The Concealer Made Me Rethink How Much I Use

I moisturized, cleaned my face, and within two minutes I was already taking product back off. The concealer is that rich. It’s so thick and spreads so nicely that I forget and use way too much, every single time. You can grab the same pieces I’m using through my Laura Geller collection here, but learn from me first: start light.

This isn’t a glam, full-coverage face. I don’t like a really heavy makeup look. This is my everyday, the version of me that’s running out the door for groceries or, on this particular day, supposedly going golfing in a golf shirt. That’s the whole vibe of this lineup, and it’s why I keep reaching for it.

What’s Actually In My Laura Geller Lineup

Seven pieces, and only the mascara isn’t from the brand. The hero is the illuminating foundation in medium, which has that marbled “marly” look I keep mentioning, plus the concealer, the Best of the Best palette, a blush stick, a neutral lipstick, and a brow mascara. The mascara I finished with is a separate Extensionnaire with serum in it. Here’s everything I reached for.

How It Goes On, Dab Don’t Rub

Dab, don’t rub, I learned this the streaky way. I swirl the foundation brush, then press and lift in small sections, building a second layer only on my nose and chin where I want more. Every time I’ve dragged it across my cheek instead, the finish goes patchy before I can catch it.

For the concealer I do a teeny dab, maybe three little dots under each eye, then blend with the brush over top. The blush stick comes up right away after a couple of turns, so I dab it on lightly and rub it in gently with my fingers. The pigment is really nice, almost too much, so if anything I’d use a little less. When I went too heavy on one cheek I just took my foundation brush over it to tone it down a teeny bit. The Best of the Best palette I used for contour and the eyes, light shade all over the lid, brown in the crease pulled out to the end of the brow.

The Concealer Catches Me Out Every Time

It’s so good that it’s a little dangerous. The concealer is heavy in the best way, you only need a little, but I keep forgetting how thick and rich it is and load up too much. I had to scrape some back off mid-face. It’s not a bad thing, I want to be clear. It’s just that you need less of it than the drugstore stuff, and if you go in expecting to use a normal amount you’ll end up cakey.

Same warning for the brow mascara. Light hand. Definitely light hand. Go too heavy and it makes your eyebrows really dark. I’ve learned that one the hard way too. The blush is the third culprit, high pigment that wants to grab. None of these are deal-breakers, but every one of them rewards a light touch and punishes a heavy one.

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Who This Laura Geller Makeup Is Really For

The test for me is whether I’d reach for it on a grocery-and-golf Tuesday, and I do, every time. The marbled foundation gives enough glow that I skip highlighter entirely, and the whole face takes ten minutes because the palette handles contour, blush, and eyes without me opening a second bag. On mature skin that matters: fewer layers means less settling into lines by noon.

The palette is a packing dream. You can take the Best of the Best on vacation and pretty much have everything you need right there, contour, blush, and eyes in one place. If you love a big highlighter moment it does that too, though I don’t typically do that. And if I’m heading out for the evening, I just throw some eyeliner on top and it’s done.

How It Stacks Up Against My Drugstore Makeup

You need less than the drugstore, and that’s the real difference. The concealer especially, it’s thicker and richer than what I’m used to grabbing, so a tube lasts because a tiny bit goes a long way. The pigment in the blush is stronger too. The trade-off is the learning curve, you have to retrain your hand to use less, which is the opposite problem you have with cheaper formulas where you keep adding more to get color.

For the mascara I’ll happily use any one I like, including drugstore. Mascara to me is mascara, I can use whichever. The Extensionnaire I finished with has a serum in it and that interesting twisty wand, no scent, feels really nice, and it looked great in one quick pass. That’s a separate pick from the Laura Geller line, just so you know.

Tips Before You Buy

Start with less than you think on everything. The concealer and blush both want to overdo it, so dab tiny amounts and build. Keep your foundation brush handy even after the base, because it’s the easiest fix for blush that came on too strong, you just buff over the top to tone it down.

With the brow mascara, the lightest touch you can manage. The gel pushes the hairs up and gives a lifted look I really like, much more than the powder I used to use, but a heavy hand turns it muddy fast. And don’t expect a brand mascara, there isn’t one, so pair the rest with whatever lash product you already trust.

Pros

• Illuminating foundation gives a natural light-to-medium finish, great for everyday
• Concealer is rich and thick, you only need a tiny amount
• Best of the Best palette has contour, blush, and eyes in one travel-friendly tin
• Blush stick is high pigment and easy to blend with fingers
• Brow mascara lifts brows for a fuller look, beats the powder I used to use

Cons

• Concealer is so thick it’s easy to apply too much before you catch yourself
• Blush pigment grabs fast, a heavy hand needs toning down
• Brow mascara goes too dark if you’re not gentle
• No mascara in the Laura Geller line, you have to bring your own

Frequently Asked Questions

What skin type and age is this line best for?

It suits mature skin and anyone who prefers a natural, light-to-medium finish over full glam. The illuminating foundation gives a glow without sitting heavy, which is flattering as skin ages. If you want a matte, full-coverage look, this isn’t built for that.

How long does the foundation last through the day?

It held up through a full morning of golf with no touchup, which is about as much real-world wear as I’ve put it through. Because it’s light-to-medium and not a setting-powder situation, I’d bring the palette for anything past four or five hours, the concealer under my eyes is usually the first thing that needs refreshing.

Is the Best of the Best palette enough on its own?

Pretty much, yes. It packs contour, blush, and eyes together, which makes it ideal to throw in a bag for vacation. I sometimes swap in a separate blush stick just for variety, but you could travel with only the palette and be set.

Does this line include a mascara?

No, there’s no Laura Geller mascara in what I own, so I finish with my own. I used an Extensionnaire with serum and a twisty wand, which felt nice and had no scent. Any mascara you already like will pair fine with the rest.

Should I patch-test before using it?

Patch-testing is smart with any new face product, especially if your skin reacts easily. I didn’t notice any scent or irritation from the pieces I used, and the Extensionnaire was fragrance-free. If you have sensitive skin, dab a small amount on your inner arm first.

Why does my concealer look cakey with this?

Almost always because you used too much. The concealer is thick and rich, so a normal drugstore-sized amount is way more than you need. Use a teeny dab, around three small dots under each eye, then blend with a brush.

Is the brow mascara better than brow powder?

For a lifted look, I think so. The gel formula pushes the hairs up and adds a bit of thickness, which powder doesn’t do the same way. Powder fills in faster, but I switched to the brow mascara and prefer it, just use a light hand so it doesn’t go too dark.

Can I build the foundation up for more coverage?

Yes, that’s the point of dabbing it on. Each dabbed layer adds a little more coverage, so you control how natural or built-up it gets. Rubbing it in doesn’t layer the same way, so dab and build where you want more.

Does the blush stick work for all skin tones?

The one I used gives a lot of pigment in a pretty, neutral-leaning color that I really like. Because it’s so pigmented, a light application reads well on most tones, you just adjust how much you apply. If it grabs too strong, buff over it with a foundation brush.

Get it now

Laura Geller Makeup Collection

Get the best price on Amazon →

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.