Based on the color chart online, I decided I was SC-4 {for medium to golden skin tones} and thankfully, that was perfect for me.
It wasn't love at first go, no, unfortunately... only because I didn't quite know what to do with it. This concealer is very, very unlike what I would typically look for in a concealer. Thin consistency so it blends well and doesn't crease. This one is significantly more waxy. To my first touch, at least. It looked and seemed drier than all my 4 different Benefit concealers, just to put it in perspective. {I have to emphasize that that was merely my first impression}
I felt like it wasn't viable if I were to actually try picking up the product with a brush, seeing as it looked very waxy in the pan. So I took one swipe with an unsure fingertip. Hmm, nothing much. Not sure what's what. Confused. Wondering. And as with brand new products, you know how I don't like to deface it right away so my one swipe was pretty gentle and... slightly pathetic.
The second time I used it, I was more adventurous and I realised you really have to warm up the product. By warming up, I mean forsaking the fear of defacing a brand new product {a very logical and legit fear}. I had to swirl my fingertip on the product a little more than usual and that's when it happened - turned creamy on my fingertip.
I absolutely love how pigmented it is. A little really goes a long way. It is so pigmented that when I wipe off my eye make up at the end of the day {yesterday, I applied it at 530am and removed at 9pm}, the pigment is there on my cotton pad in all its purposeful glory {also evident to how long lasting it is}. Yet, it is most certainly not blotchy or difficult to blend. It blends like a dream with the warmth of a fingertip. I also have combination-dry skin with drier-than-usual skin under my eyes, which can sometimes make my concealer crease. The formula of this Laura Mercier one was just creamy and wonderful - didn't create any problems for me at all.
Many concealers I have tried surely do brighten the under eye area but this one {I suspect partly due to how well the shade is extremely compatible with my skin tone} just made me look very awake and made my under eye area very blended in with the rest of my face {instead of unwittingly highlighting the bulging bags}. I really love the effect it gives. It is not magic, unfortunately, no disappearance of eye bags/dark circles here but I can quite safely say I haven't seen such an impressive effect, having tried so many concealers over the years.
This is how I apply it: I use my fingertip to warm up the product, apply with my fingertip and I also blend with my fingertip. I just find that that works best for me. This is the first time I didn't use a brush to blend out my concealer {although I do use the Real Techniques Setting Brush to lightly brush on some loose powder afterwards}. Also, instead of mixing both shades together as some might do, I use the darker shade more dominantly over the entire under eye area... and then I dab the lighter shade more on the outer corners.
Having said all that, I would say it is extremely important to actually choose the right shade and probably get matched in person. I think this was a key factor in how well it worked for me. I was very lucky this one just worked beautifully for me. I'd also like to point out that despite making it sound effortful, what with all the traumatizing defacing and effortful warming up and applying with fingertip, I didn't find it to be one of those products reserved for the special occasion. To be more specific, I didn't find it difficult/troublesome to apply/blend once I got the hang of it. I don't find it to be a 'high maintenance' product; in fact, I have been using it daily.
This concealer is also recommended for covering up imperfections, spots and redness. I haven't actually used it for that purpose but given how effective it has been for my under eye area - the amazing pigmentation and how well it stays on all day - I have no doubt it would work just as great.
*I did receive this product for review purpose but given how much I have blabbered on, you can tell I am just honestly really really impressed by it and this is going on my HG list and repurchase list. I definitely recommend it. Big time.
