MAC Cosmetics just seems to always have been there. Yet at the same time, I still remember when it was “new”. This new cool makeup brand, with the sleek packaging. Well, it might be more than a rude shock to learn that MAC is almost 40 years old. Aaargh!! Yeah, it’s true.

Like you, and probably every makeup artist you know, I’ve gone through waves with MAC makeup over the years – I have some absolute favorite must-haves, and then there are certain lines that I have veered away from, only to revisit again quite recently. And at the top of that list for me, is their humble, and always exceptional, range of concealers.

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MAC – A Brief History

As I mentioned (to gasps) above, MAC is heading full-steam ahead towards its 4th decade. Having been dreamt up by a pair of amazing young men, in the 1980s when they weren’t happy with the quality of makeup they were using on their own photoshoots.

And the rest is history. Now let’s get down to the concealer business.

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MAC Concealers

At the time of publishing, there are basically 3 different concealer options that MAC has to offer.

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mac liquid concealer
MAC 24hr Studio Fix Concealer

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Studio Fix 24hr Smoothwear Concealer

This is MAC’s most lightweight, liquid offering for all of your concealing needs. It is available in 34 shades and provides lightweight, buildable coverage. Will stay on all day. Literally – 24 hours.

This lightweight fluid concealer is sweat, water, and humidity-resistant. And despite being oil-free and smoothing, it is your best choice for a dewier finish from MAC’s concealers and is great for all skin types.

It features a little doe foot applicator, so would be best to use it at home on yourself. Not so great in a day-checking kit, or your general makeup kit. But decanting can always be a good option if this is the right concealer for the job.

This MAC studio fix concealer is also a great entry point for first-time concealer users too.

Ingredients

  • Cyclopentasiloxane
  • Water\Aqua\Eau
  • Trimethylsiloxysilicate
  • Butylene Glycol
  • Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone
  • Sorbitan Sesquioleate
  • Tribehenin
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Phenyl Trimethicone
  • Dimethicone Crosspolymer
  • Dimethicone
  • Methicone
  • Silica
  • Nylon-12
  • Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract
  • Algae Extract
  • Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract
  • Glycerin
  • Ethylhexylglycerin
  • Laureth-7
  • Xanthan Gum
  • Tocopheryl Acetate
  • Sodium Hyaluronate
  • Tocopherol
  • Caprylyl Glycol
  • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Chlorphenesin
  • Sorbic Acid
  • [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)
  • Iron Oxides (Ci 77492)
  • Iron Oxides (Ci 77491)
  • Iron Oxides (Ci 77499)] <ILN45071>

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MAC makeup brushes
Photo by Raphael Lovaski

Pro Longwear Concealer

I couldn’t find my Pro Longwears, so apologies for the above photo. Not entirely unrelated, I mean, it’s got the word MAC in it, right?

I suspect this is MAC’s best-seller when it comes to concealing, known as something of a holy grail concealer. If you can confirm or deny it, let me know in the comments below!

Available in 16 shades, this is your full coverage concealer. The Pro longwear concealer has a natural matte finish and is a 24-hr working concealer. You know, for those extra long days!

All in a small glass bottle of concealing goodness that will no doubt give you a flawless finish.

Your Mac Pro Longwear concealer is long-lasting, non-creasing in fine lines, humidity, transfer, and sweat-resistant. It’s also ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested, non-acnegenic, and fragrance-free. Phew!

The Pro Longwear concealer has a pump dispenser, and this may be where this product has its (tiny) downfall.

The online community is in agreement – you only need a small amount of product – just a little bit will do the job. And there is much discussion about how just one pump of this product releases a lot of product – way more product than you need to conceal one set of eyes or just a few dark spots on your face. What do you think?

I’m a big believer in saving and using as little as possible if I get out too much product. I always try to pop back as much as I can (within good hygiene practice, of course) and only work with the amount needed.

Ingredients

  • Cyclopentasiloxane
  • Water\Aqua\Eau
  • Trimethylsiloxysilicate
  • Butylene Glycol
  • Sorbitan Sesquioleate
  • Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone
  • Tribehenin
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Phenyl Trimethicone
  • Tocopheryl Acetate
  • Sodium Hyaluronate
  • Glycerin
  • Dimethicone
  • Methicone
  • Ethylhexylglycerin
  • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
  • Laureth-7
  • Xanthan Gum
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Chlorphenesin,
  • Sorbic Acid
  • [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)
  • Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499)] <ILN36644

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MAC Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palettes

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Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette

And my favorite – the ever-reliable, always-on-hand, Conceal and Correct Palette. I love these palettes. They look great, and come in a range of shades for all concealing and correcting needs. They are great concealers to have in your set kit as well. They’re almost as pretty as some of my other, very favorite concealer palettes of a very different nature.

(Bonus points if you noticed my Rebbe Mat in the background of my pic above, too!)

These are palettes each containing 4 concealers and 2 correctors within each different shade. Perfect for correcting and concealing dark circles, under-eye pigmentation, and any discoloration you wish to conceal and correct. 

MAC describes these beauties as long-lasting, crease-proof, non-acnegenic, ophthalmologist-tested and dermatologist tested.

If you work with me, chances are you’ll see the odd one of these 5 palettes on my station or in my hand at any one time. They’re just so reliable and conveniently sized, as I’ve mentioned.

Plus I do enjoy the benefits of working out of palettes more than single packages, for so many reasons.

Note that if you’re planning on using this on someone with dry skin, be sure to moisturize and prep their skin beforehand. And a good eye cream and moisturizer will have the skin ready for this cream concealer to work its magic. 

I do love these palettes. And if you haven’t worked out already, this is definitely a favorite concealer of mine. It’s just a great product that I can always rely on. Amazing coverage, sleek and compact packaging, easy to work from, and definitely one of my favorite MAC products.

Ingredients

  • Octyldodecanol
  • Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
  • Synthetic Beeswax
  • Polyethylene, Silica
  • Pvp/Hexadecene Copolymer
  • Tocopheryl Acetate
  • Ascorbyl Palmitate
  • Lecithin
  • Triethoxycaprylylsilane
  • Microcrystalline Wax\Cera Microcristallina\Cire Microcristalline
  • Caprylyl Glycol
  • [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)
  • Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499)
  • Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090)
  • Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163)
  • Carmine (Ci 75470)
  • Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289)
  • Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288)
  • Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850)
  • Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850)
  • Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410)
  • Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360)
  • Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200)
  • Ultramarines (Ci 77007)
  • Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)] <ILN43054>

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And that’s my look at MAC Concealers for now. I have to say, it’s nice to see such a large brand keep it simple with just 3 different product options. And there is definitely a feeling of overwhelm that can happen with so much product folding on the market.

So to keep it as simple and accessible as this, MAC gets my vote.

I hope you can find the right concealer for you in their range. And hey, if not, it never hurts to have some of all of them, or each of some of them, right!

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