The first Per-fekt product that I’ve tested (there are just three in the line) is coincidentally the newest, the Eye Perfection Gel. This treatment/primer/concealer/brightener (no, really…it effectively acts as all of those things) enhances the delicate under-eye area with the most natural look imaginable.

So what does that really mean? Well, effectively, Eye Perfection Gel smoothes the skin, provides minimal coverage, treats puffiness and diffuses fine lines and wrinkles. Key ingredients with short term and long term benefits include cucumber extract, multi-antioxidants, hyaluronic microspheres, peptides and ceramides.

The product itself is a hybrid gel-mousse that dries to a near powder finish. Try applying it alone, under foundation/concealer or even over foundation or concealer for a high-def ready, nearly airbrushed look.

The packaging of this product is just as smart as the formula – a palladium-tipped applicator is uber-cool to the touch, which means it immediately sets to work on puffy eyes.

Application is really key – creator Richard Anderson stressed that when we discussed Eye Perfection Gel. To use, squeeze a pea-sized amount onto the palladium tip applicator and gently pat and smooth from the outside corner of the eye inward. Do not rub or you won’t get the same flawless finish. If you’d like extra coverage, you even try layering the product.

There are four shades available (I’m quite fair and I use “Bright”), including colorless and it’s sheer enough that you essentially can’t make a mistake in application.

If you’re intrigued by Per-fekt, you can snag the Eye Perfection Gel for $45 at Sephora stores nationwide or at www.perfektbeauty.com.

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Tintalize is a waterproof, sweatproof, smudgeproof concealer ($15 for 7 packets) designed just for feet. It’s a water based gel with twice the pigment of a normal concealer and it’s available in 7 shades, which inexplicably are named after real women, i.e. Allyson & Erica. There are just tiny swatches on site but you can check them out here.

I haven’t tried this out yet, but I’m curious – would you take the added step of using concealer on your feet? While I think this solves some foot insecurities that women undoubtedly have, I’m not sure if I have time to add foot makeup to my daily routine. What do you think?

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So, into my makeup stash I dug, looking for a miracle worker, and out came La Prairie’s Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing-Brightening Eye Treatment ($70).  Now, while that’s a major mouthful of a name, what this product actually does is quite simple – it conceals minor dark circles and infuses the eye area with a major dose of brightness. On no-makeup days like today, I feel like this minor cheat is worth the trouble.

The $70 price tag sounds hard to swallow, I know, but unlike similar products (think YSL’s Touche Eclat), the La Prairie Brightening Eye Treatment comes not only with the sleek silver applicator pictured but also with an additional refill cartridge of the formula. When the time comes, simply slip out the pen applicator and replace – easy peasy!

You can shop La Prairie products at fine department stores near you or at www.shoplaprairie.com.

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This intense coverage concealer has a drier formula, which leads to really amazing staying power. Simply dab a bit onto the stiff concealer brush (it’s great quality and included with purchase, talk about value!) and brush under eyes to cover dark circles and refract light. 

Best of all, with 100% natural ingredients like mineral pigments, honey extract, vitamin e and soybean extract, the results delivered by Dark Circle Defense are lasting – in fact, 100% of test subjects reported at least a minor reduction in under eye puffiness over the course of four weeks – pretty awesome, right? I’m looking forward to seeing if the same holds true for me.

My only caveat is that just two shades of Dark Circle Defense are available right now – light/medium and medium/deep.  I found a match in the first but those with a porcelein complexion as well as those on the darker end of the scale are unlikely to find a shade that works.

If you think that one of the shades will work for you, click here to snag your own for $32.

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Formulated decades ago by the actual Max Factor himself, Erace is a medium to full coverage stick concealer with peachy undertones that effectively cover dark circles.  Max Factor’s celebrity makeup artist Jake Bailey, who works with Katy Perry, Kyra Sedgwick, Annie Lennox and Rosario Dawson among others, recently confessed to me that this was a staple in his kit long before he began working with the brand, along with the iconic 2000 Calorie Mascara.  And did I mention the price? Erace retails for under $5 in most drugstores!

 The only catch is that Erace is only available in three shades – Fair, Neutral and Medium. Thankfully, Fair works nicely on my lighter skin tone but hopefully, Max Factor will release a larger variety of hues in the near future so that gals of all skintones can appreciate the wonder of Erace.

To shop online, visit Max Factor’s site or www.drugstore.com to shop.

Image via Drugstore.com.

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If peach isn’t your color, Touché éclat also comes in three other shades – Luminous Radiance, Ivory or Toffee.  This is a makeup essential for me – I use the little pen daily, to add a bit of radiance to the inside and outside corners of my eye. If you have light under eye circles, this may even pull double duty as a concealer. I have dark circles and it’s not quite powerful enough for me – though it works well layered over concealer too.

Tip – to make sure that your Touché éclat lasts, clean the brush with a bit of rubbing alcohol every few uses.

Visit www.yslbeautyus.com to buy!

Image courtesy of YSL.

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My favorite custom-blend experts, Three Custom Color Specialists, are offering up a sampling opportunity to web shoppers from now through April 23rd.   Get a trio of free concealer samples with any online order (no minimum purchase)!

Image courtesy of Three Custom Color

Three Custom Color’s unique and versatile concealer formula is a favorite of makeup artists (and me!) Use the creamy blend full coverage to conceal redness or dark circles, apply with a wet sponge to use as a foundation or blend with your favorite face cream to create the perfect tinted moisturizer. This is one of my go-to products every morning!

To get the deal, simply indicate which shades you would like to try in Customer Notes during checkout and get flawless! Visit www.threecustom.com to shop.

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1: Use your finger to tap on a cream-based concealer. (We love Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit )

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit, $32 (Image via BobbiBrown.com)

2: Pick up a sponge and stipple (dab) your regular foundation over the covered blemish, lightening your touch as you fade out the edges until there is no product left on the sponge.

3: Dust lightly with your normal powder to set.

If you’d like to help that blemish disappear a wee bit faster (and we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t), try Boscia’s Willow Bark Breakout Treatment To Go.  The handy pen applicator dispenses just the right amount of zit-zapping gel.  ($15, www.sephora.com.)

Do you have a blemish-concealing tip?  If so, leave a comment and share!

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Tricia Sawyer Eye Slept ($21)

This creamy brightener can be worn on it’s own for dark circles that fall on the lighter side or as a boost to your everyday concealer for extra coverage. Simply dab on lightly with your pinky finger or a concealer brush (NARS makes a phenomenal one!) and this baby stays put. I like to layer it under my Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage for days when I’m feeling extra pooped and no amount of coffee will help.

Don’t blink at the price as a little goes a long way.  You can snag your own pot of Eye Slept at www.triciasawyer.com!

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Concealer. Sometimes we can’t live with it, but we definitely can’t live without it.

There seem to be a zillion formulas of concealer on the market, and for each formula, there are several shades. Choosing the right concealer for your complexion and the flaws you’re looking to hide can be quite a challenge.

In my quest for finding the perfect concealer, I stumbled across Mary Kay’s Color Concealer and I’ve been hooked ever since. Its formula is creamy, but not gloppy. The coverage it provides is thorough, but not paint-like. There are several colors, but not so many that you’re left with your head spinning as to which one is your best choice. And the best part? If you are buying through an Independent Beauty Consultant, you can try before you buy, ensuring that you get the best color for you. And if for some reason the concealer you choose ends up not being right, you are able to return or exchange the product. Fabulous!

I know there are a ton of concealers out there that are fantastic and if you have a fave, please share with us and let us know. But for a mere $10 and delivery right to your door, I have found that the Mary Kay Color Concealer is a great product at a great price. Definitely a personal fave!

Image: MaryKay.com

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