Ask a Beauty Expert

[TeamBIC]

Ask a Beauty Expert

If you know your way around the Beauty Insider Community, chances are you’ve seen a few of our Sephora Pro Artists sharing their looks on the Gallery and dropping their beauty routines in some of our favorite challenge threads.  @ElizaPRO, @ShawnPRO, and @ProAmy are Makeup Artists with years of industry experience with a bounty of product knowledge to share. These beauty geniuses are subject matter experts and they give life-changing advice on how to build your basket and put your haul to good use!

We've created this thread to allow you all to better connect with our Sephora Pro Artists here in the BIC! This is a place for you to ask them ANYTHING beauty-related. Don't forget to bookmark this thread by clicking the bookmark icon at the top right of this thread. It will come in handy for those moments you wish you had a beauty expert on speed dial for questions like "is it a good idea to layer these skincare products?" or "what's the best brush for my foundation routine?"

Want to ask a question? Click the 'Reply' button below!

[heartsmyface]

@Anonymous   Hello love, sorry you’re having to explain your appearance all the time.  That can be quite hard on a person.

 Most concealers won’t work on their own on darker circles and need a little boost with a color corrector.  The first thing to do is look at a color wheel.  You circles seem to be on the red side.  Since green is opposite on the wheel that’s your canceling color.  
Since you’re applying to your undereyes a cream  green color corrector or green lipstick would do.  It just has to be opaque and green.   Apply it just to the dark undereye area using a patting motion trying not to go outside the red area.  You may need a small brush to Pat the green on around the calcium deposits.  You don’t want to paint them green.  It will look terrifying as you apply but don’t fear.  Wait a moment for it to set.  30 seconds is normally enough.  
Then apply a high coverage concealer in your skin tone.  It is very important to pat it on top of the green and not to rub as any rubbing will mix the concealer with the green underneath.  Kevin Aucoin thé sensual skin enhancer concealer is amazingly high coverage while looking relatively natural.  
I would refrain from setting powder for the first wear cause if you can get away without another layer all the better, but if you find you’re getting a lot of creasing your can use a thin layer of translucent setting powder to set the undereye.  Less is more when it comes to powder under your eyes.  ;).  Good luck and if you have any other questions feel free to ask.  
i hope this helps!  

[FabiNFar]

NARS creamy radiant concealer is great too and very pigmented.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your response! That was very informative, I'm so lost when it comes to correctors and concealers! I will give this a try, thank you again!

[DavidBD]

@KrystalJ13 the trick here is that you need to address the dark circles correctly first becuase a dark circle is technically a purple shade and needs color correction, try URBAN DECAY - Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid - Peach on the dark circle areas ( a little is all you need here as you are trying to 'warm' up the purple tone not cover them, that's for concealer) then use a little NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer with Hydrating Medium Coverage Madeleinein your shade on top. the color corrector will help bring the dark circle to the correct tone to be covered along with the cholesterol deposits by the concealer.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!! I will give it a try! I already have the concealer, I will get the color corrector and see how that goes, Much appreciated!

[LaureNeu]

Hi! Are your circles inherited, genetic? My guess is yes and as a part of the bumps lottery, too. Surgery is probably the only thing you can do because getting rid of both is impossible with concealer- I had some like yours on my right eye and i had them removed, it really wasn’t too bad, but invest in a very good eye plastic surgeon if possible. Yeah, you will be bruised for a little while, about two weeks, but you also want to have minimum permanent scarring, otherwise you’ll kind of defeat the purpose—do homework and find a good one. Good luck. Now the dark circles you probably know despite all those product claims can never be free of without concealer- So for the best event conceal, you need to prime, base conceal, foundation, then finish conceal and finally powder. For day to day use products I like: Dermablend is thick and fussy but can cover about anything. Get two colors for the best match — I also like Jose Marans Argan Oil Concealer, Lancôme Effarcernes (Sephora only carried Teint Idole which is ok, but Effarcernes is the better product), and Shape Tape is good. Again, good luck.

[Anonymous]

I just started getting the cholesterol deposits a couple years ago and they are getting bigger... the dark circles, I've pretty much had since I was a teenager. I was afraid surgery would be the only answer 😞 I don't trust any of the doctors around here and surgery is unfortunately not an option I can afford... Thanks for your concealer tips though, hopefully it can at least reduce the visibility so everyone isn't pointing it out all the time 😞

[msweet6599]

Who is this obviously "pro" reviewer? And what kind of drugs are they on???

[anneminette]

@mssweet6699 what product was this review on? Lol

[suzyo]

@anneminette  It's for Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner 5.07 oz/ 150 mL

[travelmeag]

Looking for a light nude lipstick shade that Ashley Graham seems to rock all the time on instagram. 

[DavidBD]

@travelmeag so going off that image , i would recommend KAJA - Air Heart Lightweight Natural Finish Lipstick - 01 Sweetheart, this is a great shade with a lightweight velvety finish. BECCA COSMETICS - Ultimate Lipstick Love - Bare (W) a hydrating lipstick in a gorgeous shade. 

[marisamouse]

Hi!

I'm currently using Makeup Forever Ultra  HD invisible cover stick foundation in Y365. I would like to try Nars Concealer but don't know what color I would be.

I have hyperpigmentation on my cheeks and dark under eye circles ( genetic) that need covering up.

Thank you!

Marisa

[DavidBD]

@marisamouse first off i have to say that is my favorite foundation and the one i use the most in my professional work, i looooove it!!! for you i would recommend NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer with Hydrating Medium Coverage Ginger , it will work for both under eye and any concerns on the face for you. 

[marisamouse]

thank you David!!

[Chalsall]

Hi there, 

I've seen some make up tutorials where make up artists use Bobbi Brown foundation stick as a cream contour. I would like to try this but not sure what shade would best suit me. I'm fair skinned with warm undertones. Do you have any recommendations? Or is there any other cream contours you would recommend? I would prefer to buy a single shade rather than a full palette. 

Thanks!

[DavidBD]

@Chalsall i used yo use the Bobbi Brown cream foundation for contour waaaaayyyy before the contour craze even hit all those years ago, and the truth is you need to customize that to your personal skin tone. don't forget its not just about going 2 or 3 shades darker as alot of MUA's will say. a contour is meant to replicate a shadow, shadows are not 'warm' in undertone unless your skin is exceptionally warm itself. otherwise shadows are cool or neutral . so choosing from a foundation assortment can be tricky unless you are skilled becuase you may end up with a warm bronze color rather than a contour shade. i would recommend either Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer 02 Butta Biscuit or the shade 'Amber' amber is more a true contour shade it is cool in tone like a shadow .' ButtaBiscuit ' has a touch  more bronze yet still neutral so this is better for someone who is more loosely applying contour/bronze . HUDA BEAUTY - Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream - Fairis a contour/bronzer cream similar to the Fenty. both of these are better suited and formulated for the average person to create a beautiful natural looking contour/bronze

[jesseme]

You could try the fenty matchstix in light. There is a trio you can get to try out different products and see if they work for you.

[kassidy918]

How often do you restock the youth to the people cleanser?

[GACAH]

Hello,

I would like to try the Sephora Bronzer in shade Tan or Deep. Not sure which is the correct shade so I need help selecting a shade, Would Tan be too light???

I am a Black woman and my skin tone is about Oprah/Gail's color.

I have a warm undertone.  My current foundation Shade:- Estee Lauder's Rich Caramel - 5W2

Thanks,

Marilyn

[DavidBD]

@GACAH with the info you gave about your skintone and what i know about the Sephora Collection bronzers i would recommend choosing the shade 'Deep'. one thing to always consider is bronzers are made to be light in coverage ,they are not heavy, so this gives them the ability to be gradually built up. hope this helps!!