Products I Regret Buying #1

Thought I would share some products that I haven't loved in the past and offer some alternatives. If you like this post let me know and maybe I'll continue them! 

Products I regret buying: 
1. Ear caps. In theory this sounded like a great idea so I wouldn't get any hair dye on my ears. In reality, I still got dye on my ears and they never stayed on making more of a mess. 
2. Degree deodorant. Not just this one in particular but any that includes parabens in the ingredients. If you are a woman especially, look up what parabens are linked to. And placing a product so close to my breast that can cause cancer has made me switch to paraben free deodorant. Alternative: Jāsön Pure Natural Deodorant Stick 
3. Revlon Photo Ready concealer stick. Not creamy at all and hard to apply and blend. Alternative: Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Concealer 
4. Ulta Sponge Beauty Blender. So stiff I could hardly get it into crevices and extremely difficult to wash. Alternative: Eco Tools Sponge Brush. 
5. Skinn by Dimitri James Bright Eyes Enhancing Treatment. Expensive and pure crap. Alternative: MAC Prep+Prime Highlighter (splurge) or L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter (inexpensive)
6. EOS lip balm. Cute packaging, but prob one of the worst chapsticks I've ever purchased. Not hydrating, moisturizing, or smooth to apply. Alternative: if you want the same egg type packaging try the generic Walmart brand of these. At least they have better scents. 
7. Secret body spray in Pasion de Tango. Smells like men's cologne. Unless you want to smell like a 16 year old boy stay clear of this scent. 
8. Model in a Bottle Setting Spray. Such high hopes for this one. Sticky, stings my eyes, and the strongest smell of cheap perfume. Strong hold for sure though since it's literally hairspray for the face. Alternative: Skindinavia Setting Spray or Urban Decay All-Nighter 
9. Skinn by Dimitri James 3 minute lip party. Apparently a lip plumper using Chinese hot peppers. Doesn't work and smells horrible. The smell literally made me nauseous. Alternative: although I don't really believe any lip plumpers really work, Lip Venom is my "favorite". 
10. MAC Mineralize Blush. Pretty in the pan, but when you swirl it around and put on on your cheeks it looks like dirt. No one wants to look like they've been playing in the mud. Alternative: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso. 

Hope this was helpful to anyone who is thinking of purchasing any of these products.

Favorite Fashion Designer of The Moment - Kristian Aadnevik

If I was rich and famous, I would surely be running to my stylist screaming to dress me in this man's pieces! London-based Norwegian fashion designer Kristian Aadnevik has recently come out with his Autumn/Winter 2013 collection, and Lord knows I couldn't wipe the drool fast enough from my mouth when I saw it! I am dying over the black see through short lace dress...ugh swoon... 

Although I am in love with this most recent assortment of sultry and dark pieces, my favorite so far has been his Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Whimsical, feminine, flowy but yet sexy dresses that I just can't stop staring at. I wish they were all hanging in my closet! 

Mr. Aadnevik really does know how to accentuate every perfect curve on a woman's body. Amazing! Anyone else out there love his work as much as me?

Xoxo, 

Monica

Met Gala 2013 - Punk: Chaos to Couture

This year's theme of "Punk: Chaos to Couture" at the Met Gala was most literally taken by some of its attendees. This event seems to be one of the few where art meets fashion at its finest and where celebrities dress to impress. The annual opening of the Metropolitan Museum's fashion exhibit is considered one the world's biggest and best red carpet events. I've listed a few of my favorite's for the night, and of course some disasters.

Blake Lively, by far, wore my favorite look of the evening. Her Gucci gown epitomized the theme. The top being a very feminine baby blue, with extraordinary detail in the hips. The lower half of the dress brings in the "chaos" that is unexpected with such a harsh contrast in color and design. Her slicked back hair, and nude lip color does not distract from the dress which makes a statement on its own. The natural smoky eye and those killer earrings pull this look together perfectly! 

Hallelujah! Taylor Swift finally dressed her age! I love, love, love this look! She looks stunning and fresh in this J. Mendel sleeveless dress which was encrusted with diamonds on the shoulders! ::swoon:: I could stare at this dress all day. Her makeup artist nailed the look with a bold smokey eye and muted lip. The punk style messy half-up half-down hair only added to this gorgeous look. Fierce is an understatement here.

Sarah Jessica Parker's mohawk headpiece designed by Philip Treacy just screams Met Gala! It was gorgeous and appropriate for this event and definitely made her stand out, in a good way. That detailing is magnificent. Unfortunately, her plaid Christian Louboutin boots ruined the look altogether for me.

And now for the looks that made me shudder...

What on earth was Katie Perry thinking? I get the whole costume air about her dress and the accessories, but the execution was just terrible. Maybe if her hair was in low bun instead, or that hemline swept the floor, or those sleeves weren't an awkward length then it would have done more for me but it just didn't. Thumbs way down for this look Katie!

Someone needs to step in and take over Kim Kardashian's stylist's job and soon. I normally really enjoy her fashion sense and often think she does a great job at addressing her curves fashionably, but ever since she has been sporting that baby bump, every fashion decision she's made has been horrendous. What on earth was she thinking when she picked this flowery getup by Ricardo Tisci? It's way too covered up; she looks like she is being suffocated by a flower garden. And the attached gloves? Please, just no. 

Madonna, took the "punk" look to the extreme. I just can't take her seriously when she looks like she chose her outfit from her daughter's closet. Tartan, fishnets, and a crucifix hanging from her "behind". Everything about this look is wrong (and inappropriate for her age). Bondage is just not that sexy anymore when you're 54 and not wearing any pants. Thanks, Material Girl for surprising us with a ::cue sarcasm:: look we've never seen before from you. 

And last, but not least, I couldn't leave you guys without mentioning Miley Cyrus. It is now clear to me why Liam Hemsworth has decided to look elsewhere for love. Poor thing must have borrowed  Rod Stewart's hair dryer to recreate this look. Somewhere out there a hedgehog has fallen in love.

Thanks for stopping by! Xoxo,

Monica

Helpful tips I've picked up...

There are somethings that I've learned that looking back I think, "How could I have ever lived without this?"

1. The BEST thing to soothe and cure a sore, cut up nose from constant blowing when you have a cold: medicated chapstick. Make sure you buy two however, as you shouldn't share the one for your lips with the one for your nose. I usually take the chapstick and rub it all over my clean, dry nose before bed, making sure to get every little cut, dry crevice, and sore spots. The medicated smell and feel initially has a burning feeling, but feels very soothing after a while. I leave this on all night and wake up to a much happier nose ready for another day of sneezing and blowing. Try this next time people mistake you for Rudolph.

2. Static Guard - Does your hair suffer from chronic static cling during the winter months? This product will save you from a ton of frustration. You might initially be wondering if this can damage hair since its most typical use is to solve static cling in clothing, but if you look on the back of the can, it actually says that this can be used to prevent flyaways in hair. I tend to get the most static after blow drying my hair or brushing it and usually only in the winter. I solve the problem by lightly spray it all over (much like a hairspray but with a lighter hand) or spray it directly on my brush before brushing. Another great item to help prevent this issue is a fabric softener dryer sheet. Rub the sheet all over your hair to help tame hair that is full of static. I usually carry one in my purse for on the go problem solving. One sheet lasts about 2 times. Be gone electrocuted looking hair!

3. Brush your lips while you brush your teeth. This will exfoliate them which helps rid them of peeling and dead skin cells. After, apply a moisturizing lip balm (my current favorite is Nivea's A Kiss of Milk and Honey Soothing Lip Care) before you apply your makeup. Leave your lips for last. By the time you are ready to apply lipstick or gloss, the balm has prepped your lips for a smooth application and has also left them feeling hydrated, moisturized, soft and supple for lots of smooching later!

4. Johnson and Johnson's Shea and Cocoa Butter Baby Oil Gel - This is the best kept secret for shiny healthy looking legs. If you are thinking of wearing a mini skirt or shorts this summer, don't leave the house without applying this . This gives a sheen like no other without the sticky oily feeling contrary to its name. I love smoothing this all over my skin right after I get out of the shower for touchably soft skin. I sound like a corny commercial, but its true!

5. In need of a dotting tool to keep up with the latest nail art trend? Simply push a pin that has a round head into the eraser end of a pencil and wallah! The perfect dot every single time!

6. This next helpful tip (which is not beauty related, but will change your life forever) came directly from my boyfriend who after suggesting it left me shocked and honestly feeling a little dumb for not thinking of it myself. How many of you struggle with the extremely short charger cord for the iPhone, iPad, iAnything? Like c'mon, who was the genius that decided they were going to save the company a few extra dollars by making that thing ridiculously short? After about a year into having my iPad and having to sit on the floor near the outlet every time it threatened 10% battery life, I almost gave in and was about to shell out the $30 for the longer charger at the Apple store. Of course my boyfriend, being apparently way more MacGyver savvy simply said, "Why don't you just attach a white extension cord to your charger?" I looked at him like someone had stolen a whole year from my life.

I hope these little helpful hints help you a little too!

Xoxo,

Monica

I've got the blues!

I've always wanted to rock blue nails. Yet every time I bought a blue polish, I hated the way the way it looked on my nails. I've bought navies, royals, and even neon blues, and none are flattering. Although it seemed that everyone else could look beautiful in blue, I always felt as if I looked like a 7th grader, if that makes any sense. Alas, it seemed the perfect blue was non-existent for me. And then Sally Hansen must have heard my nightly prayers, because Pacific Blue was created, and it seemed like it was created just for me, and those who also struggled with the same blue nail polish dilemma (because you know these are the problems that keep us up at night).

It is a gorgeous color that gets compliments every time I wear it. Non-streaky and very opaque; two coats is more than enough. I top it off with my all-time favorite top coat Seche Vite, and it's perfect. This color hardly leaves my toes in the summer and is definitely my go to color for any season. If your a die hard Essie fan, Butler Please is almost an exact dupe. Go and pick this bad boy up!

Products I've Been Loving for the Month of April

These are the products I have found myself grabbing this month the most (click on item name for a link where to buy):

1. NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium 03 - This is very similar to Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. Actually, it's almost identical, except for the huge difference in price. I use it mostly for contouring as it does not have any shimmer. Although it is very pigmented, it is blend-able so use a light hand while applying it. You can always apply more, but it is harder to lighten it up if you've applied too much.

2. NARS Blush in Sin - ::Sigh:: Spring is here, and winter weather is slowly leaving us. Although I'm excited about that, I am sad that this means I most likely will have to retire my favorite blush I've been reaching for these last couple of months! Sin is a berry colored blush with a bit of shimmer but nowhere near as shimmery as Orgasm. Just a flush of color on the cheek gives a healthy glow. It's gorgeous, flattering on all skin colors, and long-lasting!

3. Coastal Scents Camo Quad in Light and Medium - As a concealer junkie, I've used so many of these types of products. I've used (and own) Coastal Scents' Camouflage Palette and love it. This is my third palette that I've repurchased. It usually lasts me about a year since I alternate colors depending on how tan my skin is throughout the seasons. These little quads are convenient because they're smaller, therefore more portable. The creamy consistency is great for blending and dries quickly to a powder finish. These are a great alternative to Laura Mercier concealers if you are trying to save a bit of money.

4. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine - Throw this in your makeup bag for when you need a neutral pink lip color for any occasion. Swipe Revlon's Super Lusterous lip gloss in Lilac Pastelle over it for a pop of purple-y pink or Peach Petal for a more muted rose.

5. Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Primer - In comparison to Urban Decay's Primer Potion, I like this one better. It has more of a primer feel and less of a liquid consistency like the UD one. My eye shadow has stayed put for over 7 hours with this, and I definitely can't leave home without it on if I want my eye shadow to last all day.

Which products have you been reaching for this month? Let me know know in the comments below!

Xoxo, Monica

Blog Posts on the Go...Thoughts?

I am trying the new Blogger app, so that I can blog on the go from my iPad. So far I am not impressed. I can't change the font or font color and all of my past posts are encrypted...any other blogger out there dealing with the same issues when it comes to blogging on the go? What are some of your suggestions? I don't always want to carry my laptop around. Hmm...what a pain.

Golden Globes 2013 - Best, Worst and Huh?!

I love catching award shows primarily for the fashion. The Golden Globes this year had an array of gorgeous styles and both well-known and up and coming designers, but it also had some "Huh?" moments. I've listed some of my favorites and some of my not-so-favorites below. Which ones did you love and hate?

Love! Love! Love! My winners:

Kate Hudson - chic, edgy, and sexy all rolled into one. Although black is usually a dismal color, her blonde hair and the gold detailing on the dress makes it look fun yet timeless. Stunning!

Jennifer Lawrence - What I love most about her is that she is actually "normal" sized. She is not your typical celebrity toothpick, and I appreciate that about her aside from her obvious beauty. This dress was flattering and made her look drop dead gorgeous. My favorite part of the dress was that it brought my attention directly to the thinnest part of her body. The cinched gold belt at her waist made her look incredibly thin! Beautiful!

Amy Adams - Her fair complexion and red hair really helped pull this look together. Because her dress is such a pale pink, it almost looks nude, and could very easily be washed out due to her light complexion, but she made it work looked gorgeous! Megan Fox, on the other hand, also tried to go with a pale dress but failed miserably. Her dark hair took away from her dress and only muted out her skin color. Go Amy for knowing how to work this color!

Eva Longoria - Wow! There is so much to be said about this amazing look. She let the dress speak for itself with just a simple smokey eye and minimal jewelry. The high slit in the dress was tastefully done and made her tiny 5'2'' frame look as if her legs went on forever! Again, although it was one solid color, the details made the dress come to life. Lace, sequins, chiffon,  and that cutout (I mean look at that cutout!) really broke up the monotonous color. Simply perfect, and probably my favorite of the night!

1st Runners Up:

Julianne Hough, Nicole Richie, and Giuliana Rancic

Oh No! Losers of the night:

Lucy Liu - It's like my grandmother's living room curtains threw up on her. Just overall cheap looking, unflattering and dated. Big thumbs down for this one.

Jo Champa - I don't care what anyone says, this dress style is not flattering on anyone! The tiers offer no shape to her body and she looks like a fish. Too bad because the color and detailing is actually quite pretty. 

Rosario Dawson - Sure, let's just throw her in an old bridesmaid dress and call it a day. She should fire her stylist for this plain and unoriginal look. 

Taylor Swift - Why must this girl insist on dressing like she's 23 going on 53? Again, what's up with the recycled prom dress? That neckline has got to go! Also, her up-do is completely uninspiring and it looked  unfinished with all of those black bobby pins sticking out like a sore thumb.

Kaley Cuoco - Along with Rosario Dawson's stylist, this poor girl's makeup artist should be kicked to the curb. Did she actually think a dark lip would match that light-colored dress? It is too overpowering and is not the right shade for Kaley's complexion. Her makeup is too aggressive with the lip and dark eye combo. A nude or pale pink lip with a soft brown smokey eye would have been a way better fit. 

Katharine McPhee - Same material as Taylor Swift, and same mistake. First, let me start off by saying I actually like the top part of the dress. It is sexy and sophisticated. But then there is the bottom half that ruins the entire look. It is hemmed way too short and the material looks stiff and does nothing for her figure with that awkward slit in the front.

Salma Hayek - Diana Ross called. She wants her hair and dress back. 

Julianne Moore, Debra Messing, and Stacey Kiebler - Take out a pen and paper, and jot down some notes on Eva Longoria's look. She knows what she's doing when it comes to wearing a dark color. Julianne's color-blocking is mundane and lifeless for such an elegant event like the Golden Globes. Debra's dress is shapeless and plain, and Stacey's velvet like material is too heavy and dated for such a beautiful and young woman. No! No! No!

 

And lastly, these two, Glenn Close and Helen Mirren, deserve a round of applause for looking fun and fabulous over 60! I am personally jealous of Helen Mirren. Look at that body at 67. Meow!

*All images courtesy of www.people.com*

Some of My Favorite Dupes

As much as we would like to own expensive high end products, sometimes our budget doesn't always agree. I've compiled a list of tried and true products that do the exact same job for less than half the price! Really, who can actually afford to pay $36 for a lipstick? What are some products that you use and feel are great dupes? I will continue to update this list, so let me know in the comments below, and I will add them here with a link to your blog.

High End / Inexpensive Dupe

Lips:

1. MAC - Creme D' Nude / e.l.f - Natural Nymph
2. MAC - Snob / Revlon - Pink Pout
3. MAC - Rebel / Wet n' Wild - 908C
4. NARS - Turkish Delight Lip Gloss  / Bonne Bell Lip Lites - Strawberry Parfait

Eyes:

1. MAC - Blacktrack Fluidline / e.l.f. Black Cream Eyeliner
2. Lancome - Hypnose Drama Volume Mascara - L'Oreal - Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

Face:

1. Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer / Monistat - Chaffing Relief Powder Gel
2. Makeup Forever - HD Foundation / Revlon - Photoready Foundation
3. Makeup Forever - HD Powder / e.l.f. High Definition Powder
4. NARS - Orgasm Blush / Milani - Luminous Blush
5. NARS - Laguna Bronzer / 
6. Too Faced - Chocolate Soleil Bronzer / NYX - Matte Bronzer
7. Benefit Hoola Bronzer - NYC Bronzer in Sunny
8. Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray / Model in a Bottle Makeup Setting Spray

Happy New Year!

Hello lovies!

I have been away for a bit trying to catch up on Christmas shopping and family get togethers. I just wanted to say happy holidays and a very happy and healthy new year to all of you. I hope your 2013 is all that you want it to be!

Love,

Monica

What's in my everyday makeup bag?

I like to carry around my makeup bag wherever I go in case I need to touch up my makeup on the run or when unexpected meetings with friends comes up. I also like to keep small things I might need in case of an emergency like bobby pins, a hair elastic, snap clips (for clipping back my shorter layers in the front), eyelash glue, and gum. And although I change up my products depending on my look for that day, here are my "go to" makeup items in my cosmetic bag: 

Eyes:

2. Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara in Glam Black - this mascara has been the one I find myself grabbing the most. I'm not a huge fan of it like many people seem to be, but it gets the job done. I find it clumps my lashes together, but I love the extreme dark black color which gives my lashes a dramatic look. 

3. Rimmel's Lash Accelerator in Extreme Black - I LOVE this mascara! It's skinny wand reaches the inner and outer corners of my lashes that I can't reach with a fatter wand. I like to mix both the Collosal Volume Mascara and this one for a more lengthy, voluminous look!

4. L'Oreal's Infallible 16 hour Eyeliner in Carbon Black - This has got to be one of the best if not THE best eyeliner I have ever tried! It glides on super smooth and creamy and allows me to smudge it right before it sets. I have repurchased this product time and time again and continue to love it. I will never be without it!

5. e.l.f.'s 'C' Brush - hands down one of my favorite brushes (and cheap too! e.l.f.'s brushes from their Studio Line are extremely high quality and are all under ten dollars!) I use this brush mainly to smudge my eyeliner to give me that smokey look when I don't have to me before work to apply eyeshadow. It blends my eyeliner to give it a more soft look instead of a harsh line.

**Note: I threw a brand new L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara in my bag since my Maybelline Colossal one is almost done. I have repurchased this item time and time again and it never disappoints. It is one of HG items.

Face:

6. NYX Concealer in a Jar in Light - pros: full coverage, lasts all day, a lot of bang for your buck! Cons: has a powdery smell to it which is such a turn off in my book! *Note: When at home, I use Coastal Scents palette which I've spoken about here. This and Revlon's Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer in Light 20 are my current faves.

7. YSL Bronzing Powder in Terre Saharienne - this is the perfect matte bronzer. It has just a hint of shimmer but nothing that will make you look shiny or sweaty as shimmer bronzers often do. I prefer matte bronzers and this color is perfect for olive skin tones like mine. During the winter months when I am too fair for this bronzer I use it mostly for contouring instead.

8. Blush-this is a hard one as I am always trying out new colors and brands. This past summer I used only Tarte's Amazonian Clay in Tipsy, but now I'm experimenting with Wet n' Wild's Heather Silk which I'm loving for two reasons: 1. The color payoff is phenomenal for $1.99 and 2. The rosy color is perfect for a pink wintery flush.

Lips:

9. I can never decide on which lip color I will stick to during the day, so I normally care 2-3 lipsticks and 1-2 glosses in case I want to change it up. Of course a nude-ish pink is always flattering so I tend to stick to those. My all-time favorite lipstick is Sephora's Lip Attitude in Glamour G01. Please pick this up if you are looking for a creamy, moisturizing, pigmented color. It glides on smoothly is the perfect nude pink. I've repurchased this color at least 3 times. It is timeless. I also carry with me NYX's Circe which is a more true nude and NARS' Turkish Delight Lip Gloss, which aside from the smell is the best pink lip gloss color I've ever used. If you are looking for an inexpensive dupe for Turkish Delight try Bonne Bell's Strawberry Parfait for $2.99! Sometimes I like to layer these two lippies and top it with the gloss; a perfect combo!

Some other miscellaneous items I carry in my bag are hair clips, hair ties, and eyelash glue. Of course I change everything up depending on my mood or occasion, but this is pretty accurate to what I normally carry around on a daily basis. You can find all the products mentioned at your local drugstore or Ulta.

What do you carry in your makeup bag? Comment below and let me know what are some items you can't leave the house without. 

Love,

Monica Sofia

Soleil Tan De Chanel = To Die For Bronzer

Before I figured out how to use Chanel's bronzing makeup base: Soleil Tan De Chanel (formerly Bronze Universel De Chanel), it just sat in my makeup drawer collecting dust. I didn't know how to apply it, and was using a sponge applicator. I didn't like the fact that when I put it on with the sponge, I was never able to get an even application. My skin always looked blotchy cakey in areas. Ugh!

Thank goodness I eventually learned how to apply it correctly...with a face brush!! What a difference! If your experiencing the same dilemma, try it this way. Just swirl your face brush (I use e.l.f.'s Studio Powder Brush) in the mousse like consistency. Then start from the outside of your face, and work inwards. Lightly brush all over face for an amazing glow! That's it! You can wear it just by itself for a more dewy fresh look, or try setting it with your favorite powdered bronzer. One of my high end favorites is Chanel's Moisturizing Bronzing Powder in #63 Terre Ambre. A drugstore dupe for less than a fraction of the cost is N.Y.C's Matte Bronzer in Sunny #720.

Even though at a pricey $48.00, this bronzer is worth the splurge! I have had mine for almost a year and only now have started to make a dent in it. It has become one of my staple items. It lasts all day and I never have to retouch it! After a long night of partying with friends, it did not budge, smear, or melt off. It stayed on like a true champ! 

Add this product to your collection and let me know what you think! 

Cottage cheese anyone?

Who doesn't love Soap & Glory products?! They're fun, cheap, and work great! Just the vintage labels alone make you want to buy their products! Here is the newest one by them: Soap & Glory Slimwear Body Cream

Compared to other big name brands like Channel and Bliss, customers said this worked the best. With the peptides working as soon as you smooth it on dimpled areas, you will notice results the same day in hiding and preventing cellulite!

 

You can find it at Target for $11.00 which is way cheaper than the other brands and works much better! Visit http://www.soapandglorycosmetics.com/ for all their other amazing products!

Here's to a happy today and a smooth derriere tomorrow!

Dear Perfect Concealer, Why are you so hard to find?

I am a self proclaimed concealer junkie although concealers and I have a love/hate relationship. I try to do most of the loving, but they always end up doing most of the hating!

I don't know about you, but I can not stand when a concealer is sticky and gooey. I just feel like it sits on my skin attracting any lint particle to it and then eventually melting away. Often I find that 85% of concealers out there, are too watered down, so I don't get the coverage I need for my dark under eye circles and my rare hormonal pimples that decide to pop up whenever I am stressed. It's hard to find a concealer I love.

I used to swear by Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer. This is by far the best concealer I have ever owned and used on my face. Never sticky, not watered down, long lasting. Basically perfect! I have yet to try the Secret Camouflage one they are carrying at my local Sephora as is looks very similar to the Secret one. However, at $22.00 for .08 oz. it gets a little pricey when I go through this stuff like it's going out of style.

It took me years to find another great one: Revlon's Age Defying Concealer (light). The consistency and coverage of this concealer was almost identical to the one by Laura Mercier, so you can just imagine my excitement! Sadly this amazing product has been discontinued. I swear I think cosmetic companies love to do this: you know, when you find your holy grail cosmetic and then the company decides they are going to take it away from you, so you feel the need to buy 7345 backups!

Now after some searching and trying (and searching and trying!), I have found the following two I cannot live without:

Maybelline's Super Stay 24hr Concealer (light & medium). It's what I have been using for the last couple of years. It's wonderful! It covers like no other concealer I know, even more so than the previous two. It is not sticky at all and in fact, dries completely to blend into your skin. It's coverage is seriously amazing. They only downside is that it dries quickly so you have to work even more quickly than it to spread it on. And...

Coastal Scents Camouflage Concealer Palette. This palette is considerably affordable at $16.95 for ten concealers. I have never used the three darkest shades as they do not match my skin color, but the other seven I alternate all year long depending on how tan my skin gets. It is creamy, long lasting, and  has buildable coverage. I love this palette and recommend it to all of my friends

These two have been my go-to concealers for a very long time. If they decide to discontinue them, I will surely cry!

What concealers do you use and love? I recommend both of these if you are looking to try a new one.