Julep Cushion Complexion Claims

I’m going to steal directly from Julep’s page now, folks:

This multitasking skin perfector has a natural, demi-matte finish with buildable medium-to-full coverage that conceals, corrects, illuminates, blurs & brightens.

The convenient cushion tip applicator allows for easy and precise application, even on the go. Use it to spot correct and conceal, or all over as a foundation.

Ease of Application: 5/5

By twisting the little clicky mechanism (technical term), product is dispensed into the cushion tip. For concealing, I apply this the the spot in question and blend it out with my finger. For use as a foundation, I swipe this bad boy all over my face and blend it out with a foundation brush. I find this product so easy to use that I now carry it in my bag every day, just in case.

it stays in my pencil case with other necessities…

Formula: 5/5

Yes. Just yes. I always have concerns about a product that claims versatility. The Julep Cushion Complexion blew me away. When used as a foundation, this lasts all day. Under the eye- no creasing. As a concealer – pigmented. I just… I just love it so much.

Color: 5/5

Crowdtap and Julep were kind enough to send me four shades with which to experiment: 100 Alabaster, 110 Porcelain, 130 Ivory and 140 Buff. For use as a foundation, Ivory is my best match. I like Alabaster and Porcelain for brightening and concealing. I’ve also gotten away with 140 all over my face and as a concealer. As a foundation, I would say that the Julep Cushion Complexion is medium coverage with a natural finish.

Packaging 5/5:

The cushion tip is soft and comfortable to apply. The cap clicks on the sleek pen securely, and I’ve had no issues with leaking. You get 0.16g of product, which is a bit less than your average foundation stick. However, since you only need a tiny bit of product with each use, this will probably last a while.

Final Grade: A+

The Julep Cushion Complexion receives 20 out of 20 points. I honestly will buy it for myself when I run out.

The Julep Cushion Complexion is available on their website, as well as at (affiliate link–>) Ulta.

I hope you found this review helpful! Please leave a comment and let me know!

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[may contain affiliate links] This week I put two concealers to the test. Both are recent releases and certainly have quite a bit of hype around them. As you may remember, I have always struggled to find concealers/correctors that brighten my undereye area without emphasizing the natural creases. So, I thought it might be fun to do a head-to-head showdown of two products!

The Products

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer claims (via Ulta):

Sculpt and highlight as you mask imperfections with this 2-in-1 full coverage concealer. The hydrating, longwearing formula delivers natural, radiant coverage across all skin types so you can instantly brighten and cover acne, dark circles and redness while softening the look of pores and fine lines. Wear it 1-2 shades lighter or darker, and it works as a creamy highlighter or contouring stick with a lightweight, blendable formula and tapered wand applicator ideal for precise strobing and sculpting. Powered by Amazonian clay and conditioning mango seed and shea butters, the nutrient-rich concealer helps promote skin elasticity and illumination with each crease-free application.

Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer claims (via Sephora):

Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer banishes the appearance of dark circles and imperfections while it blurs the look of lines and wrinkles. It’s infused with skin care benefits, including coconut water to replenish moisture levels, Alpine rose to brighten and boost radiance, and hyaluronic acid for a smoother, more youthful look. Creamy and comfortable, a proprietary blend of color correctors create the look of flawless skin. The result: a complexion that appears naturally radiant when applied over or under foundation—even when worn alone.

The Test

To compare the Tarte Shape Tape and Too Faced Born This Way, I applied each beneath one eye. Below you will see my eye area after foundation but prior to any concealer:

You’ll notice that I naturally have slight discoloration in this area, as well as some very deep creases. For the sake of this experiment, I did not use any additional corrector (like one with peach tones to combat the discoloration).

I applied the Too Faced to my left eye (which will appear on the right below) and the Tarte to my other eye. I used the lightest shade available in each, and it is interesting to note that the “Very Fair” Born This Way is by far darker than the “Fair” Shape Tape.

Tarte Shape Tape, left Too Faced Born This Way, right

I did set both sides very lightly with the RCMA No Color Powder. Below is immediately after finishing my makeup.

You probably notice that the Tarte side is visibly lighter. Since the product was lighter, this makes sense! The Instagram response was an overwhelming preference for the Too Faced side, which many said was more natural looking.

I kept my makeup on for most of the day, and took a photograph again after about seven hours of wear:

I do apologize for the lighting difference, but I think you can still see that both concealers gave about the same performance.

Conclusions

In terms of application, I prefer the Tarte Shape Tape. The thicker formula is somehow easier to blend and offers slightly better coverage. However, in terms of longevity, both the Tarte Shape Tape and Too Faced Born This Way concealers offer very similar performance. Both sank slightly into my creases, but not to the extent that previous concealers have. Since this experiment, I’ve even played around with combining these two products for a better color match and amazing coverage.

Have to pick just one? First, consider the color range. If you are very fair you will need to go with Tarte. Prefer a smaller wand? Too Faced it is. Like a thicker formula? Tarte. So, you can see it will really come down to personal preference.

Do you have either of these products? Let us know how you like them in the comments!

Concealer favorites:

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[may contain affiliate links] 
I was intrigued when I saw this new Correct + Conceal Palette pop up. It had the classic, sleek look of the previous Sephora and Pantone Universe collaborations that I love so much. The Sephora + Pantone Universe Correct + Conceal Palette (I got my hands on the light-medium) has seven correcting shades and eight concealing options for all skin tones.

Also included is a handy-dandy “how-to” guide for concealing dark circles, redness and hyperpigmentation.

I find the texture of these concealers and correctors to be similar to that of the RCMA products, if you’ve ever used those. They do best when first warmed up with a finger, and then applied with a brush or sponge.

I’ve had great success concealing blemishes and moderate success covering under-eye discoloration with this product. I found that it did sink in to the under-eye creases, even when powder was applied. I will experiment further and let you know if I find a good product combination for success.

All of the shades are extremely pigmented and I do think they vary enough to work for a range of skin tones.

NC20 skin

This palette is a great option if you’re looking to build up your correct and conceal product arsenal.  Please note that there is also a palette for darker skin tones that looks very impressive!

Shop This Teacher’s Favorites:

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