The L’Oreal Infallible makeup line has been such a hit here in the Philippines, where the tropical weather constantly threatens to melt the makeup right off our faces. Their long-wearing makeup formulations have received generally good feedback, and I do think that it lives up to its “Infallible” branding. I actually find myself reaching for the pressed powder and lipstick even when I have more premium choices in my arsenal! It’s easily one of the top makeup lines in its price range, so when YouTubers started buzzing about the new Infallible concealer, I got very curious about trying it for myself.

The L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer (P450 for 10mL) is pretty affordable for a concealer that promises full coverage. It’s been dubbed as “More Than Concealer” because the brand recommends using it as a matte highlighter and contour, as well. Locally, it’s available in 10 shades, which is a pretty decent selection compared to other drugstore brands. Still, I can’t help wishing for more color options - it’s available in 25 shades in the US, after all.

First Impressions

I thought the packaging looked familiar, and then it hit me: it looks a lot like the much-raved about Tarte Shape Tape Concealer! No wonder other beauty influencers quickly drew comparisons between the two. The doe-foot wand applicator is HUGE, suggesting that it can be used as foundation as well. The shade 304 Bisque appeared too light, but 309 Natural Rose is a good match for my light-medium complexion. I liked the full coverage I got when I swatched it on the back of my hand. The creamy texture was a dream to blend, and coverage didn’t disappear when I spread the product. It also took a while to dry, which I liked because it meant I had more time to blend and make sure that it looked seamless.

Coverage Test

This is actually the best time for me to review a concealer! I get hormonal acne just before my period, so I have a bad breakout on my chin area. Stress-induced cystic pimples have popped up on my forehead. I also have sensitive skin so the redness I normally experience is apparent in the center of my face. I typically use a green corrective primer for this area, but I skipped it to see if the concealer can address the redness on its own.

Blend, blend, blend with my Zoeva Concealer Buffer Brush

I found the concealer very easy to use, although the big-ass wand admittedly took some time to get used to. I’m thankful for the angled tip: spot coverage can be done if you use only the very end of the wand. As I suspected, the concealer was a dream to blend - it didn’t cake or drag across my skin. The coverage also stayed put as I blended, so much so that I didn’t have to use a separate foundation! I used Natural Rose as a foundation/concealer for all my blemishes. The lighter shade Bisque also blended in seamlessly with my base, giving me a slightly lifted look under my eyes, on the center of my forehead, nose line, and cupid’s bow.

With half of my face done! I used 309 Natural Rose as foundation and concealer, and 304 Bisque as undereye concealer and highlighter

The photo above clearly shows just how much you can get from this product: truly full coverage with a natural matte finish! The concealer shades appear a bit light because of the white studio lighting, but appears seamless with my skin in natural light. After applying the concealers to the rest of my face, I used the pressed powder from the same line (in the shade 300 Nude Beige) to set everything in place. I applied the rest of my face makeup as I normally would, and then topped everything off with my favorite finishing spray.

Even though I applied my blush, eyeshadow, eyebrow, and lip makeup as I would for everyday makeup, the coverage of the Infallible Full Wear Concealer elevated my look to something good enough for special occasions! More surprisingly, the full coverage still felt light on my skin! I also like its natural finish and decent shine control. I got a bit oily on the tip of my nose by around the 6-hour mark, but that was it! My full face of makeup looked pretty much the same after 8 hours.

I can’t vouch for the 24-hour claim (I mean who wears makeup for that long, anyway?) but the concealer will definitely stay on your face until you remove it. I discovered this the hard way: even my tried-and-tested Biore Cleansing Oil didn’t remove it completely. I had to follow up with my Neogen Green Tea Cleansing Stick to completely remove all traces of makeup.

Would I recommend it?

A resounding yes! This drugstore find performs well worth more than its price. It’s a great find for someone like me who needs full coverage. Even those who like light coverage can use this just for spot-concealing. It’s a great addition to any kikay kit, as it can do the job of multiple products in one nifty, travel-friendly package. I recommend trying this in-store first, though: a good shade match is crucial. It stays true to color after applying, but the actual shades look different from the brand-provided photos. The numbers and shade names also don’t correspond to the rest of the Infallible line, which can be confusing.

At $27 a pop, I can’t quite bring myself to splurge on the Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer so I referred to Angeli’s review notes. Her description of needing just a few dots to achieve full coverage, a creamy and easy to blend formula, and 8 hours of solid coverage all line up with my experience with the L’Oreal Infallible Concealer!

I really like what L’Oreal is doing so far with its Infallible makeup line. At this point in my beauty journey, I admittedly gravitate towards mid to higher-end makeup, but makeup lines like this make me reconsider drugstore makeup. I’m glad that I’ve found a great concealer that I could easily find at most department stores, and at such a reasonable price, too.

Have you tried this concealer yet? What do you think?

Photography by Nicole Quindara