Cult Beauty Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer - Is it really worth it?

I am obviously no stranger to high end cosmetics and I certainly don't shy away from unscrupulous (even ridiculous) price tags when it comes to investing in premium quality beauty products that stand out among its counterparts. After all these years of experience navigating through the extremely over-saturated beauty industry I have come to understand that a high price point does not guarantee a good product and that hype is often driven by the brands themselves so everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

One of the reasons I love beauty bloggers is that with their influence and feedback, consumers now have a more trustworthy, personal guidance when it comes to purchasing these hyped-up, cult-worthy products and that is nowhere more important than in the world of high-end brands.
Reviews by real-world girls can give a much clearer picture on a beauty product than any brand ambassador, magazine, advertorial or cleverly put together public relations team. Advice like that is invaluable and reaches its full potential in the world of online shopping when products are ordered sight unseen and shipping returns are nothing but a hassle.

Cle de Peau Beaute is one of those mythical unicorn kind of niche brands that constantly receives huge raves across the blogosphere but is extremely hard to come by or locate in person especially in North America. It had gotten my attention years ago but the really high price tag always made me hesitate in actually going through with the online order. After all we are talking about a $90.00 concealer here - I felt like I had to be sure or at least get color-matched at a counter before taking the plunge! Despite my reluctance and deeply rooted hesitation I was extremely intrigued by the star of their line up - the Concealer ($80.00 for 0.17 oz), especially after reading so many rave reviews and accolades from several trusted beauty gurus!

I am extremely lucky that certain lovely people in my life consult or keep track of my beauty wish list so upon opening a birthday gift I realized the object of my affection had finally arrived. The Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer shade that the giftee selected for me was Ivory and to my delight I realized that the colour match could not have been more perfect!
To say I was excited is the understatement of the century! I couldnt wait to see if this was as amazing as everyone else seems to think!

Official Description;
A perennial makeup-artist favorite, Clé de Peau Beauté concealer is highly editorialized and continues to win major awards year after year.
- Enhanced with Revitalizing Moisture Complex to lock in moisture and smooth out texture.
- Blends sublimely to expertly conceal dark circles, spots and imperfections.
- High-performance powders ensure flawless skin in any light, providing maximum coverage with a smooth, even finish that does not crease.

Ingredients;

Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cyclomethicone, Mica, Kaolin, Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Paraffin, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Glycerin, Barium Sulfate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Peg-10 Dimethicone, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Water (Aqua), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-5, Tocopherol, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Aluminium Distearate, Dimethicone, Triethoxysilyethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Bht.

*Available in four shades: Ivory, Ocher, Beige and Honey

While nothing spectacular, the minimalist sleek black tube accented with Cle de Peau’s logo and capped with q gemstone-like blue accent has a very chic and simple feel to it - nothing gaudy or ostentatious here! I am a sucker for cute packaging but I can definitively appreciate the sophistication theme that seems to be associated with this brand. 

The thing that really matters when it comes to such a high end purchase is whats on the inside of the fancy packaging itself or at least that's part of the evaluation that was most important to me. 

The formula of the concealer is extremely creamy, easy to blend and highly pigmented. After a few uses I realized that the full potential of this product can only be achieved by thoroughly moisturizing and priming the skin prior to application. The natural suppleness of a well-cared for complexion combined with the velvety texture of the Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer minimizes any dragging of the stick and even further enhances its blend-ability and durability factor. This is especially important if you already have dry skin like me! The concealer pigments can grab on to any dry patches you may have and exponentially increase the chances of creeping and the dreaded dry crepiness after-effects. 

The high concentration of colour pigments combined with the emollient texture of the stick itself allows the concealer to be used both under the eyes and the rest of your face; covering under-eye darkness, redness, imperfections, blemishes and even broken capillaries.

What I love about it the most is that due to its creamy consistency this concealer applies evenly and smoothly, remaining malleable long enough to be patted on without settling into any fine lines during dry down. The coverage of this Cle de Peau wonder is definitively medium to high and surprisingly buildable without looking caky or chalky  like so many of its other stick cousins. The product longevity is very impressive (over nine hours) when set with powder and there is absolutely no smudging or transference once its dry.

I have never really liked any other stick-form concealers or foundations due to the thick formulation but always admired their portability and application ease. The Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer unites an easy-to-use, high performance formula with easy-to-carry convenience thereby finally making travel and on-the-go touch ups a breeze to pull off. Definitively a thrilling asset to my everyday makeup bag!

My ultimate conclusion on the Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer  is unfortunately very positive. I have scrutinized and tested out this creamy goodness for a long time now, trying constantly to identify its faults and shortcomings with ruthless vigor and conviction. Unfortunately for me and my wallet I have come to admit and recognize the superiority of this concealer formula - other than the price tag and perhaps the shade selection its pretty much perfect!

However given all the positives (and there are many!) and knowing the price I will have to pay to replace this once my precious tube is gone, I am still not prepared to identify it as an essential in my makeup collection. Its beautiful and a wonderful secret weapon in my makeup bag but with such a high price point replenishing it will be a very painful en-devour even for a makeup junkie like me.

Like I always say - you cant argue with results and the Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer absolutely delivers them across the board.
Very few products these days live up to the hype so when one does, congratulations and props are definitively in order.
Begrudgingly I admit that Yes, This Product Is Indeed Worth It!

Thank you for reading!

Have you tried the Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer! 

XOXO

ANJA

Turn On the Light - Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat

Almost everyone that has even the slightest interest in beauty product knows about the famous Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat. Its popularity has given it "cult" status among the masses, so much so that Yves Saint Laurent reports that one of these elegant golden tubes is sold every 10 seconds. Regardless of your personal opinion on the Touche Eclat, those numbers are definitively impressive and only add to the hype surrounding its concept.
This hybrid of a concealer and highlighter promises its wearer to deliver brightness, radiance and light, and in turn contributes to its supposed powers to erase signs of fatigue and fine lines. These effects are strategic and meant to be targeted on the specific facial feature you want to emphasize and highlight.

Despite its popularity the Touche Eclat seems to be very misunderstood by many people who purchase this in the first place. Most of the complaints surround the fact that this product doesn't provide coverage and will not camouflage under eye dark circles like a conventional liquid concealer. It was reading these negative reviews that kept me from purchasing this for a very long time and it wasn't until I did some research of my own and visiting the Yves Saint Laurent counter that I discovered the ambiguity surrounding the uniqueness of the famous Touche Eclat. 

The discrepancy is that this in fact is not a concealer and therefore doesnt provide heavy-duty coverage nor does it promise it will. The Touche Eclat formula is unique in that it combines some features of a light concealer, colour corrector and highlighter and as such is suppose to add light wherever its applied and hide any imperfections you may have. The purpose here is to brighten and draw attention to a specific area and not cover or camouflage it.
Once I understood this I was completely on board and added this iconic product to my makeup collection with the highest of hopes!

Official Description;

The beauty secret of the world's top makeup artists and models, Touche Éclat is the original must-have for a radiant, flawless face.

Capture 8 hours of sleep with the click of a pen. With a few strategic strokes of this award-winning complexion highlighter—dark circles, fine lines and signs of fatigue virtually disappear. Powered by the radiance-boosting Luminocaptide Complex, skin is instantly illuminated, so you look rested and refreshed—even if you’ve been up for hours. Sleek and sophisticated, it discretely slips into a makeup bag for quick touch-ups anytime. It’s the one beauty essential no woman should ever be without.

Ingredients;

Water, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Talc, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Peg/ Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Trideceth-3, Methicone, Methylparaben, Squalane. [+/- May Contain: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77019 (Mica), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Ci 75470 (Carmine), "NF8897"].

According to the YSL product history, when the Touche Eclat was first released it was only available in a few shades but now they have expanded to a full 12 and therefore able to cover a larger demographic. Since I am very fair the shade selected for me was #1 Luminous Radiance and I have to say the colour match was flawless. The ladies at the YSL counter really know their stuff. 

The application of this does requires some practice and there is a definite learning curve. In fact when I first got this I was seriously disappointed because I found it extremely hard to work with but since this was fairly expensive I was determined to make it work one way or another. Sure enough once I mastered it my feelings changed completely and now I love it and use it on a daily basis. Basically the key to this is using it very sparingly and blending very fast, one area at a time, since the liquid dries very fast and can in turn become caky if not blended in properly. Personally I use this under my eyes and the bridge of my nose but if you look at the illustration above you can see all the areas recommended for highlighting and contouring, which is in essence what this product essentially does. And it definitively does it well!

Once I apply and blend, the finishing touch is a light dusting of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($26.00) and its sealed with no fading or creasing for at least 6-8 hours. 

I am very torn about the YSL Touche Eclat ($50) because I really love the formulation, the packaging, the longevity and even the feel on the skin however I feel like the price is extremely high for a highlighter even though the quality is excellent. I would say that it will definitively elevate and enhance your regular makeup look so if there is room for a splurge then by all means run to the YSL counter but if not wait for a sale or try some of the other similar products that are a bit more affordable. 

Some excellent alternatives are Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch ($7.99) and the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Lumi ($12.99). 

Have you tried the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat? Is it worth the splurge?

XOXO

ANJA  

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-) 

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer

I am always looking for a good under eye concealer and in my quest I have tried and tested a significant number of them. I have very significant dark circles, probably brought on by a combination of genetics, late nights and just general neglect.
I have tried all kinds of remedies but not even copious amounts of the most expensive eye cream have ever made enough of a difference for me to be satisfied. 

When I realized that my chances of solving the problem with eye cream were slim to none, I turned to the next best thing which of course is cover up! 

The land of concealer, however turned out to be even more confusing than choosing the right caffeine laced eye cream. I had to find the perfect formula that provides coverage, hydration, longevity, smoothness and creaseless ability.

Many were called but only a few survived my cutthroat policies. 

Make Up For Ever and Sephora describe my concealer of choice as;
What it is:
An ultra long-lasting, matte finish, oil-free, waterproof, full coverage concealer.
What it is formulated to do:
Designed to cover major imperfections like scars, hyper-pigmentation  major discoloration, burns, and tattoos. This light and creamy concealer contains a high concentration of pigments that stay put, making it perfect for use on the face, as well as the body.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer turned out to be one of the front runners. Combination of this little miracle with the YSL Touché Éclat results in me looking a little less Transylvanian, if you know what I mean. 

The formula itself is very thick, extremely full coverage and longer lasting than any other makeup product I have ever owned. It has all the earmarks of a dry, caky feel but in reality it's actually very creamy and easy to work with. 

A little tiny drop of this stuff goes an really long way but the only thing to note is that it also dries/sets very quickly. Once it's set, with or without powder, this thing will not budge until you remove it, which is surprisingly easy with standard makeup remover.

Choosing the correct shade can be quite tricky so I would recommend in person swatching to make sure you are getting the correct number for your skin tone. The descriptions below can be helpful but seeing the colors in person would obviously be more accurate, especially for something so unique to your own complexion.  

On its own, Make Up For Ever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer is more than capable of covering up the heaviest of late nights with only a small amount required to not only correct but also brighten the under eye area. That's a bonus I can really appreciate. 

If you plan on using this concealer, you must remember to moisturize the eye area since the color pigments can sometimes cling to the dry patches and interfere with its creaseless ability. I find that if I skimp on eye cream for a few days this concealer is a little harder to smooth on and blend in. 

The Full Cover concealer performs equally well on the rest of the face, covering up blemishes, broken capillaries and redness with ease and expert finesse. It really is a superstar of my daily makeup routine. 

The size is 0.5 fl.oz. and since I know how little I really need to get it to work, I feel that the price of $37.00 is more than fair. Honestly I can't imagine using up my #6 Ivory tube for years to come so for me this was a great investment. 

You can get more information and purchase this on the Make Up For Ever site or as usual at our trusty Sephora 

I hope someone finds this useful! What is your favorite concealer?

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-)