Is L’Oréal Infallible Concealer Actually a Worthy Dupe for NARS Creamy Radiant, or Are We Just Convincing Ourselves to Save $20_
So I was watching this TikTok last month—yeah, I know, I should probably delete the app—where this creator claimed the L’Oréal Infullible Full Wear concealer was “literally identical” to NARS Creamy Radiant. Same coverage, same finish, she said. And I sat there staring at my phone thinking… really? Because I’ve got both sitting in my makeup drawer right now, and that hasn’t been my experience. Not exactly. If you’re searching best full coverage concealer 2024 or drugstore dupe for NARS concealer, you’ve probably seen similar claims. But here’s what actually happens when you wear them for 10 hours, through coffee and stress and whatever else your day throws at you.I bought the NARS one first, obviously. Everyone said it was the gold standard. Radiant Creamy Concealer, $32, comes in like 30 shades. I got “Custard” after some confusing color-matching in Sephora under fluorescent lights that made me look slightly green. The L’Oréal Infallible Full Wear was a Target impulse buy months later—$13, same shade name coincidence actually, also “Custard” though they look nothing alike. That’s what we’re using today, tested on my combination skin with dark circles that could probably be seen from space.First impressions: the texture tells you everything
NARS comes out of the tube… creamy. Obviously. It’s in the name. It blends with your finger, with a sponge, with a brush—doesn’t really matter. Melts into skin. The L’Oréal one? Thicker. Not quite Tarte Shape Tape thick, but definitely more substantial. It sets faster too, which means less time to blend. I learned this the hard way during my first test, ended up with a patchy situation under my left eye that required starting over.But here’s the weird part. That thickness translates to coverage. Like, serious coverage. One dot of Infallible covers what takes two dots of NARS. So if you’re buying for hiding things—acne scars, aggressive redness, the aforementioned space-visible dark circles—the drugstore option actually punches above its weight.The shade situation: a problem for both, honestly
NARS has more shades, sure. But their undertones are… specific. I know people who can’t find a match because everything pulls too pink or too yellow. L’Oréal has fewer options—maybe 25?—but they’re more forgiving somehow. The shades blend out to match better, even if they look wrong in the tube. Though I will say, the L’Oréal “Custard” is darker and more orange than NARS “Custard.” Same name, totally different color. Why do brands do this?Wear test: the real comparison
Okay so. I wore NARS on one side, L’Oréal on the other, for three separate days. Yes, I looked slightly insane. No, I don’t regret it. Here’s what I noticed:NARS Creamy Radiant:
- Looks better at hour 1. Definitely. More skin-like, less makeup-y
- Starts fading around hour 6, creasing slightly in smile lines
- By hour 10, it’s basically a tinted moisturizer situation—still there, but not covering much
- Never looks cakey, even when it fades
L’Oréal Infallible Full Wear:
- Looks slightly heavy at hour 1. Not bad, just… present
- Stays exactly the same from hour 2 to hour 8. Doesn’t move
- By hour 10, still covering, but can look dry if you didn’t moisturize well
- Can crease if you use too much, and it’s hard to use “too little” because of the applicator
That giant doe-foot on the L’Oréal tube? Deposits way too much product. I find myself wiping half back into the tube, which feels wasteful but necessary. NARS has a smaller applicator, more controlled.The finish difference nobody mentions
NARS is “radiant”—subtle glow, reflects light, makes you look healthy. L’Oréal is “matte” officially, but I’d call it more… natural satin? Not flat, not shiny. Just there. This matters more than people think. If you have dry under-eyes, NARS is more forgiving. The radiancy hides texture. L’Infallible can settle into fine lines if you’re not careful, especially if you’re over 30. Not that I am. Okay, I’m 32. It matters now.But some friends want to know about oily skin. What should we do? Let’s keep reading below! (Sorry, had to.) For oily skin, L’Oréal actually wins. That staying power means something when your face produces its own reflective highlight by noon. NARS can slide around, especially in summer. I’ve seen it happen on my T-zone, which gets shiny enough to signal aircraft.Setting them: different requirements
NARS almost doesn’t need powder. I set it lightly anyway, habit, but it stays pretty on its own. L’Oréal demands setting. Like, really demands it. Skip the powder and you’ll have transfer on your phone, your glasses, your hand if you touch your face. Once set though? Locked in. I wore it to a wedding, danced for three hours, still covered at midnight.Price per use: the math nobody does
NARS is $32 for 0.22 oz. L’Oréal is $13 for 0.33 oz. So you’re getting more product for less money with the drugstore option. But. You use less NARS per application because the coverage builds differently. I think—I haven’t actually measured, this is gut feeling—the NARS tube lasts longer despite being smaller. Maybe 4 months vs 3 months of daily use? Hard to say exactly.When to choose which: my actual opinion
Here’s where I land after all this testing. NARS for days when you want to look like you’re not wearing much makeup. Date nights, professional photos, any time someone might see you up close in good lighting. It photographs beautifully, no flashback, just… polished.L’Oréal for long days, hot weather, when you need coverage that won’t quit. Also for covering blemishes specifically—I find it better than NARS for spot concealing because it doesn’t move. The thickness that makes it less ideal for under-eyes makes it perfect for acne.The problem with calling it a “dupe”
This is what bothered me about that TikTok. They’re not the same. Not really. Similar coverage level, yes. Both full coverage concealers, yes. But the experience of wearing them—how they feel, how they fade, how they interact with your skin—that’s different. Calling L’Oréal a “dupe” sets up expectations that get disappointed. It’s a good concealer. Great, even, for the price. But it’s its own thing.The blogger often uses
both now, which feels excessive but true. NARS under eyes on good skin days, L’Oréal everywhere when I need serious coverage or when it’s humid. I bring you this dual-concealer lifestyle not because you need both, but because the choice depends on what your face is doing that day. And faces are unpredictable.I did try mixing them once. NARS for blendability, L’Oréal for staying power. It was… fine? Not magical. Not worth the effort. Better to just pick one and commit.The detailed setup methods, let’s take a look—wait, that’s not right. What I meant was: moisturize first, always. Use less than you think. Set with powder if you’re using L’Oréal. Blend NARS with a damp sponge, it likes moisture. And accept that $32 vs $13 is a real difference, but not the only difference. Sometimes you pay for how it feels, not just how it looks. That’s been my takeaway after months of switching back and forth. Hope this helps you decide which battle—budget or experience—you want to fight.
