Let’s Talk: Concealer

As someone with mild acne, concealer is one thing I cannot live without! It’s probably the most important thing in my make up bag and I cannot step out of the house without using it to conceal my blemishes and scarring. To me, it’s important to have a concealer that’s highly pigmented, lasts all day and doesn’t cause more breakouts on my skin. Here are the ones I’ve been using lately:

Laura Mercier Secert Concealer
This is my go-to concealer for everything (except my under eyes). It is very creamy and thick but doesn’t look cakey when you apply it. In fact, it looks very smooth and blends easily. It’s also non-drying and lasts for most of the day. It’s been great for my blemishes and helps to conceal any redness I may have as well. It really helps make your face flawless!
$22 per pot 

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer
I got this as a part of a Glam Bag a few months ago and I have to admit, at first I didn’t think it was anything special. It didn’t conceal my blemishes too well. But at that point, my dark circles were starting to stand out so I decided to try it out on my under eyes. This is now my favorite under eye concealer! It doesn’t settle into the lines beneath my eyes and never looks cakey. When you mix the two shades together, it does wonders to hide darkness. It’s so lightweight, you can barely even tell it’s there.
$18 per pot 

Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer
I got this because a friend of mine recommended it specifically for blemishes. She said they completely covered hers and if the product is called tattoo concealer, I would expect nothing less! I have to admit, I wanted to love this product, but I unfortunately like the Laura Mercier one better. This one is a liquid and I find that I have to put a bit more product on to get the same effect. It does layer and blend nicely, though. I may have also gotten too light of a shade, which could add to my disappointment. Overall, I think it’s a high quality concealer, but it wasn’t perfect for me, so I use it sparingly.
$25 per tube 

For those of you who prefer drugstore brands, I’ve found that I’ve been the most pleased with Neutrogena’s concealers. Also, I have a CoverGirl stick concealer that I always keep in my bag for convenient touch ups, for both blemishes and dark circles. There are a few you can get with acne healing properties in them, but I wouldn’t recommend them because they may worsen the problem instead of help.

What are your favorite concealers?

- Bun

Let’s Talk: Tinted Moisturizers

Let’s face it, some foundations can feel like a mask on your face! It can be great when you really need that coverage, but for everyday or weekend wear, sometimes you want something that feels lighter on your face. If this sounds like you, you should consider picking up a tinted moisturizer instead.

(Left, Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer, $30; Right, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, $42)

Most tinted moisturizers offer light to medium coverage, with the added benefit of moisturizer and usually SPF. Many come in oil-free versions as well. They go on smooth, absorb quickly into your skin and usually provide a dewy, glowing finish. It won’t cover blemishes or dark circles, but it will even out your skintone and hide redness. I use tinted moisturizer daily and find I only need a bit of concealer afterward to achieve a lovely face. I personally use the Smashbox brand above (which I love!) but the Laura Mercier one is a cult classic and comes highly recommended. 

(Left, Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer, $11; Right, Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, $15)

Many drugstore brands also have tinted moisturizers at half the price of the higher-end brands. Tinted moisturizers are great if you want to decrease the amount of time you spend on your make up because it eliminates the need to put primer or moisturizer on your face. Also, a little bit goes a long way, so one bottle can last for a long time. My only warning is that you may find yourself needing to touch up towards the end of the day; it lasts for a long time but usually won’t last into the evening. (That’s where normal foundation comes in!)

Tinted moisturizers are not to be confused with BB creams, which usually have heavier coverage, a dewier finish and more benefits for your skin. Even though many non-Asian make up brands might label their BB creams as tinted moisturizers, they’re usually not the same. 

So many brands offer tinted moisturizers, so next time you’re around make up, pick up a bottle! Even if you don’t use it daily, it’s a great product to have in your make up arsenal. 

- Bun