Month: March 2025

Recently, every time I looked in the mirror, I seemed to notice deeper and darker under eye circles. Can anyone else relate to this? So, when I came across an article titled “After Testing Dozens on Stubborn Under Eye Dark Circles, Editors Found the 11 Best Color Correctors,” it drew my attention like a magnet. Right then and there, I determined to do some testing myself to see how well these color correctors worked on mature skin.

For years, most of us heard that the way to hide under eye dark circles was to apply a slightly lighter shade of concealer over that area. Well, that’s partially true, but the best way to cover those dark circles is to first apply a color corrector and then a lighter concealer. That’s because a lighter concealer applied just on its own can cover darkness – but it can leave a grayish cast or shadow under our eyes. So, it’s only partially effective in covering dark circles.

Why a Color Corrector Is Important

Since those dark circles usually have a blue or purple cast to them, we need to apply a color corrector in a complementary color to blue and purple since complementary colors cancel out the darkness. As you can see on the color wheel below, the complementary colors on the color wheel that are opposite blue and purple are peach and orange so peach and orange will do the best job of cancelling out the purple and blue tones of our dark under eye area.

In addition to determining which corrector most effectively covers the dark circles, there are three other important considerations we need to keep in mind.

1. We want a color corrector that’s not drying on our skin.
2. Also, we want a color corrector that’s not too thick or cakey looking – but which is thick enough to provide enough coverage.
3. And finally, we want a color corrector that has some brightening properties. That’s because a brightener uses light-reflecting particles to diffuse the darkness under the eyes, making the area appear brighter by essentially “bouncing light” off the skin, rather than just covering it with heavy pigmentation.

But let’s be real. No product is going to totally cover our dark circles, though some will definitely do a better job than others. And correctors can be especially helpful if we have bags or hollows under our eyes that create darkness – as I do.

After each of the 8 color corrector tests I’ll be doing, I’ll apply my Kosas Concealer in the shade 1.5 over it – which is about 1 shade lighter than the concealer I use on the rest of my face. And then I’ll apply a tap of powder to prevent the concealer from creasing. I’ll apply a different color corrector under each eye and then we’ll compare both eyes.

Testing 4 Drugstore Color Correctors

First, we’ll test 4 drugstore products.

Catrice Brightener

The Catrice Under Eye Brightener costs $6.00 and is described as visibly balancing out the bluish tones of dark circles, giving the complexion a radiant glow. This concealer cream is specifically developed for the under-eye area with a formula that includes hyaluronic acid and shea butter to nourish the skin. It’s described as a blendable cream texture that is brightening and neutralizes dark circles. It’s also cruelty free and vegan.

Catrice is headquartered in Europe which means that all their products adhere to the high quality standards set by the EU Cosmetics Regulations which restricts over 1,500 ingredients from being used in beauty products. The U.S. just restricts 11. They’ve also banned an additional 60+ ingredients that they deem unacceptable.

Elf Corrector

The Elf Camo Corrector costs $4.00 and comes in four shades: yellow, green, peach, orange and blue. According to the information on the website, the peach shade camouflages dark spots under the eyes for those with fair to medium skin tones. If you have a tan to rich skin tone, the best shade to use is orange.

It’s described as a long-lasting, light-weight formula that layers flawlessly under foundations and concealers without caking or creasing. In the video I’ll show a close up look at both of these eyes so we can compare the Catrice Under Eye Brightener with the Elf Camo Color Corrector.

Elf Concealer

The Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer costs $7.00, comes in 25 shades including a Light Peach and a Medium Peach. This is a hydrating concealer that provides crease-resistant full coverage with a satin finish which is blendable. It has a large doe foot applicator, and it’s good for oily, dry and combination skin. It’s cruelty free and vegan. I’ll apply the Light Peach.

Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!

NYX Sticks

The newest drugstore entry I have in the under eye color corrector field is from NYX: their NYX Pro Fix Sticks. These are described as color sticks that correct, conceal and brighten with just one swipe. There are a total of 18 complexion shades and 6 color correctors for each skin tone. They’re also described as crease resistant, medium coverage with a natural finish and are infused with hyaluronic acid so they can glide on and never feel drying.

In addition, they’re vegan and cruelty free. The pink is to brighten and conceal discoloration on fair to medium skin tones. The yellow brightens and conceals discoloration on fair to light skin tones. The dark peach brightens and conceals discoloration on medium to deep skin tones. I’ll apply the pink shade.

Testing 4 High-End Color Correctors

The first two high-end products are brightening products.

Smashbox x Becca Corrector

One of them is an OG product which has been around for years. It’s the Smashbox/Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. On the website it’s described as a full coverage color corrector that uses light to brighten dark under eye circles. It’s vegan and cruelty free and now comes in an expanded shade range of Fair/Light, Medium, Medium/Dark and Dark.

Doll 10 Corrector

The other under eye high end brightening product is from the clean beauty brand Doll 10. It brightens the appearance of under eye circles while airbrushing the appearance of fine lines and imperfections and also provides a hint of subtle radiance. It’s formulated with concentrated pigments that feel weightless while providing buildable medium coverage.

Nars Corrector

The Nars Radiant Creamy Color Corrector sells for $30 and is described as diminishing the look of under eye circles, dark spots and hyperpigmentation with a custom blend of red-toned pigments that neutralize blue and purple toned imperfections.

It’s a lightweight formula that dries down quickly and feels weightless and comes in four shades: Light, Medium, Medium Deep and Dark. The website information also states that the product may separate – which is normal – and doesn’t affect performance. It is crease-resistant and sweat-proof and has a custom brush applicator that precisely deposits formula to target small areas.

Bobbi Brown Corrector

The Bobbi Brown Under Eye Color Corrector is $35.00 and comes in 12 shades. It’s a full coverage under eye corrector that neutralizes discoloration and also brightens. It blends seamlessly, so it’s perfect to use under concealer for a natural, skin-true effect. It covers the most stubborn dark circles, provides immediate and all-day moisture to the delicate under eye area and is waterproof and sweat and humidity resistant.

Final Results

Here’s a look at photos showing how each color corrector looked after application. But you can get a better sense of how each product worked by watching the accompanying video. My top pick was the Bobbi Brown Corrector, but I also really liked the Doll 10 and Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer. Which do you feel worked best?

Even with all the color correctors I tried today, there still are some others that I’ve seen recommended by others that I haven’t tested: Tarte’s Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector which is $30, Charlotte Tilbury’s Color Corrector which is $32.00 and the highest rated one in the article by Instyle Editors which is the most expensive color corrector I’ve seen at $39.00: Givenchy’s Prisme Libre. Since this Givenchy corrector was the highest rated one by InStyle Editors, I really wanted to try it. But quite honestly, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend $39.00 on one rather small color correcting product.

But if you’ve tried any of these color correctors that I didn’t try, please do let us know your experience with them. And I’d also love to hear your thoughts on which of the color correctors I tried seemed to do the best job of covering up that dark under eye area.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is specific about your under-eye area? How do you conceal dark circles? Do you use a color corrector? If so, what product works best for you?

He didn’t not call her a golddigger…

A couple of decades ago, I prepared a travel bucket list of all the countries and continents that I wanted to visit. In fact, I purchased a book titled 1,000 Places to See Before You Die that I meticulously read and cross referenced with my bucket list.

As the years progressed, I’ve been so fortunate to have traveled to many of those places, but Asia remained on that list. So, I did what I have always done when I can’t stop thinking about something; I started planning an Asian adventure two years ago. My plan included Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Being a travel agent, I extended an invitation to everyone I knew and my husband, and I soon discovered that we had seven couples joining us for various parts of our amazing itinerary. There are too many wonderful places, sights and adventures to recount, so I’ve included my favourite experiences that I will share with you.

First Stop: Hong Kong

Our first stop was Hong Kong where we rang in the 2025 new year with the locals. The city is exceptionally large, geographically, and also remarkably busy, as one would expect. As such, we learned to use the MTR system in order to see as much as we could. We rode the subway to the Peak Tram where we observed stunning views of the 355 towering skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour.

Then we got off at a subway stop in Hong Kong Park and marvelled at the beautiful gardens and grounds of this massive park. We even rode the subway to the downtown area with government buildings, shopping malls, and witnessed a slew of residents camping out on the streets while sharing food and playing games during their holiday season.

After an exceedingly long day with lots of sight seeing and walking, we shared a bottle of wine and snacks with our tour companions, John and Diana, and we all agreed that we wished we had more time to spend in this incredible city.

Off to Vietnam

The next day we hopped on our Celebrity cruise ship and our first port was Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. We took a junk boat cruise to the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, enjoyed the most delicious 10 course lunch, and observed the most stunning sunset and night views of the Bay.

The big cities in Vietnam, such as Ho Chi Minh, are the scariest to walk and drive in, because there are no stop signs or traffic lights to direct pedestrians and vehicles. Pedestrians cross the street hoping and praying that cars or motor bikes drive around them (I prayed every time I crossed a street).

I have never seen so many motor bikes in my life as I have in Vietnam, many of the bikes transporting babies and children who aren’t even fastened in with seat belts. I was amazed at their lack of safety road rules.

Our most impressive attraction that we visited in Vietnam, was Sunworld Ba Na Hills in Danang. Cable cars transport visitors up the steep hills to a magical French village of breath-taking views, buildings, gardens, temples, amusement attractions and cuisine. We spent most of a day there and would have liked to spend even longer.

Next: Thailand

What I adored most about Thailand, was the warm people, their predominantly Buddhism faith and their respectful culture. The Thai people are some of the loveliest people that I’ve met from my travels around the world. They are polite, friendly, respectful, and value the most important things in life, such as faith, family, and graciousness.

I would also rate Thai food as the best in Asia and some of my choice dishes are Tom Yum Goong soup, any noodle dishes, and Khao Niao Mamuang (mango sticky rice). We enjoyed touring lovely Phuket and Palong Beach and magnificent Bangkok. Our most profound attraction in Thailand was visiting the spectacular Grand Palace in Bangkok.

The Palace is comprised of many stunning and unique buildings capped in gold, as well as beautiful temples and gardens, all backing onto a river. My husband still recounts to his friends his phenomenal experience visiting this opulent site.

Thailand is home to approximately 34,000 temples. There is an extremely strict dress code in place for tourists visiting temples throughout Asia, and we were called out on our attire just before visiting our very first temple in Thailand. Our exceedingly kind tour guide informed my husband and myself that we would be required to wear their infamous elephant pants to cover our knees as, apparently, our shorts were just a little too short. He was so accommodating that he even loaned us the pants.

Malaysia

My favourite port in Malysia was the beautiful island of Langkawi. I had organized a private tour for my husband and myself, that would take us to several known tourist spots. We lucked in when our guide, Zana picked us up, spoke particularly good English, and advised us she had lived in Langkawi her entire life and would take us anywhere we wanted to go and also had suggestions for us.

Zana was so kind and knowledgeable, sharing interesting information about Langkawi and the three of us bonded immediately. We visited the Sky Bridge which features astonishing views, Eagle Square, and she drove us to the most stunning beaches and neighbourhoods that we would never have seen on our own.

The best part of our day was stopping for a late lunch at a remote restaurant that was surrounded by breathtaking rice fields. The restaurant was packed with locals who selected their raw seafood (cooked on the spot), accompanied by large bowls of rice, and then delivered to their respective table. We selected large prawns that were cooked perfectly and sat on the second floor that offered us open sprawling views of the beautiful rice fields.

A local live band entertained everyone while we ate and drank local beer. We didn’t want to leave this enticing establishment, but Zana said we had much more to see. When Zana eventually dropped us off at our cruise ship at the end of the day, we took our last selfie photo together, hugged, and thanked Zana for providing us with the perfect tour day.

On to Singapore

I love it when I discover a new place that I can add to my top 10 list, and Singapore is now one of my top world destinations. I was fortunate to have three full days and nights to explore, and I enjoyed every minute of this clean and beautiful island country. Singapore is more expensive than other Asian countries but one of the cleanest and most beautiful places in the world.

My hotel was the size of a closet but it was located within walking distance to many of the major attractions and I averaged 15 to 20 km on my daily walking explorations. I walked through the most beautiful Botanical Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, the Sentosa Boardwalk and Harbourfront, many of the paths of Fort Canning Park, to Chinatown for lunch, and to Marina Bay and Clarke Quay for dinner.

Singapore buildings along the river light up beautifully at night. You can dine there el fresco and watch ferries cruise back and forth from Marina bay to Clarke Quay. Of course, the highlight attractions at night were the most stunning lit-up Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Final Stop: Bali

I fell completely in love with the Nusa Dua community in southern Bali, Indonesia, from the lush greenery, loveliest locals, scrumptious cuisine to the most gorgeous beaches. I visited Bali near the end of the adventure and was ready for some R & R. My days were filled with walking the beautiful trails and beaches in the mornings, beach bumming on comfy lounge chairs in the afternoons, and eating with the locals in the evenings.

I learned a long time ago to ask where the locals eat as those are usually the restaurants that offer the best quality of food for an inexpensive price. I found several within walking distance of my hotel and even ate at my hotel one night where the kind server offered me a complimentary fruit platter for dessert.

The Bali locals are kind and gracious, much like the Thai locals. My hotel room steward made me a towel decoration and provided me with a handwritten note every day. I wrote him a note on my last day, telling him how much his gracious daily gesture had meant to me and how much I loved my time spent in beautiful Bali.

My Takeaways

It really is the people you meet along your journeys, the amazing cultures that you immerse yourself in, and the magnificent sites and attractions that you see, that are the best parts about traveling around the world.

My trip to Asia was no exception.

It was a trip of a lifetime for me, and one of the last items that I got to check off of my travel bucket list. I have gained so many phenomenal experiences and memories that will remain remarkably close to my heart and will last me a lifetime. After touring inspiring Asia, my traveling soul feels very fulfilled.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What was your once-in-a-lifetime trip? If you haven’t taken one yet, what’s on your bucket list? Where have you felt most inspired?

Back when I could stay up later than 9:30 p.m., I occasionally watched Late Night with David Letterman. The late-night talk show ran for 33 years, from 1982 to 2015.

Those familiar with the program may remember Letterman’s Top Ten Lists. The lists were regular segments on the show and revolved around a shared, humorous theme.

So, in homage to this show and late-night television, here are my Top 10 Reasons Hearing Aids Are a Good Idea for Me…

10. My Family Didn’t Argue with Me

One day, I suggested to my husband, sons, and daughters-in-law that I start researching hearing aids. To my disappointment – and surprise – none of them said, “Oh, I don’t think you need to do THAT.”

9. I Didn’t Want Our Milk to Sour

“What’s that beeping noise?” asked my husband one evening.

“What beeping noise?” I responded.

We discovered that the annoying sound – the one I couldn’t hear until I was on top of the source – was the refrigerator, warning us the door was ajar.

8. I Longed to Scroll Social Media Incognito

With today’s technological advances, hearing aids now double as headphones, allowing wearers to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, phone calls, and music. And that means you can watch Instagram stories and videos – with the volume turned up – and no one else will know what you’re doing.

7. I Wanted to Add One More Step to My Morning Maintenance Routine

Slather on moisturizer and sunscreen and eye cream. Wash and dry the hair, take medications, drink water, stretch, apply makeup, floss. Learning to insert and position hearing aids properly takes some time to master. They need an occasional cleaning and filter change. It’s one more thing…

6. I Didn’t Want the Neighbors to Hear Our Television

While watching Yellowstone or Shrinking or The Perfect Couple, I continually asked my husband to crank up the television volume. It could not be loud enough for me, even though we also utilized the closed-caption feature. “You can’t hear that?” he’d say.

5. I Needed Another Thing to Pack – and Keep Track of – While Traveling

Hearing aids no longer require teeny-tiny batteries that users must change. They recharge in a case at night, which is wonderful. However, that means one more item to remember to pack and one more thing to stuff into my carry-on bag.

4. I Love Doing New Things

Like the audiologist said, “The learning curve is steep.” She also told me it is easier to get hearing aids when you “still have finger dexterity and are tech-savvy.”

The total price of my hearing aids included unlimited consultations, and I have taken advantage of those tutorials! Like contact lenses or earrings, they get easier to insert into ears over time. The more you wear them, the easier they become! My audiologist showed me a foolproof technique that fits my unique ear – pull the ear up and back and push the device toward my nose. Everyone’s ears are different.

As for the app, I rarely use it. Mine work well without fiddling with the adjustments. I do connect them to Bluetooth while on airplanes. That allows me to listen to an audiobook or stream a show without headphones. The sound comes through the hearing aids. Some may prefer to take phone calls or watch television through the hearing aids, and that is easy to do, too. Once you learn…

3. I Needed One More Reason to Feel Old

As if I needed a reminder that I was getting older, the year I turned 65 was an eye-opening one – more wrinkles, some heart issues, a bit of hair loss. And now hearing aids.

After visiting two audiologists, both recommended – based on my needs, type of hearing loss, and vanity desires – the same make and model. A small component – matched to your hair color – fits behind your ear. Another tiny piece disappears into the ear canal. A wire, resembling dental floss, connects the two pieces. And nobody can tell I wear them!

2. My Husband Is Still Working and Has Insurance Coverage

It surprised me that Medicare, the insurance most of us utilize after we retire, does not cover hearing aids. Many other insurances do. Costco, hearing centers, and Amazon sell hearing aids, but they are not inexpensive. My package covers loss, breakage, and appointments for three years. By then, I suppose the technology will change – again! – and I may require replacements.

And the number 1 reason I have hearing aids …

1. My 4-Year-Old Granddaughter Motivated Me

There’s nothing like the dear children in our lives to nudge us toward doing what we’ve known we should do all along. One day, my precious granddaughter asked, “Cookie, what do you mean when you say Pardon Me?”

That’s all it took.

Evidently, I had been asking her to repeat herself. A lot. I’d noticed it, but I thought her adorable sing-song voice was simply hard to understand. I also realized I missed parts of conversations, but when a child called me out – because they call them as they see them – I faced reality. I moved into action. And I’m glad I did.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you think you need hearing aids? Do you have them? Did you have trouble getting used to them? Do you have advice for those who are nervous about trying them?

Following her bow at Paris Fashion Week, people were making guesses. Dario Vitale will step in.