Stila One Step Foundation

image from zappos.com

Price: $44 for 1oz

What they say:
"What it is:
A skin-loving makeup that combines the benefits of a primer, foundation, concealer, and powder in one long-wearing formula.

What it does:
This innovative, medium-coverage formula is energized with Stila's exclusive Ionic Mineral Complex™ that reads and reacts to skin zone-by-zone, visibly priming, balancing, correcting, and optimizing for a supremely flawless finish. Achieve a beautifully smooth look with this buildable, blendable, hydrating essential that minimizes pores, regulates oil, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Synthetic Fragrances"

What I say:
So far I'm liking this foundation/primer/powder/concealer product.  It's not the greatest, but I have seen much much worse (looking at you Revlon PhotoReady).

This product claims to be a primer, foundation, concealer and powder all in one.  While I wouldn't say outright that it is not any one of these things, what it is is a combination of an average one of each.  Average concealer, average primer, you get the idea.  So while you are saving time, and actually money (if you do use all of these steps each day), the overall effect that you are achieving is just okay, and could be done better with superior products.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not dissing this product.  In fact, for what it is trying to do, I would actually be praising it.  To be able to achieve so much in so little of an amount of time is really useful, and definitely has its place amongst the time constricted of us.

The texture of this product is whipped, like Maybelline's whipped blushes.  Personally, I think the texture of this product is the worst part about it.  Since it is whipped, it doesn't want to stay on a brush, making it hard to apply to your face without using your fingers.  So why don't you use your fingers, you might ask?  Because when I only have a minute to get foundation on, I don't want half of that time bring spent washing and drying my hands!  Once actually on the face it spreads out relatively easily, though because it likes to stick together, it can tend to all try and place itself on the same spot.  Something to watch out for.

The coverage of this is sheer to medium, I would say.  I could definitely see redness through it, and my undereye circles were ever present (though I always expect that one).  Basically, while I would say it conceals at all, it does a pretty bad job of it.  I had to apply a second layer around my nose just to cover the redness that I happened to have there.

This product is chock full of silicones, but so far I have not reacted to them.  I am waiting to see if I do or not, because depending on the product, and the actually size of the particles, sometimes I don't react.  The silicone is how this product achieves the "powder-like" part of the formula.  Once the foundation dries, what is left is a powder finish, which is quite nice.  I heard some talk about transfer being a problem with this product, but personally have not had a problem with that.

Lasting power was okay.  I only wear foundation for short periods of time, usually, and in this case it was only 5 hours before I took it off.  It definitely was still there, I didn't get oily through it (which means that the oil control must be decent), and it didn't slide.

Last couples things: colors, and price.

Colorwise, this product is meh.  I got both the lightest and second lightest shades of this, and both seemed to be okay for me (I guess I fall in between), but both were yellowish.  Whilst I do have a pink undertone, I can sometimes pull off a more yellow foundation, depending on the amount present, and what I was pairing with it.  With this, I had to wear bronzer with the lightest shade, which according to Stila doesn't even have a yellow undertone!  I definitely fear for women with more pink in their skin than I have, and really wish more companies would realize that yellow is not always flattering (looking at you Bobbi Brown).

Price for this is... not good.  While I did say that it was okay earlier, this was based on a "this is my only foundation/concealer/powder/primer" standpoint.  If you have decent skin that doesn't need a lot of concealer (which is the one thing I think this thing doesn't do even average), and you are thinking of just buying this, and nothing else, then the price is okay, since it breaks down to just $11 for each thing in it, and you aren't buying anything else.  If you are like most people, and you are thinking of using this as a sometimes, not always foundation, than the price is absurd.  For $44 you can get MUFE HD, and have change left over (and MUFE at least has a color selection than includes those of us who are not yellow undertone).  Also, this product claims to have a shelf of just 6 months after first use, according to the sticker.  This actually surprised me, since the product is in a tube, and it looks to be an airtight design.  Are the minerals just that unstable, and if so, than how does it last long enough on the shelf until someone purchases it in the first place?

I happened to get both of mine on a massive sale (one of them without a box, but new, and the other on an overstock site).  Total for both I paid less than the cost of one, but that was just luck and timing.  If I had to repurchase at the regular price, I would not even consider it an option.  If I found the same deal again, I would think about it, since the time I save would be worth it.

Overall:
Product: 3.5-4/5 (depending on the need for concealer)
Price: 2-4/5 (depending on if you are using this as a supplementary or a primary product)

Bobbi Brown Corrector

Color: Light Bisque

Price: $22.00 for .06oz/1.7g

What they say:
"For very dark circles and extra coverage, Bobbi's secret is her Correctors. Use daily or just when you need extra coverage. Designed to be layered under your yellow-based Creamy Concealer shade, Correctors come in a range of twelve Bisque and Peach shades.

Use fingers or the Concealer Brush to apply up to the lashline and into the inner corner of the eye. Smooth and blend by gently patting with the pads of your fingers. Follow with a layer of your regular Creamy Concealer shade."

What I say:
First off, for those of you who are really pale, and have a pink undertone, there is absolutely no reason that you have to use a concealer with this.  Bobbi Brown's concealers and foundations are known to be more yellow base than a lot of people can handle, while the correctors have a more pink base or salmon base to them, depending on the shade that you get.

That said, this product is a lifesaver for me, since I have what are known as "dark circles of doom" inherited from "dark circle genes of doom."  I cannot escape the look of perpetual sleep deprevation, so for me, something like a opaque concealer or corrector is manditory.  This corrector definitely fits the bill, and does so with a few perks.

Perk 1) This has a mirror in it.  That might not mean much to some of you, but for those of us that travel a lot, having a mirror in the lid of a concealer or corrector is very convenient when stuck in an airplane seat, and needing to do your makeup so you don't look like a zombie upon landing at your destination.  Also, it is great for touchups at your desk, or in the car, or at your SO's... you get the idea.

Perk 2) While being small, a little goes a long way.  This will last you a long time, and doesn't dry out quickly like a gel eyeliner/cream eyeshadow might.  Which leads to...

Perk 3) The small size makes it great for your purse/makeup bag.  Small, light, and convenient.

This corrector does its job well.  It applies easily when it is warmed with your fingers, or when warmed on your skin before blending.  I haven't noticed it migrating into fine lines when applied in a thin layer, but if it is applied too thickly, it can start to rebel.  This layers well with others, but anything too hard/dry on top can cause it to be pulled off of where you applied it.  I wouldn't call that a flaw of this product, since it was the other one that did it, but it is something to watch out for.

This does last a decent amount of time, but I usually put a powder on top of it, so I'm not sure how it would fair on its own.  It doesn't get cakey with powder on top of it, so I just go ahead and do it every time, since I'm powdering my t-zone anyway.

Overall, this is a good product.  I can't think of anything I would change about this product, which is not something I can say for many things.  Like I said before, a little of this goes a long way, so while the size is kinda small, I do feel that it is worth the money.

4.5/5

Lancôme 'Photôgenic' Skin-Illuminating Concealer SPF 15

Price: $27.50 for .16oz (4.6g)

What they say:
"A creamy-sheer, easy-to-blend concealer that hydrates and protects as it hides blemishes and dark circles. For a naturally radiant, flawless complexion that's perfect in every light. Lancôme's new Photo-Flex Complex optimizes the effects of light to perfect the look of your complexion while ginseng, ginkgo and vitamin C help energize your skin and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens help protect the delicate eye area from sun damage. Like a second skin, it leaves a natural, powdery-soft finish. Won't cake. Won't clog pores. Won't settle into lines. In six shades to complement the seventeen shades of Photôgenic Skin-Illuminating Makeup SPF 15. Ideal for all skin types. Oil-free. Noncomedogenic. Ophthalmologist tested. Dermatologist tested. Fragrance-free."

What I say:
I originally got a sample of this at Nordstroms, when I went to return the Guerlain blush that was such a failure.  I also, at that time, bought this product with the gift card that I got as the return.  The reason I did both?  Because this was completely sold out, so I needed to get a sample until the item I bought could be shipped out.  Have I mentioned how much I love the customer service at the Nordstroms I go to (Arden Fair mall)?

I ended up getting this concealer in Camée, which, depending on what site you look at, is the second or third shade, going light to dark.  I actually don't think that it is that dark, but more salmon than the other light shade in that row, Light Buff, which looks more yellow to me.  Ivory, while I could pull it off, would not look quite right on my skin, being more of an undereye concealer color, or maybe a sallowness corrector, when compared to my flesh color.  Actually, Camée is a tad darker than I would call perfect, but nothing that blending doesn't fix, so not even this one is really a good match.  At least it's not yellow (or reverse panda).  This line could use a lot more options.

The texture of this is like a whipped cream, not like a whipped foundation.  It's thin, but highly pigmented, and when warmed becomes more liquidy.  Blending this is a dream, and it layers nicely.  It doesn't layer wonderfully, though, so if you need to add a lot of layers, you might need something thicker.  This concealer also plays nicely with others, layering over my Bobbi Brown corrector without a problem.

This can look a little cakey if you add too much, mostly when you go to add a powder on top, since the powder will stick to the concealer like wasps to a soda.  This can be solved with a little more blending, which this thing is a champeon at, so no real problem there.  It also doesn't like scabs, you know the ones, so watch it with those.

Like I stated before, this is really pigmented stuff.  The sample that I got is still going, and I haven't even opened (to use) the one that I purchased.  To give you an idea of the pigmentation, I had a that-time-of-the-month breakout of doom on my chin.  Red, large, more red, you know the type.  This stuff covered it, not completely, but to the point that it looked more like a faded scar.  I did not use foundation, I did not load this stuff on, and I did the covering in a hurry.  This stuff is strong.

The lasting power of this is really good.  Put this on, set it with a little powder, and away you go.  I never had to retouch, and it never started to slip off, or just disappear.  There is one thing that I noticed, though; watch it if you wear glasses.  I need them to drive, and happened to have a mark at the nose piece that needed to be covered.  While this did cover it, every time I wore my glasses for a decent (hour) amount of time, I would have to reblend the concealer at that spot.  It was still there, still blendable, still going strong, it had just started to gather around the outside of the nose piece.  Just thought I should point that out.

Also, I break out semi-easily.  I put this on the zit of doom, it didn't make it worse, or prolong it.  I wore it on just discoloration, no new zits, breakouts, nothing.  Good stuff.

Oh, and SPF in a concealer that can go under your eyes?  I like.

4/5  (-1 for lack of color range)

Maybelline Concealer/Highlighter Pen

 

image from maybelline.com

Price: $7.09

What they say:
"The only 2-in-1 concealer + highlighter to fully cover imperfections while adding a touch of radiance, giving you younger-looking skin instantly.

• Fully conceals: Ultra-coverage pigments with moisturizing glycerin provide complete, hydrating coverage.
• Visibly brightens: Light reflecting pearls visibly brighten and add a luminous touch to corner of eyes, cheek and brow bones and bridge of nose or to contour lip."

What I say:
So far, so decent.  The concealer is very liquidy, so use a little at a time, and I suggest using your fingers instead of the wand.  The highlighter I /definitely/ suggest using your fingers instead of the brush.  There are only 4 colors of this wand, so I bought the lightest one.  This is not the strongest concealer.  It is sheer, liquidy, and where it gets the idea that it can cover up dark circles, I have no idea.  It can't even cover up red marks, really.  The highlighter is also a little odd; it is sheer, doesn't really highlight much, and seems just like an added step.  Sure, you can tell where you highlighted from the fainted of gleams, so it is natural, but it just doesn't seem strong enough for the effort put into it.

This is a decent product, all the same, because of how natural it is.  This is the concealer you would use if you put on tinted moisturizer or a light powder, and just needed something to cut the edge out of the purple pools that are your circles, or the red scar from your cat attacking your face in your sleep.  It doesn't settle into fine lines, but I don't really know if that's a by-product of the formula, or the texture.  It blends nicely, but again, formula or texture have yet to claim "who done it."  I, personally, am not sure if I would repurchase, but I guess I will have to see when I get towards the end of this tube.

3.5/5