Covergirl Simply Ageless Corrector Concealer Review

Weekly Cheap Secret:

OK, so I purchased this because Ellen DeGeneres is the face for this product line. Well, that was one reason. The other: I have been looking for a concealer to love. Currently, I have been using MAC Studio Finish Concealer with SPF 35. I have not been impressed with the MAC concealer to cover dark circles. It’s too thick and I have to mix it with Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch to make the MAC concealer smoother and more manageable. (I miss Prescriptives.) Anyways, I thought I would give this Covergirl concealer a try. Ellen made me buy it.

Here’s what I’m looking for: a creamy, easy to smooth concealer to use under my eyes to cover up both redness and darkness. I’m in my mid-20’s, no real lines yet, and I am light with yellow/jaundice undertones.

The consistency of this product is so smooth. I purchased the Corrector to use as a  concealer since my complexion is exactly this color. The others available were all wrong. I think this is supposed to be a 2-in-1 product but I don’t get it. It isn’t a substitute for eye cream. It really is a “swirled” product with Olay added?  In the pot the texture is very nice, it looks dewy and the color is perfect. On my skin, the formula looks less dewy, too dry for my tastes. Since the color is perfect for me, it does cover up discolorations well. I feel this stuff shows more “lines” on me. It isn’t that it settles in the lines. It is that it doesn’t. It settles around them, leaving me with little blue-ish fine lines. That is annoying.  At first I thought I was using too much. I don’t think I am. I think it is doing that line thing after hours of wear. It’s a shame because I do find it a nice consistency and color. I just wish it was dewier and wore longer.

I’m still using this stuff so it isn’t terrible. I’m using it because my eye area looks better with it than without it. It just isn’t fitting my needs. I think I may be too picky when it comes to concealer. I think I can find something wrong with any formula by any brand. I do like this much better than using the MAC concealer alone. The MAC stuff makes my under eye area look terrible (and adds years)  if used alone. I also don’t love the MAC when mixed with the Clarins. So for now, I am using this Covergirl product until I find something I like better. I may use the entire jar. I may not. I just don’t think I will repurchase. Also, I need to state that I am using the Corrector. Does it even feel the same as the Concealers in the line? And maybe I’m getting the lines because I’m not using a concealer over it?

Retails for about $10.99. That isn’t super cheap for a drugstore product. But, it is cheaper than department stores. The MAC I used was about $16.50 + I was using the Clarins product. The Covergirl tub is quite generous, much larger than the MAC pot. Plus, if you shop around you’ll find coupons or BOGO. So, yeah, it doesn’t do what it claims to do, but it isn’t awful. I’ve used worse. It is available at drugstore.com.

 

Get The Look Of Star Trek Isis “Cat Woman”

I’m getting in the mood for Halloween here. I love Star Trek for all of their retro babes in ridiculous, cheesy costumes. To get the look of this minor role, major babe:

FACE: Even out blotches or under eye circles with a concealer that can do it all like Covergirl TruConceal Concealer. Apply foundation where and if needed. I suggest a dewy finish foundation such as The Body Shop Moisture Foundation. If you really love a dewy look, I suggest following up with an illuminating powder like Bare Escentuals Illuminating Mineral Veil. I really think this look calls the perfect peachy pink shimmer of NARS Blush in Orgasm.

EYES: Obviously brows are trying to be ridiculous. Even I agree that this look isn’t for everyday wear. I suggest styling brows in a natural arch with a clear brow gel like Revlon Brow Styling Gel. Apply a cream shadow with a peachy glow like Laura Mercier Satinee Creme Eye Color in Peach Organza all over the lid. This provides a nice glow and lots of hold. Next take a smokey gray with lots of shimmer, something like Milani Runway Eyes Eye Shadow in Black Out (dry not wet). Take the color from the top lash line and fill up to crease. Then in a “cat eye” like motion, sweep the corners outward and up. Apply it this way, as dramatic or as tame as you desire. Apply a black eye liner like Almay Intense i-Color Liner in Black Pearl to top lash line. Of course I say to go all out and apply crazy lashes. Especially if this is a party look. If not, apply lots of black mascara to top lashes and less to bottom lashes.

LIPS: Lips are very simple. Apply a pearly pinky peach lipstick like Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Silver City Pink. Dab the center of the bottom lip with a peach lip gloss, Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss in Juicy Peach.

And is there a fragrance any better than to complete this look for the bottle alone? Nope, stick with Cartier Panthere EDP.

 

Stainy Day: Covergirl Outlast Lip Stain Review

Weekly Cheap Find:

I am a fan of lip and cheek stains. In the summer these are my beauty “secrets”. I apply the same stain to both cheeks and lips and sometimes I’ll even wear mascara. It’s perfect for those icky summer days. I was skeptical of these Covergirl lip stains at first. I don’t know why. I think in my mind I thought they were too expensive for a drugstore product, about $8. This is funny. If NARS offered an $8 lip stain, I would think it was a deal. Anyways, I must confess that I am completely in love with this product despite the really poor reviews elsewhere. I love its range, application, and lasting power. And the price is right, even for a drugstore item.

First off, I have been a vandal since day one. Keep Sharpies out of sight. So, I love this marker like application. It really defines the lip line plus it is so fun. It’s like I am drawing on my lips. Avon mark made one of these lip stains years ago. It was awesome and like so many of their products discontinued in like 2 months.  Second, it comes in a wide range of colors. At first I did not get this. Well, these babies aren’t so sheer. They are sheer but they do pack more pigment than what I am used to from a lip stain. This is good, I guess. I have many friends with dark complexions that don’t do many lip stains because they don’t show. This line has a color for everyone. I just wish they would offer testers at the store (that’s the problem with all drugstore cosmetics). Third, it wears for hours and hours! I’m talking like 6 hours with no touch-ups. But, you must let it set first, just like any lip stain. The fragrance/flavor isn’t bad. It’s faintly “fruity”. And the price isn’t bad. I still haven’t been lucky enough to get them on BOGO.

I have three but my goal is to have them all because I am a lip stain freak. The first two I did not try. I was looking for a red and plum lipstain, something that looked berry kissed. I bought 425 Plum Pout. To my surprise this had lots of pigment. It looks very sheer when blotted. However, I am used to a bold lip. I like it’s reddish plum stain. It seriously looks like the inside of a plum. The other is 440 Wild Berry Wink. This is a pretty bold pure cherry red. It is sexy. I don’t mean to sound gross but it is a bloodstain red. So, it’s a “fresh” goth and vampire look. Both colors are pretty bold in comparison to my skin tone. I like them but they are a bit bright. I love the application and formula but wanted something a bit “my lips but better”. I purchased 420 Sassy Mauve. This is it. It’s a perfect mauve lipstain. It’s a perfect blend of pink and brown. It’s super natural flush of the lips. Well, at least for me.

OK, so to the complaints. Many people say that the results are not consistent with this product. I agree. It does fade with time. It’s the applicator. To be honest, there is not much product in the pen. If you want a lip stain for a bargain, you should probably purchase something larger and more liquidy. It will be from the department store but you should consider the cost per use. This Covergirl product is “portable” unlike Benetint so you are getting less product to fit into the portable pen. People do not like the finish. This is a stain. It will not provide shine or moisture. This being said lips must be healthy and not chapped. I really think Covergirl should put that as a “warning”. This product will clump on flakey lips and look awful like that makeup on that chick in Sweeny Todd. Any lip stain will do this on battered lips. Even that Avon mark one had a warning on it. I don’t remember the verbiage exactly but it was like “product will bleed if applied to chapped lips. Do not apply to peeling lips.” I have not tried this product with gloss because I find the purpose of lip stain is to look “natural” and I love its matte finish. I’m sure gloss could be added but from my makeup artist experience with lip stain, just try a balm. If you want shine, wear lip gloss and not lip stain. You can’t have it all.Words like long-wearing, moisturizing, and glossy do not go together. It is an unspoken rule.

I say this is a product to love or to hate. It all depends on expectations. If you are a lip stain fan, you may like this but these carry more pigment than what you may be used to so go a shade lighter than what you desire. If you like hyper-glossy lips then stay away from this. If you want a “base” to wear under your retro gal red lipsticks, then this stuff is perfect. It “holds” matte lipsticks. Anyways, I like it and I’m going to have to pick a few more up before this product gets discontinued. I predict it won’t be around too much longer because of the awful reviews and it’s an expensive product for Covergirl.

 

Hello, Get The Subtle Look Of Dolly Parton

I love Dolly Parton, even made up and fake Dolly Parton. She’s a beautiful gal. I’m really loving her look on her “Hello, I’m Dolly” album cover. It’s a “natural” Dolly, not really how most of her think of her. This is a great look. I love a peachy lip.

FACE: Apply a foundation like Prescriptives Virtual Skin Super Natural Foundation in your shade. Apply concealer if needed to even out the complexion. I like Dior Diorskin Sculpt Concealer for the under eye area. Dust with powder if needed with something like Almay Pure Blends Loose Finishing Powder. Cheeks are peachy perfect. I love Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in Peach 44. It is the perfect matte, peach blush.

EYES: Sculpt brows into place with a clear brow gel. Boots No7 Lash & Brow Perfector is a nice bargain. Apply a nude shadow from lash line to brow. For Dolly’s complexion this would be something like Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Vintage Lace. Take a medium taupe shade like Covergirl Eye Enhancers in Tapestry Taupe, and blend from lash line to right above the crease. It helps to do this with your eyes open-ish looking ahead. Apply a thin line of brown eyeliner like Estee Lauder Automatic Eye Pencil in Walnut Brown, closely to the top lash line. Apply a few coats of a lengthening mascara to top and bottom lashes. I would use a Dark Brown or a Black/Brown such as Almay One Coat Nourishing Lengthening Mascara.

LIPS: Lips are peach, pearly, and nude. For a look like Dolly’s try Lancome Le Rouge Absolu Lipstick in Nectariche, one of my favorite shades ever. If you are a bit deeper or tan, try Covergirl Continuous Color Lipstick in Bronzed Peach Shimmer.

 

Weekly Cheap Find: Covergirl Cheekers & Instant Cheekbones Blush

Covergirl Cheekers Blush is one of my many stupid addictions. I love this stuff. It is cheap so I can own like every one, about $3.50 each. It is one of my favorite blush formulas ever. Trust me I have dabbled in them all. This blush is up there with my NARS and Guerlain Divonora. I love it. I love it because many of the formulas contain lots of shimmer. It makes my skin look dewy but still like plastic. The shimmer particles are so fine, they are like pixie dust. There is a wide range of colors. The formula does have an “odd” odor. I guess. I actually like it. It has a Noxzema aroma. I can’t use Noxzema because it burns the hell out of my face but I do love its “squeaky clean” smell and the “natural” beauty marketing. The blush smells faintly of Noxzema. The colors wear all day. Some of my favorite shades include: Classic Pink which is a just worked out flushed pink, Snow Plum which is a light pinky plum shimmer, Pretty Peach which is a true peaches and cream with shimmer, Golden Pink which is a warm rust with gold shimmer, Cinnamon Toast which is a warm tan shimmer and Plum Plush which is a deeper violet with tons of gold shimmer. All of the shades make the skin look healthy and like it is “glowing”. The only blush that I have found similar are the ones in the Too Faced Quickie Chronicles. But, they are more expensive and you have to purchase other stuff too.

I also like Covergirl Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush. It is the same formula as Cheekers but it comes with three fab shades. They retail for less than $5. I love Peach Perfection which contains three shimmery tones of peach and Purely Plum which contains three shades of cool plummy pinks. The colors can be used to “contour” but I usually just swirl a brush around all three to create one shade. The one thing that I must mention about CG products is that the brush it comes with totally sucks. I would recommend attaching it to your key ring so that you could attack any potential muggers with it. The brush actually hurts to use. Not that many of us actually use the applicators that our cosmetics come with, but I am just warning those that do. Blush should be applied with a soft (comfortable!) and fluffy blush. This helps to achieve a nice flush. No stripes!