My last posting on eye revivers segues naturally into one on eye concealers. Concealers offer correction where you need it, play up the beauty of your eyes and can add definition to your brows. A few things to remember:
CHOOSING
When sampling concealer colors, it’s important to coordinate with your skin’s natural pigment and your foundation. So when testing, try to look at them the under the harshest light possible or get an expert to help. The wrong color can actually make flaws look more obvious, make you look like a raccoon or, the polar opposite, make you look like you’ve got a serious case of ‘sunglasses tan.
If you’re a serious beauty consumer, it’s not unusual to have a ‘wardrobe’ of several concealers depending on if you’re covering. Highlighting for emphasis or your skin pigment changes with the seasons.
USING
Concealers are designed to used around the eye (the technical term is peri-orbitally.) Some also work well on the eyelids, others don’t.
Using concealers around the eye requires a light touch. Apply too much with too heavy a hand and you’ll find your lines and bags looking even worse than with nothing.
Since many concealers – whether in pencil, wand or stick form – can be used all over the face, for safety’s sake please reserve ones to use only on your eyes. You don’t want to be using the same instrument in the eye area as you do on the rest of your face, particularly if you have active acne or cold sores. Explain the dangers of both.
You must not ever use concealing spot treatments for acne anywhere near your eyes. Ever.
Eye primers aren’t technically concealers though they perform many of the same functions. These can do a splendid job of intensifying the pigment strength, preventing creasing and boosting the lasting power of eye shadow. But because they work like microscopic spackling, primers seal the pores to deliver that wonderfully luxe, oil-free super smooth surface for the makeup. Unfortunately for some, this can cause the formation of millia, hard little whiteheads, on the eyelids which will require a professional dermatologist or ophthalmologist to remove with an electric needle called a hyfrecator. A laser will work too but that can be very expensive. Therefore, if you have even slightly oily eyelids or are prone to clogged pores, I suggest saving the eye primers for special occasions.
To learn more about acne treatments, visit WebMD.com.
Just as with eye revivers, I’ve gathered a list of AVA MD staff concealer favorites. By no means are these the only quality ones out there; indeed, it’s an embarrassment of riches. Here are both high-end and budget-friendly variations:
|
EYE CONCEALER ROUND-UP |
| TREATMENT CONCEALERS |
| Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF 15 • $45
Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer For Eyes Broad Spectrum SPF 20 • $8.99
|
| HIGHLIGHER + CONCEALER BRUSH PENS |
| Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch • $40
L’Oréal Magic Lumi Highlighter • $12.95 |
| PENCIL CONCEALERS |
| Vincent Longo Illumina Concealer Pencil • $32.50
L’Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer • $8.99 |
| SWAB CONCEALERS |
| Laura Mercier Eye Basics • $24
e.l.f. Studio Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter • $3
|
| DOUBLE PAN CONCEALER KITS |
| Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit • $34
Essence Match 2 Cover! Cream Concealer • $3.49
|
| EYE PRIMERS |
| Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion • $19
e.l.f. Studio Eye Primer & Linder Sealer • $3
|