Almay • smart shade • Concealers

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sippingzoot on 1/3/2012 2:18:00 PM more reviews by sippingzoot

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Stay away from this concealer if you have dark circles or wrinkles. As a concealer it doesn't -- conceal! If you have good skin or if you're one of those 12 year olds who complain about their imaginary undereye circles (crazy but true), then this for you. The good thing is that does look natural in daylight because of its light diffusing properties. I use this when I have enough sleep and want to look natural. I noticed that it only becomes darker if you dab it and leave it on for too long before blending.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AuNatural716 on 12/24/2011 11:38:00 PM more reviews by AuNatural716

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Wow, Almay "Smart" Shade? More like Almay Stupid Shade! This was nothing but a GRAY concealer that turned ORANGE-YELLOW upon rubbing into skin. I can't believe this has yet to be discontinued because I can't imagine that someone would actually use this product without realizing how sickly and jaundiced it can make you look! Most definitely one of the worst concealers I've ever bought.

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sanaismommy1 on 12/16/2011 5:58:00 PM more reviews by sanaismommy1

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I don't have super dark circles or blemishes and it doesn't cover too well. It's not worth the price. The only thing I liked was how smooth it went on and made my skin feel, but I will not be purchasing this again.

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minimeee on 12/15/2011 1:02:00 AM more reviews by minimeee

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I have to defend this little guy.

First of all, I got this for under two bucks at CVS. Heyyyyy!!

So price can't be beat. This is the first time I tried a smart shade product, and I have to say it's really fun watching it change colors when you rub it in. I don't like that I have to actually RUB it in though - I like to pat on a concealer - that's the point, right? So I blend this on my hand and then pat it on my face.

Coverage is ok and it is SLIGHTLY orange-y but I'm still really fair and it blended fine on me.

BEST part about this is that it seems to actually clear my blemishes! I seriously had a tumor-zit on my forehead the first time I used it. Accidentally fell asleep in it and when I woke up, the tumor was all but deflated. I like this stuff. It's SPF 20 too so GREAT for use around the eyes.

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brkrbrkr on 11/15/2011 3:17:00 AM more reviews by brkrbrkr

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Sorry, Almay, but this Smart Shade schlock is DUMB! *rimshot*



Purchased this in the absolute lightest shade available, as I am mostly fair with yellow undertones and planned to use it primarily to cover dark circles and uneven skin tone. Comes outta the tube white, and, as you blend, is supposed to magically morph into your skin color. Um. . . Not so much, for me. As I was blending, I noticed it turning a darker, orange-y shade. I was slightly concerned, but thought that if I kept on blending it out, it would settle. Nope. I made the rookie mistake of test driving this for the first time right before a work function, and did not have time to play around with it or start my makeup from scratch. (I tend to do eyes before concealer and face makeup.) Instead, I ended up mixing it in with a bit of lotion and applying it all over my face, figuring that if I was gonna look like Christina Aguilera, I may as well just go balls out.



For a brief moment there, I almost thought I looked good. Like, "Hey, check me out, I look like I caught a tan! Nice!" Maybe I had found an alternate use for this deceptive concealer after all. Then I took a glimpse into a full length mirror, and the color that this junk had turned my face in contrast to the shade of my neck and rest of my body made it appear that I was wearing a Snookie mask!! UGH!



Gave it one more chance the next day, because A) I'm an idiot, and B) I hate returning cosmetics to drug stores, but this time was even worse. I used it just around the eyes, and again was left with ruddy orange splotches that looked about a hundred times worse than the circles I was trying to cover.



I've had decent luck with Almay face makeup in the past, but with these "Smart Shade" shenanigans, they have officially made it on to my shit list. I hope everyone over at Almay is having a good chuckle, because I cannot come up with any other reason that they would have released this to the general public.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

karia63 on 10/9/2011 6:40:00 PM more reviews by karia63

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

My all-time favorite for neutralizing redness on my nose, cheeks and chin! The concealer color "matches" my own complexion quite well so that wearing a full face of foundation is not necessary. Living in the humid south, the less makeup...the better.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pinkfrost52 on 8/10/2011 7:47:00 PM more reviews by pinkfrost52

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This concealer is hopeless. I tried it out awhile ago and it didn't blend properly with my skin-tone (NC30-35). Like another reviewer wrote, the concealer comes out from the tube in a white colour and as you blend it in, it's meant to turn into your correct shade. I used the smallest dot under each eye, blended like crazy and it still left a horrible white cast beneath my eyes. I think it would best suit very fair skin-tones. Not flash photography friendly either because of the SPF15.

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Juneaudaisy on 8/10/2011 5:11:00 PM more reviews by Juneaudaisy

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Okay so I bought this recently and when I first applied it, it was white but after you rubbed it in it turned an orange-y color. My face is not orange and you could see (even under my foundation) where I had applied it. I liked how easy it was to apply but it was soooooo not my color!

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LisaGreenTea on 7/24/2011 11:36:00 PM more reviews by LisaGreenTea

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I get really dark tanned skin in the summer. My usual concealer was making my tanned skin look white in the areas where I use it in comparison to the rest of my face, so it was time for a new concealer. I purchased the Almay Smart Shade concealer in Medium and have found that it blends in well with my skin. It doesn't conceal very heavily- but for my usage; under eye circles and the occasional discolouration, it works perfectly. For the summer, it's a great light-weight concealer. I probably wouldn't continue to use this once my tan fades after the summer, but for light coverage in humid weather on tanned skin, I am actually quite pleased!

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Gabsterelli on 7/2/2011 12:20:00 PM more reviews by Gabsterelli

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have this in medium. This concealer comes out white and gradually blends out to your perfect color. Yeah right!!! I tried every way applying this and it still turns orange on me and not to mention the GLITTER!!! Omg I usually don't notice shimmer in foundation but the shimmers are very noticeable. I had a swatch of this on my hand and the shimmers remained on my hand after numerous trips to the bathroom to scrub it off... Bottom Line: This concealer will turn a few shades darker. Not good for the acne prone or oily skin (unless u like glitter?) I Do not Reccomend.

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*TOP REVIEWER* oscarnabby on 6/12/2011 12:27:00 PM more reviews by oscarnabby

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I have no complaints at all with this product. Right now I am using it in Light/Medium and it matches my skin perfectly (probably between a 20-25 right now). I use it under my eyes and on pimples and old scars. I use this product after I apply my foundation. I squeeze a half of a rice grain size on my index finger, work it up a bit with the other index finger, dot it under each eye and blend, and then use what is left on spotty areas. This method does not completely blot out imperfections like undereye circles and blemishes, but I feel that it blends them in well enough that they don't jump out at me when I check my reflection in the mirror. It's kind of like smoothing on a second layer of foundation, but for some reason, actually smoothing on a second layer of foundation never gives me the perfection of coverage and finish that this product does. I don't have results like the first picture posted above at all....but everyone's results are different, so I'm just stating my experience with this product, for the record.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Kathy123 on 5/31/2011 6:10:00 PM more reviews by Kathy123

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Majority of concealers cause break outs for me. I am talking about major acne. This is "the only" concealer that has not caused any problems for me. I am NC30 and I use the Light to Medium version. It comes out white and then adapts to my skin color. It blends well and it is not thick. I have used HE brands like MUFE Fullcover but in comparison, this does a better job and it is not as thick.

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SketchedLilly on 5/17/2011 12:19:00 PM more reviews by SketchedLilly

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I was suspect of the "Smart Shade Technology" from the commercials. technology is not advanced enough for us to have self blending camo in the military, let alone self blending, coloursmart makeup.

Of course, its a cheap trick. The makeup comes out pale then darkens as it oxidizes. If you apply it too thick or don't blend it properly, it gives horrible bright splotches. If you apply it properly, it will make you look like you're wearing bronzer. I can see that working for some people, but it does not work for me. If the makeup just stayed the same color as it is in the tube, I would have been much happier. I got the lightest shade, and it still turned rather bronzy.

I'm not saying that this will be bad for everyone...just for people that have pale skin and dont go for the 'tanned' look.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Jennlw5 on 5/8/2011 12:48:00 PM more reviews by Jennlw5

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Awesome concealer, doesn't turn me orange at all. I apply this across my nose and cheekbones, anywhere I see my skin is blotchy or red, it turns into my natural skin color, I am very fair with freckles, I then apply my foundation over top and I get beautiful flawless skin, no redness or blotchiness, I can't believe the number of compliments I get using this. I love the smart shade line and plan on buying more.

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daxisaurus on 4/24/2011 2:23:00 AM more reviews by daxisaurus

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I bought this concealer while trying to find a drugstore brand that wouldn't cause breakouts. When I applied it, it went on white and as I blended it out, it gradually turned into my average skin tone. But when I looked in the mirror 15 minutes later, all of the areas where I had applied concealer had turned orange. Like, bad-self-tanner-accident orange. Instead of covering up my blemishes it accentuated them. Even after trying with a different brush, on an unblemished section of skin it still turned orange. I won't buy any "smart shade" product again.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ontheglam on 4/11/2011 1:35:00 AM more reviews by ontheglam

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Terrible terrible terrible. I bought this along with the smart-shade foundation (which I also hated). I bought the lightest shade, and it was not only too dark- it was also orange looking. Uncool!
What I think is absolutely the worst thing about this is that it is no thicker than the foundation and it offers no more coverage. It conceals nothing. If you buy this as well as the foundation, you're pretty much just buying the same thing twice. Who are they kidding???

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PrincessofIce on 3/28/2011 5:12:00 AM more reviews by PrincessofIce

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Fine   Eyes: Black    

This was, eh. The coverage is too light for a concealer, it takes longer than I'd like for it to change colors from white the correct shade and even when it's supposed to be blended, it looks a bit white.


I wouldn't buy this again.

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missd1985 on 3/24/2011 11:31:00 PM more reviews by missd1985

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this and I thought it worked better then any other concealer I have ever used and I love to use it when I use my smart shade foundation or on it's own.

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Jenyfyr on 3/21/2011 12:04:00 AM more reviews by Jenyfyr

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I've been using this concealer for a few years now, along with the Almay smart shade foundation. It's definitely not a heavy duty concealer, but it gets the job done for what I need (covering mild undereye circles & the occassional blemish). Love the consistency and texture after application; I hate feeling like I have layers of stuff caked on my face.

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thebleutini on 3/5/2011 12:12:00 AM more reviews by thebleutini

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

If you want a really good coverage, you probably won't like this. For me, I'd rather get a light coverage without having thick layers of concealer around my eyes that end up sitting the lines...so this concealer is perfect for my skin. It gives light coverage but very moisturizing and smooth. I am currently applying lancome corrector with this Almay's light-medium shade concealer which gave me a decent coverage without accentuating fine lines. The most annoying part is you get randome stricks of very dark brownish color and its 10 times darker than its normal shade. Other than this, I love this concealer for my under eye dark circle cover.

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