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Beauty, Makeup

#OnMyVanity: The 5 Concealers That Make My Skin Look Flawless

I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Let’s face it; no one’s skin is perfect…unless we’re talking about Lupita Nyong’o because her’s is flaw-less! Whether it’s acne that pops up at the worst time, undereye circles that appear after an all-night Netflix binge, or uneven tone from scarring or a lack of sun protection, it can make us feel insecure.

Sure, there are plenty of pimple solutions on shelves, but they often take a few days to eliminate the acne and can leave some redness in its wake. And if you’re a picker like me — yes, I know — or regularly deal with hyperpigmentation, you’re often let with a dark reminder after the inflammation goes down. Not to mention, dark circles need more than just a cool set of spoons or an eye patch to disappear.

But while we wait for our skin to return to its homeostasis, many of us reach for a concealer to hide those blemishes and even out our tone. So you’re starting with a blank canvas wherever you go from there, whether it’s a couple of coats of mascara and a little lip balm or contouring and highlighting until you’ve sculpted a perfect visage. But not all concealers are created equal, as I’ve learned from testing a load of formulas. Some are amazing at eliminating the look of a zit, and others are better at brightening your undereyes.

Since concealers are a staple in every makeup maven’s kit, I’m sharing a few of the favorites that I return to when I need to hide any blemish I’m uncomfortable with or any undereye evidence of a late night. They pack enough pigment to get the job done but lie down smoothly enough to blend with the rest of my makeup seamlessly. Check them all out below!

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Beauty, Makeup

#OnMyVanity: 7 Mascaras That Will Make You Forget About Falsies

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on

I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

When it comes to the pursuit of long, lush lashes, most of us can’t leave home without applying a little bit of mascara or even applying a pair of false lashes before leaving the house. While they’re great for dramatic effect and a slew of selfies, faux lashes aren’t a fit for everyone’s daily routine whether it’s due to waiting for the glue to dry, getting the strip to sit close to your lashline, handling the heavier load on your lashes, or just having your lengthier lashes pressed against your glasses all day (like me). So finding a formula that mimics the look of false lashes without the extra steps (and the aggravation that can come with it) has become a big priority for me in order for my lashes to be visible behind my frames.

And with National Lash Day here, I decided to dig through the drawers of my vanity to share some of my favorite formulas that get me the lust-worthy lashes without transforming them into spider legs or sticking to my glasses. These mascara not only fatten up your lashes but ensures that they reach new heights — no falsies necessary.

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