Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer.

the other half of my new anti-dark-circle-routine is the Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer. the first step was with Giorgio Armani's Master Corrector in #2, which i have already shown you here.
after testing the Master Corrector for a few days i was so pleased with its texture and pigmentation that i ordered the matching concealer since i've found so many rave reviews for it. i purchased it on douglas.de about one month ago, it costs 29.95€.
i chose shade #3 for my NC20-ish skin in MAC after going through many MakeupAlley reviews and had the right touch as it matches me well.
it comes in a opaque black tube, the beige stripes at the sides are just printed on and not indicator windows, so you won't know exactly how much you have left and when you'll run out of product.
it has the same thin brush applicator like the Master Corrector. i only use it to draw fine lines of product to the desired areas and then blend in the concealer with my fingers.
it has a thin consistency but even if i only use a little amount of product it still blends out like a dream, absolutely evenly. it has a high pigmentation and ends up with medium coverage. for the face i need a bit of it to conceal the redness around my nose and on my chin, especially on days where i only wear BB cream or a sheer foundation, it does that job really well. it also works exceptionally well with the Giorgio Armani Master Corrector, i use it on top of that to even out any orange tone that is left and to extra brighten my undereye areas. both products are liquidy and set to a thin satin finish, so there will be less to none creasing into fine lines.
the High Precision Retouch Concealer diffuses the light nicely so it brightens well, however i don't love such a yellow concealer on my dark circles alone since it makes them appear greyish/greenish.
it doesn't dry out my skin, making it look wrinkly and old but makes it appear moisturised and healthy. to me, this is really a winner. it's ideal for the summer months when you don't want thick and creamy formulas or if you like lightweight, liquidy consistencies generally.

Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer #3 in sunlight: swatched heavily & blended out

tihilw

bare eye - with Giorgio Armani Master Corrector #2 (review)

 Giorgio Armani Master Corrector blended in - with foundation

 with Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer in #3 -  concealer blended in with fingers

complete eye make up

ingredients:

AQUA / WATER CYCLOPENTASILOXANE HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE GLYCERIN PROPYLENE GLYCOL ALUMINA OZOKERITE TOCOPHEROL PHENOXYETHANOL MAGNESIUM SULFATE SILICA ACRYLATES COPOLYMER DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE METHYLPARABEN BUTYLPARABEN ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE [ /- MAY CONTAIN CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES MICA

Giorgio Armani Master Corrector #2.

today i want to show you my most recent favourite when it comes to concealing under-eye circles: the Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in #2. i have heard of its great reputation many many times, but never considered my under-eye circles to be so bad that i'd have to use colour correction to fight them.
recently, maybe due to less sleep, more stress and lighter skin (i'm about NC20 in MAC atm), my dark circles became more visible and it really annoyed me since they made me look quite gloomy. i bought this colour corrector back when the Glamour Shopping Week was going on.
there are 2 different colours you can choose from, #1 is a pink shade and #2 is a peach colour. i went for the peachy shade since i was afraid that the pink would be too visible against my yellowish skintone.
the corrector comes in a lipgloss-like clear tube, but the most special thing about its packaging surely is the unusual, super thin brush applicator that rather reminds you of an eyeliner brush. but it's a great way to deposit the exact amount of product onto a targeted area and pat in in gently with your ring finger. furthermore, this product is highly pigmented, so you only need a teeny tiny amount and a bigger applicator would be rather counterproductive. it costs 29.95€ and contains 4.4ml, which isn't much compared to other concealers but regarding how little i need for each application, i suppose it to last a loooong time.

the thin applicator brush

one sweep & blended out

the colour initially scared me a bit, i thought that it might be too dark, so maybe too visible even after blending out. but the first time trying it disabused me. unlike other (drugstore) colour correctors i've tried before which where too pastel, this colour (which might seem scaringly bright on the first sight) has a very natural undertone. after patting the product in, it melted seamlessly with the rest of my skin and instantly erased the purple/brown darkness of my under-eyes.
i apply it before or after my foundation, a thin line right where the darkness is worst and then pat it in with my ring fingers.
it has a liquidy consistency but is high in pigmentation like i mentioned earlier. it's still very smooth and easy to blend without being chalky at all. it has a beautiful natural finish and moisturises my under-eyes well, i wouldn't use a much too rich eye cream underneath, though.
it blends into my skin so well that i don't even need to use a skin-toned concealer on top on a normal day. the best part is that it's such thin of a layer on your skin that there's nothing to crease or to settle into fine lines, the pigmentation doesn't fade so it stays put the whole day.


so overall i'm very pleased with this colour corrector, it works exceptionally well to counteract my dark circles - better than every other concealer in my stash because those skin toned ones (at least mine) all have a somewhat yellow undertone and while they could handle slight under-eye darkness well, they would make darker cirles appear greenish/greyish. if you suffer from medium to slightly darker under-eye darkness, you should really give this a go!
it's really worth its hype.

here you can see how it works and how i'd apply it:

 bare skin - a thin line of GA Master Corrector #2 applied

 after patting in the GA Master Corrector #2 with my ring finger - after foundation application

a tiny bit of normal concealer on top if needed - final result

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

this is a product that have been raved about over and over again, not only this particular one, but also the product type in general. a fine powder that contains light reflecting particles to use on the under eye area, alone or over cream/liquid concealer to brighten up the under eye area and to conceal any darkness.
i was curious about such products for a long time but have not purchased the Benefit Powderflage (which is the first of this kind that i got to know) yet - i only tried the cheaper version by Alverde. the effect with the Alverde product was not very visible, so i was ambivalent about such powders. are their effect really so little or is it only because i bought a drugstore one?
in the last year i heard many good reviews and recommendations for the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder so now i bought it to try, i was just too curious.
i bought mine in #1 (the light version) on ebay, it contains 4.6g and did cost about 27AU$/~20€.
the amount will last me forever, seeing how little i need to use every time.
it comes in a small simple jar, here you can see my little Laura Mercier powder family for size comparison ;)

the biggest is the Translucent Loose Powder, the medium size is LM Mineral Foundation and the baby jar is the Secret Brightening Powder

it's a very fine and fluffy white-ish powder that feels very smooth and gliding due to the silica and silicones contained in it. it's sheerly white and contains many very fine shimmering bits. applied on my forearm, i could still see the shimmer in bright sunlight but in the shadow it's totally invisible. moving my arm around i could really see how it lightens up the area where i applied the powder in different angles even though it was blended out quite well.

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder in sunlight

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder in the shadow

now on the eye area i would use a fluffy synthetic blending brush to apply it. i use it on top of my undereye concealer to set it and also to give me some extra-brightness. i would only put it on the edge of my dark circles and then blend out. it applies evenly and glides on the skin effortlessly. although looking straight into the mirror the effect is not that apparent at first, i can clearly see that it brightens up this area especially when i'm looking down (where my cirles would be most visible). on the eye area i haven't noticed any shimmer even in different lights. it does set my concealer and doesn't creep into my undereye lines but i don't find it prolonging the wearing time of my concealers that much.
i have also tried it as subtle cheek highlight but don't like the white-ish bright effect as much as a slightly golden regular highlighter, especially in the summer. but i think it can be used on every other area of your face were you struggle with shadows (like sometimes the areas below the corners of my mouth appear darker, or beneath your nostrils).
i don't have very dark under eye circles so i find the effect very nice for me - it will definitely amp up the brightening effect of your regular concealer, but if you suffer from very dark circles i don't think that this is the miracle solution for you to erase all these problems. for deeper skin tones (maybe NC40+ ?) i would recommend the #2 slightly tinted version of this as this one would definitely look ashy on WOC beauties.
all in all a very nice product - the effect is much stronger than of my Alverde equivalent.

here i want to show you its effect worn alone (without concealer but only foundation): i'm wearing it on my right eye (so the left from your perspective) - on the other eye nothing than a bit of blended out foundation.

i think the effect is undeniable, i also like how it smoothes out my under eye area.

Edward Bess Platinum Concealer

yes, one more product from Edward Bess i caved in after reading overwhelming reviews of - the Platinum Concealer.
i was a bit curious about it and since i ordered some Becca on zuneta.com and was searching for an extra treat to get pass the 65£ for free delivery anyway, so i browsed through some reviews for this product. and then i read the magic words that made me buy it right away: some women on makeupalley.com described it to be even superior to the concealer by Clé de Peau, an ultra-luxurious highest end subsidiary brand of Shiseido which i can't really get hold of (due to price and availability ;)).
so far i am happy with my favourite concealer, the Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer in Pearl, but you know a beauty-lover is always open to any new holy-grail-aspirants.
the Platinum Concealer by Edward Bess contains 4.3g and costs 30£/~35.40€. i bought it in the second lightest shade, Soft Beige which is their bestselling shade for fair to medium skin tones (there are only 4 different shades available i think). luckily, Soft Beige is a real good match for my skin tone.

this is what is said about the product on zuneta.com:
"These concealers come in a clever little magnetic tube, ensuring that they click closed easily. The formula is soft and blendable, making it easy to apply with your finger.
All the shades are neutral/yellow based so that they counteract any redness you may have with your blemishes. They also cancel out any darkness from the under eye area.
This is what Edward says about his concealers:
'Ultra smooth, lightweight finish conceals to perfection. Fades away discolorations and brightens dark undereye circles for the look of flawless skin. Sleek, twist-up case provides precise application'."

it's a small metal cylindrical tube with a great magnetic closure and houses the concealer stick. it's really just a plain cutted stick - no lipstick- or anykind rounded shape (like the most concealer sticks i know. the old version of the Hourglass concealer is also rounded at the top. this is not even slanted like some other concealers. plain cut.) - which is not suitable for direct application.
Edward Bess recommends to take the product from the stick with your fingers and then pat it on your under eye circles and other blemishes. the warmth of your fingers can help the concealer to melt into your skin better.
however, i prefer to use a brush with my concealer because i find it more hygienical (weird, i know - if you wash your hands before make up application, there is no problem at all if you only put it on yourself) and i don't want to go wash my hands inbetween my make up routine - i'm to lazy for that extra minute. you probably know my brush of choice would be one of my stubby thick round Hakuhodo brushes (the 212 Highlighting Brush or the B214BkSL).
this concealer has a good medium-high pigmentation and coverage so it feels light on my skin because i only need the smallest amount. it is drier in consistency than my Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer which is creamier and thicker but also has a more creamy and moist finish. the finish of the Edward Bess Platinum Concealer i would describe as satin-matte. if you have dry skin or dry under eyes, you should choose another concealer or at least use a good eye cream underneath.
it looks a bit powdery in comparison, but applies very smoothly and evenly. it blends easily and brightens up my under eyes really well thanks to the honey gold undertones.
also this concealer stays put for a long time - it doesn't crease into fine lines around the eyes because you only need a thin layer and the product is not so creamy that it would creep away. of course i still get a tiny bit of creasing in my natural under eye laughing lines, but in that case it comes from excess product that i only need to sweep away once then i'd be fine for the whole day.
i don't often do this, but i also like it to conceal blemishes. the rather dry and light texture is great for that.

since i always go for an almost moist look for my under eye area (whenever i do under eye concealer) like you have just put on your eye cream, i would rather layer this with the Manhattan Wake Up Concealer on top which is just perfect for this purpose (it's thin and watery with a very sheer coverage but leaves a sheen and brightens with light reflecting particles). i don't suffer from extremely dark under eye circles so i can't really say if it could conceal everything, but for me this combination is perfect - not greasy and not too thick, just healthy natural bright under eyes.
try it if you have the time for concealer-layering, the Wake Up Concealer is very affordable and is a great partner for many other concealers (i've shown you that technique in combination with the Hourglass concealer here).
 
all in all it's a good multipurpose concealer. i would've liked it even better if it would give me my desired finish in one step - but maybe you can't have it all.

 

here you can see it in comparison to the Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer and in size-comparison to a common lipstick tube.

Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer - Edward Bess Platinum Concealer - Chanel Rouge Coco tube

Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer - Edward Bess Platinum Concealer

i'm sorry that i can't serve with before and after photos, i tried it several times but it never looked right. i promise that i will edit this post soon with good "how it looks worn"-pictures!

foundation overview #9: Rimmel Match Perfection foundation & concealer

because i heard such great  reviews about the new (?) Match Perfection Concealer by Rimmel i bought it to try and also the foundation that goes with it.

the Match Perfection Foundation contains 30ml and costs something about 12-13€.
it claims to adapt to your skin in tone and texture with the Smart-Tone® technology, creating a perfectly flawless natural finish. it also claims to have an Oxygen Complex to let your skin breathe and an spf of 15.
it comes in a glass pump bottle, the pump is very precise. i bought it in the lightest shade, #100 Ivory which is a medium light neutral shade and matches my NC20-25 skin. it doesn't darken or oxidize on me, but also i don't notice a big tone-adapting effect.
the texture is a thick liquidy consistency, it blends out easily and evenly. it has a strong sweet perfumy scent.
i always apply it with the BeautyBlender sponge and achieve a light to medium coverage with it. it sets quite fast and is not very buildable. it feels light on my skin, not weightless-light, but also not noticeable.
the finish is a bit dull right after application, but becomes more of a silky sheen 15-30 minutes later. after 4-5 hours my oils break through and blend in with the foundation to a dewy (but not greasy) finish. i have quite oily skin with enlarged pores and find that it lasts quite well on me. after 10h and no touch ups at all i still have a good and even coverage and a satin-dewy finish. it doesn't creep into my pores or fine lines.
all in all, i must say that this foundation is much better than i have expected, but still doesn't stand out to me.

one drop of: Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 100 Ivory + MAC Pro Longwear NC20

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 100 Ivory right after application

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 100 Ivory 10 minutes after application

this is how it looks applied, foundation only here ;)

the Match Perfection Skin Tone Adapting Concealer contains 7ml and costs about 7€. it's a 2-in-1 concealer and highlighter and claims to banish signs of fatigue and illuminate the eye area. it also has an oxygen complex to let the skin breathe. it comes in a squeeze tube with a built in brush applicator (which automatically closes up when you put on the outer cap).
i bought the lightest shade also, #010 Ivory. it's a light, pink based shade. it also has the same sweet perfumy scent like the foundation, but not as strong.
i don't like the brush applicator that much, it's a bit too stiff for me and only applies streaks. you surely need to do some refinish with your fingertips or a small fluffy brush to blend it out. also i find such applicators unhygienical and hard to clean.
the texture of the concealer is quite thick and creamy, but it feels fresh and watery. it blends out quite dry and has a silicone-y matte finish. it's also pretty sheer and doesn't add much to my dark circles. i like a creamy, moist finish much better with under eye concealers. i also don't notice a highlighter/illuminating effect with this, so i haven't tried it as a highlighter-only product on other areas than under eye. am i doing something wrong?
it doesn't crease into my laughing lines, though. i'm not very impressed with the concealer, maybe i have to try it further, but it doesn't beat my drugstore concealer of choice: the Manhattan Wake Up Concealer (or i could layer them both...).

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 010 Ivory right after application.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 010 Ivory after 10 minutes

without concealer

with Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 010 Ivory

with Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation & Concealer.