OK, so it’s been an eye-opening few days, and not just because I sneaked in 10 hours of sleep Thursday night and feel like a new person.
(Side note: You know you kick it with a toddler 24/7 when the thought of eating a bowl of ice cream with your pants off and going to sleep at 8 on a Thursday night sounds VERY exciting.)
The breakthrough moment
So I’m still doing the no under-eye concealer thing (here was Chapter 1 of this adventure), and I think I mentioned this last week, but I had a revelation about a week ago while I was wearing a pearly brightening under-eye cream by Tatcha. It happened right after I took a few before/after pics of myself wearing The Pearl in Softlight, and I do believe I had what they call in the movies “the breakthrough moment.”
I realized what’s reflected in the mirror is *completely* different than what I see in my head.
“This two-in-one makeup and treatment formula breaks upon application to deliver both refreshing moisture and natural coverage for a healthy, well-rested look all day. Light-refracting pearl pigments work with Akoya pearl extract to restore radiance by helping to address the three causes of under-eye darkness: thinning skin, blue undertones, and pigmentation. The Pearl works to address dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles by supporting natural collagen production and inhibiting hyperpigmentation. It is boosted by niacinamide, which is known to visibly brighten and firm.
“Silk powder smooths the look of fine lines and imperfections, while a blend of botanical extracts protects from makeup and pollution that can cause signs of aging. The lightweight cream is powered by hadasei-3, a proprietary trio of Japanese anti-aging superfoods, and hyaluronic acid nourishes and hydrates for a plump, refreshed appearance.”
The camera told a different story
Because straight-up…right before I took these pics, I wasn’t happy at all with the results. I looked in the mirror, and all I could see was a very tired woman with dark circles wearing a super sheer under-eye brightener that looked about half a shade too light, and in my head I had this whole narrative going about purposefully posting bad pics of oneself on the Internet and how those pics haunt you for years (otherwise known as the typical Karen spiral).
But once I uploaded the pics and started going though them, I didn’t think the pics looked bad at all.
It took me a few times going back and forth, looking at myself in the mirror, then examining the pics and wondering, “What the heck is going on?”
That’s I realized that — oh, my gosh — it’s all in my head.
The dire situation I saw when I looked in the mirror? Not so dire, according to my camera lens. My under-eyes actually looked, dare I say it, pretty darned good. My perception of reality is completely skewed.
I can’t help but wonder…
How is it that we can perceive ourselves so differently than what mirrors and cameras reflect back? Is it because we’re just so accustomed to perceiving ourselves a certain way? How did I get to the place where the picture in my mind is so wildly different than what the camera sees?
I don’t know, and I don’t know if I ever will.
Which brings me to The Pearl
The genius of The Pearl is that I can’t really tell it’s there, but only when I follow the directions to a tee. You have to use the smallest amount — about the size of a grain of rice — and swipe first, then pat. If you use too much, you risk patchiness and losing the product’s magically subtle brightening ability.
I like to use it after applying foundation/BB cream/tinted moisturizer because it’s easier to tell how little I can get away with, and I suppose you could also use a setting powder, but I think it looks better when I don’t.
The Pearl doesn’t have as much coverage as the It Cosmetics CC+ Illumination cream I tried a few days ago, but I think it looks a little less obvious because 1) the pearl in The Pearl is considerably subtler and finer (CC+ Illumination has bigger glitter pieces), and 2) The Pearl sinks into the skin, while CC+ sits on top of it, so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing makeup at all. I can see this working for a lot of people, but especially guys who want a little brightening but are nervous about looking like they’re wearing makeup.
More experiments to come…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Icequeen81.ma says
August 3rd, 2018 at 8:19 pmHi, Karen looks amazing, Love it, we dont have that cream over here. Have a nice weekend enjoy with jour sunshine 🙂 your princess
briana says
August 3rd, 2018 at 10:12 pmThats so interesting! I really want to try that now! How much is it? I am looking for something exactly like that that helps your skin while also brightening.
Jan Kelley says
August 3rd, 2018 at 11:07 pmYes. I love that cream. Being older my eye has that hollowed out appearance. I would put concealer on the shadow but to me it still looked dark. My friend had me try her Tatcha cream. I wasn’t very impressed until I kept catching glimpses of myself. You are right. It’s brightening magic.
LindaLibraLoca says
August 4th, 2018 at 2:08 amI guess we are our worst critics when it comes to our appearance. The same thing happened to me numerous times, less in regards of makeup, but more in terms of clothes and how my body looked. I hated myself the whole night, only to look at pictures and see a happy, perfectly dressed woman…
Kate says
August 4th, 2018 at 7:29 amWow, Karen, this might be the product I’m looking for! Did you have to powder at all to keep it from creasing and to make it last?
I think you look great, and your skin is always so clear and luminous!
Astrid says
August 4th, 2018 at 11:37 amLove this series! You looked great! I’ve mostly given up trying to wear under eye concealer because it’s always too much work… I wish tatcha is easily available in Germany! Otherwise I’m very curious of the new Charlotte Tilbury undereye concealers coming out in august!
Margaux says
August 4th, 2018 at 12:23 pmI’ve been following you for years and this is the best series for me so far – about accepting your own skin, not hiding what usually are imperfections brought about by our distorted self images and simply enhancing what you’ve got. I await with bated breath which method you deem the best of all you’ve tried.
Btw, what blush and lipstick are you wearing?
Miss Kitty says
August 4th, 2018 at 2:02 pmIt’s funny how much different the picture in our heads is to what the camera sees. I read an explanation for this a while ago, which kind of made sense. When we see ourselves in a mirror, it is a reflected image. When a camera takes a picture, it is a true image, i.e. the sides of our face are swapped around, if you like! Because we are so used to seeing the reflected image, our first reaction to seeing a true image is often, ‘Eew, that can’t be what I look like!’, because it is just subtly different to the image we have in our head! Anyway, that’s the theory, and it made sense to me. I think that brightener looks great. I’m not sure if I can get it here, but I might see if I can find something similar, I’m having issues with under eye concealer at the moment too.
Erin says
August 4th, 2018 at 3:34 pmKaren,
Have you tried mixing this with the tiniest amount of liquid concealer? I bet that would make the absolute perfect result. I’ve don’t that with Tata Harper Illuminating Eye Cream (think NARS Copacabana) and NARS RCC. It’s honestly perfect coverage and it neither looks like illuminator, concealer, or brightener. I do it about 60/40. I’m out of the eye cream now, but it’s pretty spectacular.
Eileen says
August 4th, 2018 at 7:47 pmDysmorphia: A condition in which someone falsely believes that there is something seriously wrong with their appearance.
I think all too many of us suffer from that to one degree or another and the cosmetic industry banks on our “need” to hide our “imperfections”. Consequently, we’re always on the hunt for that one product that will magically transform us. Happy hunting! LOL
kellly says
August 5th, 2018 at 7:08 amAs well as your reviews about cosmetics, I really appreciate your insights into your own thinking about cosmetics as well as things going on with the “internal you” and how well you express yourself in sharing about yourself. I enjoy reading the things you have to say and boy, could I ever identify with this, and your discovery of so many lipsticks in your handbag! My bag must get 3 pounds lighter when I clean all of mine out!
Your writings are always a great read for me. Thank you!
Chelsea says
August 5th, 2018 at 10:54 amLove this. My dark circles are worse than yours, but I’m trying to get more comfortable with less coverage, because heavy undereye concealer looks really odd against my freckled skin. I’ll have to check out this product.
Yelena Rivera says
August 6th, 2018 at 8:03 amooh i love this post! both for the message and the content!
also I’ve been wondering about this product! thanks for posting 🙂
Elsie says
August 8th, 2018 at 9:19 amHappy Hump Day!
I meant to comment on your first installment of the No Concealer series. First off, I am feeling you lately on how concealer can suddenly no longer be your best friend. And layering on thick coats of product and “baking” was never an option for me!
I wanted to make a suggestion for you to try out and maybe report back on. BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector. I tried this stuff out a couple years ago and loved what it did…but it was just too light for me. However, BECCA just redid the formula and released two shades, Light/Med & Med/Dark. Hallelujah! I find it to be a tricky sticky kind of product, but if you can get it right, it totally brightens the face. Bonus for me, is that it negates the use of concealer. Give it a whirl and let us know! 😉
Elise says
August 8th, 2018 at 9:22 amHappy Hump Day!
I meant to comment on your first installment of the No Concealer series. First off, I am feeling you lately on how concealer can suddenly no longer be your best friend. And layering on thick coats of product and “baking” was never an option for me!
I wanted to make a suggestion for you to try out and maybe report back on. BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector. I tried this stuff out a couple years ago and loved what it did…but it was just too light for me. However, BECCA just redid the formula and released two shades, Light/Med & Med/Dark. Hallelujah! I find it to be a tricky sticky kind of product, but if you can get it right, it totally brightens the face. Bonus for me, is that it negates the use of concealer. Give it a whirl and let us know! 😉
Lulle says
August 8th, 2018 at 11:09 amConcealer is the one thing that I will never skip. I have extremely discolored skin all around my eyes (not just under), and concealer makes such a huge difference. I go from looking tired and ill to looking fresh and awake. And it’s not just in my head: on photos I actually find my dark circles even worse than in person. So much that I edit the pics to soften them, even when I’m wearing concealer!
C.S. says
January 5th, 2019 at 7:35 amThanks for this post! I’m thinking of getting The Pearl and now I know what to expect. I’m going to test it at Sephora.
yelena says
June 28th, 2019 at 3:19 pmHey Karen!
I am having trouble finding the right concealer and remembered this post!
i can’t find a shade match, or it makes my under eyes look more dry or it brings out my fine lines.
outside of dark circles, I am kinda better off with out the cakeyness of concealer.
are you still doing tatcha? what is your current under eye sitch?
Karen says
June 28th, 2019 at 4:03 pmHi Yelena,
Ya know what? I’ve been skipping it entirely. Honestly I think it looks better when I just don’t use it. Sometimes I’ll take a little bit of whatever I’m using that day (tinted moisturizer or foundation) and buff a little onto the under eye area and that’s it. If that’s not an option for you then I’d look into the It Cosmetics CC+ Illuminating for the under eye area. Just a little dab and the tube will last you forever.