I sample tons of product… and many of them have become products I still swear by!

While I am fond of many shadow primers, Benefit Lemon Aid primer is my “go-to” for shadow application prep!  Not only does Lemon Aid give eye shadow a longer life and more saturated color, but the yellow shade cancels redness.  It also doubles as a killer zit concealer!

Here’s my original full review of this product, posted almost TWO YEARS AGO!

I’m the full-time Mom of two charming sons (one is three years, the other three months). As you could imagine, I’m perpetually tired, and constantly search for any product to help me disguise that fact.

Benefit Cosmetics to the rescue! The adorable little black compact at left contains “lemon aid”, their eyelid correcting cream. The yellow tone of the cream cancels any redness on the lids, and instantly imparts the appearance of a long, refreshing night of sleep. Lemon Aid and caffeine… what a winning combination!

Wearing lemon aid under shadow not only keeps it in place longer, but makes the color appear more vibrant! Bonus off-label use: lemon aid cancels redness anywhere! Use it to help disguise a hideous red zit!

Don’t wear shadow daily? No worries! This product can be used under makeup, or alone!

Retail price for this eye-opener is $20.

Click HERE to buy lemon-aid at Benefit Cosmetics.

The illustrious group of fashion and beauty bloggers at Shopping and Goodies have beauty on the mind…  This weeks theme?  Select a favorite concealer or cream, and blog away!  As one of the few “pure beauty” bloggers of the bunch, I was naturally really excited about this prospect.  But to ask me to narrow down the selection of concealers I’ve sampled and loved to only one favorite?  Not possible!

Instead, this week I am publishing a list the eight best concealers I’ve sampled.  Each has it’s own specific purpose… and each of these can still be found in my personal makeup arsenal.  Hope you enjoy!

	Perpetually tired?  Benefit Cosmetics to the rescue!  The adorable little black compact at left contains “lemon aid”, their eyelid correcting cream.  The yellow tone of the cream instantly conceals red capillaries, and instantly imparts the appearance of a long, refreshing night of sleep.  Wearing lemon aid under shadow not only keeps it in place longer, but makes shadow color appear more vivid!  Bonus off-label use:  lemon aid cancels redness anywhere!  Use it to help conceal breakouts! Retail price for this eye-opener is $20.  Click HERE to buy lemon-aid at Benefit Cosmetics.
	Alison Raffaele’s quest for the perfect undereye concealer launched her incredible line of cosmetics. Alison Raffaele True Concealer is opaque, ensuring that no traces of what you’re dying to hide show through for public viewing. At the same time, the formula doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and blends so easily, even an amateur can get professional results. The matte finish ensures a polished and refined look.  This is the concealer you should turn to when perfection is a MUST! Alison Raffaele True Concealer retails for $23 and is available in seven shades. Click HERE to buy True Concealer on the Alison Raffaele website.
	I’m so fond of Urban Decay’s 24/7 Concealer pencils, I keep two shades on hand.  I use a lighter shade for the undereye area, and a slightly darker shade to conceal blemishes or redness.  These compact, chunky pencils are easy to tote around, and since sharpening them also sanitizes them, you can use them for much longer than the standard concealer! 24/7 Concealer retails for $17, and Urban Decay’s Grind House pencil sharpener retails for $8 (Grind House is a perfect fit for these concealer pencils).  Retailers include Urban Decay, Sephora and Beauty.com.
	Formulated to improve the texture and smoothness of undereye skin while simultaneously concealing shadows, Borghese’s Lumina Hydrating Concealer contains Vitamin A, C and E… a wonderful anti-aging/moisturizing cocktail for the delicate undereye area. The name “Lumina” is a perfect fit for this product.  Borghese’s undereye concealer is so incredibly luminous, it easily doubles as a highlighter!  Dab some on the cheekbones, and you’ll see!  Retail price is $23.50. Three colors are available: Oro (fair), Neutrale (medium), Rosso (dark). Click HERE to buy this concealer from Borghese.
	timeBalm by theBalm is a sheer and natural-looking undereye concealer that actually combats wrinkles while you wear it.  It’s formula is rich in vitamins to keep skin smooth and supple, and moisturizers to hydrate and soften the skin.  You’ll be instantly hooked, I assure you!  This formula is sheer, and is a great choice for women who wear a tinted moisturizer, as the coverage is light and natural.  The tiny round applicator sponge This concealer even comes with a tiny round applicator sponge ensures proper blending.  6 colors are available to ensure there’s a match for you! timeBalm retails for $18.  Retailers include Sephora.com and theBalm.
	BECCA concealer is encased in a uber-chic double-sided compact.  On one side is a medium coverage concealer, perfect for concealing any ruddiness in the complexion or darkness under the eyes.  On the other side is an extra-cover concealer, perfect for concealing breakouts and major flaws. Applied with a fingertip or a concealer brush, the concealer in this chic-looking compact contains the solution for all of my skin problems!  I leaned on this pretty little compact very heavily when I was pregnant (uck— preggo breakouts are the worst). BECCA Compact Concealer retails for $38, and can be found at BECCA Cosmetics Online.
	If undereye circles are the bane of your existence, the solution is a Joe Blasco corrective concealer.  A miracle for dark undereye circles.  The genius use of an orange tone under the eye minimizes the blueness of dark circles and mimics the pinker tone of the cheeks.  You’ll look instantly younger and well-rested with this bit of trickery in your collection!Read more about Joe Blasco corrective concealers at the Joe Blasco website.  The website includes all kinds of amazing tips and tricks for makeup application! Orange Highlight 1 retails for $21.80 via Joe Blasco, and is also included in the Picture Perfect Cosmetics Set II pictured at left, for $55.
	If you skip the foundation, but find that you use a lot of concealer, then CARGO OneBase is the product for you.  Slightly heavier than the standard foundation, but lighter than the standard concealer, OneBase is excellent for larger-scale concealing.  The consistency makes blending super-easy and the sponge-applicator ensures precision when needed.  I recommend it to friends all of the time! Retail price is $24. Click HERE to buy it at Sephora.com