Review: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20

During my everlasting search for a good concealer to smear under my eyes (an area that creases faster than you can blink), I found this fella, like I showed you in my last haul post. Many requested a review and here it is!

It's the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20. 

Keep on reading for a detailed review!

Click on pictures to enlarge.

If you're just here to read the review quickly, there's a summary at the end.

Since time immemorial, my search for a good concealer - that conceals and that doesn't crease - has been going on. I'm not exaggerating, really. Okay, maybe just a little, but my under eye area creases way too fast. It almost seems like that area on my face is not human. We all know a good concealer is one of those products you can hardly find. But I found one, and I'll tell you what I like and dislike about this concealer!

Packaging

The concealer is packed in a glass bottle with a pump; my favourite kind of packaging. It looks pretty, professional, it's hygienic and easy to dose. You'd think. Not with this concealer, at least not the first few times. It's hard to control the pump and you easily get too much. For me this was almost a reason to stop using this concealer, because I ended up wiping away half the concealer that got out. But I've been using this concealer for a month now and I have to say that I don't have this problem anymore. I think the pump had to get a bit loose?

Formula

It's a liquid concealer, slightly thicker than most foundations. It's easy to blend. But I can give you a heads up (I wish someone had warned me too): once you applied the concealer you have to be quick with blending, or it'll stain. I think it has to do with the fact that it's long lasting. Once applied on the right spots, blend it within 2 minutes or you'll end up with a stain.

Left: without concealer - Right: with concealer

Left: without concealer - Right: with concealer

Coverage

In the pictures above you can see the coverage of the concealer. I have to say that I used the smallest amount under my eyes, just to see how much it would provide coverage. Sometimes I use a little more than this and it still looks natural. 

The concealer provides medium to full coverage. I find that the concealer is perfect to conceal blemishes and dark circles, but on spots it doesn't work for me, not enough. I've tried many ways, but I can't seem to work with it when it comes to spots. Which is really weird, because I've seen YouTube videos where girls use this on their acne. I guess I'm doing something wrong. It doesn't really matter to me, because I was looking for a concealer to put under my eyes. Either way, if you want to conceal blemishes, dark circles and colour differences this concealer works perfect. If you want to use it on spots, not so much. 

Left: with concealer - Right: without concealer

Lasting power

I can safely say that this concealer DOES NOT CREASE on me!!! This is a miracle, because seriously, concealer creases incredibly fast on me. Literally within 30 seconds (if I'm lucky).

MAC claims that the concealer should stay for a good 15 hours. I'm not sure if I agree, but I definitely don't disagree that this concealer is long lasting. After a day of 10 hours the concealer still looks good, WITHOUT CREASING. Yep. It's that hardcore! 

Usage & effect

The concealer is easy to build up and it lasts you foreverrrrrrrrrr. I've been using it daily for a month now and I've also used it as a foundation and the packaging still looks full. You'll only need the smallest amount for coverage and it gives a beautiful matte finish. I like to use it on my under eye area and on my cheeks, to cover some of my freckles. I also like to use it above my eyebrows, because that area is a bit lighter than the rest of my skin. I apply the concealer in dots on the area I want concealed and then I blend it in with my foundation brush. The effect of this concealer is very natural. You can hardly see that you're using something. I call it my little bottle of photoshop! You have to be careful with dry areas, though. It will look gross with this concealer on it. 

Retail

This concealer is sold at MAC counters and costs €18 for 9 ml/0.30 fl oz. I bought mine at Bijenkorf. MAC sells 15 different shades - from pale to dark. 

A little summary

The pros

• Doesn't crease!
• Long lasting
• Stays until you remove with makeup remover (it's almost waterproof)
• Good coverage
• Buildable
• Many shades
• Natural looking
• Easy to blend
• Evens out colour differences easily on a natural looking way
• Need a small amount
• Lasts you a long time
• Small bottle, so easy to take with you 
• Matte finish
• No need to set concealer with powder

The cons

• The pump is stubborn in the beginning
• Need to apply and blend fast or it'll stain
• Doesn't provide enough coverage for spots. At least not for me.

I don't think the price is either a pro or a con. Yes, the concealer is very pricey, I agree on that. But it does last you forever. So you basically buy it once and use it until it expires.

Would I repurchase this concealer? If I ever run out of it, yes! I would definitely repurchase this concealer. IT DOES NOT CREASE, LADIES. Do I have to shout it another ten times in your face? Can you tell it's a miracle that a concealer doesn't crease on me??
Also, the matte finish looks natural and it provides me of the coverage I want and need. I use this on my cheeks on my freckles as well and it just does something to my face I can't explain. I set the concealer with powder a few times, but I find it unnecessary actually. I'd love to try the Pro Longwear Foundation of MAC too, to see if it's as good as the concealer.

New holy grail product? Yes.

What is your favourite concealer?

And tell us why!