High-End vs. Drugstore (Roadshows) Makeup Products

Worth the Splurge:
1) Foundation - I almost always buy high-end foundation. The biggest factor is the process of selecting a color match. A saleslady at the counter can greatly assist in the color selection. For drugstore brands such as Revlon or L'Oreal, you often have to play the guessing game to select a color match. Plus, the lighting at the drugstore is often not suitable for selecting a color match for foundation. The only drugstore foundation brand that I adore is Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. But in Singapore, they sell it at BHG counter, so I had the helpful assistance of a saleslady. 
2) Concealer - There is a huge difference between high-end concealers and drugstore concealers. High-end concealers provide more coverage, and yet goes on smoothly. As with drugstore foundations, you often have to guess your color match because there are no testers available. Even if there is a tester, the lighting at drugstore is not adequate to accurately determine a color match. Drugstore concealers that have high coverage tends to be cakey too. 

 

Not worth the extra $$:
1) Mascaras - Since you have to replace them every 6 months, it would be very costly to purchase high-end mascaras such as Lancome, Dior and Chanel. Drugstore brands such as Maybelline and  CoverGirl produce good-performing mascaras that are easy on your pockets. Korean roadshow brands such as Etude House and innisfree have a good selection of mascaras as well. 
2) Lipstick - A girl needs an array of lip colors. I have a confession to make: I am a lip product junkie. I probably have more than 20 lipsticks, lip tints, lip crayons, lip glosses and lip balms. I do own some high-end lipsticks such as Chanel, NARS, Dior lipsticks. But I also own mid-priced products such as Benefit Benebalm. For affordable-priced products, my inclination is towards Korean roadshow brands such as Clio, VDL and innisfree. I especially <3 the VDL Expert Color Lip Cube Ex! 

So there you have it! Makeup products that I splurge on, and those that I save on. Tell me about yours!

All about Under Eyes Concealer

 

~AG~

Ever since Secondary School, I have been plagued with dark circles. It has been over 10 years since my search for the best under eyes concealer. My dark circles are exactly that of a Panda's. T_T
Some friends have commented on how severe my dark circles it. Though some articles mention that dark circles are caused by the lack of sleep. But from my personal experience, no matter how much restful sleep I get at night, I will still have dark circles. Thus, concealer is my long-term best friend. Over the years, I have tried quite a few highly-rated under eyes concealers. Right now, my #1 concealer is Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer. See below for my comparison of other under eyes concealers.

Bobbi Brown Corrector
THE GOOD: This salmon tone Corrector is meant to be worn under the yellow-based Bobbi Brown concealer. Though, I usually wear this Corrector on its own. It was designed specifically to cover severe dark circles. It covers my dark circles well.

THE BAD: This product can be too thick. The thickest under eyes concealer out of the rest on the list. It tends to cake up even when eye cream is applied beforehand.

Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer
THE GOOD: Provides high coverage, stays on well. You only need a little bit to fully cover your dark circles. Plus, it does not melt in Singapore's humid weather!

THE BAD: Super expensive! US$80 for this stick concealer. But it lasts for a long time, I have been using mine for almost two years, and still no signs of defeat. Though on some days, I wished it has a more salmon tone to neutralize my dark circles.

 

Benefit Erase Paste
THE GOOD: Value for money, US$26 for more than 6 months' worth. The texture of this concealer is very creamy. You only need a tiny bit to cover your dark circles.

THE BAD: Due to its creamy texture, it tends to melt in humid weather - even thought I set it with a loose powder. This is the creamiest under eyes concealer out of all on the list. It would work better for those with dry under eyes areas, or for people who live in drier climate.

Benefit Fake Up
THE GOOD: Nothing

THE BAD: Not much coverage and tends to crease in Singapore's humid weather. A gimmick product!

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
THE GOOD: It has a salmon undertone to conceal dark circles, and brightens the under eyes area. Its creamy texture is great for those with dry under eyes area. But it is not as creamy as Benefit Erase Paste. It does not melt in humid conditions.

THE BAD: It does not provide enough coverage for very severe dark circles. Coverage not as high as Cle de Peau Beaute concealer, but better than other concealers on the list. It provides good enough coverage for an everyday concealer.

Laura Mercier Undercover Pot
THE GOOD: It comes with a Secret Concealer, a Secret Camouflage as well as Translucent Setting Powder. 3-in-1! With that being said, Secret Camouflage is more of a blemish concealer. It does not work well for dark circles. The Translucent Setting Powder is alright.

THE BAD: Expensive at US$34. Since I did not use the Secret Camouflage and Translucent Setting Powder as much, I rather buy Laura Mercier Secret Concealer which only cost US$25.  

REVIEW: Laura Mercier Undercover Pot

~AG~

The shade that I use is UC-3 which is for light to medium skin tone. It retails for USD$34 at Sephora. But I bought it during their Family & Friends sale. So there was a 15% or 20% off the retail price. Previously,  I have used the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. I somehow missed out on doing a review on that product on this blog. Anyway, I really liked the Secret Concealer. I used it to conceal my dark circles. The salmon shade help neutralise the darkness, and brightens the eye area. Its creamy consistency makes it glides on easily. Even though it is creamy, I find that it does not crease. Overall, it was a good under eye concealer 

I decided to get the Laura Mercier Undercover Pot because I thought it will be a great go-to concealer for travelling. Instead of bringing various concealers and loose powder while travelling, I had hope that this will meet all my concealing needs. The Secret Concealer (on the right side of the pot) to conceal dark circles and the Secret Camouflage (on the left side of the pot) to conceal redness and blemishes. Plus, it comes with the Translucent Loose Setting Powder to set the concealers. 

It turns out that I used the Secret Concealer faster than the Secret Camouflage and Translucent Loose Setting Powder. That bit of Secret Concealer lasted me less than six months. I use it everyday to conceal my dark circles. About the Secret Camouflage, it has a thicker consistency compared to Secret Concealer. It is also more yellow-based, and I find it more powdery. It does work to conceal redness, but it has a more light to medium coverage compared to my Cle de Peau concealer. So I have to apply more to cover up the redness around my nose. Sometimes, this tends to make my makeup looks cakey. It does not work well on huge blemishes because of the inadequate coverage. The Translucent Loose Setting Powder is pretty good. It does not make my makeup looks too powdery. It is rather finely milled. It does not have any color as it is a setting powder. I use a small powder brush to apply it. 

Overall, I do recommend it for those who want an all-in-one product for all their concealing needs. It is a convenient product to have in your makeup bag. However, if you are those that mostly need to conceal dark circles, I will recommend the Secret Concealer instead. Because the amount of Secret Concealer in Undercover Pot is too minimal, and Secret Camouflage does not work well on dark circles. But for those that need to conceal redness and minor blemishes, the Secret Camouflage is adequate. 

Above Left: The right side of the pot is the Secret Camouflage. On the left side of the pot, I have replaced it with my Bourjois foundation.  
Above Right: The Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

REVIEW: Laura Mercier Concealer

 

~AG~

I finally hit pan on my Laura Mercier Secret Concealer which I used for my under eye dark circles. During the last Sephora Family & Friend Sale, I bought the Laura Mercier Undercover Pot.  So, I'm going to start using it. It contains two concealer with a loose powder, which makes it convenient for traveling. Will let you readers know whether it is a better buy compared to Laura Mercier Secret Concealer.