Q: I've been told to get a different concealer for the eye area and one for the face. Is that necessary?
A: The advice is sound but if you're asking if it's absolutely necessary, the answer is no.
In the past, when product formulas were less refined, it was better to get a moist concealer for the eye area as the skin around the area is more delicate.
A concealer with a runnier texture - liquid or gel-cream textures were ideal - allowed the product to be spread easily without pulling the skin.
Also, the concealer won't cake and settle into lines which will draw more attention to the area than hide it.
The reason for using a thicker concealer for the face, really, has to do with coverage. Stick or balm concealers are more ideal for the face as they are heavier and can cover blemishes and spots better.
Today's formulas have been tweaked to give better coverage without the heaviness. This means your choice is based on personal preference rather than performance. I find that there is really no need to get separate products for the face and the eyes unless you have very dark under-eye circles.
I swear by Benefit's Boi-ing concealer (Photo 1, $41, from Level 1, Tangs Orchard). The creamy cake concealer (it comes in three shades) gives industrial-strength camouflage: It covers everything from panda-eye circles to angry red zits. It also spreads easily, so you can use it on drier eye areas as well as on the face.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on June 19, 2008.
