Concealers (Part 3 – Different Formulations)

For the past couple of days I have been discussing concealers – shade selection and application and whether or not you should apply concealer before or after foundation.  Today I will discuss the 5 most popular formulations/packaging of concealers and the specific areas of the face they should be used on.

Tube:  This form of concealer is creamy in texture. Offering a range of coverage from medium to full, this form of concealer is perfect for concealing blemishes on various areas of the face.  This formulation can also be used under the eye, providing that you mix in a little of your eye cream with it for better blending.  Brands that include tube concealers are Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer, Smashbox High Definition Concealer, Clinique All About Eyes Concealer and Dior DiorSkin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer.

Pot:  Also creamy in texture but tends to be more opaque.  Can be used for dark marks but is best for under eye circles.  Brands that include concealers in this category are Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, Korres Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Concealer, and Makeup Forever Camouflague Cream Palette.

Stick:  These look like lipstick and can be applied directly to the face.  Providing a range of coverages, this form is not recommended for under the delicate eye area because they can drag the skin.  Brands include Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer, Nars Concealer, Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer and Black Opal Flawless Perfecting Concealer.

Wand:  This form, which can be used on all areas of the face,  provides sheer coverage.  Use the wand to apply directly to your skin and blend with a brush or sponge. Brands include, Cover Girl Queen Collection Concealer, YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch, Tarte The Eraser 4 in 1 Concealer, Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer.

Powder:  This formulation provides sheer to medium coverage and tends not to cake up as much as some of the of the other formulations.  Great for the eye, nose and cheek area.  Brands include Bare Minerals Multitasking Face and Physicians Formula Mineral Wear 3 in 1 Concealer Foundation Powder.

*Whichever formulation you use, please remember to blend, blend, blend :0)

 

luscious lips products

searching for a great lip product?  well here are several amazing lip products, some new, some tried and true that will treat, shine, plump and make your lips oh so kissable :0)

Avon Pro Color & Gloss Lip Duo – a wonderful lipstick/lipgloss duo that you can wear together or separately, creating 3 unique looks.  what i love about the packaging is that the lipgloss is in an inner tube within the lipstick so it’s like a “two in one” deal – no more searching for separate lipstick, gloss, and/or applicators. the lipgloss is a shade lighter than the lipstick which will create the illusion of fuller lips if worn with the lipstick. (my favorite color is foxy brown) $10, 10 awesome shades.  avon.com

Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick – there is nothing more sumptuous than a product that goes on like a creamy shiny lipgloss with the staying power of an rich luxurious lipstick. this cooling (yes it feels like a cool drink of water on the lips), water based liquid lipstick which contains certified organic acai palm pulp oil,  smooths lines and protects against free radical damage, leaving lips hydrated and more youthful looking. (red 56 which is a vibrant red and nude beige 30 which is a neutral pinky beige are my favs).  $22, 6 beautiful shades.  korresusa.com

Dior Serum De Rouge Luminous Color Lip Treatment – repair. treat. hydrate. smooth. plump. firm. define. spf 20.  serious and luxurious.  need i say more?  $32, 17 shades. sephora.com

Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick – this product does triple duty as a liner, creamy lipstick, and a plumper.  packed with powerful antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E) and a built in sharpener, this Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick will take you from zero to gorgeous in no time flat. (monte carlo, a gorgeous magenta is my fav) $18, 12 shades. sephora.com

Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense – not for the faint at heart. rouge artist intense is formulated with 50% more pigment than traditional lipstick, delivering outrageous, attitudinal color intensity. my absolute favorite shade is #15, a pearly violet.  i line/fill my lips with the makeup forever aqua lip waterproof lipliner pencil in 11c  or 12c, layer #15 lipstick on top. my soul (and my lips) say YES!!!!  $19. available in 3 finishes (matte, satin, pearly) and 50 shades exclusively at sephora and sephora.com

Wet N Wild Mega Slicks Lipgloss – yes an old school favorite of mine which is packed with vitamins A and E and comes in 14 colors and is only $1.99.  if you want more popping lipcolor and shine, add the mega brilliance lipgloss on top for a frosty, reflective sparkly effect. (sometimes im in THAT mood).  $1.99 at all of your local drug stores such as duane reed, cvs, and walgreens.

Black Opal Patent Lips Liquid Lipstick – cant get enough of this rich creamy color that goes on with the shine of a gloss and the staying power of a lipstick.  comes in 8 amazing shades. my favorite is the coppertone, which is a brownish, coppery shade.  $6.75 found at your local cvs and blackopalbeauty.com

Milani Buzz Worthy Lipgloss – love, love, love the sheer brilliant high shine packed inside of these convenient squeeze tubes. formulated with jojoba seed oil as well as vitamin A & E.  perfect for layering on top of your favorite lipstick. $5.49  available in 9 shades.  milanicosmetics.com

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment – say goodbye to your chapstick because this does more than coat your lips with a questionable wax-like substance.  Made with real sugar,  (a humectant which binds moisture to your skin), vitamins A, C, & E, and antixoidant grapeseed oil, this lip treatment penetrates your lips to plump and protect.   even better, this product is made without parabens, synthetic dyes, and petrochemicals.  worthy enough to be kept by my bedside and in my purse, maybe yours too.  also a great prep for lips before applying lip color.  available in clear, tinted rose and tinted plum.  $22.50.  fresh.com

Rosebud Salve - love love love this product because of the multiplicity of uses.  great for dry cracked lips, hands, elbows, sooths minor burns and diaper rash.  what else can you ask for?  available in a tube and a small tin (and great for the fellas too).  $6.  sephora.com

looks like you have some shopping to do :0)

Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation

i am super excited about one of the latest additions to the fabulous world of Laura Mercier.  Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Foundation is one of the most sumptuous, luxurious creme foundations i have ever come in contact with.  the buildable formulation, which contains a multi-peptide complex with Dermaxyl, a very powerful anti-aging property, as well as optical diffusers to blur the lines of imperfection, looks natural and flawless on the skin when applied with a foundation brush and then blended/buffed out with a stippling brush.  my only call out is the fact that this product has a limited deeper shade range, however it is still a great product, perfect for those with normal to dry skin types.   $50 at Sephora and other fine department stores.

eye prime and treat

there are many awesome eyeshadow primers that i love and use regularly on myself and my clients such as shadow insurance by too faced, urban decay eyeshadow primer potion and smashbox photo finish lid primer.  now im adding to the list Sephora Collection Perfecting Eye Primer.  what i like about this translucent primer is the fact that it can be used around the entire eye area to make your eye makeup/concealer crease proof and long lasting AND it has anti-aging benefits in it to help minimize fine lines and circles .  this product comes in a tube so i use either my finger or a concealer brush to apply.  $14

gimme a hand

so i’ve searched the world over to find a hand cream that actually works.  ok.  not the world over but it seems like it because i have definitely spent a lot of time, money, and energy looking for perfection in a tube or a jar -  something that will make my hands smooth, supple, and soft.  i mean who wants crusty hands? and you know the type – lotions and creams that claim to moisturize, restore or renew only to leave your hands worse than they were before you applied lotion.  at one point i even swore off lotions and committed to just putting vaseline on my hands only to leave hand prints all over the place.  well that all changed when i discovered Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream.  this anti-aging cream contains nourishing shea butter and moisturizing avacado in a beatifully scented, light creamy formulation.  i am very impressed because i wash my hands a lot and this cream does a fab-mazing job of keeping my hands and cuticles soft and hydrated without being greasy.  Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream $19.