It seems like every man and his dog have been raving about this concealer recently. I don't actually think I've seen a single YouTuber not declare themselves as being 'shook' as they swatched this product. Known for being a much more affordable dupe for Tarte's Shape Tape Concealer, Makeup Revolution's Conceal & Define [which comes in a mega inclusive shade range and costs just £4] has sent everyone west. It's pigmented AF / proper dece coverage and bears several design & proclaimed formula similarities to the one and only Shape Tape. But is it actually a dupe, or just full on poop?
There is no denying that on the price front, Makeup Revolution do sh*t all over Tarte. £4 from ya local Superdrug vs £28 & P&P isn't really much of a competition. Plus to buy Shape Tape in the UK means you can only pick it up as a set with a rly annoying-ass 'Quickie' blending sponge. Which yeno, is nice to have & that, but like... surely this only adds extra cost to the item it is that you actually want? Could they not make the sponge optional and knock £8 off the total cost? Hmm.
I picked up Shade C3 in MUR's Conceal & Define; which turns out to be a very similar colour match to my Shape Tape; which I'm pretty confident is in the shade Light. I bought my Shape Tape on Easy Pay Instalments via QVC last year; which is what made it affordable for me. Otherwise, there is no chance on this earth I could have afforded to splash out £28 for a concealer and a sh*tty sponge. But £7 a month seemed a lot more doable. The applicators on both concealers are very similar, and both sport fit packaging.
Unfortunately for MUR, this is where the favourable comparisons draw to an abrupt end. It's cheap and it certainly looks the part, but unfortunately; I've not been left shook. In a good way, anyway! Don't get me wrong like, it's very effective at brightening the under eye department. And if you catch sight of yourself in a mirror from a distance, you'd rightly think you looked hot. That is, until you get a closer up view and do a little sick in your mouth.
I don't know what it is about this formula, but it doesn't work for me. A lot of people think that it's extremely similar to Shape Tape; but I would argue that the consistency of the two is quite different. Firstly, Conceal & Define was more liquid-y than I expected it to be and secondly - it dries up dead quick and clings to me face like a little biatch. A problem I've never experienced in my months of using Shape Tape.
If I wear this concealer alone it definitely brightens dark circles... but also, all actual hell breaks loose. It goes patchy, gathers, dries up and full on clings to my skin. I thought my skin was peeling off when I first experienced this, things were that extreme. And I don't even suffer with / have never had dry skin on my face, I'm oily AF... quite the opposite problem in fact! I've tried to picture this phenomenon below, but it's not easy focussing a camera backwards at ya ugly mug. Maybe have a sick bag or something to hand, yeah?
Like, what is that though?! I'd like to say it was a rare one-off, but that'd be a raging lie. It's happened every time I've tried it out; every time I've given it a second chance to redeem itself.
I've found if I use a proper good primer, then apply foundation, then apply Conceal & Define... and then like, water it down a lot with sh*t loads of Setting Spray and a Beauty Blender it doesn't look as bad. It blends okay and for the first hour or two you wouldn't suspect anything. But the same thing eventually happens again; just slightly less noticeable thanks to the other products on ya face working overtime to cover up the raging sh*tstorm brewing across your problem zones.
How much of a ballache is that though? I don't want to have to spend ages blending with a sponge & half a bottle of Slay All Day just to look alright for a couple of hours. I want results, yeno? Even if it does involve having to splash out £28 I don't have on a concealer & an unwanted, dead annoying sponge.
I feel rly sad because I properly wanted to LOVE this product. I wanted to be as enthusiastic about it as I am about its £4 pricetag; and as euphoric as all these YouTubers who have been left shaking. I just can't though. I mean, my face is horrific enough already - I can't inflict it on the general public looking even bloody worse than normal with these weird flakes... I'll get arrested.
Makeup Revolution remain one of my favourite ever budget beauty brands and I'll continue to shop with them obv... I love their eyeshadow palettes & cheap AF lippies too much to ever stop. Unfortunately however, this particular product which left everyone else shook, has left me questioning what the f*ck and isn't something I'll be bothering to repurchase. Even if it is only £4 *sobs*.
Have you tried this concealer, or Shape Tape before? Does it work for you? Do you have any tips on how I can make it work better for me, before I end up lashing it in the bin in a fit of frustration? Please, can someone leave me shook; I feel like I'm missing out :(
*This post, as with all articles on me blog, may contain affiliate links; cos ya girl has now gotta save up to buy more Shape Tape ready for when it runs out! You can find out more in my Disclaimer.
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