If your current full-coverage under-eye concealer were a skimpy Brazilian-cut bikini, then Laura Mercier’s new High Coverage Concealer ($28 for a 0.27-oz. tube) would be a Victorian Era bathing costume, complete with skirt, bloomers, bonnet and shoes.
In other words, no skin be showin’ here, ma! Those dark circles will be covered-the-eff-up.
A recent addition to Laura’s permanent line, High Coverage is referred to as “three in one” by Team LM. It’s supposed to cover, de-puff and brighten under-eye circles, all at the same time, and it comes in 12 shades that correspond to the colors in Laura’s existing Secret Concealer range.
I had hoped to experience significant makeup nirvana testing High Coverage based on how much I’ve been loving the new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation Laura released at the same time (one word: amazing), but to be honest, my feelings run hot and cold… My overall opinion depends on how psycho my skin is acting on any given day.
Annoying Dry Skin Issues: Chapter 1,576
My under-eye area is usually some degree of dry, from slightly dry to very, and when it’s very dry, High Coverage Concealer does not look cute.
Yes, it completely covers my dark circles, which is great, but the texture looks thick and heavy, and cracks appear around my fine lines.
It’s a different story, however, when my skin is behaving better (and I also jump through some extra hoops, which I’ll describe in a moment), in which case, High Coverage looks and works great. The cracking is kept to a minimum, and the texture looks natural.
Being somewhat dry and thick (it looks and feels like a thick paste, as opposed to a runny liquid), the formula is also pigmented — things that don’t often lend themselves to easy blending — so if you attempt to half-@ss the application, you could be in for a janky surprise (particularly if you have mature skin).
The way around it is to really get in there and do the work, and if you do, High Coverage can look lovely.
Here’s how I apply it
A drop the size of a pin head is enough, literally, to do both eyes. The back of the tube recommends dotting a bit on a fingertip and patting that beneath your eyes, but I tried that and wasn’t too crazy about the way it turned out. I thought it looked a little heavy…
Instead, I load a smidgen on the back of my hand, where I sheer it out using a synthetic tapered blending brush (you could use a brush with natural fibers for this, but I find that synthetic brush heads usually have stiffer bristles, which in this case handle the thick-ish formula better.)
Once I’ve sheered it down on my hand, I’ll load some from there, and then buff that under my eyes using small, tight circles; if I need to, I’ll go back in with a second thin layer.
Lastly, to set the product so it lasts, I’ll pat a small amount of Trish McEvoy’s Line Refiner over the top of it using the same brush.
Sure, you could set it with powder (like Laura’s Secret Brightening Powder), but when I tried it, and I didn’t take the time to really buff and blend it in, I looked like I was wearing pie crust.
Following this little process here, the area under my eyes stays bright and properly concealed for 6-7 hours.
Uh…I just wish it didn’t take so much work.
This might work for you if…
High Coverage Concealer might be a good fit for you 1) if your skin isn’t terribly dry under your eyes, 2) you live in a humid climate, and/or 3) you were born on or after 1993, or thereabouts.
I can actually remember chanting “Donna Martin graduates!” while watching the original 90210 that year, soooo…yeah. My fine lines and I will be sticking to MAC Pro Longwear most of the time.
PRICE: $28 for a 0.27-oz. tube
AVAILABILITY: Permanent, and available in 12 shades now at Laura Mercier counters and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Oh Karen girl puh-lease! If my under eye area looked that awesome au natural I wouldn’t be wearing anything except a smug a$$ look on my face. Really.
But I digress. The LM concealer is my true love/ enemy as well. The coverage is so so good. But that texture. It’s just very drying. I’m going to give it a try again with the Kiehls creamy avocado eye cream under it. That stuff is really creamy and glowy and well, just the shiznit.
I find it to be a real challenge to fix this dry under eye/ full coverage problem. This is my biggest issue and I’ve got like no joke maybe 15 concealers. So far I really liked the Tarte Marcuja or whatever concealer. It’s got good coverage and a really nice glow. Of course, being the fool I am I keep trying new ones.
Reminds me a little bit of the Clinique Even Better Concealer formula-wise. Thanks for the great review. Going by the pictures, it does a great job of brightening your under eye area!
My undereyes have gotten dry lately. So dry that my concealer is looking janky. I’d like to blame my new eye cream, but I’m sure it’s just my coffee to water intake ratio. You know. Because life. It makes me want to go pick up a tube of Tarte Maracuja Creaseless concealer because dry skin be damned, that stuff works.
I think it looks really good when you put your process in play. It’s not a speed friendly formula though.
Alison is coffee the culprit? I drink a lot of coffee. I love that Tarte concealer !
I’m enjoying your honest reviews this morning (as always), Karen! I’ll skip this one. Because 1993 ;).
You don’t even need concealer! Your under eye area is flawless! I wish my under eyes looked like yours lol. I don’t really have dark circles but there is a tinge of darkness that I like to conceal with light to medium coverage formulas. You could totally skip concealer altogether though lol. I do like the way this looks on you but full coverage concealers always take a little bit of work for me so I’ll pass. My under eye area is a little on the dry side too plus I have fine lines so this would probably look crazy on me
I have the same problem under my eyes, dry skin causes caking! I have yet to find a concealer that doesn’t do this to me. Any suggestions?
HAHAHAHAHAHA pie crust! ! HAHAHAHAHA!
I wish someone would make something in-between. I tried the Clinique one and it works if you use it with eye cream. Would this product work with a moisturizing eye cream first?
I just laughed out loud over your “born after 1993” line. There is literally nothing about this concealer that wouldn’t scare me off. And, I’m not sure if it’s your lighting in these pics, but I can’t detect any dark circles at all in your before pic. I think you can skip that step. 😉
1. No dry undereye skin
2. I live in the Philippines – VERY humid country, you know that!
3. I was born in 1995.
I think this concealer is pretty much perfect for me. LOL
I have a tip for you… I mix just a tiny dab of Laura Mercier’s “secret squirrel” (love that you called it this) Repair Eye Serum with this concealer and its MAGIC! Glides on, blends more easily and doesn’t crease. Otherwise, try Laura’s Secret Concealer! I prefer it much better for my clients, as its so creamy and most people do not need “high coverage”, so the coverage is perfect!