What They Say: "This versatile formula is appropriate for all skin types and is designed to provide the most effective coverage for redness and dark circles. Use in isolated areas with our Concealer brush or your fingers. For full coverage all over the face, use with a dry sponge. For sheer coverage, use a wet sponge or blend with moisturizer. Also available in refills for your Refillable Trio."

Jen's Experience: When I was in New York for fashion week, I got the chance to sit down with Trae Bodge, the Creative Director for 3 Custom Color, in her studio and tell her about my biggest beauty obstacles. One of my biggest issues is finding a concealer that looks natural, but does a good job covering the dark circles under my eyes. She recommended their Creme Concealer, and offered to mix one up for me to match my tone exactly, but we were lucky enough to find that their #2 worked perfectly for me.

Since I've gotten it home, I find that I reach for this before any of my other concealers. It looks so natural and does such a good job covering up dark circles, redness, even acne, that it can really be used as needed instead of covering the whole face with foundation. If I have any complaints at all, it's that the creme is a little drying. It's easily remedied in the undereye area with some good eye cream worn underneath. Overall, this is an excellent product that just works wonders for my undereye circles.

Retail Price: $19.50 (ThreeCustom.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "At last, you do have a magic wand, with NAO never accept ordinary® highlighter. Formulated to put a luminous, studio-worthy glow on your face, this clever concoction will quickly become your most guarded beauty secret. Here's your chance to shine with exceptional results that were - until now - the sole domain of the true studio makeup artists. Lighten up gorgeous!

• Looks great and adds highlights to virtually any skin tone.
• Multifunctional highlighter can be used to brighten up your complexion throughout the day.
• Use as a primer for your lip color to prevent feathering.
• Use around the perimeter of your lip line for fuller-looking lips.
• Use to neutralize rose undertones anywhere on the face, neck, or décolletage."

Melissa Says: I wasn't expecting what I found in this product at all. A highlighter? Okay, I've seen those before; they're often hit-or-miss, and rarely become makeup staples for me. However, this isn't what I would typically consider a 'highlighter' like most others. Instead of adding sheen or a silvery luminosity, it actually works more like a concealer.

Let me clarify that last statement: It works like one of the most fabulous concealers I've ever tried.

On the undereye area, this sits beautifully atop skin, brightening and lightening without settling into teeny-tiny lines at all, and it lasts all day. It keeps that delicate area hydrated without looking oily, and works WONDERS on my undereye dark areas (this in itself is somewhat miraculous). It also beautifully brightens the areas between the eyes, on the brow bones...everywhere.

I tried it a little as a lip primer and was pleased with that as well, but I don't believe that will be my primary use of this great little tube. I can't believe it, but I've found a new favorite undereye beautifier!

(p.s. - I tested this in Medium.)

Retail Price: $16.45 (at Quixtar.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Christian Dior Hydrating Concealer is a light, creamy, gently-soothing camouflage. Easy to apply, it wears evenly and comfortably. Suitable for sensitive eyes."

Jen's Experience: As one of the most expensive concealers I've ever shelled out for, I would have expected to be more satisfied with this one. There's a chance that I just got a color that was too light for my skin tone, but I really feel that it's the thick texture that makes it look so obvious that, well, it's not concealing anything at all. To top it all off, it's very shiny. It does do a reasonably good job hydrating the area. I think it works okay under my foundation as a corrector, but when it all comes down to it, why go to all the trouble? This product truly disappoints.

Retail Price: $27.00 (Sephora)

Rating:

What They Say: "Compact Concealer contains two formulations within one slim compact. Highly pigmented to enable layering and mixing, it provides total camouflage for almost any skin problem including blemishes, scars, birthmarks, and undereye circles.

The Extra-Cover version (left) is the most opaque and has a heavier, slightly drier consistency that provides exceptional camouflage ability and adheres well to the skin. This formulation is best used for spots and any blemish that requires heavier coverage. The Medium-Cover version (right) is more sheer and creamy, and is best for broader coverage like the undereye area."

Toya’s Take: BECCA concealer has a drier consistency than I’m used to dealing with, so, initially, I experienced a bit of disappointment when testing it. Using a concealer brush didn’t work as well, so I wound up applying the concealer with my fingers. After experimenting a bit, I found that the above blurb is true – the medium coverage is better for my undereye darkness and the extra cover is better for redness around my nose and any blemishes. It blends well when you use your fingers and allow the warmth from your hand to smooth it out a bit. It sets fairly quickly and I don’t experience as much creasing as I have with other brands of concealer – so maybe the drier consistency makes sense, huh? I have used the concealer during a regular work day and found it to be natural enough for such an environment, but it worked equally well when I used it under heavier make-up for a recent photo shoot. I’m quite happy with it.

Retail Price: $35 (Sephora)

Rating:

What They Say: "For a flawless look with 15-hour staying power.

Long-wearing, lightweight concealer with easy-to-use wand applicator creates the perfected look of flawless skin all day.

Conceals flaws and corrects the look of undereye circles, dark spots and discolorations.

Transfer-resistant, color-true formula provides full coverage that won't slip, slide or melt away.

Fragrance free. Dermatologist- and Ophthalmologist-tested."

Jen's Experience: On my recent trip to Paris, I decided to change my packing strategy and take less cosmetics and more shoes (shocking, I know). Normally I would bring along my Bobbi Brown corrector and the whole concealer kit and the brush since that's what has always worked best for me. But, it turns out, I can get pretty much the same effect with much less product (and for way less money).

I'm already a huge fan of the Double Wear foundation, which will stay for days unless you remove it with a washcloth and soap. I knew I'd be out of hotel for many hours at a time and be taking a lot of pictures, so staying power was something I was looking for, and this really has it. Much like the foundation, it doesn't come off until you coerce it with soap. And the coverage is really natural and blends extremely well into my skin to cover up my dark undercircles. It's almost as good as the Bobbi Brown at creating a flawless look under my eyes, but the benefits (like the extreme long-wear) totally outweigh the slight difference in performance.

I'm a total convert. Now that I'm back at home, I'll be saving all those precious minutes in my morning routine by making a permanent switch to this concealer. It's the MVP of my make-up bag.

Retail Price: $19.50 (at counters in select department stores and online at esteelauder.com)

DeLush Rating:

Vasanti recently sent products labeled for us (Melissa and Toya); they'd even taken time to try to make sure we got the best colors for our skin tone! (Melissa) "This was the first time I'd ever heard of or tried anything from the Vasanti product line, and overall I was quite impressed."
(Toya) "I am really pleased with Vasanti Cosmetics, which I’d never even heard of until I received my package from DeLush. I couldn’t find much information on the company, but it’s clear that they strive to fit the needs of every woman, of every skin tone."

All of the following products can be purchased at vasanticosmetics.com. Read on for our individual product reviews.

Vasanti Liquid Cover-Up:
What They Say: "Liquid concealer and foundation in one. Cover only where you want, it blends into the skin without a trace. Gives the skin incredible radiance and feels like you have nothing on at all.

This multi purpose cover-up is an incredible under eye concealer, colour corrector, eye brightener and all over foundation.. It looks so natural on, no one will know you have it on but you.

The formulations work on all skin types and skin tones. It's oil-free and contains active ingredients to hydrate and brighten the skin. The shade range was developed to compliment any skin tone - from the fairest to the deepest."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: While this may not be powerful enough to cover up really prevalent dark circles (it's medium-coverage at best), it does blend away redness (blotchiness or little blemishes) and some darkness under the eyes. I thought it was really smooth and light with very little line-settling (a big plus).

Toya's Take: The Liquid Cover Up comes in a large tube, which I like. It blends nicely, but although the cover up was the same shade as the foundation I tested, it showed up as a bit dark and muddy, so I wasn’t completely happy.

Retail Price: $22.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

Vasanti Face Base:
What They Say: "Shades created specifically for yellow based skin tones.

• Gives you a natural finish of a pressed powder with coverage of a foundation
• Glides on easily and blends right into your skin
• Colors that match your skin tone and add a radiant glow
• Light weight, oil-free and oil absorbing
• Moisturizing
• Non-comodogenic (won't clog your pores)

Comes in a sleek platinum compact with a full face mirror and a sponge for a smooth application."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I get a little nervous about powder foundations, because they seem to work best for those with nearly perfect skin but look dry and cakey on anyone who wants a little more than a swipe of coverage. This one surprised me a little bit at first. The compact design is truly unique, with a plastic hinged cover inside to protect the powder and a vented bottom underneath the sponge applicator. As far as the formula itself goes, it glides over the skin and gives moderate coverage. However, I did think it looked a little bit dry and I also saw the tendency for it to emphasize fine lines and larger pores, so I think this would work best for those with well-hydrated, smooth skin.

Toya's Take:
The Face Base comes in an ingenious case – very modern looking in plain, brushed silver with the company name on it. When you open it, there’s a large mirror on top and on the bottom half, a large square of foundation powder and a sponge. The foundation powder is covered by plastic, so it doesn’t get on the mirror – it flips down for easy access. The foundation looks very flaky, but it goes on quite smoothly and doesn’t leave your skin overly dry. It dries to a lovely matte finish and it blended in with my skin perfectly.

Retail Price: $24.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

Vasanti Pencils (Toya only):
What They Say: "Our lip and eye pencils contain Orange Wax, Vitamin A and Vitamin E – all of which have antioxidant properties and will fight free radicals while they moisturize. Shea butter and jojoba oil have also been added to ensure a creamy formulation that glides on beautifully and lasts all day."

Toya's Take: This pencil is luscious. Vasanti markets the pencils as both eye and lip appropriate. However, the pencil is so moisturizing that, while it feels wonderfully smooth and creamy when applied to the lips, I think it would lead to quite a bit of creasing if used in the eye area.

Retail Price: $13.00

DeLush Rating: (Toya) (because it would crease as an eye pencil)

Vasanti Tinted Lip Balm:
What They Say: "Hooked on that chapstick? Introducting a lip conditioner that gives just a natural hint of colour. It’s got a silky smooth texture and it protects your lips and gives off an incredible shine!

Our tinted lipbalms are loaded with moisturizers, conditioners and natural sunscreens such as: Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Sunflower oil and Olive oil.

The flavours are exotic and fresh- Leaves your lips velvety smooth."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: By far my favorite product of the entire set, this balm is incredibly comfortable and wears like a beautiful sheer lipstick. I LOVE it. This is the first balm I've tried that is packaged exactly like lipstick, and it's really versatile. Whether alone or over lipliner, this feels super-soft and looks lovely. Unlike Toya, I thought that the scent was another highlight of the product, and I'd describe it as slightly fruity - kind of like watermelon. It could be that different shades use different fragrances (I tested Bahamas, a light brown-pink).

Toya's Take: The Tinted Lipbalm is my favorite product of the bunch, except for the ghastly smell! I have no idea what ingredient leads to the stench, but, if possible, Vasanti should remove it, posthaste. How do they expect you to want to apply the product to your lips, which are so close to your nose? God! But, once I got past it, I was thrilled to find that the balm is ultra-moisturizing and the color, while sheer, is more than I expect to find from a tinted lipbalm. I think it would be better classified as a sheer lipstick. Either way, one coat of the Columbia shade, described as “medium neutral brown” was “my lips but better” and two coats gave my lips a beautiful chocolate-y sheen.

Retail Price: $15.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

Vasanti Shimmer Powder:
What They Say: "Loose Powder...apply anywhere you desire. For subtle shimmery highlights. Use as an Eyeshadow, highlighter on your brow bone, cheeks, decolleté or anywhere on your body...use your imagination."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I'm not really one to use shimmer in lots of places - typically it stays around the eyes for me. But even just in that aspect, this worked pretty well. The color is completely buildable and can be as bold or sheer as you like, and the glow is nice and subtle, not glaring. Used as a full shadow, it does crease a little after a while but holds on about as well as many shadows I use.

Toya's Take: The Shimmer Powder is a bit messy, like any loose powder, but it gives awesome color, sparkle and glow. Thumbs up!

Retail Price: $14.00

DeLush Ratings:
Melissa -
Toya -

(Toya and Melissa)

What They Say: "Thinner, more fluid formula provides weightless high-coverage. Blends easily, layers well, and won't cake, crease, or collect in fine lines."

Toya's Take: I tested this concealer in Skintone 5, which, according to Sephora.com is meant for medium-deep complexions with golden undertones, which sounds about right. It was a little too light for me, however. With my summer tan, I think I should have tried Skintone 6, for deep golden complexion with golden undertones. Still, it was good for covering up my under eyes circles and I was pleased with it in that respect.

However, when blended, the concealer goes from creamy to quite a bit powdery and when I used it to cover redness around my nose and to cover a blemish, the powdery effect made my skin dry and flaky and just drew attention to those places I was trying to conceal.

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I tested Skintone 3, which is described for "fair complexions with golden undertones". I think this matched my skin pretty well.

Like Toya, I found this concealer to be really good at covering undereye darkness. The texture is hard to describe, but it's a super-creamy formula that sort of glides on. I noticed that it did settle in some fine lines a tiny bit near the inner corners of my eyes. I didn't find as much of an issue with the drying out quality on the eye area as Toya did, but that could just be our skin reacting differently or because the shade matched my skin better.

I did notice, though, that around the nose area or other places where you may want to use it for redness or blemishes, your skin needs to be very well-exfoliated first or it will definitely accentuate any dry patches.

Retail Price: $22.50 (Sephora.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating: from EACH of us

What They Say: "We call it yellow mellow…
…’cause this cool lemon-colored powder/cream duo helps to calm down angry red skin tones. Yellow Mellow is chock-full of ingredients that keep redness at bay:

• aloe vera & chamomile ease inflammation
  
• soybean oil reduces skin discolorations, including sun spots, age spots and redness
  
• vitamin E helps skin retain moisture and is one of the most effective antioxidants to prevent premature signs of aging
  
• Green tea extract has been shown to improve rosacea
  
• White tea extract protects skin from oxidative stress & immune cell damage

Directions:
Simply dab the corrective cream on any problem area, gently blend, and use your kabuki brush to dust over with the matching yellow powder."

Jen's Experience: Since I have sensitive skin, I've managed to develop quite the nose for products that don't cause inflammation, but every now and again I test something that just doesn't work with my skin and my skin lets me know about it. Believe it or not, I've never had a specific product to help correct those situations, I have always just piled on some foundation and hoped for the best. But now with Tarte's Yellow Mellow, that's all changed.

Applying it involves two steps, very reminiscent of Bobbi Brown's undereye concealer. The packaging contains the corrector itself, a yellowish powder and the fantastic kabuki brush that makes it worth getting the set alone. I apply the yellow cream with my concealer brush on the reddish areas (generally between my brow or on chin) and pat in with my fingers. Then, I apply the yellow powder by dabbing the area with the kabuki brush. The redness really disappears! I also find it to be effective on other skin discolorations, not just reds.

Don't get this mixed up with an undereye concealer. I admit it, I tried it, but it really just doesn't look natural or really even cover up in the undereye area. But what does work is to use the yellow powder and kabuki brush to set your undereye concealer. I found that to be extremely effective. Oh, and the corrector actually helps to fix the problem rather than just covering it up, so you may not even need to use it two days in a row.

I think I could make it by without having this product at my disposal, but now that I have it, it seems like an essential for anyone with sensitive skin or even light acne problems.

Retail Price: $25.00 (TarteCosmetics.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Ever wish you had a magical eraser to obliterate all your beauty blunders? Well, look no further: whatever you’re trying to disguise, the eraser’s got you covered. The silicone & water based formula keeps skin hydrated and prevents creasing or caking… so no one will ever suspect you of hiding the evidence. (Now, if we could only invent a time machine…)

Dark circles? Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, while safflower oil hydrates skin. Blemishes? Chamomile & Arnica extracts soothe redness & reduce inflammation. Puffy eyes? Aloe leaf & cucumber extract reduce puffiness & tighten skin."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Ah, yes. Concealing those undereye areas can be frustrating. Any product that claims to help with the darkness and tiredness of the eyes is hard to not be intrigued by. That's why women seem to be on a constant hunt for "THE Perfect Concealer"!

I've seen some others designed in this form as well - in the click-up tube - and generally I don't know if I prefer them. In this case, there is quite a delay when you click the end to when the product arrives at the brush end. TRUST ME on this: don't click more than 4 times before waiting up to 30 seconds for some concealer to appear on the brush. If you keep twisting because you don't see anything, you will likely end up with a huge glob emerging out of it suddenly and no one wants that.

When it does come out, it seems to not emerge at the end so much as in the middle of the brush. I knew I'd have a hard time conveying this to you, so I took a picture:

This, while not the most convenient, is workable, especially if you don't go crazy with the clicks.

As far as the formula goes, I really like the consistency and coverage. It's non-drying and covers dark circles very well if you find the right shade for your skin. I even used it on some red areas and it worked really well at covering those up, too. It truly resists caking and settling into lines, which is a major plus as far as concealers go. I'm not sure I noticed a lot of decrease in puffiness personally, but that aside I think the formula is great. While I wish it was in a different applicator, I would still consider this something you might be very happy with. I'd say the thing I noticed most significantly about it is that it is moisturizing but doesn't get oily-looking. It stayed true and kept my eyes looking brighter for hours.

In this pic from some of the shots from the other day, I was actually wearing this concealer. Here's an example of how it looked on my eye (shade is Medium Beige - I thought I'd prefer the Light, but that was too yellow for my skin). This was taken in natural light on a macro setting (click to enlarge):

Retail Price: $19.00 (tartecosmetics.com or go here to find retail locations near you)

DeLush Rating: (for the applicator and because I didn't notice any decrease in puffiness as it described)

What They Say: "Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer was developed specifically for use under & around the eye area. An emollient version of Secret Camouflage, the moisture-rich formula is specially designed for the dry, sensitive skin under the eye to conceal discoloration & dark circles."

Jen's Experience: This concealer has been getting a lot of buzz lately, and when I saw that it was designed for dry and sensitive skin, I thought, "Hey, sign me up!" I asked the Laura Mercier representative at the make-up counter if she had any good tips for usage, and she told me to be sure to use a good eye cream and to apply the concealer over my foundation.

And the results? Not what I had hoped for, really. I've been using Chanel eye cream (which I'll be reviewing next week), so I thought I had that part covered, but what I found was that in any quantity, a lot or a little, the concealer settled into the little fine lines under my eyes. It was surprising, because the concealer has a nice creamy quality that seems like it should just melt into your face. I used the powder from the Bobbi Brown concealer set to help make it look a little more natural.

The only way I was able to achieve a truly flawless look with this concealer was by applying over a pretty high coverage foundation. In the winter, this isn't as big of a deal, but in the summer when it's 100 degrees, I generally just use a tinted moisturizer. I didn't find it to be terribly long lasting over just the moisturizer.

For those without really dry skin (or no fine lines), this may just work for you. Of course, you'll also need to have fairly specific coloring, since this concealer is only made in 3 shades. For me, I think I'm still going to stick to the Bobbi Brown corrector/concealer.

Retail Price: $22.00 (Laura Mercier)

Rating:

What They Say: "It's the world's best concealer. This industrial-strength concealing cream helps erase dark circles & imperfections. Lay it on... thick or thin... it looks natural and never heavy."

Jamie's Thoughts: They might not be exaggerating. Whether we want to admit it or not, some of us need a little help in the under eye area. As a redhead, my skin has a naturally translucent quality. This, combined with a lifetime of allergies, leaves me sporting some seriously dark, undereye circles. In a recent non-scientific poll of redheads (i.e. all the redheads I know), 100% of those polled reported a problem with dark circles. This concealer is so easy to use, it’s almost laughable. Benefit has hit a home run with Boi-ing!

Forewarned is fair warned: Have you ever seen a redhead without her makeup on? It’s quite a sight to behold, as we don’t have any color in our eyelashes or eyebrows. Please keep this in mind when viewing the following photos, which were taken in natural light (yes! I am either brave or crazy!). Be sure to forward them to a friend and have a hearty laugh at my expense.

Click to enlarge.

I apply this as the first layer of my make-up, after I’ve moisturized. Using a minor finger (ring finger or pinky works nicely), I gently dab this on to the crescent-shaped area of my under eye, you know – the darkest section. Be forewarned: if you rub it too vigorously, the concealer will spread too thin and you’ll be starting all over again.

Click to enlarge.

This first application may appear severe, but after you balance it out around the base of the eye (to your discretion), things will start to look normal again. One of the best features of this product is its range – it looks fabulous whether you’ve piled it on, or only spread a thin layer.

I use powder foundation which doesn’t interfere with the consistency of the concealer as much as a liquid might. I also occasionally apply Boi-ing on my eyelids when I want a fresh look without any eye shadow (too much of anything can turn a redhead from classy to trashy in mere seconds), and it also does a phenomenal job of hiding the red, blotchy areas near my nose.

Click to enlarge.

The obvious negative? It’s only made in 3 shades, so consumers with darker or hard-to-match skin tones might be disappointed with the coverage it provides. Otherwise, this stuff is knocking on the door of a perfect, 5-lip rating.

Retail Price: $18.00 (benefit.com - click here for international order info - and sephora.com; see retail locations here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: (About the Concealer) "Keep dark circles covert and banish other imperfections with Bella's clever concealer."
(About the Double Oh! Eye Relief) "Get rid of unsightly puffiness, while firming and brightening the entire eye area. Leaves eyes feeling fresh and looking youthful in seconds."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I was told that using these two together would pack extra punch behind attacking my undereye area, and so that's what I did first. The Double Oh! Eye Relief (the pink one) has a very thin and light consistency. I dotted it under my entire eye area and patted it in gently. There was a subtle brightening effect immediately, and after a few seconds there was a very slight tightening feeling. The reduction of puffiness with this isn't incredibly noticeable, but I did see a bit of a reduction. The brightening effect was more noticeable.

Now, on to the concealer! It's a lemony yellow and a bit surprising out of the tube, but on it went. For me (and I've so far used this product combo three times), the result was just a bit too light in color. I also felt the need to dot my most extreme area of darkness with a different concealer afterward. The consistency is nice though, and if you're conservative with layering it, it won't cake in fine lines. I just felt like it was far too light under my eyes, even after I dusted powder over to try to balance it out with the rest of my face.

So basically, if you've got minor puffiness or undereye shadows, the Double Oh! Eye Relief might be worth a shot. If you've got darker, more consistent problems with undereye circles it won't cover them up on it's own. And if you've used yellow-toned undereye concealers before and find they work with your skin tone, go ahead and try the For Your Eyes Only Concealer. Otherwise, you'll probably feel the same way about it I did.

Retail Prices: Double Oh! Eye Relief - $16.00, For Your Eyes Only Concealer - $13.00 (available at bellabeauty.com, and they DO ship internationally for an extra charge)

DeLush Ratings:
Double Oh! Eye Relief
For Your Eyes Only Concealer

What They Say: "Makeup artists call this product their secret weapon and the best choice to conceal just about anything - without looking heavy or greasy. This cream-formulated concealer comes in an easy to use pot and provides full coverage for undereye circles, blemishes, discoloration, and minor flaws. Blends with virtually any foundation to help achieve a flawless looking complexion."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Aside from the M∙A∙C Studio Touchup Stick which I recently raved about, this concealer comes in extremely close at the very LEAST in terms of quality coverage, blendable texture, and near imperceptibility. There is almost no way for this moisture-rich formula to ever look cake-y or dry. It's definitely worth a try, as long as you've tested and found your perfect shade.

Retail Price: $26.50 (at Sephora.com - sorry UK readers, I couldn't find a resource for you nearby, but for all readers, the Vincent Longo website will go live this summer! Go here to sign up to be alerted when it is complete!)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "For spot-on camouflage: a sleek pencil-tipped concealer blending creamy formula and medium coverage with on-the-go portability. Applies precisely: blends away spots and blemishes in a flash."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Say HELLO to your new Magic Wand. This soft, creamy pencil blends invisibly, never cakes or settles into fine lines (works GREAT for undereye area as well as redness and splotchiness), and is my new personal must-have. I was nervous about sharpening it, but it maintains its shape fabulously.

Get to a M·A·C counter and find your best shade (it'll be nearly impossible not to find one that complements your skin with all of these options). You'll love it.

Retail Price: $14.00 (maccosmetics.com or go here to find a select retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Stila's specially formulated yellow-orange tones skillfully highlight and neutralize any uncomely blue or red discoloration. This creamy formula glides on easily for effortless application.
Tips:
Avoid concealer overload. Apply eye concealer using #2 eye concealer brush then layer and blend only where there is discoloration. Foundation applied under the eye is a great long-wearing base for eye concealer."

Jen's Experience: I will start by saying, the Bobbi Brown concealer/corrector combo is really a hard act to follow. I heard that Stila's concealer was a great product in a recent issue of Elle Magazine, and when I couldn't scrape any more Bobbi Brown out of the container, I broke down and headed to the Stila counter.

The product itself is very thick and requires a concealer brush for application. It works okay over top of moisturizer, but works better on top of foundation or even foundation base. I like using my Dior Base De Teint underneath because it does a little lightening and it also makes the concealer apply a little more evenly. The end result is that it looks a little drier, but for all practical purposes a lot like the Bobbi Brown. It just doesn't last as long, I'm sad to say. I would give it about 6 hours on a given day, and that's just not enough. I don't want to walk into a 3 PM meeting looking like I didn't sleep the night before.

If the last product that I used weren't absolutely fabulous, I would probably not be as hard on this one, but now I know: this one is just not the best concealer out there, at least for me.

Retail Price: $16.00

Rating:

I've had a problem with dark under-eye circles since I was in college. It's a mixture of natural coloring, I think, and the amount of sleep I've been getting and how hydrated I am. Sometimes they get a little better, but most of the time (probably due to my general refusal to sleep for 8 hours each night), they're so dark I have to hide them before I walk out of the house every day.

I went to the Bobbi Brown counter looking for concealer because I'd heard theirs was phenomenal. I ended up buying their corrector, concealer kit and their concealer brush. All three were a hefty $82.00, but they were well worth it considering that they really work and the amazing advice their representative gave me for applying the concealer. It goes against everything I ever thought when it comes to concealer application, but it absolutely works. While I still have the dark circles, they're concealed so effectively, they're invisible for hours!

Want to know how?

** Warning: the following photos contain graphic material of Jen without her makeup on.

Continue reading It's a Concealer Miracle!.

What They Say: "Conceals imperfections with two shades that blend for an exact skintone match. Ideal for concealing undereye circles, blemishes and minor imperfections for a perfectly natural look. Oil-free, non-pore-clogging and non-irritating."

Jen's Experience: I've been looking for a concealer for quite a while now and just haven't found the right one. I never thought I find a drugstore concealer that worked for my dark undercircles, but when I saw this on sale at my local CVS store, I thought I would give it a shot. And I'm so glad I did! Like the Smashbox concealer that I reviewed a while back, this concealer comes with two shades. According to Revlon, neither of these shades is supposed to be a primer; you're supposed to just mix them together to form the right shade.

I've been having fantastic results with this product. I have to use a whole lot of it to really cover up my dark circles, but once they're covered, the look is very natural and it lasts all day at work. I generally apply the pinker color first as a corrector and then I apply the more lemony color on top to make it closer to my natural color.

I have a small warning though. I believe that this product may irritate my eyes when I wear it without an undereye cream. If you've got sensitive skin, I recommend trying this product in small doses with an undereye cream to make sure that it doesn't irritate your skin. Normally, this would be enough to make me swear off of a product, but as long as I am wearing my undereye cream during the day, I don't experience the irritation.

Overall, I think this product is a definite keeper, a concealer that actually works, for a fraction of the price of a department store brand.

Retail Price: $9.79 (available at most drugstores)

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What They Say: "A ground-breaking multi-purpose product that offers a primer on one side, a concealer on the other. this must-have product plays two leading roles: the primer smoothes skin and fills in fine lines and imperfections around the eyes, then the concealer hides dark circles while treating the delicate skin to a skin-protecting antioxidant of vitamins A, C, and E. packed into a portable little compact complete with a touch-up mirror and a convenient hide-away brush."

Jen's Experience:  At first, I hated this stuff.  The instructions didn't say which of the two vats was the primer and which was the concealer.  I think the yellowish one is the primer and the pinky one is the concealer, but honestly, it's hard to tell.  I wasn't sure what to do with the brush.  Use it for one?  Both?  I eventually settled for neither.  I use my fingertips instead.  My final gripe is that you really need to wear foundation or at least a good tinted moisturizer underneath to get a nice, smooth effect.  Otherwise, reverse raccoon eyes for you.  Other than all that, the effect you get is quite nice.  I didn't think it looked all that different from the NARS concealer in my home mirror, but when I get to work, I can definitely tell the difference.  Much less zombie-like, even into the afternoon.   I also think it looks more natural than the other concealers I've tried.  So after all my initial troubles, I think this product comes out being quite effective.  But I will still be searching for something better.

Retail Price: $24.00 (Smashbox.com)

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What They Say: "BotafirmTM infused formula helps minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles as it conceals under eye circles. Moisturizes skin and diminishes the look of puffy eyes. Ophthalmologist tested."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Who doesn't want to get rid of undereye circles? If you haven't the slightest clue what an undereye circle is, I hate you. I'm sure you're cool and all, but still.

So of course I gave it a shot, and purchased this formula in the Neutralizer shade. Perhaps that was the initial mistake. Aside from not really blending into my skin very well due to the color being so yellow, I felt that it really didn't do too much to camouflage my circles at all. Aside from these 2 issues, which may or may not have been because of me choosing that shade, the texture didn't impress me much. It felt very smooth but very thick going on, and settled heavily into tiny lines which just emphasized what little aging around the eyes I was trying to cover up.

Bottom line, I didn't find my little miracle worker here.

Retail Price: $8.99 (drugstores)

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