Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye Review, Photos and Swatches

My undereye circles are the bane of my existence. OK, that's an exaggeration, but really, I feel like nothing I do or try conceals my undereye circles well enough. My favourite undereye concealer is MAC's Pro Longwear but I don't love the fussiness of the container (not being able to control well the amount you get out and that it's challenging to open), so I've been trying some different ones. Make Up For Ever's Full Coverage Concealer doesn't do it for me in terms of texture and brightening, and now we come to Laura Mercier's High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye.

Laura Mercier's High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye is a unique 3-in-1 concealer that covers, de-puffs and brightens dark under eye circles. The highly pigmented formula builds and blends flawlessly for professional makeup artist results. Formulated with honey, vitamin E and fruit acid to nourish and smooth skin. A little goes a long way and lasts all day. 

0.27 oz $35 CDN

Some packaging photos.

Ingredients.

The High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye comes in 12 shades and they're numbered, from 0.5 to 7, and the shades are described with undertones (light skin with pink undertones, dark skin with almond undertones, medium to tan skin with beige to yellow undertones, etc)

My shade is 0.5 - fair skin with beige to yellow undertones. 

It comes in a small squeeze tube, and I have to say that I love this packaging. I'm fond of the lid especially, for purely aesthetic reasons. It's a good size and shiny, and makes the packaging look expensive.

The tube has a very small opening for the product to come out. This is because the concealer is thick and because you need very, very little. It's the complete opposite of the MAC Pro Longwear packaging as it's nearly impossible to get too much product out. This is very smart packaging since there's so little possibility of wasting product.

They say that you need a pin head's worth of product only. Here is about that amount on the back of my hand (NW15 skintone).

Blended out a little so you can see the texture. It's thick and creamy and very pigmented.

And here it is blended out even more. The warmth of your skin helps to soften and blend out the concealer so it's spreadable and blendable.

As for the claims that it depuffs the eyes, I can't really speak to it's success or failure. I don't experience puffy eyes very often and the eye cream I use in the morning tends to get rid of any puffiness effectively, so I don't need an undereye concealer for it. I have read that other people find the High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye effective on their puffiness though, so hopefully that helps.

It does brighten effectively though. I think undereye concealers should always be brightening. Dark circles are almost impossible to successfully cover since the skin under your eyes is so thin and the darkness beneath it is so deep. Brightening elements to a concealer or using a subtle highlighter under the eyes draws light to the area, giving it a lighter quality. It really does make a big difference.

In the photo below, I'm wearing the concealer under my eyes. You can see that it doesn't fully cover my dark circles, but it minimizes them significantly. I'm happy with this undereye concealer, I think that it does what it says it does, what it needs to do, and it's good quality. 

It's buildable, though starting with a tiny amount is best. I do find that it likes to crease up on me, so setting it well with powder is a must, and wearing an undereye primer helps as well to keep it lasting longer. 

The Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye is $35 CDN per 0.27 tube and available wherever Laura Mercier products are for sale (IE. Sephora).

Grade: B

Beauty Squared Round-Up - October 20, 2013

Hello Beauty Squared readers! Are you in need of some beauty links today? You are in luck...we're here to help!

Let's get in there...

• Allure Magazine has eight simple makeup tricks for flawless skin. 
• Do you like to make your own beauty products? Do you like dry shampoo? This homemade dry shampoo tutorial video is for you! 
• Sigh, Kim Kardashian. I wish I didn't know who she was, but I do. I will go back to ignoring her right after sharing this link with you. At least she's taught us a thing or two about contouring. 
• Kelly from Glitter Diaries takes a look at the Laura Mercier Flawless Face Book Palette in Sand AKA all you need for flawless skin.
• Speaking of flawless skin, the folks at Daily Candy have compiled their favourite concealers, foundations, tinted moisturizers, BB/CC creams and powders in one handy place. 
• Understanding your hair texture - this is one of the most in-depth articles on hair type I've ever read. What's your curl pattern?
• This make-up transformation is quite remarkable (though I've seen more dramatic ones) and had dudes on Reddit all worked up. 
• Christine at Temptalia and her readers have shared their tips for pore minimizing. 
• In case you've missed our previous Round-Ups and this FOTD, full brows are in for fall/winter 2013. Here's Elle Canada's how to get the look (without growing in your brows). 
• Black eyeliner, that trademark look of the bad girl throughout history from Cleopatra to punk rock.
• Extreme plastic surgery is not as rare as it used to be. Men and women around the world are using plastic surgery to dramatically alter their appearance and they aren't concerned with hiding the fact that their faces are created surgically. These dramatic (and disturbing) photos by photographer Phillip Toledano looks at some of these extreme plastic surgery enthusiasts.

September Luxe Box

My September Luxe Box arrived a little late this month, but that means only a short wait before my October one arrives! But I shouldn't get ahead of myself, let's look at what goodies came in my September Luxe Box.  (You can also check out my first three Luxe Boxes here, here and here!)

Hurrah for the return of the chocolate! A little Hershey's Kiss was included. Yum.

Méreadesso Face + Neck Toning Gel

A single-step solution for your face and neck full of incentive to toss every other moisturizer, toner, serum, primer, day cream, night cream and eye cream you own. This lightweight gel-lotion's globally sourced ingredients include 16 botanical extracts, 8 minerals and enzymes and over 20 antioxidants. Easy to apply, quick to absorb and impossible to give up because the longer you use it, the less you'll need it.

Méreadesso Face + Neck Toning Gel 50 mL/1.7 oz bottle retails for $120 CDN.  


Pür Minerals Mineral Glow

Try the Mineral Glow pressed mineral powder to get that radiant, sun-kissed look all year. This micronized mineral powder with golden undertones is infused with antioxidants to keep your skin looking healthy and glowing. This mineral powder formula does not contain oil, alcohol, fillers, fragrance or chemical dyes. Known as the "I don't know why you look so good...but you do!" in a compact, Mineral Glow pressed mineral powder is pür-fect for all skin tones and types. 

Pür Minerals Mineral Glow .35 oz/12 g retails for $23.50 CDN.

Laura Mercier Perfecting Water - Rich

The Laura Mercier Perfecting Water - Rich has been renamed as Perfecting Water Moisture Mist. This moisture mist provides a surge of hydration helping the absorption of key ingredients, moisturizers and serums into the skin.

Laura Mercier Perfecting Water Moisture Mist 6.8 fl. oz./200ml retails for $38 USD.

The Original Moroccan Oil Treatment

Photographed in my hand to show the size of the sample.

Moroccan Oil Treatment is an ultra-light formula which is absorbed by the hair instantly, resulting in a natural, silky finish and brilliant shine without leaving a residue. Moroccan Oil Treatment has the ability to restore over-processed hair damaged by environmental factors and chemical procedures.


Moroccan Oil Treatment 100 mL retails for $42 CDN.


So what did you get in your September Luxe Box? Did you have to wait for yours too? Are you happy with your Luxe Box? Share!


C.

Sephora Favourites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler: Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara Review

The Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara was included in the Sephora Favourites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler. Here's my review:

Laura Mercier's Long Lash Mascara info:

For long, defined lashes.

Perfectly engineered brush, designed to meet Laura's specifications, dramatically lengthens and defines lashes while enhancing the eyes.

An innovative stretch formula lengthens, separates and curls each lash making lashes appear longer in just two strokes.

Long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-proof.

Contains rich dark pigments to enhance lash colour for maximum drama.

Clump-free, fiber-free, paraben-free and opthamologist tested.

Suitable for contact lens wearers.

A fullsize tube retails for $24 US and is available at Sephora stores and http://www.sephora.com/

This is a deluxe Sephora sample, so not a full-size tube as you'd get if you bought it at Sephora or from Laura Mercier directly. The only difference between the full-size tube and the deluxe sample is the length of the tube and amount of product. The brush part of the wand is fullsize as is the width (chunkiness of the tube), but the handle is shorter so application may take some getting used to. Thick cap, short wand, fullsize brush - this isn't easy to manipulate close to your face.

I found this mascara quite wet (the wetter the mascara, the more curl your lashes will lose) and it reduced the curl in my lashes I'd just created with my eyelash curler. My lashes are naturally quite straight so I need them to be as curled as possible. Apart from the reduced curl, my lashes look fairly natural, but thicker, longer and defined. 

If you have naturally curly lashes, this mascara would probably be fine for you. 

The smudge-free claim is accurate. I didn't notice any smudges during the day and it came off easily when I washed my face at the end of the day. It did a great job lengthening my lashes and the effect is very soft and natural.

I wouldn't buy this mascara because it kills the curl in my eyelashes but otherwise it's a good one.

C.

June Luxe Box

Luxe Box by Loose Button is a beauty subscription service that just recently went from invite-only to public. You sign up and pay a subscription amount (monthly, quarterly and yearly) and you get three boxes shipped to you for three months. Each box contains three deluxe samples of beauty brands such as Dermologica, OPI, Lise Watier, Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Benefit, MAC, Clinique and Principessa, among others. 

I signed up just before Loose Button went public with their service and bought three months worth of Lux Boxes. Just before they went public I was offered the change to sign up for another three months, so I did. And I'm glad I did as I got my first Luxe Box last week (sent out early due to the impending Canada Post strike). 

Luxe Box is so pretty - a brown box, wrapped with a black ribbon. Very sophisticated and very chic. Inside is teal tissue paper and a pink striped card, with what beauty treats are inside and a personalized note.

My Luxe Box goodies for June are a mini bottle of China Glaze nail polish in Pink Underground, Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica and a full-size Laura Mercier eyeshadow in Sandstone. They also threw in a little chocolate treat.

China Glaze nail polish, Dermologica Daily Microfoliant, Laura Mercier Eye Colour, chocolate!

Mini China Glaze in Pink Underground

China Glaze nail polish in Pink Underground

This is not my colour. It's too bubblegum pink, although it's pretty enough with the slight purple sparkle. I lasted less than 24 hours with it on.

Dermologica Daily Microfoliant

I have tried this yet but it's a rice-based powder exfoliant that will smooth and soften your skin, removing dirt, dead skin and roughness. 

Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone

Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone

Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone

Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone

Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone

Sandstone is a very pretty, shimmery fleshtone shade making it perfect as a browbone highlighter or to blend darker shades. And Laura Mercier makes gorgeous eyeshadows.


I was thrilled with my first Luxe Box and can't wait to see what's coming next month!


C.

Sephora Favourites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler: Introduction

Mascara! Mascara! Mascara! I spotted this Sephora Favourites Mascara collection on sale recently. The Sephora Favourites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler features 10 deluxe samplers of Sephora's best-selling mascaras and an eyelash curler.

Since there are so many mascaras in this collection I opted to review each one in separate posts. Here's what's coming:

Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically-Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Mascara

MultiplEYE™ Clinically-Proven Natural Lash Enhancing Mascara
What it is:
A one-of-a-kind mascara that is clinically proven to immediately increase the appearance of lash volume by 638%, while also increasing the appearance of lash length with regular use.

Sephora Advanced Lash Booster

Advanced Lash Booster
What it is:
An advanced mascara, scientifically proven to enhance four lash characteristics: length, thickness, fullness, and strength.

What it is formulated to do:
This mascara uses complete 360° action to fortify your fringe and deliver an instantly visible volumizing effect. A new technique harnesses coating elements, with perfectly rounded microspheres, to triple the penetration of active ingredients into the lashes; efficiency has been measured by scientific studies.

Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara

Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara
What it is:
A mascara that offers multiple fringe benefits in one full-spectrum formula.

What it does:
Film Noir's signature hourglass-shaped brush is designed for optimal application, adding volume, length, lift, and separation to lashes. The intense concentration of Panthenol (ProVitamin B5) adds a reflective, jet-black sheen for dramatic impact.

Blinc Kiss Me Mascara

Kiss Me Mascara
What it is:
The famous pioneering, tube-technology water-resistant mascara.

What it does:
Blinc Kiss Me Mascara is the original tube-technology mascara. It's invented to form tiny water-resistant "tubes" around your lashes for maximum amplification and hold, rather than painting them like conventional mascaras. Once applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and cannot run, smudge, clump, or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

Smoky Lash
What it is:
A mascara that gives the lashes curl, volume, length, and intense pigment.

What it does:
This ultra-pigmented mascara was specially designed to give the lashes an exceptional volume-enhancing effect with infinite lengthening and immediate curling.

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara

Long Lash Mascara
What it is:
A mascara with a perfectly engineered brush and innovative stretch formula to extend and separate the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes.

What it does:
Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara extends and precisely separates the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes by expertly scooping up and lengthening each one—while delivering just the right amount of product. The perfectly engineered brush, designed to meet Laura's specifications, dramatically lengthens and defines each lash. An innovative stretch formula lengthens, separates and curls each lash making lashes appear longer in just two strokes. The long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-proof formula contains rich dark pigments to enhance lash color for maximum drama.

Too Faced Lashlight

LASHLIGHT
What it is:
An innovative mascara formula containing millions of microscopic mirrors that bounce light off lashes for a super-glossy, jet-black finish with an exclusive light up wand to spotlight each lash for the most precise application possible.

What it does:
LASHLIGHT is formulated to thicken, lengthen, and condition while coating lashes with the glossiest of jet-black finishes to make eyes look brighter, whiter, and camera ready. A combination of Panthenol and Vitamins C and E keep lashes healthy and Red Algae increases Keratin resistance for maximum lash flexibility. The patented formula contains millions of microscopic mirrors that bounce light off lashes for the deepest, jet-black finish that lasts all day.

Buxom Buxom Lash

Buxom Lash
What it is:
A paraben-free, lash-volumizing mascara.

What it does:
Bare Escentuals Buxom® Lash Mascara holds the style of your lashes for a continuous 12 hours with no flakiness. The silky, vitamin-rich formula darkens, lengthens, and thickens from root to tip without ever clumping. Its patented, hourglass-shaped brush is designed to lift and separate every lash while delivering the perfect amount of antioxidant-rich mascara needed for bigger, fuller lashes. 

Benefit BAD Gal Lash

BADgal Lash Mascara
What it is:
The BADgal line of mascaras from Benefit are full of "BAD-itude!" The rich, sexy formula and oversized brush build thick, beautiful and bodacious lashes.

What it does:
• BADgal Lash (the original) is like a set of sexy black false eyelashes...without the glue!
• BADgal Blue is a deep blue-violet shade that makes eyes look whiter and brighter!

Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara

GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara
What it is:
A volume-boosting mascara that naturally plumps and curls for maximum lash drama.

What it does:
This mascara's patented Triple V Brush delivery system coats lashes one luxurious layer at a time for full, longwearing, clump-free, water-resistant definition. The rich, hydrating formula evenly builds thickness and smoothness, delivering a full fringe of blacker-than-black lashes with dewy shine. This natural and exclusive formula dries quickly without smearing, smudging, clumping, or flaking. An infusion of nourishing, protein-rich Argan Oil conditions and supports hair growth for lush, supple, healthy lashes.

Tarte Eyelash Curler

Tarte's ergonomic eyelash curler, which has easy grip handles and a purple silicone pad for just the right amount of pressure to curl lashes evenly. The curved angle and wide mouth suits all eye shapes without pinching or crimping. Unlike other eyelash curlers that require multiple squeezes, you only need one squeeze with Picture Perfect for the perfect curl.

So much mascara, so little time! Stay tuned for my reviews of each mascara in upcoming posts.


C.