Concealer

Finding the perfect concealer is kind of like finding the perfect swimsuit. A daunting task at times, many women are on a never ending quest to find the perfect one.

What Makes a Good Concealer?
To find your holy grail concealer, you must first know what properties in a concealer you like. For me, it's good coverage and a creamy consistency. Some use a different concealer for under eyes, vs on blemishes. Some women, want an all in one product that will cover and conceal dark circles, blemishes and sun spots all in one. Before purchasing a concealer, decide what it is you need the product to do.

Like foundation, concealers also come in many different formulas including; liquid, cream, mouse, stick form and powder to name a few.

While I don't claim to have tested every concealer on the market, I have tried my fair share.  Here is a sampling of some concealers that I would repurchase. I've included a variety of different price points and brands, so hopefully there will be something for everyone.

Budget Friendly/Drugstore:

The first product isn't a traditional concealer. It's actually marketed as a Blemish Kit. The brand E.L.F. created this mineral powder with acne fighting ingredients intended to treat and prevent breakouts. However, because I'm so fair, the powder, which is pigmented, acts as a concealer as well and even comes with a concealer brush for application.  I'll reach for this if I have a blemish I want to treat and cover at the same time on days I'm also wearing mineral foundation.

Another affordable brand is Physicians Formula. I was first introduced to this brand through their corrective concealers. When I was younger, I used to have a blue tinted scar on my face.  To cover it up, I used a yellow based correcting concealer from this brand. This brand offers many different types of concealers and correctors. One that I particularly like for under eye circles is from their Mineral Wear Talc-Free line which comes with a corrector, concealer and highlighter in three connecting bottles.

 Step 1 is a yellow based corrector, to hide any blue or purple tones under the eyes.  Step 2 is the concealer and Step 3 is a pink highlighter that can be used under the eyes or on the high points of the face.
The quality of this product is excellent. It's creamy and light.  My only complaint about this product, is that I don't think it would work on darker skin tones.  I would like to see more variety added to the line for those with a deeper skin color such as a peach base corrector, a darker cover and other shades of highlight.

My favorite of all the drugstore lines is Nuance by Salma Hayek. In my opinion, this is a high end brand that just happens to be sold at the drugstore. The quality of these products if phenomenal. This is actually a double ended concealer. One side is a concealer stick, ideal for covering blemishes, or other spots on the face, and the other end is a creamy brightening concealer, ideal for use under the eyes. I have this product in shades light and medium. What I like about it, is that there are some correcting properties to it. For example, the medium version has a slight peachy undertone to it which is ideal for correcting under eye circles.

 Pictured above: Stick side of concealer on the left, and liquid side on the right

High End Concealers: 

Per-Fekt Eye Perfection Gel is a primer/concealer hybrid. It's mousse like texture fills in fine lines creating a smoothing appearance to the under eye area. The formula is tinted providing coverage to the under eye area. If you have really dark circles, this won't do the job, but still acts great as a base or primer if you want to put a fuller coverage concealer over it.

A popular concealer, especially for those with under eye circles is Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer. While I don't believe any concealer is truly creaseless on it's own, this does crease less than many other concealers on the market. This is definitely a full coverage product, and excellent for covering both dark circles and blemishes. It does have a dewy finish, but I recommend setting all concealers with a powder.

While I am not happy about Urban Decay selling to L'Oreal, I happened to have one of their 24/7 Concealer Pencils in my stash, so I decided to include it. This is the older style packaging as I purchased it a while ago. The pencil format is nice for concealing blemishes, but I find this formula a little too drying for the delicate under eye area.

My personal favorite of all the concealers listed here is the Christopher Drummond Beauty Duo-Phase Hydrating Concealer. This product also happens to be vegan. I own this  in a couple of different shades, and the old and new formulation. I was a big fan of the original formula.  However after chatting with the brand's creator on Twitter, who is also a makeup artist, and hearing about the creamier texture of the new formulation I just had to try it.  This is my favorite concealer because it provides full coverage, yet is very creamy and has a nice slip to it. I recommend this brand to others, and everyone I know who has purchased it has come away satisfied.  You only need a tiny amount to get full coverage.

In my personal opinion, this is the best concealer on the market. The texture and coverage are unsurpassed. Not only does this product perform well, but it is also 100% natural.  This products works great for under the eyes and allover the face to cover blemishes or spots as needed. 

Here are swatches of all of the products side by side in my shade:

Pictured Above From Left to Right: Tarte, Christopher Drummond, Per-fekt, Urban Decay, Physicians Formula Corrector, Cover, Highlighter, E.L.F.



I would love to hear from you if there is a concealer you think I should try!  Drop me a comment in the box below, or email me at makeupmatters3@gmail.com

I'm also on Twitter @MakeupMatters1

Spotlight: Hourglass Cosmetics

Today's post is about the luxury brand Hourglass Cosmetics. This brand was founded by Carisa Janes who noticed a need in the market for a luxury cosmetic line that bridged "style and substance" while focusing on ingredients that were good for the skin. First available at Barney's, this cruelty-free brand made it's way to Sephora in 2007*.

I'm thankful for this brand, because while most people have an image of animal lovers and vegans as non-makeup wearing hippies, that is not always the case.  Animal lovers and vegans come in all forms, and yes, even animal lovers and vegans want a little luxury in their lives sometimes!

While I admit this brand is pricey, that is the market they serve. I personally love the line, and their Mineral Veil Primer is a holy grail product for me. 

Here is a closer look at some of my favorites from the brand:

My introduction to the brand was (of course) their brushes. True to the brand, these brushes are extremely luxurious.  The bristles are soft, yet functional, and the sleek metal handles are as much a work of art as they are a makeup application tool. They are nicely weighted and feel comfortable in the hand. I've also found these extremely easy to clean. These hold their shape nicely, even after many washings.

 Above: Hourglass Brush #2: Foundation/Blush Brush

 Above: Hourglass Brush #2: Foundation/Blush Brush and Brush #4 Crease Brush

Above: Hourglass Brush #8: Concealer Brush

The Hourglass Foundation brush is unique because it is neither a flat paddle foundation brush, nor a flat topped buffing brush. Instead, I use it in gentle patting motions on the skin.  The concealer brush, I actually use to apply my primer. 

The primer I can't live without is Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (vegan). However, in the winter my skin tends to be on the dry side, so I mix it with Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum, a little trick I learned from Makeup Artist and YouTube Guru Josh Collier.  You can view his videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/JoshCollierMUA

The Foundation I wear from Hourglass is their Veil Fluid Makeup which is completely vegan. I wear shade 0 Porcelain or 1 Ivory depending on the time of year. This foundation comes in several different shades

Here are swatches of both shades. You can find your shade here: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/index.php?type=complexion&item=complexion_fluidMakeup

This foundation does run a little on the darker side, so if you are unsure between 2 shades, go with the lighter. Pictured above on the left is Porcelain, and on the right is Ivory.

Good quality matte eyeshadow can be hard to find.  The Hourglass Vol. 6 Neo-Classic Eye Palette contains 5 high quality matte shadows and 1 shimmer shade.  The eyeshadow palette is a little smaller than a smart phone and comes with the Hourglass signature 360 degree swivel top lid.

Here is a closer look at the palette, including swatches:

 The colors are not named, but they are (from left to right above): champagne shimmer, matte bone, matte brown, matte coral, matte navy and matte black

In the summertime, I was looking for a waterproof bronzer. I decided to try this one from Hourglass called Superficial Mirage:

I tend to use a self tanner in the summer, so this bronzer worked well for me. However, if you are super fair, I recommend you skip this one, or use a super light hand. I think this would work better on medium to medium dark skin tones. The brush it comes with is excellent.  I honestly toss most of the brushes that come with compacts. However, this brush is of the same quality as the rest of the brushes in their line and is made with the same PETA-friendly synthetic fibers.  I also really like the shape of this brush for contouring. It's the perfect size and shape for hitting the hollows of the cheek.

Hourglass also makes some beautiful glosses in a variety of finishes. they are pigmented and moisturizing, never sticky. These can be worn alone or layered over you favorite liner or lipstick.

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss:

 Pictured Above (From left to right): Child (nude), Imagine (metallic gold), Reflect (clear pink with shimmer), Primal (oxblood)

The gloss pictured above on the far left is a mini version of the new packaging. The three glosses pictured on the right above are the old packaging.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my Hourglass collection. I understand not everyone can afford this line, but if your budget allows it, or you are looking for a splurge then I highly suggest checking out this brand.








*Source: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/about.php
All products in this post were purchased by me

Beautylish Haul! Featuring Too Faced & Armour

I am completely addicted to Beautylish.  If you haven't explored their site yet, I suggest you do. Beautylish.com is a must see site for makeup lovers. It features amazing beauty articles, inspirational photos, and a "talk" section for people to ask questions about makeup and skincare.

They also have specialty boutiques set up for certain makeup brands where you can shop to your heart's content. In fact, it is this shop where I first purchased eyeshadow from the cruelty-free beauty brand Sugarpill Cosmetics.  I've e-mailed with Beautylish, requesting to see more cruelty-free products in their shop, and they have certainly come through!  They plan on having many more cruelty-free brands in the future, so please support their shop if you want to see more cruelty-free choices! 

Today's haul from the Beautylish shop features the much loved brand Too Faced. I'm sure all of you are familiar with this popular brand. I've used many products from them and even gifted their Love Sweet Love gift set this holiday season. Too Faced is a cruelty-free brand, meaning none of their products are tested on animals. In addition to this, they offer many vegan options.

The three products I purchased from Beautylish are Too faced Beauty Balm in Vanilla Glow, Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder in Milk Chocolate and Candlelight Illuminating Translucent Powder.

To date, I have not been much impressed with the American versions of BB Cream on the market. The Asian versions offer much fuller coverage than many I've seen here in the United States. However, the Asian BB creams are not cruelty-free. Luckily, Too Faced has made me extremely happy, by offering a cruelty-free BB Cream that offers great coverage! FINALLY! If you are a busy woman like me, products that multitask can be a life saver.

My shade is Vanilla Glow. However, I happened to have a sample of Nude Glow as well, so I swatched them both for you in the above picture. Nude Glow is the swatch on the left and Vanilla Glow is on the right. I also want to thank Too Faced for offering their BB Cream in 4 shades. I've seen many companies put out BB Creams without considering those with a darker skin tone. Although I am pale, I like to see companies that include something for everyone in their cosmetic lines.

I already had Too Faced Candlelight Glow, which is a lovely two sided highlighter (pictured below).  Too Faced Candlelight Illuminating Translucent Powder, can be used allover the face, or strategically in areas you want to highlight.

 Pictured Above: Too Faced Candlelight Glow (2 sided highlighter)

Swatch of Too Faced Candlelight Illuminating Translucent Powder (above)

I also had a mini version of Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.  I believe everyone should own a good matte bronzer.  Milk Chocolate is the perfect shade for those with fair skin.  This bronzer is made from real cocoa powder and smells so good, you'll want to eat it! I swatched both the regular version and the Milk Chocolate version so you could see a side by side comparison.

 Milk Chocolate is on the left (above) and a mini version of Chocolate on the right

Beautylish was kind enough to include a complimentary tube of Armour Lip Gloss in Diana for me to try as well. With it, they wrote me a note that it's not tested on animals and paraben free. I am absolutely in love with this gloss, and intend to go buy more colors!  It has the most unbelievable shine, and looks like your lips are wet, yet it feels like I have nothing on. This gloss is not sticky at all and their package clearly states, "NO ANIMAL TESTING EVER." 

The gloss comes in many different colors.  It comes with a traditional doe foot applicator and a clear tube so you can see the color of the gloss.

Thank you Beautylish for sending me the Armour gloss. Thank you for keeping your word to carry more cruelty-free products in your shop. I really appreciate it!

To shop any of the items seen here, please visit www.beautylish.com 


*Some of the products seen here were sent to me for consideration. I do not get paid to write reviews, and only write them in hopes of helping my readers make informed purchasing decisions. All of my reviews are 100% honest.

Mineral Foundation

When most people think about foundation, we think about traditional liquid foundation. However, foundation comes in many forms. One of those forms is mineral foundation. 

What is it? Mineral foundation, is foundation in a powder format. It's available loose or pressed, and offers more coverage than traditional pressed or setting powder.This is a great choice for those who don't like the feel of makeup on their skin.  These powders blend into the skin creating a natural flawless look. If you do wear liquid or cream foundation, mineral powder can be used as a setting powder for additional coverage.

Who should try it? Mineral foundation is a great pick for those with oily skin. Certain brands are also good for those with sensitive skin. This is my foundation of choice for men.  If you have dry skin, I recommend prepping the skin with a good moisturizer, moisturizing primer or serum and/or finishing with a moisturizing setting spray

Which brand is best? 

Like all makeup products, there are a ton of brands to try. I've tested quite a few, and here are a few of my favorites. All brands listed here are cruelty-free (not tested on animals).

E.L.F. which stands for Eyes, Lips, Face is the most affordable of the bunch. This mineral foundation comes in light, medium or dark.  Each container has four shades within it, so that you can custom mix your shade. For example, the Dark foundation pictured below comes with Almond, Toffee, Dark and Deep.  You simply move the dial to open up your desired color, and dispense it into the lid or a separate palette.  You can mix different shades from the container in your palette or lid to create the best match for your skin color.

Another affordable brand is Nuance by Salma Hayek. This mineral powder comes in a pressed format, making it ideal for carrying with you in your bag. This powder comes in Light, Light/Medium, Medium/Deep and Deep. This powder is extremely pigmented as you can see by the below pictured swatch. You can purchase this mineral powder at CVS Pharmacy or cvs.com.

For those with sensitive skin, or looking for a vegan alternative, I highly recommend the mineral foundation from Christopher Drummond Beauty. Unlike the two previous products mentioned, this one does not contain any Bismuth, an ingredient that is irritating to many people. This makeup line was created by a makeup artist and each jar is fitted with a sifter making it easy to dispense the perfect amount of product. This is available for purchase on its own, or in a set at christopherdrummond.com

 brush not included

Another great mineral foundation to try if you prefer a pressed version is CoverFx. This high-end brand comes in a large variety of shades and is also Bismuth free.

How do I apply Mineral Makeup?
The absolute best way that I have found to apply mineral foundation is with a flat top brush. I recommend picking up an even amount of product on the bristles and buffing it into your skin. With all of these products, you should start with a tiny amount, and add more to build coverage as needed.  Mineral makeup can also be applied with a damp sponge for a more opaque finish. Many of the compact versions come with a traditional powder puff ideal for touch ups.


Here are some of the brushes that I recommend:

From top to bottom (above): Real Techniques Buffing Brush (budget friendly), E.L.F. Powder Brush (budget friendly), Sigma F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki (pro)

Christopher Drummond Beauty also sells their mineral foundation in a kit that comes with a vegan flat top brush that works wonderfully.

If you want to try mineral foundation before purchasing it Everyday Minerals offers a "Try Me" section on their website, where you can choose 7 samples of various shades to have shipped to your home, you only have to pay for shipping. These samples are available at www.everydayminerals.com

Makeup For Men

When we think about makeup application, we typically only think about makeup for women. However, makeup for men is increasing in popularity. Everyone has a camera built into their smartphone, and with the photo posting frenzy on various social media sites, men are starting to wonder what they can do to help them look their best.  While the idea of wearing makeup everyday may not appeal to all men, guys can still benefit from a little touch up for special events such as weddings, or anytime where they will likely be photographed.

My good friend Tomer stopped by the other day, and let me apply a very natural looking makeup to his face. The picture seen here, is post application. As you can see, he doesn't look like he is wearing any makeup, which is exactly the point.

Here are some of the products I used on him, and a few suggestions for brands to try:

Since men don't wear as much makeup as women, skin prep is really important. You want to make sure the skin is properly moisturized prior to application. If the skin is particularly oily, you may want to try a mattifying gel or primer.

Some primers to try are Nuance By Salma Hayek (pictured below), which is available at CVS Pharmacy. By smoothing this on after moisturizer, you can be sure your face will stay matte all day.

If your skin tends to be on the drier side, I recommend a moisturizing primer or serum such as this one from Hourglass Cosmetics:

Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, is both a primer and skin care product in one. For those with combination skin, try mixing a traditional silicone based primer with the Hourglass Serum.

To begin Tomer's no-makeup look, I reached for a concealer which I applied to the under eye area to mask any darkness. He didn't have any blemishes, but if you do, simply use a concealer that matches your exact skin color, and apply with your finger or a small brush. Next, I chose a mineral powder foundation that matched his skin color.  Liquid foundation can be a bit tricky to work with for some, while mineral powder is light, easy to apply and creates a natural finish on the skin.

For a loose mineral powder, I recommend one from Christopher Drummond Beauty called Veludo Velvet Foundation. It feels light on the skin, like you aren't wearing anything at all. This is available for purchase on it's own, or in a kit that comes with a brush for easy application. You can purchase the kit here:


http://www.christopherdrummond.com/Face/Veludo-Velvet-Foundation.html


Christopher Drummond cosmetics are not only cruelty-free, but they are also vegan, including their amazing brushes.

If you prefer a drugstore version, try this pressed mineral powder from Nuance By Salma Hayek:

Regardless of which product you try, I recommend applying the mineral foundation with a flat topped brush. Simply pick up some of the product onto the brush and apply to the face in downward strokes. Because many men, like Tomer have facial hair, using a brush with downward strokes, will make sure the minerals don't get caked up or caught in the hairs.

Next, I applied a generous helping of bronzer along the high points of Tomer's face to give the look of a naturally sunkissed glow. For men, you want to make sure you are using a bronzer that is matte, meaning no shimmer or sparkle. This will give you the most natural looking finish.

Because Tomer has naturally dark lashes, I chose to use a black mascara on his top lashes only. The one that worked well for him is by Physician's Formula.  Pictured below is their Lash Boosting formula in Black .

If you have brown hair, you can try a brown mascara.  Clear mascara is a good option for all hair colors.  The best brown mascara I've found is by Ecco Bella (pictured below).

For lips, I chose a nude colored gloss, free from any sparkle or shimmer. This added a plumping effect to the lip, without looking too feminine.

Because Tomer tends to get oily throughout the day, I used an oil control setting spray, misted lightly over the entire face. 

For men, there are options available online, in high-end stores, or at your local pharmacy. If you are struggling to figure out which colors work best for you, ask a female friend or family member for help.

Another great option is Rocco Bruzzi Cosmenics http://www.roccobruzzi.com
This cosmetic line was created with men in mind.  Their products are cruelty-free and made in the U.S.A. They sell products individually or you can buy a set through their online store which carries everything a man needs for a full face. Shopping online is easy and their Cover Wheel takes the guess work out of choosing a concealer shade.

I want to give a special "thank you" to Tomer for stopping by and sharing this look with my readers! xoxo

Makeup for Teens

Everyone has different makeup needs depending on your age and lifestyle. Today's post focuses on makeup for teenagers.  The first look is a daytime look that can be worn to school, and the second is more glam, perfect for a school dance or prom.

I had a lot of fun creating these looks on my two 17-year old guests.  I'm not going to mention every product I used, because I think the steps are more important here. However, I did use a lot of drugstore items for these looks in case the girls wanted to purchase anything I used.

Here is how I created the looks:





Natural Everyday Look:

For Nikky's look I wanted to keep it simple, and just enhance her natural beauty. This look is something any teen can wear to school, or anytime she wants a daytime look.

1. To begin, I prepped the skin with a rosewater toner, smoothing allover her face on a cotton round.  Rosewater toner is inexpensive, and helps smooth and hydrate the skin. 
2. I then applied a tinted moisturizer allover the face, for this look I used one by E.L.F. which is a very affordable brand. 
3. I used a little bit of concealer under the eyes and anywhere else she needed it. 
4. To reduce shine, I applied just a touch of mineral powder on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin).  I used Nuance By Salma Hayek in Light. 
5. For the eyes, I chose 2 shadows from the NYX Nude on Nude palette. This palette is a great inexpensive alternative to the Urban Decay Naked palette, and even includes several lip colors in a slide out drawer.  I first used a matte cream color shadow from the lash line to brow applied with a flat shader brush. Nikky said that she likes shimmery shadow, so I chose a shimmery gold from the palette and applied it as a light wash of color allover the lid using a fluffy shadow brush from 100% Pure Cosmetics. 
6. While Nikky doesn't normally wear blush, I wanted to add back a little color that the tinted moisturizer and mineral powder may have removed, so I applied just a touch to the apples of her cheeks. 
7. I applied my favorite drugstore mascara to her lashes; Physicians Formula 100% Natural Origin Lash Boosting Mascara 
8. For lips, I chose Tarte Lip Surgence in Moody, a perfect shade for fall/winter. It's light and moisturizing formula feels more like a lip balm than a lipstick, making it easy to apply and wear.  I brushed her brows into place, completing the look.

Evening Look:

For Michelle's look I wanted to create a look perfect for a school dance or prom. Michelle told me she liked purple eyeshadow, so that's what I used here. Purple shadows look great on just about any eye color. 

1. Since I was using dark shimmery shadows, I decided to do the eyes first so that I could easily clean up any fallout. I first primed the lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. If you are going to a prom, or dance, you really want to make sure your shadow lasts all night. The primer will help brighten up the colors, as well as prevent creasing. 
2. I then used a creamy purple eyeliner allover the lid, blending it out with a stiff domed brush. 
3. To create a purple smokey eye, I topped the liner with a shimmery purple powder shadow allover the lid and blended it up into the crease, pulling the color out slightly to create a smokey look.
4. To better define the crease, I used a matte bronzer on a fluffy brush and swept it into and just over the socket of the eye.
5. I chose a matte pale peach powder shadow as an under brow highlight, but used a shimmery shadow on the inner corner of the eyes to brighten up the look.
6. I then took the purple eyeliner from step 2 and smudged it along the lower lash line with a smudge brush. 
7. We decided it would be fun to do a cat-eye with this look, so I drew one on using an angled eyeliner brush and Makeup Geek Gel Liner in Immortal (black). 
8. For the lashes, I used a heated eyelash curler, then applied lash primer to Michelle's lashes.  I followed that with generous amounts of black mascara to help pull together this dramatic look.
9. Using a little primer on a sponge, I cleaned up any fallout
10. Once the eyes were done, we moved on to the face. I chose a wax based foundation free from any SPF.  When you are going to prom, you typically take a lot of pictures. If you use a foundation with too high an SPF, it will create an unflattering flashback from the camera. 
11. I applied concealer under the eyes
12. I then applied a Nuance by Salma Hayek Mineral powder in Medium
13. When you are getting pictures taken, its nice to have your face contoured. I applied a pressed powder from Milani in the deepest shade they make to the hollows of the cheeks, sides of the forehead, underneath the jaw line, and sides of the nose to contour. 
14. I swept Cinnamon blush by NYX on her cheekbones for color. 
15. Since we used dark colors on the eyes, I wanted to keep the lips nude. I chose NYX lipstick in Nude, topping it off with NYX gloss in the color Pink Frost.
16. I used a clear brow gel, to groom her brows into shape.
17. I set the look with a setting spray to make sure it stayed put all night. 

Here is the final look:

I want to give a big thanks to Michelle & Nikky for stopping by. I had so much fun creating these makeup looks. If you have any questions on the products I used, feel free to drop me a comment in the box below.