Concealer Showdown

TARTE Shape Tape vs. Too Faced Born This Way

[may contain affiliate links] This week I put two concealers to the test. Both are recent releases and certainly have quite a bit of hype around them. As you may remember, I have always struggled to find concealers/correctors that brighten my undereye area without emphasizing the natural creases. So, I thought it might be fun to do a head-to-head showdown of two products!

The Products

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer claims (via Ulta):

Sculpt and highlight as you mask imperfections with this 2-in-1 full coverage concealer. The hydrating, longwearing formula delivers natural, radiant coverage across all skin types so you can instantly brighten and cover acne, dark circles and redness while softening the look of pores and fine lines. Wear it 1-2 shades lighter or darker, and it works as a creamy highlighter or contouring stick with a lightweight, blendable formula and tapered wand applicator ideal for precise strobing and sculpting. Powered by Amazonian clay and conditioning mango seed and shea butters, the nutrient-rich concealer helps promote skin elasticity and illumination with each crease-free application.

Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer claims (via Sephora):

Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer banishes the appearance of dark circles and imperfections while it blurs the look of lines and wrinkles. It’s infused with skin care benefits, including coconut water to replenish moisture levels, Alpine rose to brighten and boost radiance, and hyaluronic acid for a smoother, more youthful look. Creamy and comfortable, a proprietary blend of color correctors create the look of flawless skin. The result: a complexion that appears naturally radiant when applied over or under foundation—even when worn alone.

The Test

To compare the Tarte Shape Tape and Too Faced Born This Way, I applied each beneath one eye. Below you will see my eye area after foundation but prior to any concealer:

You’ll notice that I naturally have slight discoloration in this area, as well as some very deep creases. For the sake of this experiment, I did not use any additional corrector (like one with peach tones to combat the discoloration).

I applied the Too Faced to my left eye (which will appear on the right below) and the Tarte to my other eye. I used the lightest shade available in each, and it is interesting to note that the “Very Fair” Born This Way is by far darker than the “Fair” Shape Tape.

I did set both sides very lightly with the RCMA No Color Powder. Below is immediately after finishing my makeup.

You probably notice that the Tarte side is visibly lighter. Since the product was lighter, this makes sense! The Instagram response was an overwhelming preference for the Too Faced side, which many said was more natural looking.

I kept my makeup on for most of the day, and took a photograph again after about seven hours of wear:

I do apologize for the lighting difference, but I think you can still see that both concealers gave about the same performance.

Conclusions

In terms of application, I prefer the Tarte Shape Tape. The thicker formula is somehow easier to blend and offers slightly better coverage. However, in terms of longevity, both the Tarte Shape Tape and Too Faced Born This Way concealers offer very similar performance. Both sank slightly into my creases, but not to the extent that previous concealers have. Since this experiment, I’ve even played around with combining these two products for a better color match and amazing coverage.

Have to pick just one? First, consider the color range. If you are very fair you will need to go with Tarte. Prefer a smaller wand? Too Faced it is. Like a thicker formula? Tarte. So, you can see it will really come down to personal preference.

Do you have either of these products? Let us know how you like them in the comments!

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