NYX HD PHOTOGENIC CONCEALER WAND: FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

When it comes to makeup, concealer is a seriously hot topic of conversation right now, especially with all the concealing and baking Kim Kardashian has got us into. Once used solely to mask blemishes and banish eye bags, concealer has come a heck of a long way since the early days, and now, it's pretty much the ultimate makeup bag must have, no matter how old you are, or what type of skin you have.

I remember the first concealer I ever bought. I was about 15 years old and although I didn't really appreciate it back then, my skin really was flawless. I never got any spots and my was always super supple and healthy looking. Did I need a concealer? No, not really, but everybody else seemed to have one in their makeup bag, so I decided to follow suit and jump on the bandwagon.

My first concealer was a wand style one from the Natural Collection at Boots. It cost me just £1.99, which was pretty much all I could afford back then, and if I'm completely honest, i had no idea what to do with it, so I rarely ever used it.

As the years have gone by and my understanding and knowledge of concealer and all its amazing powers and properties has grown, I'm also much more aware of how to spot a great concealer and the warning signs of poor quality ones.

As I've mentioned many times before, my go-to everyday concealer is the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in shade NC15. Super creamy and capable of covering up pretty much anything, this concealer transforms my complexion, giving it that radiance and luminosity that I crave. It's amazing!

However, as much as I love this product, I'm always open to trying other things, and as someone who does like to have little top-ups during the day, I do find that I get through more of this product than I would like to. And whilst I have no problem spending £££ on makeup, if I can save myself a little bit of cash by investing in a cheaper, alternative product, I'm happy to give a drugstore alternative a whirl every now and again.

And that's exactly what I'm doing right now. The NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand is the latest addition to my makeup collection, and despite being a bit of an impulse buy, is so far proving to be quite the worthy investment. Whilst it's nothing like the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer that I'm used to, I'm really impressed with this product, and here's why...

1. It Matches My Skin Perfectly

I went for the shade 'Beige', which was a great choice. I was in a rush when I bought this concealer as I was on my lunch at work, so I was pushed for time, but it seems as though I made a great decision anyway (which usually doesn't happen when I buy things in a hurry!) The shade matches my skintone almost perfectly, blending seamlessly with my foundation and creating a lovely, natural finish.

2. It's Thick & Creamy

I love the consistency of this concealer. I do love my pump action concealers, but I find that wands are really handy for just carrying around in my handbag and indulgiling in top ups throughout the day. Pump action concealers aren't ideal for this, as they can be a little messy, so this is a great alternative! If I'm craving a little extra radiance, I apply a few dots of concealer to the areas I feel I need it most, and blend in with a foam sponge, or by patting with my fingers (I always wash my hands first, obvs).

3. It's Only £6!

At £6, how far wrong can you go? As someone who is used to paying £20 or more on concealer, this product feels like an absolute bargain to me. Although it hasn't replaced my love or need for the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, it's perfect for use on-the-go. As I bought the shade that matches my skin tone, I don't use this concealer to highlight my under eyes, but I do use it to cover up any imperfections, and for that, it works amazingly. If you do like wand concealers and you'd like to use this product for brightening your under eyes, I would recommend going one or two shades lighter than your actual skin tone to help create a real radiance-boosting effect.

As you can probably tell,  I am really, really happy with this product and although it's still very early days, I can say with a good level of confidence that I would happily reinvest in the future.

NYX Cosmetics is a brand that I am really impressed with in general at the moment. If you love your premium brand beauty products but, like the majority of us, are more attracted to a drug store price tag, I urge you to pay the NYX counter a visit! The staff are always super helpful (and glamorous) and the range of products available is incredible.

I really hope you enjoyed this blog post & can't wait to share more with you soon!

Lots of love,
Grace x