Review: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer

Hi friends!

Make Up For Ever is one of those long-beloved heritage brands – similar to MAC – with deep artistry roots, primarily known for its high-quality formulations and extensive shade ranges; and this was wayyy before Fenty made it a huge marketing conversation. But unlike MAC, I never really explored Make Up For Ever’s products until just recently. For some reason they always flew under the radar for me in a sea of constant newness. But after attending a virtual beauty event earlier this year which the brand co-sponsored, I jumped at the chance to pick up something (with a handy discount code) from their website. I made a beeline for the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer after hearing Katie Jane Hughes sing its praises in so many IG tutorials over the years.

Well, I’ve been testing this little guy for what feels like ages now, so I’m excited to bring you one of my (hallmark) deep-dive reviews today! Let’s get into it!

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THE DEETS ON THE MAKE UP FOR EVER ULTRA HD SELF-SETTING CONCEALER

• $28.00 but currently on sale on makeupforever.com for only $19.60
• Available in 26 shades

Natural finish creamy concealer with medium, buildable coverage and second-skin, satin feel. Breakthrough self-setting formula provides 12-hour, crease-free wear. Now in 26 shades to match your skin.

Our iconic, imperceptible Ultra HD technology in a concealer. Coated pigments immediately conform and set to skin to diminish the appearance of dark circles, fine lines and imperfections. The smoothing, hydrating cream liquid instantly captures and diffuses light so that skin that appears bright, flawless and fresh all day.

– Make Up For Ever Website

 

MY THOUGHTS ON PACKAGING

This has very standard packaging for a concealer; really nothing to see here. The plastic tube is very lightweight, with a circular cap that screws off to unveil a doe-foot applicator. The applicator has a long, flat paddle-like wand that’s handy for wedging right into the inner-most corner of your eye or over larger swathes of the face – although that’s not my preferred method of application (more on the that next). But overall it’s nothing luxe, or anything particularly ground-breaking. It’s just very functional, and that’s totally cool with me.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON APPLICATION

The texture of this concealer is super, super lightweight, and it easily melts into the skin either with fingers or a brush. It’s a bit more liquidy than the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, if you’re familiar with that texture. I really can’t see it sitting on the skin, which is awesome, but keep in mind that I do make sure my dry skin is thoroughly hydrated before applying this product. I prefer using the Weleda Skin Food Light or the Glossier Futuredew underneath, and this concealer sits beautifully over top.

As I mentioned above, I don’t like to apply the doe-foot applicator directly onto my skin. To be fair, I barely ever do this with any concealer wand. I want the ultimate control over how much I apply, and I find that most applicators hold way too much product for me. I prefer to build up very, very thin layers of concealer. There’s nothing worse than seeing the product caked up on your skin throughout the day when you’ve applied too much.

This is how I like to apply the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer. I apply the product onto the back of my hand first, and then gently tap it under my eyes with my middle finger. If I want to apply it all over my face – like I would with a foundation – I’ve been loving it with the IT Cosmetics Must Have Foundation Brush, which is just a flat synthetic foundation brush. (I believe this brush is part of this travel set.)

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON COVERAGE

I definitely agree with the “buildable” claim on this concealer. You can stretch it anywhere from light to medium depending on how much you apply, but I’d say that’s as far as it will go. I loveeee base products that are buildable because you are able to customize the coverage level based on whatever your preference is that day.

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

 

 

MY THOUGHTS ON FINISH

This definitely has a more “natural” finish, sitting somewhere between radiant and matte; very similar to the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I can see this appealing to so many skin types and concerns. But like with most base products, you can manipulate the finish depending on what you layer it over or what you mix it with. For example, when I layer this over the Weleda or the Glossier, it appears more dewy in finish. So the moral of the story is: don’t feel constrained by a product’s finish!

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

MY THOUGHTS ON WEAR

Overall, I’d say the longevity here is very good. It still maintains coverage and looks quite fresh even hours after application (I usually wear it for upwards of 9+ hours). As the name would suggest, apparently it is “self-setting”, but I do feel it benefits from a quick set with powder particularly under the eyes where creasing tends to happen the fastest. That being said, when I apply it to other parts of my face like my nose or my chin, I notice very little creasing or signs of serious wear, even without powder. (Please note that I have very dry skin, so my results may not match yours.)

RATING: 4.5 / 5 ⭐️

 

MY THOUGHTS ON PRICE

The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer contains 5 ml for $28.00. I have yet to find a really high-performing concealer with solid coverage from the drugstore, so I’d happily pay full price for this (remember, I got it for a discount). If you quickly compare it to some other luxury concealers, you’ll find the ratio of product to price is quite fair:

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer contains 6 ml for $30.00

Armani Power Fabric Concealer contains 6 ml for $34.00

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer contains 4 ml for $32.00

(But seriously, if you have any good drugstore recommendations that you think would rival this, please let me know in the comments below!)

RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re looking for a buildable, medium-coverage concealer that doesn’t make your skin look dry throughout the day, then this is a FABULOUS choice for you. My love for this concealer seriously rivals that of my holy grail, the NARS Radiant Creamy, and dare I say, it may even slightly edge it out because of its beautiful weightlessness.

Have you tried the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer before? If so, I’d love to know your thoughts!

xo, and be well, Erica

 

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