Yes my loves, my skin has blemishes, sun discolorations and uneven skin patches. And, of course, the occasional zit or two (yes, they still happen after 40!).
Oh well. We can't have it all in life!
Thankfully for you, I am a bit vain.
I will go out of my way to cover or lessen the impact of a zit, or the dark circles under my eyes.
In that quest, I have tried well over one hundred concealers: from white concealers and green concealers; both in liquid and cream. From drugstore brands to high-end designer pots.
Some concealers wear well in the summer time, some last longer in the winter months. Some are great for mature skin, others are light enough for younger skin.
For this particular roundup of my favorite concealers, I am going to share what works well with my skin; which in turn, will probably work well with women in their 30s, light to medium olive skin, like myself.
Let's start at the top:
Image courtesy of Sephora
Uneven Eyelids
Having olive skin has its perks: your skin tends to have depth. But with that perk comes a little problem: your eyelids tend to be two different colors, sometimes a bit darker than your brow line.
To even-out this pesky issue, whether you wear eyeshadow or simply want to look "flawless," my go-to eyelid concealer is Benefit's Lemonade.
This heavy correcting cream helps mask uneven skin tones, discoloration and and hide redness...all with a tiny bit applied with your finger.
Lemon aid can be worn alone or under makeup, and can be purchased directly from Benefit.com.
Image courtesy of Walmart
Dark Under Eye Circles
If you are reading this blog post, there's a high possibility that you are always on the computer, on your smart phone or working late.
If that's the case, then more than likely you have dark circles under your eyes.
Other than sleeping more (unlikely it will happen), or getting rid of your techie tools (impossible), the only solution is to cover-up that pesky darkness under your eyes.
My go-to miracle worker? Milani's Secret Cover Concealer Stick in white. Not only does it have great natural coverage, it also has oil-free ingredients to help sooth the skin to prevent that cakey look that other concealers have.
Milani can be purchased at most major drugstores. Visit Milani.com to find a retailer near you.
Image courtesy of CVS
Dark Spots
As much as I hate to admit it, I'm old. With age comes those darn pesky sunspots or dark patches in the hollow of your cheeks.
Using too much concealer and your skin looks like a wet piece of paper, not enough and the spots seem over exaggerated.
Using Nuances Front and Center Concealer and Brightener does the complete opposite: the "stick" is creamy and blends-in your imperfections. Adding a touch of the liquid brightener enhances your skin tone. Brilliant!
Nuance by Salma Hayek is available exclusively at CVS. Visit CVS.com to find a store near you or to order online.
Image courtesy of Neutrogena
Skin Breakouts
Unfortunately, I still get the occasional zit. Using make-up or concealer to coverup the zit makes it worse. So, I figured I would get the big guns and use a concealer that will not only coverup the ugly bump, but also help heal it.
The best? Neutrogena's Skin Clearing Blemish Concealer. I use the concealer both under makeup and over my sunscreen. It not only soothes the skin irritation, it also helps heal my skin much quicker (than using makeup alone).
Neutrogrena is available nationwide both at your local drugstore and chain stores, or you can order directly at Neutrogena.com.
Image courtesy of Barney's
Brighten
I've raved about Yves Saint Laurents Touche Eclat before as an under eye concealer, but where it really takes the prize is as an all around skin brightener.
Use it at the highest part of your cheekbone to give the illusion of a higher cheekbone, add it to the tip of your nose to make it slightly thinner, or even at the base of your chin to give your face luminosity.
This award-winning, must-have, take anywhere highlighter can be used over or under makeup.
Buy Yves Saint Laurent at Barneys.com.
I hope that these tips help you find the perfect concealer for your needs!
Stay beautiful,