Road Test: We Tried Saie's New Brightening Hydrabeam Concealer

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Pros:

• Pointed doe-foot brush for more targeted application

• Creamy, buildable formula

• Noticeably brightening and dewy finish

Cons:

• transparent to natural-looking coverage if you typically prefer full

If you tend to believe that a "perfect" concealer doesn't exist, you'll be happy to know many brands have gotten awfully close with the incorporation of skin-friendly ingredients, long-wearing formulas, and more. Case in point: Saie, one of our favorite clean beauty brands, recently launched its Hydrabeam concealer, a product that's time traveled from the future to brighten and blur dark spots and discoloration—all without settling into fine lines.

Saie's Hydrabeam comes in nine shades and features tons of skin-care ingredients, including squalane and glycerin to plump, tomato and licorice extract to brighten, cucumber and elderberry fruit extract to smooth and soothe skin, plus rice starch to blur breakouts and fine lines.

"I feel blessed," beauty influencer Mikayla Nogueira says of the concealer in a now viral TikTok video ahead of its public release. "This side is set with powder; this side is not," she explains, illustrating the difference between her under-eyes to the camera. "Like, you don't even have to set this—you can leave it like this and it's freaking gorgeous."

To put these creaseless claims to the test, three BAZAAR beauty editors road-test the new concealer over the course of a week to see how it compares to other products on the market. Here's what we thought.

Lindy Segal, interim digital beauty director

How I Tested

I used the shade HB Two as an under-eye concealer and applied it underneath only one eye (at first) to see the difference between them.

Ease of Use

Hydrabeam concealer is super easy to use thanks to the pointed applicator, which lets you target spots easily. And because it's on the transparent side and has an ultra-blendable consistency, you don't need to spend a lot of time making sure your coverage looks even.

Price/Value

At $26, Hydrabeam is on par with (or less expensive than) other prestige concealers, so I think it's a good investment for your makeup bag if you're looking for a lighter-coverage concealer.

The Verdict

Think of Hydrabeam as the tinted moisturizer of concealers; it's perfect for looking brighter and more awake day to day, but you may want something more full coverage for evenings or events.

Jamie Wilson, beauty editor

How I Tested

I wore the concealer in the shade HB Five under each eye through the workday and only applied it once before leaving my apartment.

Ease of Use

I don't regularly wear under-eye concealer, so it was an extra step in my routine. However, it wasn't difficult or time consuming to use this product. When I do use concealer, I look for its formula to provide adequate coverage and effectively blend into my skin. I usually know a product works for me when my makeup looks cohesive, which it does with the Hydrabeam.

Price/Value

There are definitely products that are more expensive than this one and others that are more affordable. Hydrabeam's biggest claim is that it's a "sheer concealer that covers just enough and illuminates a lot." In my experience, it does just that. It's not a full-coverage product but doesn't claim to be. I found it incredibly moisturizing, and I love the dewy finish.

The Verdict

Hydrabeam works for my day-to-day makeup look, which is relatively minimal. I have natural dark circles under my eyes, but they don't bother me. While concealing my dark circles isn't a big concern, I still like to keep that area moisturized.

Tiffany Dodson, associate beauty commerce editor

How I Tested

I typically apply my makeup during my train commute to the office, which is exactly how my journey with this concealer began, so I could test it all day. Since I have combination skin and am prone to breakouts, I used the concealer in HB Five to cover lingering dark spots on my forehead and cheeks, and brighten my under-eyes. After work, I met up with a couple friends for dinner and didn't reapply the product beforehand.

Ease of Use

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of suction the Hydrabeam bottle has, which makes it practically impossible to use too much product at once. Like most concealers I've used in the past, this one also contains a doe-foot applicator, but instead of being rounded, Saie's has a pointed tip, which is easy and ideal to cover hard-to-reach areas.

Price/Value

While it's a bit pricey compared to most budget-friendly concealers, it's right in line with the cost of products from top luxury brands, which is exactly where I'd place its formula.

The Verdict

This versatile product is definitely one of the best concealers I've ever tried—and I've tried quite a few over the years. Although I tend to get shiny around my T-zone area as the day goes on, I still think that this moisturizing concealer will be a mainstay in my makeup bag. I have to give any product serious kudos for still having a fair amount of coverage with no touch-ups after 10 hours of wear.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

If you're looking for a buildable concealer with a natural-looking finish, Saie's Hydrabeam should be right up your alley. According to our beauty team, its formula is flexible and long-lasting (even without reapplying during the day), and feels more like a second skin than makeup.

Saie's Hydrabeam concealer is available to shop online for $26 at saie.com, sephora.com, and cultbeauty.com.

You Might Also Like

• 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora

• The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine