A few months back, I popped along to Malmaison in Leeds to hear some beautiful BeneBabes talk about one of their new products. FakeUp is a hydrating concealer, supposedly ideal for hiding those dark circles we all know and love. A concealing core is surrounded by a hydrating ring, made from appleseed extract and vitamin E. Supposedly offering a day-long crease free finish, FakeUp is meant to feel silky on the skin and diffuse light in the under-eye area. Although I think it’s designed for use under the eyes specifically, I’ve actually been using this stuff all over my face, though as I don’t need to conceal blemishes very often I use it mainly to cover redness and pigmentation issues on my cheeks and nose.

Any extra moisture I can get into my regime is a welcome addition for me. I have dry and sensitive skin that results in a lot of dry patches and red marks which foundations and concealers to tend to gravitate towards throughout the day. The idea of a hydrating concealer really appeals to me because anything that blends easily and doesn’t pull on the skin when you apply is exactly what I’m looking for in a base product. Concealers can often look a little cakey on me and are really problematic with any flaky areas. The area under my eyes does often dry out and crease throughout the day, leaving concealer gathered in fine lines, which isn’t great. So on paper, FakeUp looked like it was going to be a hit… but was it?

The product applies extremely creamy and pretty thick in relation to most other concealers I’ve tried. It comes in a sleek, silver tube with a lipstick-like design, you twist the bottom and out the stick pops. I take the stick and swipe it with 2 lines in a “V” shape below each eye and blend out with my index finger. The point of the V hits the top of my cheek so after blending the whole of the under eye area is illluminated, Kimmy K style, making my eyes appear brighter, bigger and more alert. I generally swipe it straight onto skin, although if I was going to use it to cover a blemish I’d probably use a brush, just to get a little more precision with the application. For me, the coverage of the product is thick enough to cover any blueness from veins, other discolouration or puffiness below the eye, though it has to be said that I don’t think my under eye circles are particularly bad (#humblebrag).

Once I put this on in the morning, I don’t generally need to reapply. Granted, I’m not much of a toucher-upper, and my skin is clear, but I do still think it’s a good sign that I can see the product is still there after a long day. I think I look better at 4 o’ clock in the afternoon when I’m wearing this than I do with any other concealer in my current collection. I haven’t tried the fabled Bobbi Brown Concealer and Corrector duo, but I have tried other high-end products that this beats, including it’s Benefit sister Erase Paste and MAC Studio Finish. It also beats my long-time lover Collection Lasting Perfection, but only just. It’s also worth noting that although I don’t find it necessary, FakeUp is a great product to take with you out and about. It’s compact, easy and quick to apply. Even though I don’t do it often, it’s worth noting that if you do reapply FakeUp, it never becomes cakey. I’ve heard some say that this may be because it’s slightly on the “greasy” side. I see the texture as just a friendly emollient, but I can see that it might be a problem for some oiler skin types. The concealer remains moist throughout the day, which I love, but I could see it being a problem in warmer climes or sweatier circumstances.

Though I only use 01 to conceal, Benefit were kind enough to gift me all three shades to try out. While at the event, Lisa from Benefit ( – what a babe!) showed us paler skinned girls how to use 03 Deep as a contour. She swiped the stick along the hollows of the cheeks and blended it out to create a chiseled, catwalk style look. I’ve since tried this at home on myself but I’m sad to say 03 Deep pulls a little too orange for my skin tone. I think it would suit paler girls with a yellow undertone really well.

Overall, I really like this product and I think it really does all it claims to do. My one big concern is the price of the product (£18.50 for 3.5kg) in relation to how long it lasts. I found that I used my first FakeUp in around 6 weeks, which for a girl who doesn’t much suffer from blemishes or particularly dark circles, really worries me. But, that’s right, you spotted it, I have repurchased. While I don’t regret it, half way through my second tube I’m not sure if I will buy it again because the price-tag, as with all Benefit products, is kinda steep. For this money I think I’d rather branch out and try some different higher-end products instead. But that’s not to say I won’t come back to it. I’m very, very happy with FakeUp’s performance and as a girl with dry skin, it really offers benefits (lolz) in both the way it makes me look and the way it feels to wear it. It just costs so darn much. Benefit, reduce this baby to £15 and I’m yours, forever.