December 7, 2015

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer Review & Swatches

Affiliate / Purchased
I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer

I grabbed up some Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer ($14) when it launched a few months ago and I’ve been testing it out during time trying to figure out if I liked it, wasn’t really impressed by it, or loved it.

Because this is just one of those concealer formulas I’m feeling all confused about.

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer is a gel-serum that features what Sephora calls “brightening properties” as well as a formula that contains 21% pigment. Apparently it promotes brightness plus it promises not settle into finer lines.

I’ve heard people compare this to NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer which I’m not a fan of because although the formula is incredible I feel like it lacks pigment and sheers out as you blend. Sephora’s formula is all kinds of different in my opinion and not a dupe at all of NARS formulation. Serum concealers had a little bit of a trend going on earlier this year with Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer being one of the first formulas like this that popped up.

If you’re looking for something creamy and hydrating with a serum-like consistency and fairly good coverage (NOT great but good) I’d go with Bare Mineral Bare Skin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer! It’s not as cheap as Sephora’s formula but I personally think the formula is a lot nicer.

Funny as Sephora promotes to the applicator of this concealer a good deal and I think that’s one of the things I disliked about it most. Apparently, the dome shaped applicator (which didn’t look domed to me but more just like a basic lipgloss applicator) apparently acts like a cotton swab to provide the perfect amount of concealer with each use. I thought the applicator was scratchy and it also seemed like I was digging around the tube to get more concealer onto the applicator as it was a little stingy with the product.

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer2

I have fairly dry skin under my eyes as you know so if you also have such an issue I’d avoid this one. I thought it was creamy in consistency but applied quite dryly and I did have to work a good deal to get it blended well since it has a quit to set satin finish. It visibly brightens instantly and that was one of the things I liked the most about it. Almost directly after application my eyes looked brighter and well rested. No worries, this isn’t due to shimmer, sparkle, or a luminous finish. It wears quite long but during the wear it tends to crease into my finer lines sadly.

The color range is way, way off and it is necessary to purchase it in store. I purchased four shades, ended up taking two back, and tried a fifth shade in store but none were good for me. Palmier which was shade 8, seemed to be the best option for me but it’s a bit pasty. I also tried shade 7, shade 9, and shade 10 but 9 and 10 were too dark and 7 too light. The shades either run too dark or too light in my opinion.

A I mentioned above I really think the applicator hinders this formula slightly. It feels creamy enough not hydrating but at least creamy. However, I can only get the smallest amount out with the applicator plus combine the fact it sets so fast I feel like I can’t build and blend quick enough. I wish the sponge saturated with color more. I think this translates in my swatches very well! You can see I only have the smallest amount swatched and how it seems to set almost powder-y right out of the tube.

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer3

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer Swatches (08 Palmier and 10 Eclair)

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer Swatches (08 Palmier and 10 Eclair)

I also think that it falls victim to the same issue as the NARS Creamy Concealer which would be the fact that as you blend it begins to sheer out. I get sheer coverage all around but I wouldn’t say it was medium or even full on coverage. However, it does seem to provide enough to conceal my puffiness and finer lines. Again, I think you can see in my photos how it almost blends out invisibly in the second photo above.

I’ll keep using Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer but I have my doubts I’ll repurchase it in the future.

Every try it?

hat were your results or experience with it?

Affiliate / Purchased
I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Staci

    Funny, I was considering this and the NARS. I have dry under eyes too. Guess I’ll just stick with my MAC prolongwear. I always go back to it anyway.

  • breyerchic04

    I have it, and am using it but it’s not a holy grail product for me, it works i guess, but isn’t quite right. Sometime, I’ll find a concealer I actually love…

    • Isabella Muse

      I THINK what is quite not right is the sponge applicator….call me crazy but if they changed the applicator I see potential here!

      • breyerchic04

        You definitely could be right, and I do find myself applying to my finger and then putting it on the normal way, anyway. It’s certainly better than a lot of formulations for me.

        • Isabella Muse

          That’s how I do it too. I put some on my finger and I apply but still the applicator just doesn’t seem to saturate enough with the concealer!? I dunno..there’s something weird about it. I’ve heard people compare this to NARS and I wanna shake them and say “REALLY?!?” It just isn’t nars consistency at all!

  • Gigi

    Haven’t tried this concealer myself, but for the Nars Creamy Concealer one have you tried using a Beauty Blender-type sponge? I find that concealer to be easily sheered out (against my wishes) if I use fingers or a brush, but with the Real Techniques sponge it works wonders! 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      really gigi!? A sponge works? Trying it! The nars concealer is such a great consistency, so creamy, nicely hydrating but many it sheers out really bad! I’m going to try the beauty blender! Thanks!

  • Katherine T.

    Muse, I have this concealer in Custard. I agree with you that the shade range is way off, either way too light or too dark. I had to swatch in store and still had to return 2 of them. I didn’t notice issues with the applicator, but I just dot with the applicator, then blend with my fingers, brush, or beauty blender. I don’t have serious dark circles, but I do have dry under eye, and I’m ok as long as I prep well with moisturizer beforehand. It does brighten very well, and Custard is yellow-ish, so it helps hide and counteract dark circles

    • Isabella Muse

      Oh good! I swear sometimes I think I am making this stuff up Katherine. I just don’t love the applicator, I wish I could get more out of the tube, I felt like the applicator was somehow making the formula a PITA to work with.

  • Carolyn2

    Thanks for the review. I have the Bare Minerals one and almost bought the Sephora brand one but haven’t done so yet. Now I won’t have to buy it 🙂

  • Chelsea

    I got a much better color match with this than the Nars, so I really like this (I’m very fair with neutral undertones). I use a brush to apply though, the applicator in the tube is completely useless.

  • Rachel R.

    Such a bummer it didn’t work out for you. It’s one of the few that do work for me. I really like that it actually has shades for very fair skin. I guessed and bought Bavarian Cream online, and it was a perfect match. It gives me really good coverage and stands up to my oily skin.

    I just use the applicator to dot it on under my eyes, then I blend with my ring finger.

    • Isabella Muse

      I can see this being a really good pick for oily skin Rachel! I’m glad it worked for you!!!!!

  • Laura

    Funny, these are the exact same thoughts I have! I love my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and it looks wonderful after blending with a brush and lightly dusting with Besame french vanilla powder. I somehow got the right shade of the sephora concealer the first time, but wasn’t in love with it (nor did I dislike it enough to return). On days that I’m just running errands, I’ll use the sephora one and am not impressed when I apply it. But later in the day, I see myself and think that it looks pretty identical to when I use the Nars one! So I’ll probably repurchase when I’m out and continue to use it on ‘off’ days…but it’s not my go-to concealer. Also, the nars one covers any red spots I have well (lightly patting with fingers), whereas the sephora one pretty much fails in that department.

    • Isabella Muse

      haha me too! I didn’t love it but I also didn’t return it. It was just ok. I wish I can get on board with the NARS one but it sheers out for me so much! Gonna try the beauty blender trick that was recommended above see if that works 🙂

  • Satinder

    Hi Muse, I have been thinking about buying the nars concealer in custard since i have a medium tan skin tone. But i wanted to know, what full coverage concealer do you recommend? could you do a post on your recommendations for concealer? Thank you.

  • Celeste Johnson

    I have this and LOVE it, I use a base concealer first and then go back in a triangle shape with three dots under my eye and blend with a brush, it brightens my under eye beautifully, i definitely wouldnt use it on its own though, but thats just me.

  • Sierra

    I had the same problem getting the product out! It broke the first time I opened it (the stopper came out). I ended up taking it back.

  • Brittany

    I’m surprised with your review! I purchased this in Linen when it first launched over the summer and I like it a lot. It’s not a holy grail product, but I love how smooth and blendable it is. I actually LOVE the applicator. I think it works wonders and haven’t had any problems. It does, however, settle into fine lines under my eyes. Yep, I’m 21 and I have fine lines. Haha! The color Linen kinda oxidizes on me as the day goes on, but it’s not noticeable on my face, just in swatches. I’ve also seen beauty bloggers using these as contour products and it looks great.

    • Isabella Muse

      Happy to hear it worked for you Brittany! Wasn’t any good for me sadly!

    • Yamilet

      This concealer worked for me too, and it’s my favorite at the moment. I found the applicator easiest to use if you slightly roll it as you swipe it on from the sides, but i don’t use a lot of product to begin with. I also use a beauty blender and set it with a powder otherwise it does crease on me. But I have not found a concealer that doesn’t crease.

  • cat

    I don’t like the NARS concealer because it goes very orange/yellow on me and it doesn’t wear well. It creases and doesn’t look cakey exactly but it’s dry and VERY visible as the day goes on. It makes the skin under my eyes look old and tired.

    “The color range is way, way off and it is necessary to purchase it in store. I purchased four shades, ended up taking two back, and tried a fifth shade in store but none were good for me.”

    Oof. I wish I were that committed. I’d probably just buy one shade, decide that I hated it, and never return it because I was too lazy/busy.

  • A Bauby

    I just purchased this in Tatin 11 with the help of a Sephora gal, Amanda. I LOVE this! The applicator doesn’t bother me (as many note) since all I need are two tiny dots under each eye. Before applying, I am moisturized with a spritz of spring water, Olay eye cream and my Aveeno spf30 face cream. After MANY trials of drugstore and now high-end brands, this is the one for me… likely my holy grail. I am medium dark, yellow undertones w/ some dryness, lines, darkness and bags under the eyes and I’m in my 40s. In my trials I realized there’s no such thing as a concealer that completely conceals darkness or bags UNLESS you’re into full glam makeup everyday. I’m more of a no-makeup makeup kinda gal. I’ll go full glam for a special occasion but not every day. …I like the idea of looking different for special occasions. ….I first use a concealer brush to sweep and blend the dots and then use my ring finger to pat it in. I set with powder otherwise my mascara will smudge there. This stuff instantly brightens my undereyes/face which I LOVE. This gel serum concealer does not accentuate my lines and bags much like many of the concealers I’ve recently tried. My dark circles appear muted and this product doesn’t appear to get into my fine lines, at least not enough to really notice. I LOVE this and I pray Sephora doesn’t discontinue this item. Wish I heard about this in 2015.