Is it a dupe? Nars radiant creamy concealer vs. Maybelline fit me concealer

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Maybelline Fit Me Concealer is another one of those internet famous dupes. I see this one everywhere online, from blogs to reddit to YouTube. As the owner of both of those products, I feel compelled to put them to the test.

I have shade Light 2 Vanilla in the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29, .22oz) and shade #10 Light in the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($6.99, .23oz). Vanilla is the second to lightest shade of the NARS (Light 1 Chantilly is much lighter) and the NARS comes in 10 shades. #10 Light is theoretically the lightest shade in the Maybelline Fit Me range of 6 options, but is much darker than Vanilla and is rumored to be darker than shade #15.

Regular blog readers know that I am a stickler on dupe comparisons - makeup dupes proliferate the internet, but most are instances of products with similar packaging or wishful thinking. I expect dupes to hold up as reasonable replacements for each other, not just a cheaper alternative that slightly resembles the original. Without futher ado, let's get started:

Color: Swing and a miss! Vanilla is much lighter than #10 and is less yellow. Additionally, take a look at the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer shade range (swatched by Cafe Makeup) and the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer shade range (picture from Makeup Alley). The NARS shade range is much larger, both in number of shades and diversity in undertone.

Swatch: Left - Maybelline Fit Me concealer #10 Light, Right - NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Light 2 Vanilla

Finish: NARS RCC is more matte while Maybelline Fit Me is more luminous. Neither of these products are super matte or super luminous, but the finish is different between the two.

Texture: NARS RCC is more dry and creamy, Maybelline Fit Me is more thin and slippy. I know that dry and creamy sounds like an oxymoron, but the RCC formula has body to it that the Maybelline lacks. As a result, the NARS can look heavy on dry skin (especially under the eyes) while the Maybelline can have issues with building coverage and longevity. Which you prefer for this will come down to your skin type and personal preference.

Functionality: NARS RCC is a multi-tasker, the Maybelline is good for under the eyes. Those with dry or crepey undereyes may prefer a more luminous undereye concealer because matte finishes can look heavy on dry skin. Matte and natural finish concealers are much better for covering blemishes because luminous finish products can draw attention to texture issues. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer walks this line very well and can be used for under the eyes and on blemishes, whereas anyone who owns the Maybelline Fit Me probably has to buy a second concealer for blemishes or serious discoloration.

Longevity: NARS RCC lasts way longer. The more matte finish of the NARS sets and stays. I regularly get 12-14 hours of wear out of it and the Maybelline is faded and worn by the time I get home from work.

Opacity: NARS RCC has ridiculously more coverage than Maybelline Fit Me. Hands down, opacity is the largest difference between these two. The NARS is a buildable medium to full coverage and the Maybelline is a light coverage product. I did a coverage demo on my arm by patting equal amounts of concealer onto each side to show the difference.

Coverage comparison (Before): bare skin

Coverage comparison (After): NARS on the left, Maybelline on the right

And, voila! The coverage of the NARS really shows why so many people want to dupe it.

Are they dupes? Nope. Chalk this one up to similar packaging and internet wishful thinking.  I have repurchased the NARS several times because it is a reliable workhorse product that I use under my eyes, on blemishes, sun spots, and eczema patches without worrying about it wearing off or migrating during the day. Unfortunately, Maybelline Fit Me just doesn't hold up on coverage, longevity, or functionality. It is a good option for someone with dry skin and mild undereye discoloration, but so are most concealers.