Concealer Concealer Concealer!!

Being Italian American I have extremely dark under eye circles.  I have always had them.  I have tried so many things over the years I can't even remember all of them, but here are the most recent I have used!!

Lets start off talking about E.L.F. Maximum Coverage Concealer.  This is my most recent purchase, so I haven't been using it as long as the others, but so far I have to say I really like it.  I bought the two lightest shades (porcelain and sand) to mix together to get a good shade match.  I have always kind had a hard time matching color straight out of the bottle and for only $3 of course I bought both.   

I have to say that "maximum coverage" doesn't exactly describe the product perfectly as much as buildable coverage does.  When I use a BB cream it doesn't start off being very full coverage so I feel like I have to layer on more product, which so far I have never had get cakey on me.  When I use a more full coverage foundation I only need one layer of this concealer to do the trick, it's awesome!!  The bottles contain .7 oz, so it will last you a long time.  Not only do I love this concealer for under the eyes but it's great for the sides of my nose and mouth to cancel out redness. 

The next concealer is Hard Candy's Glamoflauge.  This is also a liquid but is much thicker in consistency.  The package contains .71 oz and is not tested on animals.  I bought it in the shade ultra light, which is unfortunately WAAY too light for me and that never happens.  So word to the SUPER pale people, there is a $6 concealer out there for you finally!!! 

 If I bought it again I would get i a few shades darker, because not only is this super pale but it has kind of a gray undertone.  I don't know if the whole gray thing is a problem that they have in all of their colors or just the lightest one, but I can tell you it makes your under eyes look crazy!!

Since the color I got is too light I now use it for sculpting out my eyebrows and it's AWESOME for that.  It gives me that perfect highlighted brow bone that makes my eyebrows just *pop*

If you do use this for your under eyes a little of this product goes a looooong way so i would recommend putting it on your hand first and warming it up and then using a concealer brush to apply it.  It gets very cake very fast, but it's very very pigmented, so it's kind of a trade off in this product.

Another very heavy duty concealer I like is The Balms Time Balm Concealer.  It comes in a pot with .26 oz and costs $18, which is by far the most expensive concealer on the list.  I have it in the shade light medium, which for me is a little dark on it's own.  This came in a set that a purchased and being said I definitely would have gone a little lighter if I could have.  

Unlike the other products on the list, this is a cream, that comes with a cute little sponge.  This is one of those concealers that is perfect for everything, it's super blendable and has excellent coverage and it takes a lot of it to cake up.  

I like to use it as a corrector for those sleepless nights of new mommy hood (or netflix binges lol), but with it being so expensive when I run out, I probably won't be repurchasing.  I feel like if I'm going to pay that much for something it needs to be the most amazing thing ever, and with it not being available at Sephora and the packaging being nothing special I'll probably just stick to whats more easily accessible.  

And last, but not least (and also not pictured) is the Maybelline Magic Eraser, I have been using this for years!! Probably since when it first came out, I am a big fan!  It's the perfect amount of coverage for everyday and has the applicator attached so there is no need to bust out a brush or sponge. 

I know some people do have a problem with the sponge tip applicator, just because you can't really clean it and also can't put it on your hand or a palette (so it's not really practical to share or use as a make up artist)  

If you are like me and aren't a germaphobe, and don't have to worry about multiple people using it, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I can stick it on and boom I'm out the door.  

Unfortunately since I'm out I cannot tell you how much product it contains, but I know it retails for about $9.  

Go out and get covering

xoxo

-Mama Lish

November 2013 Favorites

I wasn't sure if I was going to do a favorites post for last month or not, because I feel like it's almost a little late to be doing what, BUUUUUT better late than never right?

So lets just jump right into it!!

The Balm's Hot Mama

This is my go to blush for all seasons, but I especially love it in the colder months when I really need that extra glow.  It is a peachy shade with a slight golden shimmer, it's very build able and pigmented so I try to use a light hand.  It blends perfectly with my contour, because of the slight shimmer it has.  I'm not going to lie, this blush is on the more expensive side ($20) and it's a little hard to find in stores because Sephora no longer carries the Balm line, but it's a definite repurchase when I do finally run out of it!!

Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser

Now I have since purchased some new concealers, just for the want to try something new, but this has been my favorite concealer through all of that.  I'm now out, but I'm very very tempted to repurchase. I have been using this for the past few years, through pregnancy and being a new mommy!! It's seriously awesome, it's light enough that I can wear it with out having to use foundation, but it has full enough coverage that I can look alive after absolutely NO sleep.  It's super easy to use, you don't need a brush, just a ring finger for blending.  It's perfect for people who are trying to hurry up to get out of the door in the morning, however if you are a germaphobe I don't recommend this product as it's pretty much impossible to clean.  This may be a drug store product, but it's on the more expensive side of drug store products running at $9 for .2 oz, however you can catch it on sale quite frequently.

Garnier BB Cream

This is one of my more recent purchases, but throughout the month of November I have been giving it lots of love.  Its a nice creamy consistency that takes a second to set, and it does seem kinda heavy on your skin while it dries.  Sporting 5 benefits I think it at least lives up to at least two of those since it is very hydrating and contains SPF 15.  This product retails from about $10-$13 depending on where you buy it, and is very easy to find.  

Other than it feeling a little heavy at first I seriously love it, it gives me the perfect amount of coverage for everyday and I know it's keeping my skin moist, which exactly what I need for fall/winter.

Sinful Colors Nail Polish Espionage 

I was seriously obsessed with this color this month!!  I would take it off if it started to chip, just to throw the same color right back on!!  Unfortunately it seems that this product was limited edition, so I can't repurchase, but I think it will last me awhile.  The reason I think I love this polish so much is because it's an actual affordable nude.  I haven't seen sinful colors make very many nudes, and at less than $2 a bottle I had to try it.  Now I have to say that most of sinful colors are hit and miss as most cheap brands are, but this color is fairly opaque in two coats and not super sticky icky like a lot of their colors are.  

All and all, if i found it again I would get it, but that really goes for any nude shade by sinful colors as I have started to see a few others.

Dry Brushing

I know that it's not a product, but this is one of my favorite new things I have added to my "shower routine"  Now I can't say I do it everyday (my skin is too sensitive for that), but the days I do it I feel more awake and a little more luxurious.  Basically what you do is use a brush with natural bristles to brush your body.  I go in long upward strokes on the majority of my body until I get to my chest where they are short downward passes.  Dry brushing helps increase blood flow and helps skin cell turnover by removing dead skin.  I have heard of some people getting off a lot of flakes and saying their bathroom looks like a snow storm, I personally have never had that happen and am slightly disappointed by that.  I know it's weird that I want a giant pile of dead skin, but am the kind of person who wants to see instant proof it's working.  I have noticed that since I've started doing this the keratosis pilaris bumps have improved greatly.

Well those are my November 2013 favorites, I hope you take the time to check out the accompanying  video on youtube

xoxo

-Mama Lish