Something Beginning With...C: Concealers

Choosing what subject to broach this week was a bit of a no brainer for me. When I think of the letter C with regards to beauty, there's one thing that jumps straight to the forefront of my mind - concealing. Concealers are such a vital part of my make-up routine, one that I know I couldn't live without, and I've now got it down to a fine art! So here is a little overview of my concealing routine for your perusal. Enjoy!

My everyday routine consists of a trio of products. Now I know what your thinking - three concealers is a lot for just one face - but rest assured my friends, they are my holy trinity, and they all serve a purpose. 

First up isn't even, strictly speaking, a concealer, but a corrector. A creamy product with a peach tone to counteract any blues in the skin, I buff a little into the inner part of my under eye area, and over my premature crows feet (wahh!), as they tend to look a little bruised from time to time. My weapon of choice is the Bobbi Brown Corrector in the shade, Light Bisque. I'm in dire need of a new one, as I'm literally scraping out the sides at the moment - note the lack of pictures of the gutted remains. When I do cave and buy it, it will be my third little pot of erasing perfection. I always apply with a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush, as I find it to be the ideal shape for the inner 'nook' of my eye. Nook sounds so much nicer than hollow, doesn't it?

The second product I use is, again, not technically marketed as a concealer, but an illuminating pen. Ever since my first dabble into make-up, the YSL Touché Éclat has been a feature in my stash. It's actually become something of a holiday tradition to nip into Duty Free and pick up a duo pack of these babies on my way to wherever I'm jetting off to. I use Shade 1 - Luminous Radiance, and I apply it over my corrector into the hollows of my eyes and pat in with my ring finger. If I've got a lot of time on my hands, or I'm really making an effort, I'll pop a little on my cheekbones, brow bones, down the centre of my nose and on my cupids bow for a lovely structured highlight. The idea of the pen is that it bounces light back, cancelling shadows and illuminating (funny, that) certain parts of the face. A lot of people don't really see the point of this magical little wand, but personally, I couldn't live without it. There are lots of others on the market, and I often find myself tempted to try the By Terry offering, but I'm not sure that, when the moment came, I would be able to cheat on my YSL beau!

Last, but by no means least, is my trusty Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. You'll be pleased to hear that this one actually is a concealer. A palette consisting of both a peachy tone and a yellow hued product, this stuff is full on Photoshop in a pan. A lot more hard and waxy that my Bobbi Brown Corrector, I could never use this under my eyes, as it would be too drying. The fact that it is dry, though, means that it stays put for hours, and is amazing for brushing over any blemishes or imperfections. I have the shade SC2 - I think SC1 might have been a better colour match for my skin overall, but because I use this on discoloured areas, I find that it's a lot easier to blend to a natural finish if it's a smidge darker than my natural tone. I apply with a bareMinerals Max Coverage Concealer Brush around my nose and on my chin, where I have some slight pigmentation, and then I use a Real Techniques Pixel Point Brush to carry out my trusty Lisa Eldridge pinpoint concealing. I absolutely swear by this stuff, and I've not yet found another concealer, high end or drugstore, to rival it. And believe me, I've looked!

So there you have it - my trio of 'can't live without' concealers. I'd definitely struggle in their absence, to the point where I'd choose them over foundation if I absolutely had to. Can't imagine anybody mean enough to make me choose though, so I'm probably safe!

What are your favourite concealers? Do you love any of the brands I covet? Let me know!

S.