Finding That Right Match - Concealer

[jhameia]

When girls begin using makeup, it all tends to accumulate after a while - several foundations, several eyeshadow types, lipsticks... I've got a makeup case that's quickly running out of space, to the point that I've started using a shelf next to me for lipsticks instead.

Anyways, I started using concealer a few months ago, and went to MAC cosmetics for something to cover the dark circles under my eyes. I've had these dark circles since childhood, and there's nothing I've done that could help - it's not from sleeping too much or too little. It's also genetics working against me. So far, they've never gone darker, but they're still noticeable for me, so I had to find something to lighten them up. The cosmeticians at MAC suggested a concealer to help with puffiness, and I came away with a concealer to try out. I've used it off and on, but after a few tries, especially in daylight, I realized that it just didn't look so good - MAC is usually designed for white people with a certain tint to their skins... it looked orange-y on my skin instead, since my skin's Asian with a yellow undertone.

Last week or so I went to Shopper's, and I picked out a Maybelline concealer stick - my regular foundation is a Maybelline, so I thought it would make sense to get a concealer stick to match. I asked the cosmetician if the colour I picked looked good on me, and he said, "you want a better concealer?"

There're two better brands for concealer, it seems: Lancome and Revlon. Lancome is a bit more expensive, but it's the best of the lot. Revlon is cheaper, but almost as good. Tommy (the guy at the cosmetics counter... he comes off as one of those stereotypical "fashion-conscious gays") took just one look at me and said, "I have the perfect colour for you."

And gosh, he did. The girls at MAC had to experiment with a few colours, but Tommy was right on the dot with something that matched my skintone wonderfully and definitely lightened my dark circles up to match my skintone soooo much better. I was extremely happy with it, but it was still $30! I was on my budget watch!

I left that day feeling kinda bummed. It's hard to find someone who's good with products to be able to tell me what looks good on me right off, but I still resolved to get it sometime.

So anyway, I ended up going to Shopper's again on Friday - with my ex, as I mentioned. The girl working that day (Sam) taught me the trick to checking for Optimum points and tried out the different colours on me. I know for a lot of people the colour might not matter, but matching the concealer to the skintone is fairly important. After working with a medium colour that browned out my gray circles, I really wanted something lighter.

Tommy had used a medium bisque, and when Sam worked with me, she tried the different colours as well. I ended up getting a Light Bisque colour, slightly lighter than my skintone but I felt it blended so much better since I was going for a light skintone.

(I also have all four Revlon Lip Stainers now.)

I'm glad I found something without going through a whole slew of product, and this is definitely something I'm going to be using a LOT. For those curious, it's Lancome's Effacernes Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer. Retail price of CAD$29.

Am I going to use the MAC concealer again? Hard to say since this new one works so much better. But then, that's what makeup does... accumulates.

Comments

[lovely-lici.livejournal.com]

Lancome IS the best! I know this, not from using it myself, but just because my great-grandmother uses it. She always goes for the best of everything, and refuses to use anything else. Since she's someone who has EVERYthing, right before Christmas, we all go through her makeup cupboard to find all of her colours so we could buy her more of it. That stuff is EXPENSIVE (in The Bahamas)! Glad you found your perfect match!

I got some from Clinique, and I'm not sure I quite like it yet...

[prayers-forrain.livejournal.com]

Years ago, in one of my mother's womanly magazines, I read about a woman sick of not being able to find make-up, so she developed a special line of concealers for Asian women. I don't know what it was called, but I know it exists! :) But I'm sure it's likely expensive.