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

Laura Mercier Under Eye Perfector

At first glance, Laura Mercier's new Under Eye Perfectors ($22) look really dark and strange, but I'll bet that one of them will work for you. Try them in person to select the right shade.

Available in two highly pigmented shades, Orange/Yellow and Mauve/Rose, the unique cream corrector/perfector is designed to help conceal, awaken, and provide complete coverage for even the most intense dark eye area. Most of you know that Laura Mercier specializes in mixing concealer shades to achieve just the right color for your skin. The new Under Eye Perfectors are an extra tool in the toolkit. They are intended to be used only under the eyes. They have a lightweight, emollient formula that won't cake or settle into any fine lines. Even so, I found that only a tiny dab is needed.

I picked up one at Nordstrom and remarked to Chris Coles that it looked really dark. He demonstrated two ways for me to use the corrector: mixed with concealer to counteract any redness in my skin (the directions actually say to use it under your concealer) and placed over foundation in place of a brightener. Just a little dab worked, and I found the effect to be exactly what Laura Mercier must have had in mind!

The color descriptions on the Laura Mercier Web site are counterintuitive. Mauve/Rose is described as being for fair-to-medium skin to cancel pink/purple circles. Orange/Yellow is for olive-to-deep skin tones to cancel purple/gray dark circles. Go figure! That's why you just have to try these shades in person to see which one works for you.

What did I find? The right shade for you will instantly brighten your under-eye area, hydrate, and "perfect" your skin tone. These are worth checking out. Even if you don't need the Under Eye Perfector every day, you will be happy you have it when you need it!

You can find Under Eye Perfector at Nordtrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and at the Laura Mercier Web site. This is one product I'd recommend you try in person.

Photo courtesy of Laura Mercier