Concealed Weapon?

Hey You!
Penny has been on a mission lately...a mission to carry a concealed weapon. Don't panic...this is not about gun control. Its about 'coverage.' My weapon of choice these days is concealer. LOL! Between my dark under eye circles (hereditary) and my melasma (hyperpigmentation) on my cheeks, temples and forehead, I now hate going without makeup. :-( In recent months I have tried quite a multitude of concealers, in varying shades and formulas. Some worked okay, some not so much. Last week, with the help of a knowledgeable Sephora rep, I think I finally found a combination of concealer and foundation that works.


Kat Von D Lock-it
Tattoo Concealer

While in Sephora I shared that I have been struggling to find a good cover for my melasma and the rep asked if I ever tried Kat Von D's products. She swore that it was the answer to my challenges. After demonstrating the Lock-It Tattoo Concealer, set with Make Up Forever's Pro Finish Powder Foundation (in #168, Golden Camel), I was amazed at the coverage! I love my Cover FX Foundation and will still use it. But the combination of these two products actually covered my melasma better than ever before.

 Here are some of my trials and how I rated them:

• Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Concealer in Med #26/Original Tan ($25) - great buildable coverage
• NARS Radiant Cream Concealer in Biscuit/Med-Dark ($28) - easy to blend; great for under eye circles; does not crease
• Bobbi Brown Corrector Dark Peach ($23 ) - should be used under Bobbi Brown concealer but I sometimes used it by itself; just have to make sure you set with powder
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 in NC 42 ($18) - love that their is SPF; good coverage but can sometimes be drying; better for blemish coverage
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC 42 ($18) - liquid formula with decent under eye coverage; does do much for melasma
• Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Tan by Hard Candy ($12.99) - inexpensive; very opaque liquid; worked ok under eye, but doesn't come in enough shades.



Right cheek melasma; no makeup
 

One of the most interesting things I learned during my hunt for the perfect hide out was that 'formula matters.' Most creamy, liquid formulas are better for under eye circles. While thicker, pot and stick formulas work best for other areas of the face (blemish marks, melasma, etc). Some of the heavier formulas tend to cake up in the delicate under eye area, but work well for other parts of the face. Since the Kat Von D product is a creamy opaque liquid, I use a light patting motion with my fingertips, and layer it for buildable coverage. Then I set it with the powder using a sponge and pressing motion.

Right cheek w/ makeup

Although I hate showing my discoloration I thought the best way to demonstrate the effectiveness of the concealer/foundation combo was to show some pics. The first pic shows my clean skin without make-up. Most people don't see this hyperpigmentation and the dark under eye circles since I almost always wear make-up. The next pic was taken in the elevator to the garage as I was leaving Sephora. LOL! I wanted to see how it looked with camera flash. I took this after work so the rest of my make-up is worn and its not a fresh face, but you can see how well the products covered my cheeks. Since it was an in-store demo it wasn't blended well under my eyes. LOL! Not the best pics or lighting, but you get the drift.

I'm going to continue using this combo and check its wearability. Curious to see how it holds up under varying temps, and how it looks after a full day at work. I'm not one to touch-up during the day so I need something that lasts.

What's your secret weapon?

Be blessed. Be beautiful.

Penny