French Make-Up Secrets?
 

I have found some great threads on shopping for make-up in Paris but have not run across my particular "issue."

I have typical French coloring (although American) wherein I have major under-eye circles.

I have yet to find a magic potion here in the states. Does anyone know of any secret eye treatment in France that I can try while there next week?

Also looking for the best but most natural cover-up.

While I don't see what's typical French about having "major under-eye circles" and don't believe in magic potions, you should look for a good "anti-cernes" cream or cover-up in a Parfumerie such as Sephora, Marionaud or Douglas.
Sisley makes a good one.

I am also confused by the under eye circles comment, as I never considered that particularly French to begin with. However, there are some options. All the ones I know of are available at Sephora (a make up and perfume store based in the US, I believe, though there is one here in Barcelona), and I highly recommend Bremenn's Hylexin, which is for permanent dark circles (not the I-went-out-last-night kind) and feels great! The Body Shop also has a Vitamin E under eye cream that I really love and it is much cheaper.

I don't have the circle problem, but like to use a dab of eye cream to set my make-up. If you use it and then do a light dusting of pale bronzer, you should pretty much have them gone.

Touche Eclat by YSL works like a dream

I second the touche eclat.

I use MAC Fast Response Eye Cream applied with a brush (a little goes a long way) then MAC's Studio Touch-Up Stick Correcteur which is like a fat pencil. Apply that & then use the same brush that will have some of the Cream on it to blend the Correcteur in.

How about Cle de Peau concealer?

I have found the most marvellous thing for under eye circles.....and concealing generally---its called "the realness of concealness" by benefit. Benefit is American -

The set I bought includes their Boi ing "industrial strength" concealer. This stuff conceals everything!
http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/p...p;bcBrand=core
Get this and wave those circles bye bye

Mmmmm, there is concealer for 20-somethings where you can push and pull that under-eye skin without a second thought, and there is concealer for - wait, I have to take a sip of coffee first - for 51 year olds where the skin is definitely crepey (God, I hate that word!) and will hold a peak all on its own (much like whipping cream - so sad).

So, what is the best concealer for my droopy bags (and I'm fair-skinned)?

laclaire, Sephora is a 100% French chain, owned by LVMH. Meanwhile, l'Oréal now owns The Body Shop.

Touche eclat by YSL as already mentioned is good.

If on a budget then l'oreal's concealer is good too.

Whilst on the subject of "the best but most natural cover-up" what is your opinion of Sheer Cover (kit includes concealer, mineral powders, etc) - and does it really work as well as they make out on the adverts?

I love my Cle de Peau concealer - it covers like a dream, blends easily, does not settle in creases, and is the only concealer I can use in the Boston winter when my undereye skin dries and begin to look like an old reptile...

Expensive, but oh so worth it if you have serious undereye circles. I bought for the 1st time in Le Bon Marche in Paris, but it's also sold in States (Saks).

Sorry-didn't mean to offend anyone.

I have very olive-colored skin so my dark circles are even more "menacing" than that of my lighter-skinned friends.

Most concealers either:
1. do not do the job
2. result in white clown eyes unless I smear foundation on top which I don't like to use on a daily basis!

Do you think prices at Sephora Paris are better than U.S?

BTW:I've tried Hylexin and not sure if I wasn't putting enough on, but I didn't see a difference.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions-I will be sampling these for sure!

kerouac- thanks. I wasn't sure about that.

Another vote for Hylexin - both my daughter and I find that it actually works! It does cost $95! But the tube lasts for months. I'm willing to try the Benefit item mentioned. I love their "it stick" for the creases down the side of the mouth - this "it stick" REALLy works to conceal the creases- it's really quite amayzing.

Nars makes a great concealer.

More recently, though, I've been using Jane Iredale mineral makeup. It's fabulous, and great for travel. They make a circle/delete concelear that's quite nice.

annieladd

BowenLinda, I'm in the same boat with the silly putty undereyes. Try the MAC stuff I mentioned. I'd bet a store in your area that sells it would demonstrate it on you. I got it at Harrod's where it was applied on me & that's why I bought it.

I will take a look at the Cle de Peau concealers at Sephora on the Champs Elysees this week-end (catching a morning Thalys down to Paris for three days, yay!). I have Giorgio Armani foundation, which I love, so I would try their concealer as well. Their foundations slides on like a dream and wears well, but I don't know if they have something that matches your skin tone...I am very fair and GA makes great stuff for fair skin.

Thanks everyone. Getting ready to pack and allez! Will let you know what I "find" when I get back.

The funny thing about Clé de Peau is that it's Japanese (made by Shiseido)- not French. But it is very nice, although pricey.

La Prairie makes wonderful foundation that comes with matching concealer in the lid. It's not French, either. It's Swiss, I think.

Hi,

I would say that the Sephora on the champs elysees is far better than the US ones I've been in (Vegas and San Francisco) but, the staff in the Paris one all seem to be employed by each brand. This means that you don't get, as I've had in US branches, guidance from a staff member who will recommend from across the ranges (apols if this is just my experience and not actually the case) Nevertheless, I adore Sephora and there are so many brands there that I'm sure you'll find something suitable, but, if you are keen on trying Boi-Ing by BeneFit, its a damn sight cheaper in the states (I stcok up majorly on BeneFit when I'm there - I'm in the UK)

Happy shopping!

Well, we spent over an hour in Sephora on Saturday night. While my friend K worked her way through her shopping list, I decided to test many of the concealers mentioned above, using the two freckles I have on near one eye as the guinea pigs. If the concealer covered them without being too heavy, success.
First up at bat was the Touche Eclat. It didn't work. Then a new MAC concealer, which turned out to be the worst of all those tested. Not only did it not really cover the freckles, it also had such a glowing effect that it was as if a spotlight was shining on them. The opposite of what was intended. Went through several other brands including YSL, Lancome, Chanel, Benefit, etc (thank goodness for the little containers of makeup remover and cotton pads scattered about). The only one that really worked either on its own or with foundation blended on top was old reliable untrendy Clinique's creamy concealer wand. Covered them perfectly. Didn't settle into a crease, etc. AND it was the cheapest of all the concealers tested.

Can't say if it works the same for everybody, but that was my experience.

We did make some purchases: I turned my friend K onto Giorgio Armani's Liquid Silk foundation, we both bought that, we both bought YSL's Rouge Pure Shine sheer lipstick in Number 3, and we each bought a Giorgio Armani lipstick, mine being the sheer transparent version, color no. 21, I forget which one she bought.

Our free samples included Burberry London and Burberry Week-end and also Dior Fahrenheit scents, none of which we liked, so they were left behind in our hotel room. As were the foundation samples from by Terry (too dark). We kept the eye cream samples from Dior and the generous sample tubes of foundation for Armani (wrong color but we both knew someone who might be able to wear it).

So...happy shopping!

BTilke - Thanks for performing as the "tester" for everyone who has been reading this thread! Hope it wasn't too arduous!

I too am a big fan of the GA Luminous Silk. I also love my Touche Eclat but not for concealing (it's not a concealer) - it's best for bringing light to certain parts of the face.
The best concealer I've used is by Laura Mercier.

I am curious about people's experience with "by Terry" products. They are fiercely expensive but are they worth the extra cost?

Neither K nor I were impressed with by Terry. We didn't think it was any better (and in some instances worse) than several other lines and it is, as you noted, quite expensive. They have a shop on the Ave. Victor Hugo and the staff seemed to have more attitude than their products merit.

My friend K also bought some Chanel lipsticks at au Printemps as well as a few other things on Saturday afternoon and we enjoyed a very good lunch at the newly renovated Brasserie Printemps on the 6th floor. It was very stylish.

We had fun poking around, things I never get to do while in Paris with my husband. Our sojourn in Sephora Saturday night was a nice change from an episode earlier that evening when we got caught up in a violent demonstration near Sacre Coeur and got tear gassed!

Was the MAC concealer a fat pencil? It's supposed to be used with the cream I mentioned.

BTilke, you got caught in the middle of tear gas? Were you alright? How awful!!

I work very close to the Sephora on the Champs Elysées, but I never set foot in it, because the salespeople jump on you the moment you walk through the door and won't leave you alone. I very much prefer the other Sephora stores (of which there are many all over Paris) where at least you can look at things and only get assistance if you need it. You may also want to visit the Marionnaud chain, Sephora's main competitor in France. It was recently bought out by a Chinese company, which is an indication of things to come.

I have set foot in that Sephora many times and have never been "jumped" by salespeople who "won't leave me alone." I have had salesgirls greet me and ask if I needed help and offer guidance, but no big pressure. We certainly did not have an experience anything like kerouac's description Saturday night.

I must look like someone badly in need of assistance -- or else simply they don't have much to do at lunch hour.

topping for jetset

The best remedy for my under-eye circles is a good night's sleep ... preferrably more than just one! Come to think of it, this has never been a problem when I've holidayed in France! LOL

First, let me say that I don't want to assume anything or possibly offend anyone, but going a different direction with this-

Sometimes under-eye circles are caused by an allergy to sugar. I had a friend who used several products to cover up her circles for years before finally being diagnosed and treated by her doctor. No more dark circles She feels better too.

First, let me say that I don't want to assume anything or possibly offend anyone, but going a different direction with this-

Sometimes under-eye circles are caused by an allergy to sugar. I had a friend who used several products to cover up her circles for years before finally being diagnosed and treated by her doctor. No more dark circles. She feels better too.

If I recall correctly, the most critical variable in covering under-eye circles is the color of the concealer: it should be more yellow in color to counter the dark/purple rings.

Estee Lauder used to make something called 'Uncircle' which was said to be brilliant for dark under-eye circles. Don't know if it still exists but it might be worth asking at their counter.

Personally, I like Shiseido Future Solution Eye/Lip cream. (Both of these are preventative/repair type treatments rather than cosmetic cover ups.)

Cosmetic-wise, if you really don't like Touche Eclat (which I think is great), you might be better off going for something more pink toned - Benefit do a sort of eye wand in this shade which is pretty good, but I can't remember the name.