Product Spotlight: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in SC-2

 After my recent Fashion 21 Perfect Stick purchase, I told myself I need to invest in an above than average concealer. In short, I got myself another concealer for my under eye circles. This time, from one of my favorite brands, Laura Mercier.

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in SC-2 is a creamy salmon-toned concealer that is perfect to hide under eye circles. I asked Linda (Laura Mercier store, Glorietta 3) to find an exact match for my previous MAC Studio Finish in NW30. She initially said it's SC-3 but later on decided to try SC-2 on me and it looked more natural on me than SC-3. Take note, SC-2 is not the exact dupe of NW30.

 I like the coverage  and consistency of Laura Mercier Secret Concealer than MAC Studio Finish Concealer because it is more blendable and buildable, hence, less creases for me. Though MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30 is my exact match in terms of color, Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in SC-2 looks more natural on me as it has just the right amount of salmon (to cancel out dark circles) and yellow (to blend with my skin color, I'm NC30). So no need for me to have 2 concealers, at least for the time being.

Linda also suggested that I get a Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder to set my concealer, instead of my powder foundation. This can help in diminishing the incidence of having cakey concealer that creases throughout the day. I told her I'll try it first and see if it won't cause breakouts for me as well as eye iritaion (as I wear contacts). So, she gave me a sample of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder.

The powder has shimmers on the jar, but once applied, I cannot see a single shimmer. All I have is glow! It also made my eyes look bigger and more awake. So I am sure after I finish this jar, I'll get a full size one.

Product Spotlight: Fashion 21 Perfect Stick with Tea Tree Oil

 Remember my previous post on Fashion 21 2-Way Powder Foundation with Tea Tree Oil and how I was satisfied with it? Affirming that post is yet another entry on Fashion 21. This time, I tried Fashion 21 Perfect Stick, still from the Tea Tree Oil line. 

As I was about to finish my MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30 (gawd! took me 2 years to finish the entire pot, super worth it!), I searched for the next concealer to try. One that is locally available and affordable as I am not yet on a makeup-splurging mode yet. I was about to get Fanny Serrano's concealer in Walnut but it turned out it was not my exact match from the said brand. I continued browsing and there, I saw Fashion 21 Perfect Stick. The packaging looked familiar and when I took a closer peek, I realized it is the "sister" of my Fashion 21 2-Way Powder Foundation with Tea Tree Oil. 

This is available in Watson's and leading department stores nationwide for only Php 185. Cheap right?

I showed the saleslady my MAC concealer and asked her to find a match or at least something near NW30 shade. She recommended Almond Tea. Lighter but it's the closest she can offer. The others are too light or too yellow. Since I'll be using it to conceal undereye circles, I have to stay away from yellow toned concealers and opt for a peach/salmon one. This is to avoid having grayish undereyes that is way too obvious in photos.

Here's the swatch. It's lighter than my MAC NW30 but it is pretty close. 

I tried wearing it the next day and it lasted around 4 hours on me. My only concern is the consistency as it is not as creamy as my MAC one is. Given that, coverage is also not as good as MAC but can pass for everyday use. You have to make sure you set this with a translucent powder to avoid creasing.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30

At last! My search for my HG undereye concealer is over. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30 works wonders on my big dark undereye circles. When I went to MAC about a week ago to get my Viva Glam VI lippie, I tested the Studio Fix Foundation in NC30 and Studio Finish Concealer in NC30 and NW25. The SA back then was a bit clueless on what concealer shade would suit me. She tried NW25 and I find it a tad light for my undereyes. It makes it look more obvious. She tested NC30 on my left eye and at first, I liked the results. But when I turned around to face natural light, it looks grayish on me, thus, highlighting my undereyes, too. I didn’t buy the concealer then. Instead, I just grabbed my Viva Glam VI and went home.

I went again to Marionnaud in Mall of Asia last Friday and this time, a different SA assisted me. When I asked about what shade of concealer will hide my dark undereyes, she grabbed a pot of NW 25 and NW30. We tested NW25 first and it was too light, layered or not. When she put NW30 on me, I was amazed because it really hides my dark circles in just a few layers. So I did not hesitate to grab one.

When I came home, I tried applying it using my Suesh eyeshadow brush (since my concealer brush I ordered online hasn’t arrived yet). I faced the mirror and swipe some on my dark circles and I was really astonished to see that my dark circles vanished instantly! It was as if I am doing copy-paste from Adobe Photoshop. The shade is so right that I cannot even distinguished where the line ends (I haven’t blended the edges yet).

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Left: with concealer
Right: without concealer

The texture is creamy but not oily and the coverage is fantastic! Less is more with this concealer so you just need a dab and you are all set. I think this small pot will last a year on me. Even if I wear it for a whole day at work, it’s still intact. I even tried to put this concealer on top of Ellana’s Color Corrector in Innocence (the green one) to hide the red zits I had over the weekend. And I must say it really conceals well. But when I tried to set it with Ellana’s Sheer Velvet High Definition Powder in White Chocolate, the color turned warmer and it didn’t look good so I erased it again with a wet tissue and reapply the concealer then set it with my E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Light. This technique is what I now use everyday.Closeup Left Eye with MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW30



Closeup Right Eye without concealer

I am so in-love with this concealer now but I can’t wait to lay my hands on MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer which has so many nice reviews from other beauty enthusiasts. More beauty finds soon!

Edit (September 15, 2011): I have finished the entire pot after 2 years. 

Verdict:

Color- effectively cancels out my dark under eye circles. Needs a yellow toned powder to balance the pinkish tone

Coverage - medium to full coverage

Consistency - creamy and thick so it creases on my undereyes if applied without an eye cream.