This New Concealer Covers Up Everything While Leaving Skin Looking Natural!
Concealer is probably the most valued item in my makeup bag. Without it, I feel like the walking dead and I'd rather be invisible. I have medium-dark undereye circles and some hyperpigmentation that I'm obviously not fond of, so maybe you can understand where I'm coming from on feeling so harsh about myself sans concealer.
My second most valued item is lipstick, which doubles as both a lip colour and blush. Are you really surprised?
But let's go back to concealer because it's not often I come across one that leaves my skin looking natural and covers it all up!
The new one from BAREMINERALS works beautifully and got me mad compliments on my skin the first day I wore it. #truestory
BAREMINERALS BAREPRO® 16-Hour Full Coverage Concealer
PROS: It's full coverage but is lightweight in texture, doesn't crease, blends like a dream, doesn't clog pores, is water and sweat-resistance, and looks natural and not dry.
CONS: None. Seriously.
With fifteen shade to choose from, the new BAREPRO concealer is formulated with antioxidant-rich Raspberry Seed Oil, Blackcurrant Seed Oil, and Sea Lavender to nourish skin.
Apply it straight right onto the skin, yes, right from the tube and blend with a brush, BeautyBlender or your fingers. Anything goes with this formula.
Retails for: $30 CND and $24 USD
BAREMINERALS Gen Nude® Powder Blush
Occasionally I'll use lipstick as blush because I've been loving monochrome look these days. With the new GEN NUDE blushes, I really don't have to do this because they've come out with six ridiculously flattering shades.
Formulated with a special Blurring Mineral Complex and infused with light-reflective mineral pearls to brighten skin and blur imperfections.
Retails for: $30 CND and $24 USD
GEN NUDE® Patent Lip Lacquer
New to the GEN NUDE collection are these shiny liquid lipsticks that come in 18 flattering shades. I love how they look natural but also add that extra oomph to the lips thanks to the shine. For more info and swatches on these babies, make sure you head over to my lipstick blog, LIPSICK.ME.
Retails for: $23 CND and $19 USD
For a more natural look this spring/summer, the new BAREPRO Concealer melts beautifully into bare skin. For a flawless photo-ready look, I've been wearing it with the BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation. My favourite way to apply it is by pressing the foundation into my skin using a flat, dense foundation brush. The look is honestly beyond flawless and will last all day!
Disclaimer: The products in this post are PR samples. All opinions and photography are my own.
NARS makes finding the right foundation shade a breeze!
SHOP THE POST
Finding a good foundation is tough. Between narrowing down the right formula for your skin type and nailing the perfect shade, foundation shopping is exhausting to say the least. Luckily, NARS has just released their Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, available in 33 shades to help you look like your best, flawless self.
Fans of the iconic Radiant Creamy Concealer are sure to love this foundation. It’s medium-to-full coverage, buildable, and fade resistant with 16-hour wear. It conceals imperfections such as hyperpigmentation and redness like a dream. Best applied with a damp sponge, the Radiant Longwear Foundation also looks great when applied with a foundation brush using a stippling motion.
It looks beautifully on its own, but I like to add a little bit of M.A.C's Strobe Cream to mine for a luminous finish. (Read more on my fail-proof foundation beauty tip here.)
NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation comes in 33 shades and retails for $60 (Canadian). It's now available at major retailers where NARS is sold - Sephora, sephora.ca, Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom, Murale, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
“
Formulated to improve skin hour by hour with skin optimizing complex - a blend of raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts that help support elastic fibers to smooth and improve skin texture - while specialized pigments recognize and fuse with your skin for your closest match yet.
“
-NARS
Find The Right NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation for You, 33 shades available
Mali (espresso)
Zambie (deep with neutral undertone)
Namibia (deep with red undertone)
Iguaçu (deep with olive undertone)
New Caledonia (deep with olive undertone)
Manaus (dark with caramel undertone)
Marquises (medium-dark to dark with yellow undertones)
Macao (medium-dark with yellow undertones)
Belem (medium-dark with red and brown undertones)
Caracas (medium-dark with warm red and golden undertones)
Cadiz (medium-dark with caramel and red undertones)
Huahine (medium-dark with peach undertones)
Moorea (medium-dark with golden olive undertones)
Tahoe (medium-dark with caramel undertones)
Syracuse (medium-dark with brown undertones)
Aruba (neutral for medium-to-medium dark complexions)
Valencia (medium with golden undertones)
Barcelona (medium with golden, peachy undertones)
Vanuatu (medium with a neutral balance of yellow and pink undertones)a
Stromboli (medium with olive undertones)
Sahel (medium with golden peach undertones)
Santa Fe (medium with peachy undertones)
Vallauris (medium with pink undertones)
Patagonia (medium with light peach undertones)
Punjab (medium with golden, peachy undertones)
Fiji (yellow undertones for light to medium complexions)
Vienna (peach undertones for light to medium complexions)
Deauville (light with neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones)
Salzburg (light with golden undertones)
Gobi (light with yellow undertones)
Yukon (light with peach undertones)
Mont Blanc (light with pink undertones)
Oslo (far with pink undertones)
NARS Adds 6 New Shades To Their Radiant Creamy Concealer Collection
If you're in between shades and happen to love the iconic Radiant Creamy Concealer formula, fret not because the brand has just released six new shades:
Café Con Leche (light with yellow undertones)
Marron Glacé (light yellow for light to medium complexions)
Tiramisu (medium with pink undertones)
Sucre D'Orge (medium dark with yellow undertones)
Walnut (medium dark with golden undertones)
Truffle (medium dark with golden red undertones)
Disclosure: Products featured in this story were provided as PR samples. All images, photography, artwork, and opinions are my own, with exception of the NARS logo.
Does This Drugstore Makeup Really Last 25-Hours?!
Upon doing the write up for this blog post, I sat down with the press release, like I normally do, and I did a double take when I saw Rimmel's latest makeup claims to be 25-hour wear.
I'm always hesitant when it comes to drugstore foundation and concealers because I'm on the yellow side, having olive skin tone. From my experience drugstore makeup tends to be a bit cooler and pink based but times-are-a-changing!
I found Rimmel's range from cool to warm tones to be pretty decent in this collection. As for fair to dark makeup - the darkest Rimmel goes is Mocha. I think a lot of drugstore brands still need to broaden their shade range in that regard.
Application & Wear Test
When it came to testing Rimmel's Lasting Finish Breathable Collection, I wanted to do it on a day where my skin was going to be exposed to as many elements as possible. I applied it late in the morning and then walked to the nearby shop to run errands.
That day it was cold and raining outdoors, but really dry and warm in the stores. By the time I walked back home, I was overheating in my parka and sweating.
My combination skin is on the drier side these days because I've been using a retinoid in my nightly skincare routine. I was hesitant about the foundation clinging to my dry spots, but it just smoothed over the areas and looked natural.
BTW - I skipped the Breathable Primer because I don't really use primer unless I have a special event. I applied the foundation with the doe foot applicator, which actually turned out to be awesome. I liked it much better than the pump foundations I'm used to.
I found the foundation to be lightweight in texture. It smoothed over my skin nicely with my fingers. Again, this is part of my daily routine. I only use a sponge or brush if I have a special event.
I wouldn't say it was medium coverage though as Rimmel states, but I read some reviews on Makeup Alley saying it's buildable.
For reference, I used the shade 200 Soft Beige, which seemed comparable to my NARS foundation in Figi (a light-medium warm shade).
Next the concealer. I used shade Light. I should mention here that I'm really, really snobby when it comes to concealer, and I don't like leaving visible dark spots and dark under eyes to chance, so I prefer the higher end stuff. Some of my favourites are NARS, Becca, M.A.C, and Laura Mercier.
I dotted the concealer and dabbed it with my fingers like I normally do. The only drugstore concealer I've ever liked and re-purchased is Maybelline's Fit Me concealer. I found Rimmel's Lasting Finish to be comparable, if not better, on my first impression. It's creamy and covers up nicely. I did have to go in with my NARS pot concealer in some areas, but I always layer my concealer.
I checked my makeup again at around 7 pm. The foundation seemed to be fading a bit but still looked pretty good, as did my blush. There was no patchiness, but there was a little bit of oxidization. I should have gone for a shade up with True Ivory. Keep this in mind when you shop for it.
The concealer had worn down a bit though. I had to reapply it and opted to use my trusty Tarte Shape Tape concealer instead to freshen up. People who need light-medium coverage will really dig Rimmel's Lasting Finish Concealer. I prefer medium-high coverage.
So, Is it Really 25-Hour Wear?
Let's be real. Makeup fades throughout the day and unless you're going to bed without washing your face, how are you going to know whether or not your makeup is 25-hour wear. Seriously?
While I personally can't vouch for Rimmel's 25-hour claim, I can tell you this is a pretty good bottle foundation for $12. I've tried some designer foundations that cost over $60 that aren't nearly as good. Rimmel gives us a decent range of shades too and has cool and warm skin tones covered, from fair to medium-dark. Again, keep in mind it does oxidize so go a shade lighter.
As for the concealer, I love how it applied and covered up initially, but it did fade mid-day. Perhaps this was is best suited for those who need less coverage.
Overall, this is a great little drugstore gem that's already a hit with lots of people boasting about it on Makeup Alley and is suitable for oily to dry skin.
Rimmel London's new Lasting Finish Breathable Collection consists of 15 shades of foundation ($11.99 each), 6 concealers ($10.99 each), and a Breathable Primer ($10.99). I'm not claiming it to be breathable, this is what the actual name of the product.
The foundation comes in a glass bottle and convenient doe-foot applicator that's really nice and convenient, especially when in a hurry. The concealer comes in a squeeze tube with a sponge tip applicator, while the primer comes in a squeeze tube.
Disclaimer: The products in this post are a PR sample. All photos and opinions in this post are 100% honest and my own.
The Fail Proof Way to Cover Up Dark Under Eye Circles
There's nothing worse than a sleepless night only to have to wake up the next morning and deal with covering up those dark undereye circles. I mean, the last thing you want is for your colleagues to sit across the boardroom wondering why you look so exhausted right? Or, maybe you're like me, and no matter how much sleep you get you still have dark under eyes! Regardless, you're here because you want to know how to cover them up and I want to tell you how. I've been batting with dark under eyes since I was a teen and I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert on the matter of concealing them. Below you'll find the best concealers and fail-proof methods in covering up dark under eye circles.
Best Concealers For Covering Up
Dark Under Eye Circles
BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector
Colour Corrector
This peach coloured concealer is your first step. Your primer if you will. The peachy tone helps cancel out the blue undertones in your undereye circles. Use it after eye cream and before your regular concealer by patting it on the darkest areas using your ring finger.
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
Medium-Full Coverage
Those with drier skin will love this creamy concealer. It's the one Makeup by Mario recommended in the Master Class I attended this summer and it's the one I've had in my makeup bag for months now. I like to apply this one with a concealer brush and layer it bit by bit so it covers up the darker areas.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
Full Coverage
This concealer is drier than the Laura Mercier one (mentioned above) and it's better suited for normal-oily skin. The formula is full coverage and it's great to use when you're in a rush in the morning since it gets rid of dark undereyes quickly. Best of all, it lasts all day.
Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme
Full Coverage
If you prefer creme over pot concealers then you're going to love the following three. KVD makes an amazing one in an array of skin tones that's full coverage and easy to work with. This full coverage formula applies great with a Beauty Blender or fingers and doesn't crease.
Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer
Full Coverage
Similar to KVD's concealer in terms of coverage and texture, this one is available only in the US right now but you can always order it through ulta.com fellow Canadians. I love the full coverage formula and how it doesn't budge, but I could do without the weird chemically odor. Maybe that's why it's not sold in Canada. Hmmm....
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Medium-Full Coverage
This iconic concealer is probably one of the brands best-selling product. If I remember correctly, one of my contacts from the Nars head office told me that a Creamy Radiant Concealer is sold around the world every minute. Wait, or was it second? Anyway, it totally makes sense because this medium-full coverage concealer is buildable and excellent for covering up dark circles.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Dark Under Eyes
Pay close attention because getting rid of dark circles isn't difficult by any means. It doesn't have to take long and you don't even have to use any of the concealers mentioned here but what matters most, in all absoluteness, is the application method. Adding a thin layer of concealer little by little will build up the coverage where you need it most without the cakiness or creasing.
Hydrate Those Eyes!
Start by hydrating your under eyes. Olay's Ulitmate Eye Cream is ridiculously hydrating without being oily and it has illuminating flecks in it to brighten things up.
Don't Skip The Foundation
If my under eye circles are particularly bad, I like to use a medium to full coverage foundation first with a drop of MAC's Strobe Cream. The foundation helps even out my skin tone, while Strobe Cream helps illuminate my skin. It's the perfect recipe for natural, dewy looking skin.
Prime Those Under Eyes
Using a peach (for fair-medium skin) or red (for medium-dark skin) concealer first will help colour correct the blue in your under eyes. Without it, it'll be more difficult to cover up dark circles so trust me, use that colour corrector.
Conceal, Conceal, Conceal
By now you'll notice your dark circles are looking much better but there's still work to be done. Using a brush (for more coverage), dab your under eyes with concealer and blend with your fingertips. The warmth of your fingers will help blend the makeup into your skin so it looks flawless. It might also take remove some concealer along the way which is why you'll want to work in layers and add more concealer back in where you need it. Do this until you're happy with the results.
Ready, Set, Go!
Time to lock that concealer in! There are two ways you can do this depending on the effect you want and how much time you have. Method one is the quick and easy way and more natural - dip a small fluffy brush into Laura Mericier's Secret Brightening Powder and pat over top of the concealer to set. This powder is at pricey at $31 for a small container, but it's light reflective properties and weightless formula is what makes it ideal for the delicate under eyes.
Method two will give you more flawless results and trust me, your makeup will not fade or crease one bit. It's called baking and what you want to do is take a damp sponge and dunk it in your LM powder and pat it on your under eyes. Build that powder up and let it sit for about 5 minutes as you work on your eyebrows before sweeping it away with a fluffy brush.
That wasn't too bad right? With practice, you'll be able move through these steps in no time and most importantly, no one will ask if you're tired. ;)
