Read ALL about my review process including how I take swatches, photos, and more here.
While at IMATS a few weeks ago, I came across a booth that sold L.A. Girl Cosmetics Pro Conceal HD Concealer and since I’d seen so many of my beauty faves loving these super affordable concealers, I grabbed a few to try out. They come in a wide shade range (18 shades total) from fair to deep and I picked up six shades in the deeper spectrum and gave ’em a whirl :)
Update 5/19/16:
I’m getting a lot of comments with people asking what to use to highlight and contour. The basic rule of thumb is to use a shade 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone for highlighting and a shade 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone for contouring. You can find out more about highlighting and contouring in these posts:
Why I Now Highlight and Contour My Face Every Time I Do My Makeup…
Why ONE Foundation May Not Cut It for Women of Color
My Updated Foundation Routine {Dark Skin}Because We’re Not All Banana: A Few Highlight Setting Powders for Dark Skin
Video Tutorials on Contouring:
How to Highlight/Contour Dark Skin
My Updated Foundation Routine
So I’ll keep this short and sweet (because you know I can get long-winded…lol). These are really great quality for the price—I paid about $2 each (I think—not 100% sure) from a deal at IMATS but on the L.A. Girl site they’re $5 each and sometimes they’re found in local beauty supply stores. But even at $5 they’re amazing. I got good coverage and the wear was pretty average in comparison to other concealers. I didn’t notice any creasing either.
I have a love/hate kinda thing with the applicator—I feel that the brush applicator built into the packaging makes it easy to apply but at the same time it’s annoying because I feel like I’d need to constantly keep it clean or the product on it will dry up and make the concealer harder to dispense. I also would have loved to have more of a highlight and contour shade for my skin tone. The brighter shades were too bright for me and the deepest shade was too close to my skin tone to be used as a contour.
Here’s some shade descriptions…
note: these are my own descriptions
Fawn, tan with golden/yellow undertones
Toffee, tan with pinky/red undertones
Espresso, brown with slight yellow/golden undertones
Chestnut, medium brown with golden undertones (this is lighter than Espresso although it has a higher number)
Beautiful Bronze, coffee brown with yellow/golden undertones (also a bit lighter than Espresso)
Dark Cocoa, chocolate brown with slight red undertones (deepest of all)
Here’s how I use a few of the shades:
Dark Cocoa for a spot on my chin (my skin is a little deeper there)
Espresso to brighten under my eyes or Chestnut for a “brighter” look (though I still prefer the color of my Cover FX Cream Concealer in N Deep to highlight)
Beautiful Bronze to cover elsewhere
Swatches
Bottom line: I thought these were great for the price. Even with six decent shades in the “deeper” spectrum, I still feel there’s room for more.
Price and where to buy: $5 each at LA Girl Cosmetics or check your local beauty supply. There’s also a number of beauty sites that sell the brand as well that you can look up (make sure you read reviews of course). ***UPDATE*** You can get them for $2.99 each at drugstore.com
$5 concealer? Did you like the product?
They’re 5$ now? Lol ahhhhh I remember when they we 1.99
my fav steal!
Will def try.
Great description!
You are absolutely right. I am a Dark Cocoa girl, so none to use to contour…
But for the pricing and beauty of these products, i give a Thumbs up….
Just wish there could be one in a really dark shade…*sighs*
Author
Hey Tutu!
Check out this post on contouring for very deep skin: https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/2010/10/ask-danielle-how-to-contour-very-deep-dark-skin/
But if you’re about my complexion, a number of the contouring kits as well as a few foundation sticks will work for you: https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/category/beauty-health-makeup-hair/makeup/face/contouring/
I am NW47 in Studio Fix Foundation and I would like to know what LA Girl Concealer would be great for highlighting and countouring
Author
Hey Khadijah!
I’m about the same shade and I explained this in the post plus how I use the different shades.
Pls I use bronze 5 for marykayTimewise foundation, which shade can i use to highlight n contour?
Author
Hi!
Rule of thumb for highlighting is to choose a shade that’s about 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone and for contouring 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone. You can learn more about contouring here: https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/category/beauty-health-makeup-hair/makeup/face/contouring/ and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sljydIoWw_4
Hi Danielle,
Great post, most informative I’ve found.
I wear NW44 in studio fix foundation, and use NC45 Prolongwear concealer for my highlight. What shade would be best for HAC in your opinion please?
hi, i’m a good but not great match with matchmaster 7.0, which shades of concealer do you suggest i use for highlight?
Author
Hey Joan!
I’m not familiar with the matchmaster shades and even if I were “a good but not great match” doesn’t tell me much about your skin tone and undertones. General rule of thumb for highlighting is to use one that is 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. If you can get to a beauty supply store, check these out in person since many of them have testers for these LA Girl concealers.
Hey just wanted to say there is a color deeper than dark cocoa and it’s called mahogany. I’m dark skinned and it’s great for my contour. Not sure if that helps.
I use maybelline fit me concealer in 35 deep….its my perfect highlight shade….can u help me with a shade that would be similiar to that in LA girl pro conceal…
Author
Hey!!!
I don’t know what that shade looks like, but you can swatch it and compare that to the swatches I have pictured here. Hopefully something matches up nicely for you :)
The espresso concealer has red undertones not yellow or golden. I tried this color and I looked like a red face mess.
hi, what colour of powder can i use. Am fair in complexion.
What is two shades lighter and 2 shades darker for mahagony shade…please help people