In middle and high school, I toted around a teensy pot of concealer in my bookbag. I started breaking out in sixth grade and refused to show up to fourth period with a zit on my chin. Since then, concealer has been my #1 most-used makeup product. And I don’t only regard it for covering up a pimple anymore. It’s the one thing that makes my tired under-eyes look bright, as well as the simplest way to get rid of the splotchy redness on my cheeks. I swipe it on before I leave the house the way others do a lip balm. For this reason, I am a strict judge. Every new concealer launch that passes my desk gets a fair shot, sure, but what actually finds its way into my everyday makeup drawer is few and far between.
Charlotte Tilbury, a brand I’ve been obsessed with for years, had fine concealers. Likes, but never loves. I splurged on her original Magic Concealer (rip) in college and enjoyed the glowy look it gave my under-eyes but definitely wasn’t for acne. The Beautiful Skin Concealer was similar—medium coverage, fantastic for smoothing under-eyes, meh for zits. So when I sat down with Charlotte herself (brag) a few months ago and she unveiled this blurring, all-over concealer, my interest piqued. Little did I know in that moment that I wouldn’t touch another concealer for three months.
If you’ve used Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush line before, then you’re familiar with the vibes. Blurred, soft, natural matte skin that looks, well, airbrushed. And this concealer does exactly that. It claims full-coverage and a 24-hour wear (although, my aesthetician would freak out if I wore a makeup product that long), and I concur on both.
I’ve traveled to four different cities in three countries with a major variation in climate in—checks notes—the last week. My face is screaming, crying, breaking out. I woke up with a number of zits on my face that I haven’t seen since before prom. My under-eyes are parched and hallow. My cheeks are puffy and dull. But in effort to save it to the best of my abilities, I smoothed on my usual morning skincare (toner, face serum, and SPF). Then, the only thing I used was the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer. I dotted the liquid formula on my acne (make sure you dab it on the back of your hand first, then dot on with a brush or sponge—this helps reduce potential bacteria spread). I used a dense concealer brush (I love the Charlotte Tilbury one, truly) to blend it all out. And voilà.
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
It completely hides the redness and even helps disguise some of the bumps on my skin too. But it’s suspiciously lightweight. I definitely don’t feel like I’m wearing a heavy coat of concealer all over my face, especially underneath my eyes where the skin is thin and prone to looking cakey with even the slightest bit of product. See here… I only use a little bit, and this is all that goes on my face:
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
It’s more than normal, but I can do just this concealer and no foundation and still have the same level of coverage. Most days, I’ll actually use the Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Foundation Stick all over to even out my skin tone, then spot treat acne and my under-eyes with the Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer. It creates a soft, dewy look that’s perfect for every day. It’s my go-to combo after early-morning workouts before coming to the office and wanting to look put together quickly. A light dusting of the O.G. Airbrush Flawless Finish powder helps suppress any shine too.
It also lasts. Remember when I said I had to bring a concealer with me as a teenager? If I had this to apply before school back then, my bookbag would be for binders and pencils only (and okay, probably a shimmery lip gloss, let’s be real). I wore this makeup to go skiing (or, rather, attempt to learn to ski) and was out in the wind, sweating under all my gear, for seven hours. My concealer looked exactly as it did when I put it on by my 4 p.m. aprés ski.
I truly test every concealer that comes out (both for personal use and for Cosmo’s Beauty Awards), and this has quickly become my favorite of all time—a phrase I do not take lightly. It’s so easy to use without fuss but gives me the coverage I want at the same time. I thought I was always asking for too much. Turn’s out, this just hadn’t existed yet.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.
