Edward Bess Total Correction Under Eye Perfection

I was thrilled when I saw that Edward Bess had introduced an under-eye correction product. I adore my Edward Bess Illuminating Eyeshadow Base. It is the best eye shadow base I have ever used. Period. So, I was extremely eager to try the base for my under-eye area.

I had a difficult time choosing a color. The color representations on Sephora looked strange. I had to call Edward Bess. I talked to Lauren, who explained to me that Light is meant for people who have red-blue undertones, and Golden is meant for those with yellow undertones.  With that information to reassure me, I ordered Light from Sephora (I had a coupon; otherwise I would have ordered from Lauren). It also comes in a dark shade called Buff.

Billed as a brightening under-eye corrector specially designed to erase dark circles in an instant, Total Correction Under Eye Perfection ($38) is very nice. Here is the marketing blurb.

Discover the secret to completely erasing dark under-eye circles once and for all. With just a swipe of this super-powerful corrector, darkness disappears instantly to reveal an lighter, brighter, well-rested appearance. This magic wand takes on even the darkest under-eye dilemmas with its specially designed color-corrective pigments that optically lighten dark shadows. The innovative formula glides on creamy and then sets quickly for all-day coverage. Targeted for the delicate under-eye area, it is infused with aloe vera to help soothe and calm puffy skin.

I've been wearing it all week, and I like it. It's not love, though. "Light" is kind of dark on me - even though it blends out to match my skin when I'm wearing Armani #4 Compact Maestro. When I revert back to #2 for the winter, I'm afraid my under-eye area will be darker than the rest of my face, meaning I won't be able to use it. If anyone from Edward Bess is reading this, please, oh please, make a fair shade of this!

Here are the two tubes. My Illuminating Eyeshadow Base in Cashmere is shown on the left (messy because I use it every day), and my new Total Correction Under Eye Perfection in Light is shown on the right. You can see that the new product is significantly darker. I took swatch photos to show you. I think one is enough. I just slapped on both products without any blending. Cashmere is at the top of my arm, with Light below.

There is a huge difference! Cashmere blends into my eyelid perfectly. I use it from the lash line up to my brow, and I love it. It matches me; it corrects the redness I have just over the crease; and it holds my eye shadow perfectly all day.

Under Eye Perfection also works perfectly, but the color is too dark for me. I want a product (concealer or corrector) to add brightness under my eyes. Light is too dark to do that. It blends into my skin to "disappear," but it does not add any brightness.

What do I mean when I say it works perfectly? It evens out the skin tone, it's easy to apply (super easy compared to my regular concealer), and it stays put all day without any creasing in fine lines. A thin and perfect application becomes one with my skin. It's everything I would want from an under-eye concealer or corrector - except the right color. If your skin is darker than mine, you are going to fall in love with this product.

I need to mention application. Although both products come with a brush, do not attempt to apply either product using its own brush. I apply one drop to my palm, then I use Bobbi Brown's Touch-up Brush to pick the product up from my palm and apply to my skin. If you try to apply either product and blend with its own brush, you will end up with too much product on your skin. It takes very little product to work perfectly.

In conclusion, I love everything about Total Correction Under Eye Perfection except the color. If you are not as fair as I am, give it a try. It's a winner. If you are as fair as I am, join me in begging Edward Bess for a lighter shade.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty