I've been trying to find products that create a natural base routine for makeup that actually looks natural in the real world. I think I have found the perfect mix that would work for most skin types! I've put together four easy-to-use products that are undetectable on the skin for those days when you want that “no makeup, makeup” look.
KOSAS - Revealer Extra Bright Serum Powered Color Corrector $26.00/$32.00
Before we get into why I like this product, I want to acknowledge the bit of “drama,” for lack of a better word, regarding mold growing in this brand’s concealers. I own about three or four of the older ones, which I’ve had for quite some time—probably much longer than I should (don’t worry, I only use them on myself). Personally, I’ve never experienced this issue, so I suspect it may have been a bad-batch situation.
That aside, KOSAS recently released their new concealers—or color correctors, depending on how you use them. The range consists of five color-correcting shades designed to suit all skin tones. I think the shade selection works really well, although I do find that I have to mix the two lightest shades to get a well-balanced match. That said, I consider my skin tone to be a little more complicated than most, so I don’t think this would be an issue for most people. When choosing a shade, keep in mind that the brightening effect doesn’t come from picking a color that’s too light but rather from how the shades neutralize darkness. So, instead of going lighter, choose a shade that aligns with your skin tone in terms of depth.
The formula is pretty much what it claims to be. It has a lighter, serum-like feel for a concealer, making it a great option if you consider your undereyes to be “crepey” or if they tend to dry out throughout the day when using most concealers. Thanks to the serum texture, you don’t necessarily have to pair it with a regular concealer—if you choose the right shade, it almost tints any under-eye darkness on its own.
A small touch I love about this concealer is the change to the applicator compared to their regular concealer. This newer color corrector features more of a cone-shaped applicator, allowing you to get really close to the inner corners of the eyes, where darkness tends to be deepest and most intense. This design provides better precision and can be used in a stamping motion rather than dragging, which I think will be particularly helpful.
This color corrector is a great alternative to a full-coverage concealer under the eyes, especially when you want just a hint of coverage.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint £34.00/$36.00
Milk is one of my favorite brands for priming. Their Pore Eclipse range is one of my top picks for oily skin. Of course, their most iconic product is the Hydro Grip Primer. Personally, I love that primer—not necessarily because of its ability to “grip” makeup but because it leaves the skin feeling smooth and bouncy. It’s the perfect canvas for makeup and is suitable for most skin types.
So, when I saw that Milk was releasing this product and that it was a “Gel Tint”, my immediate thought was, “It’s going to be like a tinted Hydro Grip!”—and I loved the idea. It’s actually not too far off from that expectation.
As dramatic as this sounds, this is one of the best skin tint products I have ever used. I love its unique formula and the fact that it’s a tinted gel product, meaning it’s not overly oily—great news for those of us with already greasy skin! We want tinted skin that looks hydrated, just without excessive shine.
At the same time, because it’s a gel, this formula glides beautifully over well-prepped dry or dehydrated skin. I say well-prepped because I was excited to try this product (having ordered it the day it launched). I tore open the box and immediately applied some with my fingers straight onto the apples of my cheeks. My cheeks are extremely dehydrated, so my initial reaction was, “Oh.” I was disappointed. The formula settled into my dehydration and looked obvious. But then I realized—I had zero skincare on. This is still a makeup product; you can’t expect your makeup to look good if you haven’t prepped your skin correctly. Even butter would have looked dry on my face that day!
The point of my story is that if you have dry or dehydrated skin, as beautiful as this gel formula is, you need a good moisturizer or serum beforehand. You don’t need anything fancy—just your usual pre-makeup skincare routine. So, basically, don’t do what I did.
When testing any foundation or skin tint, I always wear it for a full workday (8 hours) and check different areas of my face throughout the day. I never use primers or powders on wear-test days because I like to see how the product performs independently. As expected, my nose and forehead got a little shiny since I have oily skin, but I wouldn’t say I looked greasy. There’s a difference between the two (even if I can’t quite describe it!). The tint lasted incredibly well; if I had used some powder, it would have been perfect.
Now, let’s talk about shade range. There are 15 shades available. This would be a disappointing selection for a regular foundation, but this product is truly a tint. I purchased shades 4, 5, and 6 and found all three wearable. If I had to be precise, shade 5 is my perfect match, but the other two aren’t drastically different, meaning I wouldn’t hesitate to leave the house wearing them. This flexibility makes choosing a shade online much easier, as the one you pick will likely work well for you.
This Tint will be a favorite for many people during the hotter seasons. Milk has ventured into the complexion market with other skin tint options and concealers, but this launch feels like they have created something worth checking out.
Find the Skin Tint here on SpaceNK.com
Lisa Eldridge Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting Pencil £27.00/$36.00
This product is a must-have for professionals and daily makeup users. One thing I found interesting about the reviews is that some people seemed to need practice using it despite it being pretty much “draw and blend” (no shadiness intended). However, I did notice some people dragging the formula around their faces with their fingers, and well, that isn’t really the way to apply concealer.
This is our “for the face” option for an undetectable concealer. I have used it around my eye area and loved it, but I believe this product truly shines on the rest of the face.
This product was born from Lisa’s “PinPoint Concealing technique,” which she has demonstrated on her YouTube channel for over a decade. In its most basic form, the technique requires minimal product application at a time, targeting only small areas and strategically building up coverage for a natural result.
The concealer pencil allows you to execute this technique in a user-friendly way; nothing other than your finger is needed. I like to blend this in larger areas using a mix of a fluffy blending brush and my finger after doing a crosshatch pattern. In smaller areas, I prefer to use just my finger and tap (not drag or tap and drag) the product onto the skin.
It's difficult to describe the formula because it is creamy yet super long-lasting. It almost seems to set itself, though this isn’t a claim from the brand—I'm just trying to understand how something so creamy and blendable lasts so long!
I know I don’t need to keep saying this, but prep your skin if it is dry. Also, bear in mind that if you apply any makeup product to a blemish, scab, or dry, healing blemish and then continue to pat and rub the product onto that dry patch, you’ll worsen the texture of that scab, and nothing will magically smooth it out. Your makeup is only as good as your prep.
The concealer shade range is great, and you can easily choose your shade using the website’s provided charts. Scroll to the bottom of this page to find your match
This product may not be suitable for someone just starting out in makeup, especially for people younger than a teen (because teens' makeup knowledge is so advanced nowadays!), as it requires some precision and intentional blending, but I absolutely know it will work for everyone.
Find The PinPoint Concealer here on SpaceNK.com
Heart Percent Dote On Mood One Way Glowy Tint £18.96/$24.00
KBeauty always has an advantage over other brands when it comes to “natural” products because its products are harmonious in terms of skin care, makeup, and overall skin health.
Heart Percent is a favorite brand of mine for lip products. They offer shades from the most natural to deeper tones. One of my favourite formulas is the “Dote on mood one-way glowy tint.” It feels like water on the lips, but it is tinted water with good pigmentation.
When I saw these originally, I went out of my way to find them, and I ended up ordering them directly from Korea. Not the most cost-efficient way to get them, and months later, the brand actually sent me the whole shade range. I recently used the shade Bare Nude and fell in love with it. As someone who hates the natural redness of my lips and would rather have them the same shade as my skin tone, this was the perfect shiny wet nude. Imagine a lip tint that tints your lips nude. Of course, this is a nude shade on me, but the extensive shade range allows anyone to choose a nude or a deep tone or a natural tone and have that stain their lips. It is ultra glossy and really holds the finish for longer than most glosses.
Although I have said gloss so many times, I should really say shine. It has a beautiful shine that doesn’t look or feel sticky. Again, it's that water-esque look of hydration that leads to a glow.
This is the kind of lip product you try once and then need the whole range because it is just that good. It is comfortable and not sticky, and the color and finish last.
Find The lip tint here on Olive Young
(You can use the code “ROBERTW1” for a discount.)
I’m looking forward to trying the Milk primer tints. Should be nice for the summer here in Florida. Thank you Robert ♥️♥️
So excited to read more of your beauty content Robert. It triggered a memory of me working at Prescriptives. Custom blending was so much fun 🤩 and calling customer (omg BACK THEN) to ask for refills. Anyway…ha ha…we had concealer pencils that I was OBSESSED with!! Can’t wait to try Lisa Eldridge’s formula because I’ve been a long time follower of Lisa and I know she knows !!!