concealer

I discovered something interesting the other day when I went into a local Shoppers to pick up something from MUFE - turns out they don't carry Make Up For Ever anymore and have replaced it with Anna Sui - which is very exciting!  Bad that it won't be as handy to pick up MUFE but neat to get a line that I'm pretty unfamiliar with in playing distance!  So I thought this was a good time to post about the fall collection - I am just starting my Anna Sui education, but I just know that a line with such cute packaging has got to be good!

Eye Color Duo - $38 - one polarized pearl shade made with volatile oil, keeping the powder from dispersing and one vibrant deep shade providing a magical gradation in which the colour changes intricately and that contains more oil to make it fit closely to the skin.  In 3 shades:  05 lavender/dark red which combine into a feminine purple shade, 06 sky blue/deep purple which combine into a mysterious blue, 07 lemon yellow/deep black which combines into a spicy green.

Eye Color - $25 - a special formula that combines different oil pastes to provide a lasting finish.  Available in 22 amazing colours.





Eye Brightener - $25 - 01 bright beige - contains a high level of white pigment and combines three different pearls providing a perfectly three dimensional finish.  Has a water base for easy application and creates a natural, silky, satiny luster that can be used not only on the eyelids, but also on other areas that need to be brightened.
Spot Concealer - $25 - 01 light tone, 02 medium tone, 03 dark tone - a smooth cream base used to cover anything from tiny blemishes to wider areas.  Soft Focus Powder and two kinds of Titanium Oxidize are combines to create a thick but natural finish.
Mini Rouge - Limited Edition - $21 - In three colours: vivid red, vivid pink and vivid purple.  How cute is this little thing?!  An accessory and gloss all in one!
Nail Color - Limited Edition - $15 - In four colours: glassy pearl clear, glassy pearl purple, glassy pearl pink and glassy pearl brown.
And coming in November - Hand & Nail Cream - $19 - rich moisture provided by shea butter and jojoba oil.

Any recommendations for a Anna Sui newbie?

Is there anything better then discovering a wonderful new beauty brand that you've never heard of before?!  It's like putting on a jacket that you haven't worn for awhile and finding a twenty dollar bill in the pocket!  My newest discovery, thanks to the Shopping Channel is Dalton Cosmetics.  Founded by Dr. Doris Dalton who when she couldn't find a natural looking and long lasting product for her eyebrows that she lost while battling thyroid cancer,  did the logical thing and developed her own.  Not only does she correct issues with product performance in her line, but also packaging design flaws as she did with her Fresh Coat Mascara, the first airless mascara - with a dual-chamber design that keeps air out of the tube so it doesn't dry out.

The line is based on genuine necessity, reflecting issues her and other makeup addicts come across daily - and bless her for that!  Here are a few of the products in her line:

Fresh Coat Tinted Primer with SPF 20 - $32 - an oil-free formula that eliminates skin imperfections, colour corrects and nourishes your skin.  Can be worn under makeup or by itself.  Has a silicone polymer blend that smoothes away lines and wrinkles and makes pores disappear.  Contains colour correcting pigments to help even skin tone and reduce the look of skin discolouration and redness.  Enriched with a powerful anti-oxidant composition including Japanese green tea, grape seed extract, vitamin C & E to combat the signs of aging while promoting cell health and elasticity.

Don't be scared by how dark the product looks, even on a pale face like me, it disappears and does really does a nice job of evening out your complexion.  This would be great on its own if you have nice skin but if you have major flaws to cover, you will want to use this as a primer with your foundation on top.

Mirage Blending Powder - $42 - a lightweight, finely micronized powder that will not cake or lay in lines or wrinkles - the powder softly blurs or blends away any makeup mistakes, redness or minor imperfections as well as sets and perfects your makeup application.  It helps to even out and smooth the appearance of your skin's texture and minimize the look of pores leaving you looking flawless.

I have much love for my Make Up For Ever HD Powder and it's the powder that I always compare others to.  This Dalton one has the same soft silky finish but it's a natural colour unlike the white colour of MUFE which makes it much easier to apply.  You know how you have to blend the hell out of the MUFE one or it leaves a whitish cast on your skin?  Dalton doesn't have that issue and it gives you the same airbrushed look.  MUFE had better watch out, I just may have a new fave!  What is also nice is that it comes with a specially designed Face Form Brush which has been laser cut to hug the natural curves of your face.
Deep Line and Crease Diffuser - $31 - to hide and conceal unwanted expression lines as well as blemishes, age spots, freckles, redness, discolouration and uneven skin tone.  Contains Dermaflex, a unique combination of ingredients that are designed to flex and move with your skin while providing high diffused reflection that dramatically reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.  As well as a superior refractive index that improves the appearance of clarity in the skin.  Combined with Hyluronic spheres that help to retain your skins moisture and special amino acid treated pigments that help to improve the longevity of colour and coverage.

It's not mentioned as a place to use it, but I have been using this under my eyes to get rid of the tired look I have had lately and the reflecting properties do a great job of combating that little problem too!

You can check out the Dalton Cosmetics line at www.theshoppingchannel.com.

Today we'll be taking a much needed break from all the shiny and new colorful items to talk about a hardworking perennial staple: Laure Mercier Undercover Pot. This 3-in-1 multitasker is travel-friendly both is size and sturdiness and offers two concealers (one for dark under-eye circles and one for other facial imperfections) and a loose setting powder in a double decker format.

In the left pan at the top there's Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage. The oil-free and rather dry formula is mostly intended to cover blemishes and other unsightly issues. I use it to hide discolorations and the annoying redness that occurs around the nose, but since it's a bit to dry for comfort I mix Secret Camouflage with other substances according to need: cream, lotion, liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer. It gives a very good coverage without caking or looking too obvious. Using a concealer brush and blending carefully is essential, but that's a given.

Secret Concealer, the emollient substance in the right pan, is designated to hide under-eye darkness. It's more pigmented than one would expect and much darker than your Touche Eclat-style brighteners. As a result I use it in a somewhat different way- not so much to highlight the area but to blend and even out the part where the dark circle merge with the rest of the face. It makes any discolored areas disappear and gives an even look.

It's important to blend and work both concealers into your foundation or tinted moisturizer to make your face really polished and flawless (and not resemble a calico kitten). A technique I learned from the wonderful makeup artists of Le Metier de Beaute is to mix different ratios of foundation and concealer before applying to various parts of your face. This way you have maximum control over color, texture and coverage. Obviously, this  works with any brand.

The bottom of the pot contains Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powder. The one that comes in the #2 shade has just the right hint of yellow to it, so it doesn't turn an olive complexion into an ash-covered mask. It melts right into the skin, giving it a natural finish and keeping everything in place. The pot is really small, so full size powder brushes aren't ideal here. What I use instead is the mini Kabuki brush that comes with those Bare Escentual trial kits.

Bottom Line: A staple in my travel bag.

Laura Mercier Undercover Pot ($34) is available from most decent department stores as well as from Sephora.

Photos are mine.

Have I mentioned that concealer is my friend? I especially like liquid ones, though I've come across a few new thicker formulas (stick and creams) that are quite excellent. Still, I find it easier to get optimal results and control when using a liquid concealer.

These two minis from Lancome came from various GWP events, so I didn't get to pick the shade. Still, both are quite versatile and I've been using them successfully. Maquicomplet gives full coverage and has a natural satin-like finish. It smooths over imperfections and doesn't cake or make the problem area look dried up. It covers all but the darkest freckles and blends easily into any foundation or tinted moisturizer I have underneath. The sponge applicator is not ideal- I'd rather use brushes or fingertips and the idea of double dipping, especially if one has blemishes is the germaphobe's worst nightmare.

Correcteur is a bit too yellow for my liking, but I find it actually neutralizes redness very well. My choice for this Lancome concealer would be Light Buff. I tested it in store and it seems like a better match, though with department store lighting you can never be completely sure.

Effacernes is a waterproof under-eye concealer. It's very light and almost melts into the skin, which is a lot more effective than trying to coat and paint that area. Effacernes is different than my favorite under-eye products in its matte finish- I usually go for the highlighter pens (Lancome has one of those which I haven't tried yet) and prefer their results, but there's something to be said for a waterproof natural coverage, especially in the hot and super humid weather we've been experiencing lately. This tube came in Clair II, which is visibly too drak and ashy for me. If I were to get it it would have to be in either Light Buff or Light Bisque.

Lancome Concealers  Effacernes and Maquicomplet ($28.50 each) are available from every department store under the sun.

Photos by me.

Look what we found in our local newsagent! Benefit have sold their souls to Glamour magazine (or vice versa) resulting in a cover gift of one of three full size eye pencils. If you see this issue (which has Lily Allen on the front, looking like she's overdone it with the Bad Gal), pick it up quicksmart.

You get either Bad Gal, It Stick or Eye Bright with each issue. Glamour are encouraging you to collect all 3, and with a cover price of £2, I see no reason why you wouldn't provided you can find enough copies of the magazine. It will definitely sell out very quickly.


The products, then;



Bad Gal - it's a black eyeliner. If you don't have one, or you want one that looks a bit funky, pick this. It doesn't have any special powers besides being awesomely chunky. It will smudge and fade like any standard black pencil.

Eye Bright - a bit more sophisticated and definitely my pick of the bunch. A pink pencil with subtle shimmer to cheer up the inner corners and brow bone. This is a good one to keep in your handbag as it definitely does perk up the look of the eyes when quickly applied in the ladies' loos.

It Stick - a creamy concealer pencil with high coverage. Great to have, but only if you have pale or light-medium yellow toned skin. It is VERY yellow-toned, so if your skin has a neutral tone, blend very well. If you're cool-toned, approach this one with caution.

I bought Smashbox High Definition Concealer because I liked the idea of a high-def liquid concealer and all the promises of a good for your skin formula and soft focus pearls (whatever those are). The theory was very appealing, but after a week of testing I was ready to write a grumpy review because of texture issue. For some reason I kept working with it, trying the concealer with different foundations, brushes and on various parts of my face until I had it all figured out:

1. The biggest issue is inconsistency. I have two tubes and the the liquid in Light keeps sweating and separating. Medium is thicker though not really dry. It might be a fluke or a faulty batch, but I bought the concealers directly from smashbox.com. I'd expect them to have the highest turnover and freshest products.

2. That said, the concealer is very easy to apply and blend. The liquid is feather light and doesn't cake or pool where you don't need it and doesn't settle into fine lines.

3. It's the first concealer I've come across that clearly works better with some foundations and not with others. My initial frustration was because lighter products like Chanel Vitalumier and the tinted moisturizer from Le Metier de Beaute don't blend well with this concealer, unless you apply them over it and work it with your brushes. My preference is to start with foundation to get and even basic coverage and then use as little concealer as possible.In any case, Smashbox foundation works best with this concealer.

4. The best brush to use with the High Definition concealer is Smashbox no. 4. It's quite thick, soft and spreads the concealer over areas that need it. Thinner brushes and especially pointed ones don't grab the liquid well enough.

5. Which leads us to this concealer's strength and weakness. It's best for covering dark circles and patches of discoloration. It's not the right product for blemishes or tiny imperfections that call for precise work and brushes.

6. I got the concealer in two shades (there are five available), Light and Medium. Both have the yellow/beige undertone I need. I blend them according to the area I'm covering: lighter under the eyes, darker on the cheeks or chin.

There you have it. Bottom line: Not perfect but a pretty good product after all.

Smashbox High Definition Concealer ($18 each) is available from Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta and smashbox.com.

Photos by me.

Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage is a bit of a cult product, unfailingly recommended by magazines and often a winner in beauty awards.  Recently, I arranged to swap for one in the lightest shade, SC1 - the hefty £25 price tag wasn't something I was prepared to pay without a cheaper trial period.

Read on to see how I got on.




 Inside the fairly large container, you get two pans of concealer; one in a shade to match the skin's undertone, and one to match the skin's depth of colour (whatever that means!).  In theory, this means that you can custom blend your own perfect colour with room for variance due to seasonal changes.  I do think that since this is a selling point for the product, there should be a little bit of space for actually mixing the product; in its current form you can either use a corner of one of the pans, or the back of your hand, which is a little wasteful to my mind.

On to the product itself - it's thick.  And surprisingly solid!  I carefully worked my brush into the left hand pan (which is a perfect blue-neutralising warmish shade for my undereye circles) and ended up overapplying the first time I tried it out.  The concealer is very highly pigmented and you really only need the smallest amount on the brush to give good coverage; too much will cake, settle into lines, and generally not look particularly secret.

Once I'd worked a very small amount over my dark circles and set with a little powder (I like a very matte look for my face, and any shine under the eyes looks strange), I found that all the darkness was effectively covered, and in a natural looking fashion too.  Above, you can see a fairly close up photo of my undereye area.  For such a thick product, it looks surprisingly light on the skin.  As it is so dry, I've applied it over an emollient eye cream and a touch of foundation; as I don't suffer from dry under-eye skin the thick texture doesn't overemphasise any crepey-ness, which it might be more liable to do if your under eye area is less than very well moisturised.

I didn't take any photos of how it applied over blemishes (that'd be oversharing, I feel!) but again, a very small amount blended in carefully completely concealed without caking.  I do feel that a brush is essential; applying this with your fingertips is likely to result in over application, particularly as the product isn't particularly emollient and needs careful blending.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed - and it's telling that I've not reached for any other concealer since I received it.  However, the performance does come at a high price - £25 - although given how little you need, I'm guessing it'll last for a long time.  If I need to in the near future before getting distracted by something else, I will probably repurchase.

If you'd like to try it yourself, you can get Secret Camouflage from SpaceNK at £25 for 7.7g.

Benefit Finding Mr. Bright - $40 - I just love that Benefit keeps coming out with these kits - not only do they give you a chance to try out smaller sizes of the products before committing yourself to something full-size, they are also great sizes for throwing in your purse or for traveling!

The kit contains four complexion brighteners in a deluxe mini size:

Erase Paste - brightening camouflage that erases the look of flaws - great for dark circles!
Girl Meets Pearl - golden-pink liquid pearl for an allover lit-from-within glow that you can wear on top of your makeup or alone.
Posie Tint - poppy-pink tinted lip & cheek stain that can be layered for more intense colour or not for a more natural look.
High Beam - luminescent complexion enhancer and a liquid spotlight for your cheekbones, brow bones and bridge of your nose.

All packed in an adorable case with a mirror! Available at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques, Murale and select Holt Renfrew locations now.

Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation SPF10 - 30ml - $42 - in six shades: 103 Ivory, 105 Nude, 107 Beige, 109 Wheat, 110 Honey, 112 Amber - has a Light-Optimizing+ Complex to capture, diffuse and intensify light immediately.  Fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed away for an even, radiant complexion. Contains a Silicium mineral extract to hydrate a nd tone the skin and deliver a feeling of suppleness and comfort as well as a plant-based micro-patch that acts like a reservoir providing time-release hydration to keep skin supple, replenished and comfortable all day long.
Soap & Glory Mist You Madly range - not new, but new to me - they arrived last month but got shoved  in with the other products so it wasn't until I took a close look that I realized they were new products! Available in the range are: Mist You Madly Body Spray - 250ml - $11.99, Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99, The Daily Smooth Body Butter - with rosehip seed oil and cocoa butter - 250ml - $14.99 and Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff - with babassu oil and sea salt - 300ml - $14.99 - the Mist You Madly scent they all have is lovely with top notes of citrus, bergamot, mandarin, jasmine and freesia on a mix of musks, sandalwood, vanilla and amber.
Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation - $11.49 - blends seamlessly for undetectable coverage that goes on smooth and lasts all day.  Available in eight shades: Ivory, True Ivory, Warm Ivory, Soft Beige, Classic Beige, Sand, Nude, Warm Sand
Concealer - $8.99- 2-in-1 concealer and highlighter that adapts to your skin tone - in three shades: Ivory, Classic Beige, Soft Beige
Marc Jacobs LOLA Purse Spray - 20ml - $69 - refillable EDP comes in the most adorable casing and if you don't have a purse already, it comes with one of those too!

RoC Instant Deep Wrinkle Filler - 10ml - $49 - formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, it re-plumps the skin immediately and reduces the look of deep wrinkles by up to 40% in just four weeks. Ideal for targeting the appearance of deep wrinkles around the mouth, forehead and eyes.  It's packaged in an syringe-like pump so it's good for getting the product right where you need it if you can get past the somewhat creepy way it looks like a needle.  I tried it out on this annoying wrinkle I have been getting above my lip by sleeping on my stomach and it really does immediately give a filling effect that makes it disappear so I'm hooked!
RoC Complete Lift Lifting Face & Neck Roll-on - 50ml - $49 - clinically proven to provide instant and ongoing visible skin firming and lifting results in the areas most prone to sagging and provides a two mm lift in the look of skin around the jawline.  Improvements in the skin's lifted look can be seen in just two weeks.  I think the best part is the really big roll-on applicator which feels nice and cool on the skin and also makes it easy to apply it quickly!

Maybelline Fit Me Collection - a shade-aligned system of foundation, concealer, powder and blush meant to perfectly harmonize with your skin.  It is specially formulated to allow skin to breathe without clogging pores while providing a fresh, natural face.  The line consists of:
Fit Me Foundation - $10.49 - with a unique translucent base combined with ultra-lightweight refined pigments which allows the foundation to give an excellent replication of your skin's natural shade while providing a natural coverage.  In 18 shades. I'm happy to see it has a decent SPF of 18.
Fit Me Powder - $10.49 - a lightweight, blendable formula with a natural, non cakey finish to apply flawlessly and match every skin tone.  In 18 shades that correspond with the foundation shades.
Fit Me Concealer - $10.49 - conceals imperfections without hiding the skin's natural radiance.  In 6 shades.
Fit Me Blush - $10.49 - with a silky soft texture that blends easily for soft, fade-free natural colour that lasts. In 12 shades.
Fit Me Bronzer - $10.49 - same deal as the blush in 3 shades.
L'Oréal Root Rescue - $9.99 - 10 minutes to a root-less life!  It has 100% grey coverage, low ammonia gel formula, a quick precision applicator and comes in 12 shades: 3 Soft Black, 4 Dark Brown, 4R Dark Auburn, 5 Medium Brown, 5G Medium Golden Brown, 6 Light Brown, 6A Light Ash Brown, 6R Light Auburn, 6.5G Light Golden Brown, 7 Dark Blonde, 8 Medium Blonde and 9 Light Blonde

L'Oréal The Onesweep Eye Shadow - $13.99 - with an applicator that fits your eye shape it's meant to give you perfect application of 3 colours in one easy sweep.  Available in 8 combos:  Natural for blue, brown, green or all eyes and Playful for blue, brown, green and all eyes.
L'Oréal Double Extend Eye Illuminator - $14.99 - a lengthening mascara on one end and an illuminaing topcoat on the other.  Available in 4 colours:  Black Copper for blue eyes, Black Bronze for green eyes, Black Quartz for brown eyes and Black Crystal for all eyes.

Lise Watier is introducing the products for red carpet style that will give you the lasting perfection of a flawless complexion, riveting eyes and irresistible lips! 
Teint Parfait 12 Hrs Glam Flawless Complexion - $45 - in 6 shades: Porcelaine, Beige Pur, naturel, Beige Beige, Neutre or Sunshine - a lasting foundation and concealer duo that corrects minor imperfections and evens out skin tone.  The foundation cap contains a concealer with a perfect colour match and adjustable coverage from medium to high as well as a small mirror.  Use the concealer to hide minor flaws, redness and imperfections and the foundation for a flawless look.
Duo Glam Rouge Infini - $27 - in 16 shades: So Berry Glam, Very Naturel Glam, Pink Hibiscus Glam, Perfect Pink Glam, Pink Star Glam, Fuchsia Ardent Glam, Candylicious Glam, Grenat Glam, Nude Beach Glam, Bronze Glam, Corail Pop Glam, Rose Couture Glam, Sunset Glam, Hot Copper Glam, Coraline Glam, Red Carpet Glam  - one end is a water-based liquid lip stain while the other is a creamy, pigment-rich lipstick.  Step 1 - apply the liquid lip stain - once dry, it holds the colour on your lips. Step 2 - apply the long-lasting lipstick - it binds to the liquid lip stain, leaving a beautiful rich colour on your lips for beautiful lips that last up to 8 hours!  The products can be used together or separately.  I checked out the display on the weekend and the colours are all gorgeous - I have no idea how anyone could decide on a colour!
24 Hrs Glam Mascara - $21 - offers supple, lash-extending texture, which dries quick and is waterproof with a rich, deep black shade to add depth and drama to eyes.  It has a Flexi-Queen brush made of flexible elastomer bristles on a tapered wand to separate, define and lengthen each and every lash, even the shortest, finest lashes, without clumping or uneven excess. The colour holds for hours without rubbing off, flaking or losing intensity.  It's also easy to remove with warm water and light fingertip pressure to slide the tubes right off with no rubbing that can cause damage to the lashes.

If you've ever yearned to look like a Bollywood star, now's your chance!  Icon, Mickey Contractor, once makeup artist to Bollywood stars and now MAC's Director of Makeup Artistry for India.  This collection is all about natural skin tonality, colour and a touch of the exotic which are all Micky musts!
Lipstick - $17.50

Gulabi - bright fuchsia (amplified)
Mehr - dirty blue pink (matte)
Yash - deep neutral (matte)
Mocha - peachy yellow-brown (satin)

Lipglass - $17.50
Flesh - dirty nude brown
Lust - soft muted pink
 Eye Shadow - $17.50
Marvel - deep purple with soft pink perarl (frost)
Oomph - forest green with soft gold pearl (veluxe pearl)
Rani - bright fuchsia with soft pink pearl (frost)
Saffron - deep coral caramel (satin)
Eye Shadow X4 - Athma - $43
Folie - reddish-plum brown (satin)
Carbon - intense black (matte)
Jaan - light neutral with soft gold pearl (lustre)
Vivah - brown with gold pearl (lustre)
Fluidline - $18
Ivy - bright green (frost)
Siahi - deep turquoise blue (frost)
Select Moisturecover Concealer - $20
NC23 - NC43 - NC44 - NC455


Select Moisturecover Concealer - $25
Coral Corrector/Yellow Corrector - slightly dirty coral/banana yellow
Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation - $31
NC41 - NC435 - NC445
Powder Blush - $22
Gana - bright white gold (frost)
Sur - dirty rosie brown (satin)
Brushes
116 Blush Brush - $38.50
219 Pencil Brush - $29.50
238 Eye Shader - $29.50
Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder - $27

On counters Thursday, January 6 at all MAC locations.  I'm very intrigued by the eye shadows and fluidlines, how about you?

I am fortunate that with among the many issues that I do have, serious facial redness is not one of them.  I know what a pain it is though from some of my friends who have redness issues of varying degrees.  And I can see them constantly searching for the latest and greatest product out there to treat and cover it.  This is the time of year that many of them are looking for something as the extreme change in temperature is one of the redness triggers.  So I am happy to let them and you know about Clinique's Redness Solutions line:

Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 with Probiotic Technology - 30ml - $30 - a liquid makeup with treatment benefits that calms and soothes skin while treating and concealing redness.  The probiotic part is what I would interesting, my only knowledge of probiotics involve that incredibly annoying yogurt commercial so I wasn't sure how they fit into foundation.  Well apparently, Probiotic Technology is incorporated to improve the skin's barrier strength as it can often be compromised when suffering from facial redness.  It's available in 6 shades and contains a blend of sunscreens with a broad spectrum ratio of 3:1 UVB to UVA protection.

Redness Solutions Targeted Corrector - $25 - a yellow-hued stick concealer that immediately helps neutralize the look of redness - I do get some redness around my nose so I gave this a try and it blended nicely to cover the redness - I would also use this to cover a blemish, the texture is great for that and it has the yellow tone to hide it!

They are both formulated with: Magnolia Bark and Poria Cocos (Mushroom) Extract to help soothe, Caffeine to calm the skin and Murumuru Butter to protect the skin's moisture barrier. They are both also fragrance and oil free, allergy tested and non-acnegenic.