I Hate Wearing Foundation—This Is the Brightening Concealer Alternative I Refuse to Be Without

I make it no secret that I have a strong disdain for foundation. Truth be told, I hate the feeling of anything sitting on my face. I hate the way it transfers on my phone, the way it saps the dimension from my face, the way it always moves around and the way it eradicates the little imperfections that make me feel like me. That being said, my persistent dark circles, patches of pigmentation and acne scarring mean I’m not prepared to go totally coverage-free. So, over my years as a beauty editor, I have spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect lightweight base, and I’m pleased to announce that, 12 years later, I’ve found it.

Whilst many like the sheer and buildable nature of skin tints and tinted moisturisers, I still find them too heavy for my skin. Instead, I prefer to apply creamy, blendable concealer just to the areas of my face that I feel need it, and blend out accordingly. Finding the perfect concealer for this has not been easy. I need it to be lightweight but buildable, hydrating but long-lasting and brightening but not glowy.

The aim of the game? A concealer that conceals the areas I need it to without it being even slightly noticeable on the skin. And just when I thought my hopes for such a concealer formula were too high, Chanel launched its Les Beiges Serum Concealer, and now all is right in the world.

The Formula

The beauty of this formula is in its lightweight consistency. It possesses a water-like weightlessness that feels fresh and undeniably hydrating as soon as it hits the skin. It achieves this with an impressive lineup of ingredients. The formula is 89% skincare ingredients, including Chanel‘s iconic white camellia hydro-extract, which works to maintain the skin’s moisture levels on an ongoing basis, as well as hyaluronic acid for an immediate burst of hydration and plumpness.

Available in 15 shades, the coverage itself is sheer but buildable, with a very fine (read: virtually undetectable) pearlescent effect.

The Application

If I’m being totally honest, the application of this concealer is nothing to write home about—it’s the formula and the results that make it such a winner. It has a typical doe-foot applicator designed to be swiped or dotted over the skin. The point of difference is the cooling ceramic “foot”, intended to create a cooling sensation under the eyes. And yes, it is cooling and generally pleasant to use. But, in my opinion, it’s not totally necessary, especially considering the fact that I like to use it elsewhere on my face besides my under-eyes.

For everyday coverage, I swipe some under my eyes, around my nose and over my chin—my key problem areas in terms of dark circles, redness and some post-breakout scarring. When it comes to blending, I play around with different methods depending upon how much time I have. For more targeted coverage, I keep the formula exclusively in the areas I have applied it and tap it in with my fingers. Most days, however, I take a very light buffing brush and blend it gently over my skin.

The hydration-based formula means the concealer applies unlike any other I have ever tried—it doesn’t sit on the skin and conceal what’s underneath. Instead, it partially absorbs and becomes one with the skin, meaning it blends seamlessly, doesn’t crease and leaves a true second-skin finish.

The Full Look

Chanel Les Beiges Serum Concealer has proved, without question, my most cherished product of the summer. I have worn it every single day since it first came into my possession in May. In fact, I have worn almost the same makeup look every day throughout summer. These are the natural-looking, creamy makeup products that go hand in hand with Les Beiges Serum Concealer.