I don't know many people who are completely at peace with their skin. And I think this is pretty normal. All of us could pick out at least a couple of things they dislike about their looks. Only the really confidant or obscenely deluded couldn't. It's a fact that so many of us are insecure about ourselves and many different things make this a factor. One thing is skin problems such as spots, blemishes, marks, scars and blotches. Luckily there are solutions in concealers. A makeup product designed to do just as the names suggests. Conceal. Today there's absolutely no shame in 'hiding'. Everyone does it. The beautiful faces that adorn our most read magazines aren't flawless without a little help in the way of bright lights, digital retouching, and layers of makeup.
TELL ME ABOUT THE PRODUCT...
One such concealer - Collection 2000'slight diffusing concealer Illuminating
Touch is a product designed to 'hide' unsightly areas on your face that you'd rather no one saw. With it's light diffusing particles in the ingredients, it claims to reflect light away from any spots or blemishes etc, rather than focusing on them which sounded great to me when I first came across it. I've used it on and off for a couple of years, and was always pretty pleased with the results.
The concealer itself is packaged in a long tube shaped like a pen. Take the cap of at the top and you'll see the start of a brush that is encased inside. The tube's contents are dispensed through the brush. Holding on to the bottom of the tube and twisting at the top in a clockwise direction allows the creamy liquid to come up through the strands.
HOW DO YOU APPLY IT?
When it comes to applying it to your face, either taking off the concealer from the brush with your finger or applying the brush directly to your face, you should use this stuff sparingly. When it comes to concealer I've found too much will cake your face, and if you already have foundation on underneath this won't create a good look, although I'd advise you put on concealer under foundation anyway. A good tip is to dab at the area you've applied concealer and not slather it on like paint, or you'll only have more of a job rubbing it all in.
WHAT ARE IT'S BENEFITS?
This concealer I've found is firstly great for disguising dark shadows under the eyes. It doesn't completely hide the evidence of a few too many late nights but it does help improve the appearance of them. I find using your fourth finger (which makeup artists claim gives a softer touch) to softly dab it gently over the soft under eye area works well. Just watch some of that 'hungover look' fade away!
A big claim this concealer makes on the product packaging is to diminish the appearance of fine lines. This might immediately alert you to the fact this concealer may be aimed at more older skins but it does still do the job on younger skins that don't need to worry about that. I'm still a young un' but I don't see any harm in starting to use any age defying products early on.
Other areas that affect many people can be redness and spots. I have been afflicted with a few spots in my time having been 'graced' with the irratating thing that is greasy skin and however normal it is to have them, no one wants them and they're often the most challenging to conceal. At 21 I thought my skin would give me a break, but I do get a few occasional break outs and while I use a skin regime to try to deal with banishing them I want them to stay hidden at the same time. I'd advise however silly it sounds at first to keep skin totally moisturised. Although you may think you're feeding the monstrous bumps on your face, if you use oil free products this won't be too much of a problem. You'll find when you use concealing and even makeup items in general that your skin will take to them and absorb better and blend far more easily when you have a good base to work with. This concealer also does a great job in hiding any little patches of redness you may have on your face for example around the corners of you nose or cheeks. I don't really experience this but I do have a friend who said this does help.
WHAT OTHER ITEMS DO THE COMPANY MAKE?
Illuminating Touch by Collection 2000 is just one of their many products. Collection 2000 is known to make many other cosmetic items such as foundations, lipsticks and mascaras. I have used their powder blushes and a few other products in their range and have found they all do a great job. The products are usually quite simply designed with no fancy lettering or images but their message gets across and the company is not without its fans.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH OTHER BRANDS?
Among the dozens of concealing products on the market today this concealer could probably stand with them and do just as good a job. Clinique have their airbrush concealer, there's the infamous and widely acclaimed YSLTouche Eclat pen,and then there's L'Oreal's Touche Magique brand. These often expensive and fancy, more well known brands may have the head start in the competition but Collection 2000 is a quiet contender.
DOES IT CATER FOR ALL SKIN TONES?
You can get this brand in a couple of other shades to match skin tone. I have shade 2 - Natural, which is a very light but peachy tinted colour. I think there's a lighter shade and there should be one designed for skin tones with darker pigments.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY?
Very reasonably priced. I think I remember getting this for £1.99 out of Superdrug. I have heard of Boots stocking this brand too, and some other makeup counters may supply it if you want to have a look around. If you're an Ebay shopper you can pick this up slightely cheaper from the looks of the offers available.
IN CONCLUSION
Altogether a nice little item to pick up and pop into your handbag. Great for when you wake up in the morning looking like death warmed up. You'll look a bit more refreshed, more awake and more radiant! I'd definitely recommend anyone give it a go.
Thanks for reading!
x majiggy x
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Oct 13th, 2006
very helpful by (100%):
