What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.
Dear beauty industry people…just stop, collaborate and listen. Enough with the attached sponge applicators already! The sponges get all thick and nasty, and then when I press them against my skin, there’s a weird sucking sound, like “thhhmeeeeeeee,” which is the makeup equivalent of someone saying the word “moist” repeatedly.
MOIST, MOIST, MOIST.
It’s super, super gross.
The attached sponge applicator is the only thing I don’t like about the otherwise awesome Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer. I would prefer one of ye olde standard-issue doe-foot applicators, buuuuuut since this concealer is only $10, and it’s available in a nice shade range, and it’s practically a drugstore dupe for the much pricier Charlotte Tilbury under-eye concealer, which I’ve used to the very last drop, I put up with it, because seriously, WHATCHAGONNADO? You can’t spend all your time and energy fighting city hall. *shrugs*
Anyway, this concealer is fantastic for women (and dudes… More on this in a second.) who have fine under-eye experience lines, and who also like a decent amount of coverage but don’t feel the need to go full-tilt, so FYI, Tarte Shape Tape, MAC Pro Longwear and Sephora Bright Future Gel Concealer it is not; however, if you like light-to-medium coverage (a la Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid, which I’ve grown to love, or Tatcha Softlight), it’s magic in a click pen, because the concealer never appears caked-on or thick when applied to mature skin with lines.
I’m 43 (hahaha, I paused for a second to do the math right there!), and I adore it. The satiny finish isn’t harsh or dramatic, and it doesn’t look like I’m wearing heavy makeup. I do a click or two from the tube, dot a few dabs of the sponge directly on my under-eye area and in the inner corners, then smooth away the edges with my fingers. Sometimes I set it, sometimes I don’t. Either way, I believe I look brighter, rested and refreshed, and I only need to do a light touch-up after about six hours.
OK, so dudes. Periodically, a guy will ask if there’s anything out there that can help him look less tired (Um, hello, more sleep? Drinking a sh*t-ton of water? Reducing stress as much as you possibly can?).
The next time a dude asks me this, I’m going to recommend this product 100%. It’s perfect for when you want just a little something, and it’s still so user-friendly (even with the sponge applicator, which I admit is my pet peeve) that even dudes who think that “windshield wiper motions” is a reference to cars could *totally* do it right.
Did I mention that it’s only $10? I’m a MAC NC42, and my shade is Golden.
Try it. It’s fabulous!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
