Tuesday 3 September 2013

#TheSOProject WEEK 2: Concealer

Welcome to week TWO of #thesoproject. This week is all about concealer!

I can't say I use concealer every day but sometimes it can be a bit of a life saver, whether it be a lack of sleep or a lovely big spot that needs covering. I always use my little pinkies to blend in concealer; it's quicker and more effective than a brush.
I've tried loads of different concealers from the old-school stick type, [which I am convinced were that oily they made my spots worse as a teenager..maybe a cunning ploy by cosmetics company to make me perennially reliant on their products?!].. to illuminating concealers like YSL touche-eclat and Loreal's Lumi Magique, and proper hardcore liquid concealers like Collection Lasting Perfection and Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer. I still haven't found one that I couldn't live without, but the thing I've learnt about concealer?  Less is definitely more. Whichever one you use.

The temptation can definitely be, especially with a spot, to go bonanza with the concealer in the hope no one will ever know.  They will.  Often too much concealer on a spot only draws attention to it.  Especially where there is any dryness in the area as the concealer just clings nastily to it. Likewise, trying to conceal dark under-eye circles can result in concealer settling in the fine lines and only drawing attention to the feature you were trying to hide. Lisa Eldridge recommends minimal use of concealer and instead focusing on making the rest of the skin look super duper, and I'd be inclined to agree with this.

When I do decide it's desperate measures and I can't leave the house without some serious repair work these are my favourites:  (you'll notice they're all lower end products - I don't think concealer is something worth spending fortunes on  - spend your money on a good foundation instead!)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

I'm reluctant to mention this as it's become such a blogger cliche.  But it's probably my most used concealer and in line with my cynicism for the prices higher end brands are charging for their concealers, this is a sensibly priced product for an un-glamorous job. It isn't perfect and I find it is a little bit drying, under my eyes especially, towards the end of the day, and don't even get me started on the packaging.  Ok do.  Why oh WHY Collection, in the year 2013, have you not managed to create packaging where the writing doesn't rub off at the slightest touch?!  Come ON! It made such a mess of my make-up bag in the end I took the rather drastic measure of using a cotton pad and nail varnish remover to rub off the rest of the black writing.  and now my poor little concealer is bald.
Back off my high horse..It is good, and I'd recommend it.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer
This is marketed as a 2 in 1 highlighting concealer.  It isn't.  there's nothing remotely highlighting about it.  It's a decent concealer though. Again, it's around the £5 mark, it lasts pretty well and it sits well with the matching foundation, which I blogged about here. My gripe with this one is the ridiculous brush on the end of it; why Rimmel, WHY?! it serves no purpose- it could never be used to blend in the product because it'd  just keep adding more product, and surely if you're using it to cover spots then you're  just spreading bacteria around your face on the brush?  Just no.
I'd recommend this one - it's a nice consistency, blends well and doesn't settle in the lines under my eyes.

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer

Having just read Soap and Glory's ludicrous description of this product I'm loathed to include it really.
Take a look at this tripe:
"Includes an amazing under eye brightening concealer with PUFFEASE-8™ technology, SUPERWEAR™ light scrambling ‘on the spot’ complexion concealer & a weightless transparent setting powder with INSTA-FIX™ polymer technology."

Beauty companies: STOP MAKING WORDS UP!!!! Puffease technology!!?!  Light scrambling??  Literally no one is taken in by your pseudo-scientific spiel. Sigh.

Now technically this costs about twice more than I consider reasonable for concealer, at £10.  However, I acquired it through a combination of a lovely sales assistant in boots and a glitch involving a voucher and a 3 for 2, so it only cost £5.  I'm including it because it's usually 3 for 2 or similar on Soap and Glory and because it isn't a bad product.  It comes with 2 correctors - one for under eye and one for spot coverage, and a setting powder. The concealer is a little heavy for my liking, but it blends ok, and the setting powder is wonderful.  It keeps  it in place for hours. A minor complaint is the bizarre positioning of the mirror - I'd must rather have it in the power half so I can touch up, rather than the concealer section, but its not a deal breaker.

I don't think I'd repurchase this, I find it more fiddly and messy than just dabbing on a bit of lasting perfection, and it certainly isn't worth twice the price.


I hope you found this helpful in some way :)
Which are your favourite concealers? Do you think it's something worth splurging on?

Suzy
xx



8 comments:

  1. Haha I totally agree with your rant on beauty companies making up words to try and seem impressive, and the collection 200 concealer packaging drives me mad too!
    Collection 2000 is also my weapon of choice, although I really need to go outside my comfort zone and try something new. I've been using it for a couple of years and I feel like I could be missing out on something else!

    Emily x - prettypleaseprettyplease.blogspot.com

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    1. Haha I'd stick with it if it works for you especially as its such a bargain!
      Hopefully all the tweets to collection will make them do something about the packaging ;) surely it can't be that difficult to fix!!xx

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  2. I wrote about two of these products!

    I definitely want to try kick ass concealer hear so many comments on that, I like how its compacted like that

    http://katiesworld-ofbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Yeah I guess it's handy to have it in one little compact. I just find it quite heavy in texture. It's ok on spots though cos it's fairly moisturising.

      Will pop over and have a look at yours now :) xx

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  3. I've seen this Rimmel one in a few #theSOproject posts, I've used the foundation and so I thought it may serve me well! xxx

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    1. The foundation is my favourite at the moment, I love it :) they're normally on 3 for 2 so it's well worth trying for your third product ;) x

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  4. The collection one is definitely a blogger fav! My absolute life saving concealer is the garnier roll on one though, use it daily!
    x

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  5. Love Collection 2000 - as long as this little gem is around I won't be splurging on a premium brand :o). Xx

    http://makeupbycandlelight.blogspot.co.uk/

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