What's in my makeup bag? - Products that I'm currently using!

What's in my makeup bag?

As a beauty blogger, I've tried so many different products over the years. At some points I had about 20 or more foundations at the same time, and was trying so many things and finishing none of them. Since my little break off from blogging, I've cut down on trying so many new things at once, and I'm finding myself repurchasing the same things over again - things that are reliable and that I love!

So, for the past several months (or more), these have been my staples!

MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation - I've gone through around 3-4 tubes of this so far, and I've been re-purchasing this foundation as soon as I run out. It has a solid medium coverage, and it's my go-to when I want my makeup to last on hours on end. It really does last me till the time I want to wash my face, and I don't find that it breaks apart or separates by the end of the night. I do prefer this over MAC's regular Pro Longwear Foundation, but I do like that one as well. ($33)

NARS Tinted Moisturizer - This is my go-to day wear foundation. The formula is creamy and moisturizing and it provides an SPF of 30, which is great for when you're out and about during the day. The coverage is light, but buildable, and evens out the skintone nicely and gives a fresh, clean look. A little expensive for a daily wearing tinted moisturizer, but for now, I'm loving it and I'm getting low on my second tube. ($44)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer - It wasn't love at first sight with this concealer, but after using it regularly, I've grown to love it. As I'm getting older, I find it much more difficult to find a concealer that doesn't age me or give me the "tired eye" look, and I find that this one doesn't accentuate dryness or fine lines. A definite winner in my book, and one that I will repurchase as soon as I run out. ($25)

Urban Decay Naked Concealer - Along with Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer, I like adding a layer of this concealer on top before I blend the two together. These two concealers work really well as a team, and I love how light and blendable this concealer is. It's a great one if you are looking for a pigmented concealer that doesn't have the density or weight of a standard (heavy) concealer. I like using this concealer in a lighter shade to brighten my under eyes. ($28)

Beauty Blender - I can't live without my beauty blender. I use it every day to apply my concealer, and I use a separate one to set my concealer with powder. It works more beautifully than any brush. ($20)

A handful of products that I've been using lately...

I haven't purchased nearly as much makeup as I use to (as I haven't blogged in so long and haven't found the need to buy in excess), but I thought I'd share some of the products I've been using lately that I haven't talked about before!

Sonia Kashuk Perfecting Luminous Foundation - I purchased this on a whim at Target when I completely ran out of foundation and needed a simple every-day foundation. I wasn't expecting much, but I ended up really liking it for daily wear. The coverage is light, but buildable to a light-medium. It conceals my skin imperfections pretty well and evens out my skintone. The finish is really natural and makes my skin look slightly glowy and fresh, and it lasts all day. I'd compare it to something like L'Oreal True Match Lumi, but with a creamier BB Cream-like texture. The only downside is that the tube only has 0.06 oz (what!?) and you can't unscrew the product to scoop out any last bits of product. With daily use, I finished the bottle in barely three weeks. I will repurchase though, because I do really like it. For reference I purchased the shade Vanilla, which is good for light, warm skintones tones (around MAC NC20 coloring). If I'm around NC30, I'd go for Buff. 

MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm - I have still yet to find my absolute favorite BB cream, but recently I've been using this one from MAC. The coverage isn't the best, but it's buildable. If you want a solid medium coverage, you'd have to apply a good amount, and by that point, it feels a little sticky on the skin until it's set with a powder. So instead, I like adding a pump of my regular medium coverage foundation with this and it provides me natural coverage for daily wear. I'll finish the tube, but I don't think I'd repurchase. I think there cheaper alternatives out there that work better. If you use this, I'd love to know what you think of it in the comments. 

Maybelline Fit Me! Shine Free Stick Foundation - As far as foundation goes, this product isn't very good, but I use it for the sole purpose of contouring/bronzing. I purchased this stick in the shade Cappuccino, which is a really nice caramel-brown. I like buffing the product through my cheeks and around the frame of my face to give me a natural, bronzed look. It can also work good as a base for powder bronzer if you have issues with your bronzer fading quickly throughout the day. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer - I've been wanting to try this concealer for years, and I finally bought a tube along with a fresh bottle of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (I'll talk about that later - it was one of my top foundations until it was reformulated and with three days of use I had a face full of acne that took over a month to clear up). I guess I was a bit underwhelmed with the results, as I expected it to have full coverage, but it doesn't. It's thick, yet it's translucent, so I need an additional brightener under my eyes as the shadows under my eyes still peek through. Again, with this product I'll try finishing the tube, but I don't think I'll be repurchasing.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - This has been my new favorite setting powder. It's really finely milled and doesn't add any color to the skin, it just softens the complexion and adds a soft glow. I use it every day with a stippling brush, and I even like using it with a beauty blender to set my under-eye concealer (you do have to be careful not to apply too much because It can stay in one spot and not move once you've blotted a load to an area). I have this powder in the shade diffused light, and it works perfectly for when I'm lighter or tan. 

Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner - Love this stuff! If you like Stila's Stay All Day Liquid Liner, you'll like this one too. The shape and density of the felt tip is perfect for creating a wing, and the pigment is really dark. I still like Stila a little bit better, as it's waterproof, but this one is a for sure second. Plus, I was able to find a three-pack at TJ Maxx for under $10 - was I just lucky? 

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base - I've talked about this before on my blog, but in the past, I've only used samples from the BB counter. I finally purchased a full sized container, and I've really been enjoying using it daily under my makeup. It moisturizes my sensitive skin really well without irritating it or making it greasy, and it makes my skin look fresh and supple. It's a bit expensive, but a little goes a long way. If you feel uneasy about contaminating the product with your fingers, I'd recommend buying cosmetic spatulas from your local beauty supply store, or even eBay.

Unite Hair Products - I've been wanting to talk about this brand for months. This has been the main brand I've been using for haircare. I learned about it from the salon I go to occasionally, and Unite is the brand they use exclusively. Each time the products were used on my hair I loved the way my hair looked, smelled, and felt, so I would end up buying at least one product each time I'd get my hair done. What I love is that the shampoos are sulfate-free and the products are all free of parabens. My main favorite products are the 7 Seconds Condition Leave-in Spray, U Luxury Argan Oil and my newest favorite, the Lazer Straight Relaxing Fluid, which relaxes my hair really well prior to blowdrying. I've also used a few of their shampoos and conditioners - right now I'm using the Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner (I have very dry hair) which work really well, but it's so moisturizing that with repeated use, my hair gets a little weighed down, so I need to use a clarifying shampoo every couple of weeks. Highly recommend Unite - all of their products have great reviews on Amazon.

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand Review, Photos, Swatches!

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand ($5) is a lightweight concealer that covers under-eye circles and imperfections on the face without looking cakey or obvious. It's non-comedogenic, so it won't clog your pores. Available in (8) skin shades and (3) color correcting shades.

The NYX HD Concealer is actually one of NYX's best selling products and it's a product that I've seen recommended countless times.

I purchased the shade CW05 Medium, which is described as a medium beige with olive undertones. I don't know about olive, but the shade is very peachy with a hint of pink. In MAC concealers I always use the shade NW25 and it's a pretty good equivalent - NYX has a stronger peach tone though, which works really well for counteracting under-eye darkness. Don't judge the shade by what the tube looks like from the outside because it looks much lighter than it really is. I also find that the color oxidizes a bit shortly after application.

The concealer has a light/thin, creamy, velvety texture and dries to a semi-matte finish. It smooths on easily and blends out really well. Some compare the texture to MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer, but it's definitely not as wet/liquidy. I find it to be most comparable to Nars Radiant Concealer, but it's not as budge-proof as Nars. Nars dries down quickly, whereas NYX doesn't fully set without the help of a powder.

The first few times I used this concealer, I didn't like it. It looked dry, almost ashy and obvious. With all of the positive reviews, I was persistent to get it to work for me. It turned out that all I needed was some eye cream (or any moisturizer) prior to applying the concealer. The results were a day and night difference.

I always make sure to apply a moisturizer to my under-eye area and then I wipe a generous amount of concealer under both of my eyes straight from the applicator. I don't blend it out right away - I'll usually dot my foundation all over my face and then take a beauty blender and blend my foundation in and then lastly, blend in my concealer with light, patting motions. I blend my concealer last to give the concealer a little time to set on my skin so when I finally blend it out, the coverage is a bit fuller. Also, the foundation residue from my sponge will help blend the concealer with my foundation. Sometimes I'll add an extra layer of concealer and blend with my finger tips and set with a powder (Ben Nye Neutral Set, of course!)

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Review, Photos, Swatches!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

This past February, Nars added a new concealer to their permanent line. It's about time, right? Nars is such a fabulous brand, and it was only a matter of time before they'd launch a liquid concealer, as the brand prior had only a stick/cream concealer, which frankly isn't that popular.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28) is a lightweight creamy liquid concealer with a medium (buildable to full) coverage and a luminous finish. It is creaseproof and long-wearing. It doesn't contain parabens, alcohol, synthetic fragrances, etc.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is available in (10) shades: Chantilly (True ivory for fairest skin), Vanilla (Slight pink for for fair skin), Honey (warm peach for light-med skin), Custard (yellow tone for light-med skin), Ginger (golden tone for med skin), Biscuit (neutral med-dark skin), Caramel (golden yellow for med-dark skin), Amdande (med-dark w/ golden olive undertones) and Cafe and Cacao (for dark skin w/ deep gold/brown undertones).

I chose the shade Custard, which is a good MAC NC25-NC30 match. I could've gone a shade darker, which would have been Ginger, which is a good MAC NC35 match.

The consistency of this concealer is a creamy satiny-velvet. Despite it being liquid, it's not very moist in comparison to MAC Select Moisturecover or MAC Pro Longwear which feel wet and creamy to the touch & provide a dewy finish. The NARS concealer wipes on in an opaque layer (literally like paint) and blends quickly to a high coverage perfection and dries to a natural, non shiny, non matte finish.

One layer of product provides adequate full coverage for me. It doesn't settle in my fine lines (I'm assuming because of the high silicone content) and it brightens up my eye area really well.

Here's a before and after of one layer of concealer blended with a foundation brush.

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Concealer Review, Photos, Swatches!

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Concealer

Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Concealer ($12.95) is new twist-pen style concealer that's a part of the Physicians Formula Super BB line. The line consists of a BB Cream, concealer and powder that are all designed to perfectly compliment each other. The BB concealer is said to diminish the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, imperfections, blemishes, redness and uneven skin tone.

Physicians Formula Super BB Concealer is available in two shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Deep. I purchased Light/Medium which I'd consider to be around the MAC NC20 coloring. It's peachy toned, so it's ideal for covering up under eye darkness.

The consistency is very thin and creamy. If you're familiar with MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer, it has that similar thin, wet consistency, but creamy to the touch.

One quarter of a twist provides enough product for one eye. I apply it directly from the brush to my undereyes and then lightly pat the product with my finger tips to blend. Patting works best with this concealer as opposed to wiping to provide the best coverage. The product diffuses into the skin without much of a trace. It has a healthy, dewy (not greasy) finish much like the BB cream.

The coverage is light and can be slightly built, but not up to much. With two layers it can be built to a light-medium, but still fairly sheer. It never fully reaches what I'd consider to be medium coverage.

It doesn't completely camouflage my under eye darkness, but it does slightly lighten them up. Since I like a pretty opaque undereye coverage, I usually apply my regular concealer prior to my foundation and then after my foundation I like applying a brightener - something like YSL Touche Eclat or MAC Prep & Prime Highlighter. Sometimes I use a lighter concealer, and this seems to work pretty well for that. It's not opaque enough to do major brightening, but because of it's thin consistency and blendability, it's ideal for layering since it will never look thick or cakey.

It doesn't settle in my fine lines and it feels lightweight on the skin.

Here's the before and after of one layer. You can see from the after photo that some darkness is still visible and you can faintly see my sun spots.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer Review, Photos and Swatches!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer ($9.99) is a super-concentrated and pigmented liquid concealer combined with goji berry and haloxyl to help erase the appearance of dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. It has a unique tube design in that when you twist the top, product will be released in the round, squishy applicator sponge.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer is available in (6) shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Honey, Neutralizer and Brightener. Although the neutralizer shade can be used on it's own, it's also recommended for extreme dark circles to apply underneath your regular concealer for maximum coverage. The brightener shade is pink based used to brighten up areas of the eyes and face.

I was conflicted which shade to purchase. For reference, I have medium skin with warm undertones (MAC NC35 coloring currently). Fair and Light looked too light for me, and Medium looked too dark. So, I ended up with Neutralizer.

Neutralizer is a light peachy yellow color. It seems to apply slightly lighter than it looks in the tube, and it's a little too light for me, but works fine if I blend a little foundation on top. (See swatches at the end of this post.) Medium would've probably been a better match for me.

You have to twist the tube several times to get it going at first and thereafter a small amount is dispersed with each twist. You can apply it to your undereyes with the sponge directly, or you can wipe the product off with your finger to apply or wipe the product off with a concealer brush. I like using it directly from the tube, as I think the sponge is the funnest part of using this product!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer Before & After. (my skin is not moisturized prior, so you can see it looks a bit dry and powdery)

Here's how it looks with my skin moisturized applied over my foundation. (you can see it looks much better)

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer Review, Photos, Swatches!

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer ($25) is an oil and paraben free pigmented concealer that is transfer-proof and water resistant. It's described as being heavy-duty and multitasking as it not only hides dark undereye circles and blemishes, but even tattoos.

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer is available in (8) shades: 16, 18, 22, 24, 26, 28, 34 ad 36.

I received a sample of the shade 22, which is a soft beige, suitable for medium-light skin tones.

Because this concealer claims to be heavy enough to cover tattoos, I expected it to be a thick, somewhat dry consistency concealer (maybe something like the Make Up Forever Full Coverage Concealer). I was rather surprised to see that the consistency is actually pretty light (almost whipped) and very creamy. It also smooths out really well on the skin.

I'd consider it a medium coverage concealer, but it can be built to a fuller coverage when layered. One layer is never adequate coverage for me, but I like the fact that when I apply a few layers, it doesn't look heavy or unnatural. It also covers blemishes pretty well. After my foundation, I usually pat it on and then set with a powder puff.

You really don't need much, and I'd recommend starting out with less product than you think you'll need and go back to add more if necessary.

My favorite brush to apply this particular concealer is the MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, although any standard concealer brush works fine. I sometimes like using my fingers as well, but a brush seems to provide more coverage.

The only downside I've experienced is that it makes my undereyes feel a little heavy and dry. I always moisturize my undereye area with Argan oil, so I don't have any issues with it actually making my undereyes appear dry, but it's a concealer that I can feel on my skin.

It lasts really well throughout the day with minimal to no fading.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer Review & Photos!

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer 

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($45) was created to mimic the appearance of healthy, radiant skin. It's a cream foundation and concealer wrapped up in one product. Containing honey and jojoba oil, this foundation is creamy, moisturizing and creates a soft, natural dewy finish.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is available in (16) shades: SX01, SX02, SX03, SX04, SX05, SX06, SX07, SX08, SX09, SX10, SX11, SX12, SX13, SX14, SX15 and SX16.

I chose SX08, which is a warm medium shade with strong yellow undertones. It's suitable for the MAC NC35 coloring.

The texture of this cream is a bit different than other cream products I've used. It compares to the creaminess/goopiness of Benefit Erase Paste, but it's more dense and not as tacky. For instance, it's absolutely nothing like MAC Studio Finish Concealer (MAC Full Coverage Foundation) or Cinema Secrets/Graftobian/Ben Nye Foundations which are like the standard cream compact makeup - often dry and dense or with a similar consistency to a concealer stick. It's so much more creamy - luxuriously creamy, but it's also very thick/dense. Because of this, you need a tiny amount (about 1/4 the size of a pea or less) to provide full coverage to the entire face.

Since the formula is so concentrated, it doesn't move around well on dry skin. Whenever wearing this foundation, moisturizing and/or priming the face is an essential step. I usually use a silicone based primer for it to spread better, or apply a generous amount of moisturizer. Then, I like taking a concealer brush and wiping a line of product on each cheek, my chin and forehead. Then, I take a duo-fiber brush and with small circular motions blend it in completely. After it's blended, I like taking a facial mist and spritzing my face and using the duo-fiber brush again buff my face more to make sure everything is perfectly blended.

The result is completely flawless skin that actually looks like skin.

(Wearing Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX08)

E.L.F. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer Review, Photos and Swatches!

E.L.F. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer

E.L.F. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer ($3) is a buildable coverage concealer that can be used on the face and body. It's oil-free, highly pigmented and long-lasting. Suitable for covering blemishes and scars, and even claims to cover tattoos and birthmarks.

E.L.F. Studio Maximum Coverage Concealer is available in (5) shades: Porcelain, Sand, Nude, Beige, Tan and Almond.

I purchased Sand, which is ideal for fair to light skin tones with a neutral balance of yellow and pink undertones, and Nude, which is ideal for light skin tones with yellow undertones.

Nude and Sand swatched on my MAC NC25-27 skin

It comes in a fairly large (large for a concealer) squeeze tube that contains 0.7 fl oz/20 ml of product. Most concealers contain around 0.5 fl oz or less of product, so you get a really good amount for the price.

The consistency is creamy and dense, and when you blend it, it has a emollient mousse texture. It's almost comparable to the creamy texture of MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation or Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup.

It blends effortlessly into the skin with the help of my fingertips. I usually apply it with my fingertips, by a light tap-and-drag motion until it's thoroughly blended. If necessary, I'll build a second layer for additional coverage.

(E.L.F. Maximum Coverage Concealer in Nude before and after)

Even with layers, it doesn't feel or look heavy, and it doesn't settle in my fine lines, which I think is due to the moisturizing texture. It really sinks into the skin making my under-eyes look healthy, radiant and moisturized. It has a dewy finish that never really dries/sets though, so applying a good helping of setting powder is a must. I usually take a powder puff and lightly press-and-roll the powder into my skin, making it completely budge-proof (much more effective than dusting the powder under my eyes with a brush).

MAC Radiant Rose Prep + Prime Highlighter Review, Photos and Swatches!

MAC Radiant Rose Prep + Prime Highlighter 

MAC Prep + Primer Highlighter  ($24) is a pen-style creamy highlighter that brings a sheer wash of color to the skin wherever it is applied. It can be used under makeup to prime and brighten, or on top of makeup to highlight.

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter is available in (3) shades: Light Boost (soft yellow cream), Radiant Rose (light shell pink) and Bright Forecast (mid tone peachy coral). (You can find swatches of all three shades on Temptalia)

I purchased Radiant Rose, as pink toned highlighters seem to do the best job brightening on my particular skin tone.

Several brand make these pen style highlighters, and I find that most of the time they are pretty expensive for the amount of product you receive. YSL Touche Eclat for instance costs $40 for a 0.10 oz tube. Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener costs $38 for 0.05 oz and Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen costs $37 for 0.05 oz. They might all be mildly effective, but I personally think they are very expensive for how long they last with daily use.

I was thrilled when MAC came out with a highlighter pen, as MAC tends to be a bit lower priced than most high-end cosmetics. At $24 for 0.12 oz, it's very easily the best value overall, therefore I'm the most willing to purchase from MAC.

MAC Prep & Prime Radiant Rose Highlighter (left) and YSL Touche Eclat #1 Radiant Touch (right). Both are swatched on warm, medium skin (MAC NC30).

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter Review, Photos and Swatches!

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer/Corrector ($12.95) is a liquid concealer/highlighter in a clickable pen - similar to to the concept of the YSL Touche Eclat. This pen is meant to highlight/brighten areas of the face more than it is to conceal blemishes, so if you're looking for a heavy duty cover-up, this won't be the correct product for you.

The L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter is available in (4) shades: Fair, Light and Medium and Deep.

*You may notice that the packaging of my tube reads "concealer/corrector", so I phoned L'Oreal to double check if the concealer and highlighter are the same product. It is indeed the same exact product, but they have changed the name to "highlighter" rather "concealer". I'm guessing they didn't want it to sound misleading as a concealer, being it doesn't cover much.

I like applying the highlighter to the inner corners of my eyes and along the bridge of my nose. It can also be used on the cheekbones, brow bone and cupids-bow. What's really great about this highlighter, is that it's not shimmery and stark against the skin. It's sheer and subtle, and will do it's job of bringing light to the areas of where it's applied.

A few of my old never-fail products - and yep, they're all MAC.

I'm sure most of us makeup fanatics have a few products in our makeup stash that you can consider your "never fail" products. They are the often neglected, but never forgotten products that you know you can use, and they'll never let you down. You may not use them every day, but once you run out, you know you have to purchase another to replace it. Maybe it's a certain eyeliner or a particular blush. Maybe it's one item in each category. I'm sure I have a few more than I'm mentioning - but I wanted to dedicate a post to these few that stood out to me and always have a warm place in my heart: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, MAC Studio Finish Concealer and MAC Select Cover-Up.

It's a complete coincidence that they're all MAC products - and it's even a bigger coincidence that they are some of the first MAC products I ever tried.

I remember my first trip to MAC like it was yesterday. I was a senior in highschool and it was my first time ever buying non-drugstore makeup. I purchased (George purchased it, actually. We just started dating at the time!) Studio Fix Fluid in NC40, Blot Powder in Med-Dark, Select Cover-up in Peach, Paint in Bare Canvas and Eyeshadows in Gorgeous Gold, Moons Reflection and Aquadisiac. Aside from the shadows, I continue using all of those products till this day.

READ MORE!

Sonia Kashuk Take Cover Concealing Stick Review!

Sonia Kashuk Take Cover Concealing Stick

What do you guys think of Sonia Kashuk makeup? To be honest, I've never really tried any of their color cosmetics. When I shop at the drugstore for makeup, I'm usually looking for a really good sale, one where I can typically attach a manufacturer coupon with, to knock off a couple of extra dollars. Then, if it's something that didn't really work out for me, it wasn't a huge blow to my wallet.

Needless to say, Sonia Kashuk cosmetics are a little expensive and they rarely ever go on sale (maybe 10% off once in a while?) So, I figure for a few more dollars I can invest in some MAC. 

Well, Sonia Kashuk's Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette has caused quite the stir in the beauty blogging world. It's a little palette containing two concealers, a neutralizer and setting powder. The concealers look a little dark for my current "light" skintone, so I usually pass it up on my grocery trips to Target. But recently, I got a hold of Sonia's stick concealer in a makeup swap and it's a great match. 

"Buildable medium to high coverage concealer that perfectly hides skin imperfections with an absolute natural, non-powdery finish." - http://soniakashuk.com

Sonia Kashuk Take Cover Concealing Stick is available in three shades: Daylight, Dawn and Dusk. I have the shade Dawn, which is a lovely light, golden beige. It matches my NC15-20 skintone very well.

(From left to right: Daylight, Dawn and Dusk.)

READ MORE! (before & after photos included)

Becca Compact Concealer Review (With before & after photos)!

Becca Compact Concealer

I'm the prowl for a new concealer! As of lately I've been stuck mostly on my MAC Prolongwear Concealer, MAC Studio Finish Concealer and Coastal Scents Camo Quad. But, you all know me by now, and I get bored quickly with the same ol' products every day, and love switching it up and discovering new products.

I've been wearing MUFE Full Cover Concealer every once in a while, but the more I use it, the more I kinda realize I'm not a huge fan. Any lovers of Make Up Forever Full Cover out there? After a few hours I notice it settles kinda funny and it causes my eye makeup to transfer.

Anyways, Since my complexion has been resembling Snow White lately, I needed to find a concealer light enough to match my skintone that offers heavy coverage and is also long lasting.

So, I was recommended to try out Becca's concealer. I've never tried anything from Becca before, so I excited to give it a go. It turns out Becca Compact Concealer is everything I was looking for. 

Becca Compact Concealer consists of two concealers - one is called the "extra cover" and one is called the "medium cover". The idea is to create the amount of coverage you'd like - by layering or using each of them on different areas of the face.

The "medium cover" works great for the under-eyes and the "extra-cover" works great for spots on the face, as they often need more coverage. The consistency of the "extra-cover" concealer is slightly drier, so it's very ideal for spots, as it's not going to budge/fade.

Becca Compact Concealer comes in a huge variety of shades (34 to be exact) to match all skintones - from very fair to deep dark. I've never seen so many shades - especially for a concealer, so there shouldn't be too many problems finding your perfect shade.

I have the shade Sherbet, which is a duo of two fair shades. They're almost identical, except one of them is slightly peachier. It's a pretty nice match if you're around the MAC NC15 coloring.

 Becca Compact Concealer in Sherbet

Here are both shades swatched on my hand. My hands are a little darker than my face, but on my face, it's a spot on match.

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Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer Review, Photos and Swatches!

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer

After blogging for a while, you start recognizing the products that get the most praise and recognition. Because of the popularity and rave reviews, you'll ultimately get sucked into purchasing a "blogger pick/favorite" sooner or later, some being great, and others - not so much.

Concealer is one of my favorite items of makeup. I'll never get tired of my endless endeavor, searching my local stores high and low for the best medium-full coverage, lightweight, brightening, non-caking, non-creasing, long-lasting concealer. Maybe my standards are too high? There are some concealers I favor - Hard Candy Glamoflauge (perfecto, but a little too dewy & not long lasting), MAC concealers (Pro Longwear, Studio Finish, Select Cover-up), but I've grown completely bored with them and am on the lookout for a new-found love!

Could it be Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer? I surely hoped so, but it does fall short of my standards.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

• Blends easily for complete yet natural coverage
• Conceals imperfections and undereye darkness all day
• Pure color, natural luminous finish
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Talc, oil and fragrance free, non-pore-clogging

There are six (6) shades in total: Fair 10, Ivory 20, Cream 30, Sand 40, Beige 50 and Latte 60. 

Depending on the store you're purchasing from/location you may have a limited shade selection. The few CVS stores in my area only stocked the lightest 2-3 shades. I ended up getting "Cream" due to the limited shade selection.

CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Corrector Review + BEFORE & AFTER Pics!

CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Corrector 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Covergirl's Simply Ageless Concealer formula covers imperfections, conceals under-eye circles and visibly brightens skin. Like all Simply Ageless makeup, it's made with advanced Olay Regenerist Serum, and it stays suspended over fine lines and wrinkles, for younger, firmer-looking skin.

• Transforms from solid to liquid on contact with skin, for smooth application
• Easy to apply with finger to target problem areas
• Brightens skin under eyes for a more wide-awake look

For someone with dark (hereditary) under eye darkness, finding a product that is targeted as a "corrector" at the drugstore sounded very inviting, especially since I'm about three uses close to finishing my Bobbi Brown Corrector. Now, although I do love my Bobbi Brown, it is incredibly expensive with daily use. At $22 per 1.4g of product, the 9g jar of Olay is much more affordable and half the price; $11. Plus, there are always P&G coupons in the paper for Covergirl for extra savings.

The difference between a corrector and concealer? 
The difference is quite simple. A concealer is used to cover up or conceal any blemishes/imperfections, as well as under eye circles, redness, etc. It will usually pack more coverage than your typical foundation, so by the time you apply your foundation, all of your imperfections will be hidden. Of you can use a concealer without using foundation if you can find a good match for your skintone.

A corrector typically won't match your skintone. It is used to correct a color problem. It will contain a higher amount of color pigments to neutralize the color you're trying to conceal. Look at the color wheel for reference. The color directly across from the color you want to conceal is going to be the neutralizer.

Review: E.L.F. Studio Complete Coverage Concealer Palette!

Left: Light, Right: Dark

ELF Studio Complete Coverage Concealer

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Savvy beauty shoppers rejoice—now there is no need to buy new concealer from season to season for meeting the different needs your skin tone may have. e.l.f. introduces a sleek quad compact filled with four brilliant, customizable concealers ranging from light, medium and dark shades. A must have for anyone’s makeup kit these highly pigmented, professionally formulated concealers offer ultimate coverage to disguise a range of boo-boos and flaws including blemishes, dark circles, redness and uneven skin-tone for a flawless, makeup artist finish!

AVAILABLE IN THREE (3) SHADES: Light, Medium and Dark.  (I purchased all three, but I only received Light and Dark and was refunded for Medium because apparently it was out of stock)

READ MORE FOR MY REVIEW AND SWATCHES!

Benefit Erase Paste Review, Photos and Swatches!

Benefit Erase Paste 

Benefit Erase Paste ($26) is a concentrated, creamy, blendable concealer that instantly brightens and camouflages all-in-one. It has an innovative formula which makes sure signs of stress and fatigue are a thing of the past.

The consistency of Benefit Erase Paste is quite different than any other concealer I've tried. You would think it would be similar in texture to your average pot concealer (MAC Studio Finish, NYX Concealer in a jar, etc). But, actually, it's what the name implies.. "paste". When you touch the concealer with your finger, instead of leaving a dent in the product, a small amount of product will stick to your finger. It's very thick and tacky, but very creamy.

I find that it requires a little work to blend into the skin, and a little does not go a long way. Because the product is very dense and thick, it doesn't smooth across my under eyes as well as I thought it would. I found this product works the best when it is dotted under my eyes and then blending it with light tapping motions of the tip of my finger. The "window washer" sweeping technique isn't as effective, and I found myself having to go back for more product. The finish is a bit dewy and can settle in your fine lines if you don't set it with powder.

Because of the products milky pink color, it works extremely well at brightening the under eyes. I found that my eye area looks much more illuminated when wearing this. I do have to mention that I was a little disappointed with the coverage. When I swatched the product on my hand when I was at UTLA, I thought that it was going to provide full coverage because of the product density. Once this concealer is blended under the eyes, it sheers out quite a bit. The coverage is definitely buildable to a heavy medium, but because of it's texture, when it's built some may experience a problem with it settling or caking. I didn't notice caking under my eyes, but I did notice it doesn't stay put/set well. I have to apply my foundation very carefully under my eyes after I've applied the Erase Paste or it will get swept away with the brush, and I'll end up having to apply more. I personally love using it in conjunction with another concealer. I've tried it under (as well as on top) of Hard Candy Glamoflauge and the end result is 100% coverage with a brightening effect.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer Review!

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Medium

I discovered this concealer at Wal-mart not too long ago when I was browsing the newest products by Hard Candy. When I spotted Glamoflauge, it automatically rang a bell as a product I've heard of before (unless I was thinking of Benefit Powderflage.. haha). So I quickly went on my phone and checked the reviews on Makeupalley. The reviews looked very promising. I fumbled through the rack to find my shade, only to find one left in the shade medium, which happened to be an opened box covered with concealer fingerprints. YUCK! Despite the dirty box from whomever swatched it, I decided to purchase it.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: A heavy duty, highly pigmented, multi-use concealer that delivers ultimate coverage. The formula blends seamlessly into skin with plenty of play time creating a flawless and natural look perfect for any occasion. You can hide everything from dark circles and blemishes to tattoos!

It's quite unfortunate that this concealer only comes in three (3) shades, which is probably the only non positive thing I can say about this concealer. There is light, medium and tan. I chose medium, which happens to be a medium beige with yellow/olive undertones. In fact, the olive undertone is quite strong and can appear green on certain skintones. I have used it on myself as well as my best friend. She is middle eastern, with light/medium olive skin and it matched her perfectly, and she would be able to wear it alone. I on the other hand, would not be able to wear this alone, as the green looks more obvious on my skintone.

As for the product itself, I can honestly say it's the best FULL coverage (drugstore) concealer I have tried. It covers any blemishes, scars on my face with no effort and covers my under eye darkness completely. The consistency is a creamy liquid that isn't too dry and isn't too liquidy. It's thicker than MAC Select Cover Up & somewhat comparable to Mary Kaye or MUFE Full Coverage Concealer. Because the coverage is quite heavy, I would recommend moisturizing your under eyes well prior to applying this concealer so it won't accentuate your dryness & look very thick. Some of you may find this concealer too heavy for your needs, and some of you may find it perfect for your needs. If you find it too heavy for your under eyes, like I mentioned, it's excellent at covering blemishes. It's said to cover tattoos, and I wouldn't at all doubt it. I applied a little dab over one of my brown birthmarks, and it covered it completely.

The small pencil concealer is a cute little extra. It may not offer as much coverage as the liquid concealer, but it's useful for defining the eyebrows or lips. 

Overall, I really like this concealer and will continue using it for blemishes and under eyes. Again, my only complaint is the color selection and the undertone of the shade medium. I have to make sure to adequately apply my foundation over the concealer to cover up the green cast it gives me. Or, mix it with another concealer of mine. Other than that, I love it. I'll most likely be picking this up in the shade light as well.

Hard Candy products can be found at your local Wal-mart!