Amazing Cosmetics Concealer

Since I accepted a new position and bid sleep adieu, also the reason for my sudden absence, I’ve been on the search for a pigmented, smooth, long-lasting and affordable concealer to brighten up my undereye area. In short, I was looking for a miracle. Well, I’m back to tell you that I’ve found a pretty good product, definitely the best concealer I’ve used.

Amazing Cosmetics concealer is…amazing. I’ve ignored the hype about this product for so long; it actually says “World’s Best Concealer” right on the packaging. But I always figured; don’t they all claim to be the best? Well I think Amazing Cosmetics takes the cake. While it is a bit pricey at $28 for a 0.2 oz tube, a little bit goes a long way so it will last you quite awhile.  To test out concealers, I usually dab the product on the back of my hand and see how it does at covering up any veins. This one almost completely hid the blue on my hand so I knew it was coming home with me.

The concealer covers extremely well without looking cakey or accentuating any fine lines. It’s slightly tacky so I find it best to apply as I do all my eye products, using a tapping motion rather than rubbing it across your skin. Tapping the product in allows it to absorb more smoothly and blend seamlessly with the warmth of your fingers. I tend to use my fingers rather than a brush for that reason.

With some concealers, after application you can still see a slight shadow peaking through, but with this one due to the saturation of the color, shadows are nearly eliminated. Of course this depends on the severity of your darkness, but apply at your discretion. The product applies well in layers, so it’s best to start with a very little amount and build up to your desired coverage.

It wears fairy well, I’d say 8 hours or so with no touch-ups, and I have combination skin. It settles slightly into fine lines, but not offensively so; I’ve never met a concealer that hasn’t. I came across this product in the checkout line at Sephora and since I had a 10% VIB coupon, I decided to pick it up. Sephora doesn’t carry the entire line of Amazing Cosmetics, but Ulta does. The concealer also comes in a 0.5oz tube for $40 if you really fall in love with it. There are 10 shades to choose from, and I picked up the color Fair which is a nice match for my skin.

I’m still currently using my Bobbi Brown undereye corrector in Bisque, and I tap a light layer of Amazing Cosmetics concealer over it and voila! Looks like I got 8 hours of sleep rather than 4.

Summer on the Nails- Van D’Go

My nail color of choice for the last few days (which says something about wear, no chips yet) has been Essie’s Van D’Go. It’s a gorgeous, creamy shade of coral that looks stunning on medium skin tones, but it’s not terribly offensive on my fair skin.

Depending on the light, the color can lean more orange or more pink, but the important factor here is that it looks beautiful no matter what light you happen to find yourself in. The formula can apply a bit streaky, not unlike another favorite of mine by Essie: Fiji. This can be remedied either with some patience and repeated application, or my preference which is applying a matte base coat like Essie’s Fill the Gap. This polish provides a smooth canvas for any nail color to go over. It’s fantastic for reds and darker shades because it prevents any staining of the nail bed, and it’s perfect for pale pastels that may be streaky because it’s a strong base that holds onto color.

Van D’Go immediately inspires thoughts of spring and summer, and it adds a lovely and unexpected pop of color to any ensemble. I’m wearing it today with grey, if you can imagine. If you’re looking for a more wearable, softer shade of orange, this may be the one for you. I usually recommend starting off with more of a coral like Van D’Go before making the jump to a true shade of orange, but if you’re ready take the plunge!

Van D’Go premiered with Essie’s Spring 2010 collection, but I believe it is now a permanent shade as I have seen it at Ulta. Essie is also now carried at Target and Walmart if you’d like to peruse the nail polish section. Go out and have a look if you’re interested, and don’t forget your Ulta coupon for $3.50 off a $10.00 purchase this week.

Happy shopping!

Beauty Tip: Concealer

I’ve been asked a great deal lately about concealer and how to keep it from settling into fine lines and wrinkles. I have a sneaking suspicion that we have all succumbed to concealers that claim to be crease-resistant, which they never are. Our faces naturally move throughout the day (unless you’re Joan Rivers) and our makeup moves with it, causing creasing and shifting in products we applied. There are, however, ways to minimize the alteration in appearance of the products we put on.

As far as concealer goes, my number one tip has to do with eyeshadow primer. Most brands, both drugstore and high-end, have come out with many different eyeshadow primers in many different formulas. Depending on your skin type, you may favor one primer’s texture over another.

My primer of choice is Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I like this particular product because it provides a smooth base for eyeshadow to cling to, which increases its longevity. While the primer allows the eyeshadow to stick, it also allows for it to blend easily which not all primers do. The same concept applies to concealer. There are many primers on the market, though, and a very affordable one is put out by Palladio which can be found at Ulta, Sally Beauty Supply and select Bed Bath and Beyond stores.

Before beginning, always make sure the fragile skin under your eyes is well moisturized, but don’t use too much product or anything you put on top of it will appear cakey and unnatural. When applying your primer, don’t limit your canvas to just your eyelid. Instead, carry it down under your eye and into the inner corner where you see any darkness. Blend it in with the warmth of your finger tips and let it set for a minute, then apply your corrector and concealer as you normally would. After they are blended tear a tissue in half and use one sheet to gently blot the under eye area. This will remove any excess oil while leaving the pigment. An oily finish under the eye attracts light which brings attention to anything you’re trying to conceal, while mattifying the area does the opposite. It avoids catching the light and helps to direct attention elsewhere on the face.

Finish by setting everything with a minimal amount of powder using a fluffy blending brush rather than a sponge. These steps will noticeably increase the wear of your concealer and keep it looking fresh and flawless all day.