Mac Studio Finish vs Vivo Concealer kit

Covering dark circle has been a mission for me ever since I started wearing make up. I have never found a concealer with high enough coverage that doesn't look dry on my crêpey eyes.

Mac studio finish and the Vivo concealer kit has been my two most recent attempts at covering the darkness.

I got the Mac studio finish concealer in NW20, which I think is alittle bit too light but the NW25 was way too dark. I find this formula really nice, the coverage is really high but it stays slightly dewy so doesnt look too dry under the eye. Its stays on really well but because of how creamy it is it does crease up on my eyes.

The photo below shows Mac studio finish on the right side and nothing on the left.

I also bought the Vivo concealer kit after hearing loads of rave reviews about the brand. I went over the the stand and was instantly drawn to all the baked blushers but for god sake I just couldn't buy another blusher so I picked something a little bit more practical! For an amazing £5 I cant really grumble. In the kit you get a yellow based and a pink based concealer cream, a setting powder and then a liquid highlighter. The set only comes in one colour which is abit of a shame, it could do with having a lighter and a darker version too.

The creams are similar to the mac one, thick, creamy with high coverage. They are more drying on my eyes and leave the under eye looking crepey, which to can see in the photo below.

I absolutely love the highlighter in the tube, its very similar to Benefit high beam but not so silver. Great little handbag size too.

I do prefer the Mac concealer by far but it is £8 more expensive than the Vivo one. If you don't have eyes a wrinkly as mine I bet you would love the Vivo set. I think its a great idea to have the option to mix your own colours for different areas of your face.

For now though.... high end wins the race for me!

Sleek Luminaire Highlight Concealer

With me being abit of a Sleek addict I had to pick up the new concealer when it arrive in Superdrug. Its my life long struggle to find the perfect concealer for under the eyes as I have very dry under eyes, with large dark circles.
At first, I'll be honest, I wasn't actually very impressed, it felt abit thick, if you compare it to classics like 'Touche Eclat' and the colour looked very light (I got a L02, 2nd lightest shade). But as I started to take photos for this blog post my opinion started to change! Its great... the thickness means its actually a conceals as well and the colour seems to darken slightly when it starts to dry.

Look at this photo if you need proof: left side = yuk! right side = fresh!

I think its maybe slightly dry on my eyes, but fine if used straight over a eye cream. I'd really recommend this if your looking for a darker colour shade too because Sleek always do an amazing range.

How did anyone else find this product? Love at first use or growing on you like me?

Clothes Show, 6/12/2010

On Monday I went to work on the Benefit stand at the Clothes show, Birmingham. Heres a picture of the beautiful Benefit stand...

Although I was working I did get a chance to pick up some beauty bargains. As Bourjois is one of my favourite budget brands I visited their stand where they were sell 3 products for £12. I stupidly didn’t take very much cash to the show so I could only get 3 things :(.
I got...

10 hour sleep effect foundation: This foundation is light weight and meant to give a dewy finish that wakes up the skin, and although I have had a stinking cold for the past week, it has perked up my skin. I would say it does dry to a slight powdery/ matte finish and the coverage is only slightly more than a tinted moisturiser but if it can make my sicky dull skin glow it has to have something going for it. It managed to pretty much last most of the day with a primer underneath, I only noticed about 3pm/4pm that it was wearing off.

Healthy mix, Anti fatigue concealer: I bought this after it was recommended on the ‘Yummy mummy beauty blog’ and I have to say I am pretty impressed. I think the colour I have bought is slightly too light for me but it covers up my dark circles really well and the smooth hydrated finish it leaves is really great for the price it is.

Volume Clubbing mascara: I have used this mascara many times and I love it. It gives great volume which can be layered on really heavy but the bristles keep the lashes separated. It’s also really smudge proof; I’ve never had any colour fall under my eye when wearing this mascara!

I also got given a free Benefit Boi-ing concealor for working the day, I’m abit obsessed with concealor at the moment because of my big red sniffy cold nose and you really can’t beat boi-ing, it has mega high coverage but isn’t too cakey, if you have never used Benefit before its a great product to start with.... you’ll never look back.

And finally a big thank you to the people at Carmex that gave me a free lip balm, I never used Carmex before but I love the menthol effect and will be buying it again!