L'Oreal True Match Crayon Concealer

I love Freida Pinto.  I think she is a good actress and a great rolemodel for Indian women.  I have even been told I look like Freida Pinto (probably because I was the only Indian girl within a 10-mile radius, so anyone Indian would look alike).

But, in purchasing a drugstore concealer, I had a substantial revelation:

I am so not Freida Pinto.

How did I realize this?  I have been in the market for a new concealer for my undereye circles.  I have been using LORAC's Coverup in C4 for the past two years (it lasts forever), but it is finally almost finished.  I usually like LORAC's Coverup because of its creamy texture, and is quick to apply and blend. When I have a little more time, I use Makeup Forever or Salma Hayek's Nuance concealers (reviews to come!).

So, I was in the market for a new concealer.  I saw the display here and was immediately intrigued. 

Being Indian, I appreciate L'Oreal's use of Indian models like Aishwarya Rai and Freida Pinto, because then us Indian gals get SOME idea of what colors we should pick.  Despite that, as I excitedly hurried towards the display, I came to a complete halt as I began the usual fret of "what color do I need?"  I stood there for a good five minutes, and finally realized - What color is Freida wearing? (Yes, we are on a first-name basis).  The display said she was wearing W-5/6.  I thought to myself - Freida is a little deeper in skin tone than I am, so maybe I should go a shade lighter? But, the shades lighter than W-5/6 looked way too light for me, and the shades darker looked too dark.  I personally prefer a darker concealer, because I HATE the inverse-raccoon look.

So, I fretted a little more.  Freida is a little deeper than I am, but she is wearing the color I would pick.  Do I get it?  Not get it?  So, I took the chance, and bought the color L'Oreal claims is right for the Indian girl movie star.

I brought it home - and I think I made a decent choice.  The texture is sort of a creamy to powdery finish, the concealer applies a little thin, but allows for layering.  If not blended correctly, it will look chalky on dark areas and crease in fine lines (not that I have any, ahem), but good blending is all you need.  It is NOT full coverage, but I have this thing about not wanting full coverage concealer on a regular day (looking perfect just looks weird to me).  I think the shade I picked makes me look slightly inversely-raccoony (especially in a flash photo), so I think it is a lighter than I prefer, BUT, maybe I'm just used to having dark circles under my eyes.  Take a look below.  It's definitely not the best coverage, but I am pleased that it softens the darkness under my eyes.

Without any concealer.



Concealer                                No Concealer

Concealer under both eyes.

Concealer under both eyes with flash!

Sooo.. if Freida is a little deeper than me, and is purportedly wearing the concealer I should wear, then... maybe L'Oreal is not telling the truth about what color its models are wearing.  I know airbrushing and such goes on in this industry, but then it kind of defeats the whole purpose of having multicolored models!  If Freida was really wearing the same concealer shade, it would look too light on her. 

Which is when I realized - I am so not Freida Pinto.