Saturday, October 26, 2013

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

11 comments:

bisbee said...

CG, I have a feeling this is supposed to work as a corrector, like the GA Master Corrector. It's supposed to "correct" the blue or purple circles, but then you are supposed to put concealer on top. The colors of the GA (there are only 2) are similar...

Charlestongirl said...

Bisbee, you are right, I'm sure, but there's no way I'm putting two products under my eyes. Too much stuff.

Kit said...

I feel your pain, CG. I am also quite fair and it's so frustrating to find good products again and again, only to discover that they're not made in a color light enough for me. I'm in the hunt for a new foundation, as my old one (Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua) is just slightly too dark. I thought I might give Armani Luminous Silk a try, but I'm worried that the lightest color will be too yellow and make me look jaundiced, which is a frequent problem.

Jo said...

Thanks for reviewing this. It has been on my to try list for a while. Now after seeing your swatch I agree with Bisbee it looks more like a corrector than a concealer and one needs to put a concealer on over it. I haven't taken it off my list yet but like you CG I prefer to use only one product. I do like the eyeshadow primer though.

Claire said...

The light leaning quite peachy based on the picture, do you think maybe that it is intended to be that way (i.e. to cancel the blue veins/dark undertones)? I can see how it will be too dark for you CG.

Do you find that you may need to use powder with this? Thanks!

Charlestongirl said...

Kit, Luminous Silk comes in #2, which I wear, and #3, which is too yellow for me. Try #2. It is not yellow in any way.

Charlestongirl said...

Claire, maybe. Wish I knew what EB was thinking. It applies, when blended, on me as beige.

Kit said...

Thanks, CG! That's great feedback and reassures me.

The Concrete Brunette said...

Hi,
With correctors you need to top them with cncealer. It sounds like a ton of work but if you're circles are bad it's worth the extra time.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Concrete,

I don't need a corrector, but often use them as concealers. I'm also a firm believer that the less wight you put on the under-eye skin, the better.

waftbyCarol said...

I'm late to the discussion but wanted to ask if you have tried By Terry Touche Veloute ? I believe the lightest color is porcelan ...