Concealers

The Good, the Bad & the So-so
7/3/13

Concealers are one of those dreaded makeup necessities every woman I know owns. No one enjoys buying them, and it's often difficult to find the perfect match. And let's face it- no woman wants to admit she needs it. Buying concealer means admitting we have flaws to cover, and who wants to admit that? Flaws aside, I've gone through my fair share of concealers over the years, and my needs have changed with age. In my 20's and early 30's, I used them to hide the occasional blemish. Now that I'm (gasp) 37, I need help covering some under-eye circles. I'm lucky if I can string together two hours of sleep these days, so anything that can hide my lack of sleep is preferred. 

First up are regular (non under-eye) concealers. It's somewhat shocking how much each brand's lightest color varies. I'm always the lightest shade given my pale Irish skin, and the last thing I want is something too beige or with yellow undertones. My very first concealer to hide those unsightly blemishes was Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. Surprisingly, it's still my go-to for covering a blemish. It comes in a pot and requires a little brush (I highly recommend her concealer brush for $26), but it covers effortlessly. It's thicker, and while they claim it can be used on the under-eye area, I cringe at the notion. It's simply too thick for such delicate skin. Definitely worth the money for the concealer and the brush. 

Left to right: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer (#1), Dior 'Diorskin - Nude' Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer (#001), Chanel Stylo Éclat Lumière Highlighter Face Pen (#10), & YSL 'Touche Éclat' Radiant Touch (#1)

(click photo to enlarge)

Diorskin Nude is another concealer, but can be used to cover blemishes as well as the under-eye area. It's much lighter than Laura Mercier, though it also requires a brush for application. I purchased the Dior 'Backstage' Concealer Brush ($24) and have mixed feelings. I haven't had any blemishes lately to test this on, but I use a tiny amount of concealer on my old nose ring scar. Laura Mercier steals the show here. I religiously wear Clarins Eye Contour Gel prior to applying any eye makeup for both anti-aging purposes as well as ease of application. The last thing you want is concealer looking obvious or highlighting flaws. As far as the under eye application, it's so-so. I think it would definitely benefit from some powder foundation on top to set it. Unfortunately (or, fortunately thanks to many years of skincare), I don't use foundation. If your circles are very faint, this could work for you. The consistency was nice, and it's rather light reflecting for a regular concealer. It's just not enough coverage for my eye area. 

Now onto my most important makeup weapon: under-eye concealer. The one thing that can veil a poor night's sleep AND brighten your whole face. Most "pen" concealers double as highlighter pens. Not only do they conceal any under-eye scariness, they also open up the entire eye area and give the skin a radiant glow. Nothing wrong with that! My first concealer/highlighter pen was Chanel's Éclat Lumière. They've changed the formula throughout the years, and I'm sad to report that their updated version of my shade (#10, the lightest) and it's no longer flattering since it doesn't blend well. The pen dispenses product by twisting the bottom. The color, texture, and new formula just aren't for me. 

Then we have YSL Touche Éclat, which is also in pen form and doubles as a concealer and highlighter. I literally can't live without this product. I keep extras all over the place, from my TSA-approved travel Ziploc, to my handbag, and even my car. The consistency is light yet blends easily and offers great coverage. Under-eye circles? Not with this trusty miracle pen. Not only does it blend, conceal and highlight like no other, it's designed to apply on the go. The product is easily dispensed by clicking the black bottom until you've reached the desired amount. I dot the product from my inner-eye area, dot an inverted triangle under my immediate eye area, and finish with a dot or two on the exterior corners of my eyes. The triangle method eases the blending process, and adding dots to the corners of your eyes completely opens them up so you look refreshed and well rested. It's truly that good. 

My verdict? For a small blemish or two, you cant go wrong with Laura Mercier. For genuinely amazing under-eye coverage and brightening, you simply can't do better than YSL's Touche Éclat. Trust the girl who can't sleep well. It'll be our little secret. 

- Laura Mercier Secret Concealer is $22 a pot.
- Dior 'Diorskin - Nude' Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer is $30 a tube. 
- Chanel Stylo Éclat Lumière Highlighter Face Pen is $40.
- YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch is $40. 

All are available at Nordstrom. 

YSL
La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer
6/27/13

I have a confession. I've been cheating on my beloved Chanel polish for about a year now, and I've decided we can no longer be exclusive. I'm seeing other polishes, and I'm loving them. YSL has stolen my heart with some of the most incredibly rich pigments I've seen on the market. From the perfect red, to deep fuchsia and sexy golden hues, I can't get enough of these polishes. 

I've been a Chanel polish devotee for well over 15 years, and have zero guilt about my betrayal. A girl needs to keep her options open, and YSL knows how to create perfection in a bottle. A gorgeous bottle, to boot. The array of colors offered is stunning, particularly their seasonal, ltd. edition releases. This is where YSL really casts a large shadow on Chanel. Chanel has the disadvantage of mass appeal, and their ltd. edition colors tend to reflect that. Light blue, endless shades of rosy pinks, and sparkle. Always some offerings with a glittery sparkle. I just don't do glitter. 

(click photo to enlarge)

YSL's ltd. edition releases tend to skew bolder. Richer. More luxurious. What you see in the bottle is what you get on your nails with two coats. I've had some trouble with Chanel's darker shades lately (like Taboo), where you really don't know what you're getting until it's mani/pedi time. With YSL, I know exactly what my nails will look like. Better still? They're $2 less than Chanel polishes. My current favorites are Corail Colisee (above left), Violet Baroque (above right), and Dore Orfevre (a Neiman Marcus Exclusive). From what I'm told by manicurists near and far, the YSL brush is far easier to work with. 

My verdict? I'll never completely call it quits with Chanel.There are several favorites I can't live without. But my YSL crush is strong, and I don't see it fading (or chipping) anytime soon. 

- YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer is $25 a bottle. 

- Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color is $27 a bottle.

Both available at Nordstrom. 

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
5/29/13

I fondly recall buying my first Chanel polish during my college years in NYC. The Chanel counter at Barneys offered a staggering array of gorgeous colors, and I purchased my very first rather pricey polish: Vamp. It was a must-have at Parsons for budding fashionistas to adorn their nails with the deep, distinctive purple nail lacquer. I'd seen the polish on my roommate and was wildly impressed and in awe of the rich eggplant hue. Let's say it was love at first site. I swiftly got myself a mani/pedi with my new polish, and instantly felt transformed. By a nail polish? Absolument. 

One of the many things I adore about Chanel polish is that what you see in the bottle is what you get. No surprises. Then there are the glorious colors. They offer about 30 shades, plus limited-edition releases each season. It's heartbreaking to fall in love with a color that's destined to vanish at season's end, so I've taken to stocking up on colors I adore. New releases are quickly snatched up by Chanel devotees and global fashion gurus, and can be incredibly difficult to find. The formula actually resists chipping for nearly a week's time, which is practically unheard of. My nails get put through the wringer while traveling (those pesky suitcase zippers are just plain evil), and I always reach for one of these polishes prior to travel. I used their base and top coats for many years, but haven't noticed a difference in quality using various base & top coats in good nail salons. I do receive a fair amount of complaints from manicurists around the globe regarding the brush, which is rather thin and apparently difficult to work with. That said, my nails always look flawless post application. I like to label that as a "not my problem" type of situation. If you're brave enough to paint your own nails, be prepared to spend some extra time. 

The depth of each color is incredible. One of my favorite shades Péridot (shown above) is a prime example of what sets these polishes apart. I call this my chameleon polish, because it constantly changes depending on lighting and angles. At first glance it's gold, but suddenly has a green shimmer with slight movement. I should mention that they still sell Vamp, which remains a staple in my obsessively large collection. What can I say? Sure, they're expensive and you could buy several cheaper brands for less than half the price. But no dupe holds a candle to the real thing. Try one. I promise you won't regret it. But I can't promise you won't become addicted. Welcome to the cult!

My verdict? Gorgeous, rich colors with real depth. Worth every penny.

$27 a bottle

Available at: Chanel, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales.