Jemma Kidd’s signature collection is sold at luxury boutiques, but this dual ended illuminating cream and stick concealer is a Target exclusive.

While I find both ends useful, the illuminating cream is a particularly nice formula…not too shimmery or glittery, just the perfect bit of light to add to the inner and outer corners of your eye. The concealer is a light, creamy formula that covers nicely, however I needed to layer over a primer to avoid creasing.

The packaging on Mannequin Skin is sleek and pretty, so tuck this one in your purse for a quick  jolt of happy with every touch up.

Snag it for $18 at Target stores and www.target.com.

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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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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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My latest try is Maybelline’s new SuperStay Concealer and I’m impressed!

This long-wearing, yet lightweight, formula stays flawless (no creases in the undereye area) and doesn’t budge for hours. (Maybelline claims 24 hours, but I always make it a point to remove my makeup before bed, so I can’t weigh in on that!)

There’s quite a bit of coverage as well and the wand applicator makes application a breeze.  For my dark circles, I tap on three small dots and then blend; for blemishes, I dot the wand directly on just once before blending.

SuperStay Concealer is available in five shades and has a suggested retail price of $9.99 (is it just me or are drugstore makeup prices getting higher and higher?)  Pick it up at mass retailers near you!

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This lightweight cream-to-powder concealer was formulated to instantly camouflage and ease imperfections. It includes semi-precious Tourmaline and malachite gemstones, which capture light energy to instantly conceal both dark circles and blemishes effectively.

The Radiant Concealer SPF 25 creates a smooth, even and build-able finish thanks to a unique polymer mesh technology and the small brush included is absolutely perfect for application (which makes the $65 price tag a bit easier to swallow!)

To shop La Mer, visit your local counter or www.cremedelamer.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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Kiss Me Tonight has a beautifully emollient formula that’s thick and creamy, without a lot of gloss.  The scent is neutral – so if you have a significant other that hates the smell or taste of other balms, this may be the pick for you.

Snag a tub for yourself for $20 at www.philosophy.com.

p.s. If you’re a huge Philosophy buff (like, ahem, some people I know), follow them on Twitter via @lovephilosophy – they frequently offer up exclusive discounts and giveaways, so it’s definitely worth a peek!

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If you’re curious yourself, wonder no more. Check out the video below, which was created to promote her new Tattoo Concealer, available exclusively at Sephora.

Kat Von D for Sephora Tattoo Concealer ($25) is available in three waterproof, oil and paraben-free shades, and an accompanying tattoo concealer brush is sold separately.

What do you think of this new product?

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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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