It is not often that I use a beauty product that blows my mind. Yes, I fall in love with many beauty items, and they often fall into the pile of All The Beauty Products Like This That I Love And Already Own. I also have holy grail items that become the favourite, the one thing I fall back on, even if I have other similar items that I love. If you read this blog you know that Lancôme Effacernes Waterproof UnderEye Concealer has been my go-to for doing exactly what it says it does for around twenty years. I’m not sure what made me try something different. I read a review somewhere for a Tarte concealer. I bought it, and while I like it well enough, it is very thick, and despite the fact it’s called “creaseless”, it is not. Thick as in “concentrated” is one thing, but thick as in “goopy and hard to blend” is another. The review I’d read mentioned a “glow”, and I did not get that.

So, hours days a month or so later, I’d read everything I could find on concealers. I read blog reviews of expert opinions I trust (vs editorial content that is the same on every blog because they are all being paid/given product to write a good review), I read Make Up Alley, I read Sephora customer reviews.

After much comparing and analysis, I narrowed it down to one- Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer ($39 USD). Anyone who uses this is probably gently nodding their head right now, saying “Yes, this is The One you were looking for, Grasshopper”. I popped over to the Neiman Marcus Armani Beauty Counter where I met Jolanta, the Armani MUA.  A love woman, Jolanta is Polish (her lovely accent was easy to spot!), smart, funny and gorgeous. She was so lovely! She sat me down and said “Let me treat you!”*. First, she busted out the Crema Nera Reviving Eye Cream, which she said adds radiance. It sure felt good, and it did look pretty amazing on it’s own, but for $170 USD, I was not immediately sold.

Anyways, she went on to test out different shades of the Armani High Precision concealer until she found the one she thought best. One was actually a perfect match for my skin, so it looked invisible, and one was a tad lighter, which always freaks me out because I remember the 80s. I would have gone for the exact match, if left to my own devices. But, she insisted it would be better to go with the lighter one. I looked in her mirror right away and was like WUT.

From the Armani Beauty website:

A high precision concealer which blurs imperfections, treats dark circles, and highlights the complexion. Contains light reflecting pearls, which diffuse light for radiant skin. Vitamin E and moisturizers pamper the delicate eye area. High definition applicator. All skin types.
– conceals imperfections and blurs dark circles
– adds radiance
– rich, moisturizing formula
– high-definition applicator

Those “light reflecting pearls” are so subtle they are not really visible to the naked eye. This swatch on my hand looks matte. It is only when I stand back and look in the mirror that see a visible glow! I could not stop staring at myself.

Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer is amazing. The tiny brush allows you to put a tiny drop anywhere you want. I use a tiny amount under my eyes, and on the inside of my eyes, around my nose, on lines, and on blemishes. It blends seamlessly, and wears on and on. I did yoga (regular, not hot) while wearing it, watched a few animal videos on Facebook that made me cry, and STILL it looked incredible. I used the Dior Backstage Eye Prime on my lids – it is my new obsession for a no-makeup-makeup look, and stays put all day. Protip: a paler shade on the eyelids adds a youthful look. A light dusting of Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base and touch of Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow blush, which is a lovely petal pink blush.

*side note: sometimes, when you feel down, tired or just bleh, there is something about having someone touch you gently and just pamper you. I remember when my father was very sick, near the end of his life, and I felt like I was living in the palliative care unit. I went to see my girlfriend who was with La Mer. She had an aesthetician at the counter that day and she said, “You look tired. Let me give you a hand treatement”. She went on to wash, scrub and massage my hands, while I turned to jelly in her chair. So much tension left me, I may even have had a little cry. But there was something so wonderful about trusting someone else and letting them take care of me. I feel like this when an awesome MUA is working on my face. Heaven.