Affordable Concealer That Does The Job

It's been a while since I have ventured out into trying new concealers. For a while I was using the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer which ended up being too drying and I switched to the NARS Radian Creamy Concealer. The NARS concealer I liked, but since the brand started selling in China, I am no longer supporting it. I also wasn't too fond of spending a lot of money on a product that I go through like water. As such I decided to look into more affordable options and picked up the Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer. 

Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer in 005 Light Neutral and 020 Light Beige

I got it in two shades: 005 Light Neutral and 020 Light Beige. The 010 Porcelain was too cool toned, greyish looking for my liking. Both shades actually work well and I use them interchangeably. If I haven't gotten enough sleep I use 005, as it brightens up the under eye area really well. If I fancy a more "no-makeup makeup look" I use 020, as it's closer to my actual skin colour.

The concealer comes in a standard packaging with a doe-foot applicator. It's cruelty-free and has a very affordable price point. The shelf life is 6 months after opening. It claims to provide high coverage, be long-wearing and even waterproof. I tested it for a month and can confirm that indeed it offers good coverage and wears well throughout the day. It also doesn't settle into fine lines under the eyes and is non-drying. Whether it's waterproof or not remains to be seen. 

T-B: 020 Light Beige and 005 Light Neutral

Regardless there are a few things that I am not too keen on. Firstly, it's very heavily fragranced. It beats me why anybody would think it's a good idea to make an under eye product so fragrant. Granted the scent doesn't linger and disappears after the product is blended into the skin. Secondly, it has a VERY limited colour selection. There are only three shades to choose from and all of them fall into the fair - light category. 

Overall I am pleasantly surprised by this product and will continue using it. It's definitely one of the better concealers in the market considering the price. It actually covers and doesn't make your under eye area look like a dry prune. I do hope that Catrice expands the colour range by making it more inclusive and makes it fragrance-free.

Until next time,
Muffy

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30

Today I am bringing your way a product that is somewhat a hybrid between makeup and skincare. It's the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30. I have been using this product consistently throughout the summer and have formed a pretty solid opinion. To find out what I think about it, just keep on reading!

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30 is quite a recent addition to the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective range. I have previously tried the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution from the range but it didn't do much for me. Thus I was a little bit sceptical about this product. It comes in a handy 15ml squeeze-tube. It claims to instantly brighten the under-eye area, visibly correct dark circles and protect from UV damage & future discolouration. It contains Activated C and Licorice Root Extract. It's paraben and fragrance free. It's safe for sensitive eyes and formulated with 100% mineral filters. As you can see this little guy promises to deliver a bunch of benefits. 

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30 Packaging

The first thing to note is that the actual product is tinted, like if you were to use a concealer. Unlike concealers that are available in an array of colours this product comes in one shade. The consistency is slightly runnier than your average concealer and you need just a tiny little bit as it's extremely pigmented. It blends out like a dream without emphasising the fine-lines. It seriously brightens and conceals. I don't need to use a corrector underneath to counteract the darkness anymore. As said a little goes a long way with this product. Prior to purchasing a full size I got a few samples, and one sample sachet has lasted me for a couple of weeks at least. Just to give you an idea how little of this product you actually need. A 15ml tube will last you for a very long time. 

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30 

I have really been enjoying this product. For now it has replaced my trusty Bobbi Brown Corrector in Bisque and La Girl Pro Conceal in Creamy Beige. I highly appreciate the fact that it has an SPF 30, especially as I am getting older and want to take better care of the under-eye area. I don't use this product as a replacement for an eye cream but for lazy days or if you don't have any major concerns, why not. In my opinion it's not painfully expensive for what it is and how well it seems to work for me. As with all Kiehl's products you can ask for a sample and see how you get along. I would especially recommend trying out a sample first for ladies and gents with medium to deeper skin tones.

This is for sure one of my favourite makeup/skincare discoveries this year. It's a great multitasking product. It conceals dark circles and helps to look more awake. It blends into the skin seamlessly with fingers and with a brush. It does not crease throughout the day (I do set it with the powder though). If you are looking for a product that will work magic in concealing those pesky dark circles and at the same time offering skincare benefits and protection from UV damage, look no further!

Let me know if you have tried this product and what are your thoughts!

Until next time,
Muffy

LA Girl Cruelty Free Concealers

I am bringing to you a product that does not leave my makeup bag. Recently I stumbled upon a brand called LA Girl, which happens to offer concealers that cover dark circles and are also cruelty free. These are LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealers. As you can see from the pictures below these puppies are very well loved. LA Girl is a USA based company that offers a wide range of products. I have not tried anything else from their line, but I am tempted to pick up their Pro BB cream. 

LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealers

La Girl Pro Conceal comes in a vast array of colours ranging from fairest up to deeper skin tones. They have an assortment of 20 shades, which means there is a shade for everyone! Since I ordered these online, I was not sure which shade would be the right match for me. Thus I went ahead and picked up two colours: Natural and Creamy Beige. Natural is more of a pinkier tone while Creamy Beige leans more towards yellow / salmon. I use both interchangeably. Usually if I want more of a highlighted look, I go for Natural and if I want more of a subtle look I use Creamy Beige. For reference I have an olive complexion with warm undertones, and I am NC25-NC30 in MAC. 

R-L : LA Girl Pro Conceal in Natural and Creamy Beige

LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer's Applicator

These concealers have a very light texture and blend like a dream. Sometimes I use a brush to blend them out and other times I prefer to use my fingers. Either way works great. La Girl Pro Conceal does not crease on me. I usually set it with a powder (I use MAC Emphasize but any finely milled powder will do). I have tried a number of mass market concealers and all of them creased on me regardless if I set them with powder or not.

I like that it comes in a tube and has a brush-like applicator, which makes it easy to distribute the product. I will say that it might get a bit challenging and messy to squeeze the product out of the tube if you start pressing randomly. Just press from the end like you would with toothpaste to avoid said mess. You get 8g of product per tube.

I think these concealers are worth looking into if you are on a budget and want a product that complies with your ethical standards. I will surely be placing an order when I run out.

Shop for LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealers:

BeautyJoint - Worldwide shipping. Price is $2,99 plus additional shipping charges based on weight. You can toggle currency settings at the top right corner of the website to save yourself the trouble of manual conversion.

Ebay - Free international shipping. Price is $5,39. 

Cheers,
Muffy