REVIEW: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer

I caved. I know that I am late to the party and there are already several reviews on this product (which has been out for a very long time already), but only during a trip to Target last month did I finally add the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer to my makeup repertoire. 

oops that's the french side...my bad
(the bottom says Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer with Goji Berry + Haloxyl)

(awkward photos of me looking off into the distance)            top: WITHOUT concealer   bottom: WITH concealer

This photo is with one generous layer of concealer on clean skin, and you can clearly see that it covers the redness around my nose and the dark purple under my eyes. My dark circles are obviously not that severe, but this concealer does do a really good job at covering them up. If you do have issues with severely dark circles, you will probably want to find a concealer that is more full coverage. 
When I first bought this concealer, I immediately ripped off the packaging and applied it in the car. Honestly, I was blown away by how lightweight, smooth, and easy to blend the concealer was. It also made my skin feel really soft! It has light to medium coverage and looks great with or without foundation underneath.

Color

Another thing I love about this concealer is that the color is an exact match for my skin color. It is a tiny bit more pink than my skin color, but it works well to contrast the darkness under my eyes. Because the color is exactly my skin color, it is not as brightening as it could be, but there is a Brightener (and a Neutralizer) shade in the range. The color range is quite limited (Fair, Light, Medium, Honey) so that is a deficiency of the product range as a whole.

Applicator

It has a sponge applicator--which can be unsanitary--that dispenses the product by twisting the red collar in the direction of the arrows, but it works great when you are in a rush. I wouldn't recommend trying to blend the concealer in using the applicator, but rather use it to place the product to conceal any darkness under your eyes or redness.  

Formula

However, I think the formula is a bit too dry for my liking, especially since if I have any dry patches in that area, the product will cling to them and be really noticeable up close. On the other hand, throughout the day, the concealer doesn't crease and it stays put well when there is a layer of powder on top. I have oily skin so I need the powder, but if you have drier skin then you can skip that step. 

I use this Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush to blend in the concealer since it is the perfect size and it is extremely soft. You really want to blend the product in immediately or else it will set and be difficult to work with. This also relates to how it is moisturizing, but not as moisturizing as some other concealers are.
OVERVIEW If you are on a budget, or are looking for a great drugstore under eye concealer option, you should really check this out. Despite its few shortcomings, this product can still hold its own alongside pricier high end concealers.

All About My Eyebrows

I will begin by stating how I absolutely loathe red-hued eyebrows. However, if reddish eyebrows flatter you, by all means, go for it, but they do not suit me at all. In my opinion, cool-toned, bordering on grey colors look far more natural than their warm-toned counterparts. My hunt for the perfect cool-toned product seems endless, but for now, I have found a few products that work well for me. 

NYX Brow Cake Powder in Taupe/Ash--$5.99

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash--$21.00

Top: myglam Eyeliner Brush  Bottom: Real Techniques Brow Brush 

Brow Powder

NYX Brow Cake Powder in Taupe/Ash--$5.99

Personally, if I only put on one thing, I always always always fill in my eyebrows. Despite my British mother, I have inherited my dad's sparse Asian eyebrows that do not show up in any photographs unless they are filled in. I cannot emphasize enough the need for a well-defined brow because it instantly completes any face--with other makeup on or without. My current eyebrow product that I must have with me is the NYX Eyebrow Powder in Taupe/Ash. Aside from it's extremely reasonable $5.99 price, the brow powders are the ideal colors for me because they are cool-toned and ashy, meaning they don't have any red in them. On a side note, please excuse how extremely gross the brow wax is in the product--the powder mixes in and it gets messy, which is exactly why I don't use the wax anymore.

Brow Pencil

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash--$21.00

Brow powder and brow pencil are completely different products that achieve a similar, but noticeably different, effect. Powder tends to stay on the slightly more natural side, while pencil can often look drawn in. The NYX powder is obviously far more affordable than the brow wiz and lasts twenty times longer than the few month life of the brow wiz (from daily use). However, the brow wiz is a cult favorite for a reason: it's faster to use, more travel friendly, and the formula is not too soft and not too hard so it stays on all day.

Brow Gel

Chella Defining Eyebrow Gel--$18.00

I don't really use brow gel that often, but if I feel that my brows are just too uncontrollably long and need to be tamed, this is the one I use. I am also not too fussy about brow gel, but this is the one I have. I am sure that Maybelline Great Lash in Clear would work just as well.

Brushes

myglam Eyeliner Brush

This brush is what I use if I want a really sharp and defined line. Because of how dense the bristles are, it manages to get a fine line, but it doesn't pick up and hold as much product. Therefore, I often have to go back into the powder several times in order to achieve the effect that I want.

Real Techniques Brow Brush (from Starter Kit)--$17.99

I am a huge fan of all the Real Techniques brushes, this one including. Larger than most angled brushes, this brow brush really allows me to fill in my brows quickly and precisely (which is exactly what I need when I am rushing to fill in my brows while in the car, on the way to school). The bristles are more loosely packed so it picks up and holds powder well which means I can use less product and achieve the perfect effect. This really is a must-have brush for me!

What are your favorite brow products?