At the start of the year I'd declared YSL's Touche Eclat as my long-standing desert island concealer pen. However, when I thought more about it I realised I'd narrowed my options by sticking with one (expensive) product for such a long time - we're talking years here - without trying some of the less expensive alternatives available.
I've had three concealer pens on rotation over the last month to do a comparison - YSL Touche Eclat (01) as my benchmark, L'Oreal Touche Magique (Rose Beige), and Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer (01 Light).
Swatched and blended on the back of my hand from top to bottom:
YSL Touche Eclat
L'Oreal Touche Magique
Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer
YSL Touche Eclat
The original iconic concealer/illuminator pen created by Terry de Gunzburg, now known for her own prestige cosmetic brand By Terry. This product has a light texture that blends easily into the skin, and provides good coverage for my undereye circles, as it illluminates the skin and it doesn't cake or crease. Of course there is the gorgeous gold packaging, the pen click application which delivers a precise amount of product into the brush and the brush itself is very soft on the skin. The downside is the $$$ cost at $55AUD.
L'Oreal Touche Magique
I'd read lots of great reviews about this product as the budget version of Touche Eclat so this was a logical cheaper alternative to try. This is also a concealer/highlighter which effectively reflects light and covers my dark circles and other minor skin blemishes and shadows. I was pleased to find the coverage is actually slightly heavier on the skin than YSL so it conceals more effectively and at around $27AUD this is half the price of YSL. This pen is a twist up applicator to deliver the product to the brush. What I didn't like - but this is something I can live with - is the stiff bristles of the brush. Overall I was really pleased with this and I'd definitely repurchase.
Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer
This isn't an illuminator but it is a moisturising concealer which blended easily into my skin and provided medium coverage. It was the most yellow-toned but as my skin has yellow undertones it provided pretty close coverage for my undereye area. The brush in this tube is as soft as YSL's and the applicator is a twist up like L'Oreal's Touche Magique. The price is in the same range as L'Oreal at around $27AUD. Although this is a good product and reasonably priced it was not my favourite because it doesn't have the light-reflecting properties of the other two.
So to sum up, although I still love YSL's Touche Eclat I've found a great budget alternative in L'Oreal's Touche Magique at half the price.
**EDIT - I've since found a great, cheaper alternative. See my recent review of Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer here .**
Until next time.
Vita :)
Great comparison! I've actually never tried a concealer pen. :)
ReplyDelete@Vintage Makeup - I find these blend really well and don't get messy in the tube.
ReplyDeletenice review .. am already a Loreal fan and am on the lookout of good concealers ..will def try this out !!
ReplyDelete@Saumya - Touche Magique's a great multipurpose product. I also love L'Oreal's color riche lipsticks because they're so richly pigmented and creamy on the lips. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat reviews and comparison! Touche Eclat does do a fantastic job at illuminating, but I find I need slightly more coverage, so I normally use Dior's pen concealer. It's as expensive as YSL, though so I may give the L'Oreal Touche Magique a go when it runs out. It sounds like really good stuff!
ReplyDeletecool- its so interesting to see them lined uo side by side and differences in tone.
ReplyDelete@Nat - Touche Magique is my product of choice and it's now the sole concealer in my makeup bag.
ReplyDelete@Me, my best and I - Yes, the lightest shades differ quite a lot across brands and it's interesting how Revlon's product is more warm toned while YSL & L'Oreal are more suited for porcelain complexions. I'll go back to using the Revlon when I'm more tanned :)
You have to love finding a budget alternative that actually matches to something you love. Great comparison post
ReplyDelete@Chloeblue - Thanks :) The Touche Magique is still going strong and I'm still loving it!
ReplyDeleteHi could u tell me what shade the Revlon and L'Oreal concealers are for comparison? Thank you
ReplyDelete