want extra light reflection on a raised area.

Again, the same formula can behave slightly differently depending on where I use it.

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What about dry under eyes?

This is one of the reasons I still like the formula.

The creamy texture feels more forgiving than many very matte concealers.

That does not mean it can compensate for extremely dry skin underneath. If my eye area is dehydrated, I still prepare it properly first and let my skincare settle before applying makeup.

I also avoid piling on extra concealer in the hope that more product will somehow make the area look smoother.

Usually the opposite happens.

A small amount over well prepared skin gives me the best result.

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Is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer worth the price?

It is definitely expensive for 6ml.

There are now plenty of cheaper concealers that perform very well, so I would not say you need to spend nearly £30 to get decent under eye coverage.

What keeps NARS competitive for me is how versatile the formula is.

It gives medium buildable coverage, works underneath the eyes and on targeted imperfections, comes in a wide shade range and has a finish that looks polished without being overly matte.

I also need very little each time, which helps.

Lookfantastic stocks NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, so I usually check where I can currently save on NARS at Lookfantastic before ordering.

My usual code to try is LFTFNICOLAL, which gives 20% off eligible products when accepted at checkout.

NARS may already be reduced or included in another promotion, so I always compare the final basket total rather than assuming one offer will automatically be best.

I also look at the Look Fantastic makeup savings I currently use if I am ordering several products together.

Sephora UK also carries NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, so I compare the Sephora makeup offers I check before buying alongside the live shade availability and price.

With complexion products, stock can matter just as much as price because there is no point finding the better promotion if your shade is unavailable.

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Who do I think it suits best?

I think Radiant Creamy Concealer is especially good if you want one concealer that can handle several jobs.

It gives enough coverage for under eye darkness, can be built over individual blemishes and has enough luminosity to stop the eye area looking overly flat.

I would also choose it over a very matte concealer if my under eyes tended to look dry.

If you want completely opaque coverage in one swipe, there are stronger options.

And if price is your main priority, there are much cheaper concealers that can still look excellent.

The appeal here is the balance between coverage, texture and finish.

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Is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer full coverage?

I would call it medium, buildable coverage rather than full coverage.

One light layer looks natural, while extra product can be added where more coverage is needed.

Do I need to set it with powder?

Not always.

Under the eyes, I use very little powder or sometimes none at all.

On blemishes or areas where I want more longevity, I am more likely to set it lightly.

Can I use the same shade under my eyes and on spots?

You can, but it depends on the effect you want.

For blemishes, I prefer a close skin match.

For the under eye area, I can use something slightly brighter as long as the undertone still works with my skin.

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NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer has been popular for such a long time because it is genuinely easy to work with.

It gives more coverage than a very light brightening concealer without immediately looking heavy, and the slightly luminous finish works particularly well underneath the eyes.

I also like that I can use the same formula on smaller blemishes simply by adjusting the amount and the way I set it.

It can crease if I apply too much, and I do not think it completely replaces a proper full coverage concealer if that is what you need.

At this price, it is also undeniably expensive.

For me, though, the combination of medium buildable coverage, a flattering finish and a genuinely useful shade range still makes it one of the better premium concealers.

Final rating: 4.6/5

Looking for another beauty essential? try Clinique Pop Lip + Cheek Oil

Kisses, Nicola xx

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