Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 02 Green (Redness Cover)

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint

I try to keep my makeup simple. Instagram makeup isn't my thing. While I would love to look perfectly flawless, achieving that no-makeup, great-skin do is time-consuming and undeniably high-maintenance.

I don't typically care to do much extra for my base routine; a pat of cushion, a dab of power, and done. This was especially the case when I had pimples everywhere all the time. The bumps, flakes, and discoloration just don't look good with a ton of makeup on top. When the breakouts got to a minimum (knock of wood) the residual cheek redness and scar discoloration had me curious; are those color correctors worth the extra time spent?

Having tried some lower-end/affordable green correctors that were easily available at American drugstores—many years ago—I was weary. My memory of it is negative: pasty, dry, cakey, too pale, low-coverage, etc. Naturally, I turned to a cheaper alternative from the other side of the world (Korea).

Clio's Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer seems to be popular amongst Korean YouTubers. It looks to work well with their flushed cheeks. It appears lightweight and highly spreadable, which are at the top of my checklist. The brand promises skin soothing and moisturizing properties too. The little tube of color couldn't sound any better!

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint packaging box

Clio's Description:

Color-Correcting Shades for Flawless Coverage
Instantly conceal imperfections, leaving you with a beautifully even skin tone.

Customized Skin Tone Corrector
Designed to target specific skin concerns, color-correcting pigments combined with nourishing ingredients even out skin tone while giving skin a healthy glow.

Highly Adhesive & Long-Wearing Formula
The Flexible Film Formula seamlessly adheres to skin and provides buildable coverage for the look of a smooth surface which remains lightweight even after applying layers of makeup.

02 Green
For red, sensitive areas.
Active ingredients: eight herbs including ylang-ylang, chamomile, and hibiscus to soothe and moisturize skin.

Directions
1. Spread 02 Green over red cheeks and troublesome spots.
2. Finish by tapping with a puff for a seamless, natural finish.

Ingredients
02 Green
PURIFIED WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, DIPHENYLSILOXY PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, GLYCERIN, METHYL METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, CANANGA ODORATA (YLANG YLANG) FLOWER EXTRACT, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER WATER, HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA FLOWER EXTRACT, JASMINE FLOWER WATER, LAVENDER FLOWER WATER, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF WATER, MENTHA ROTUNDIFOLIA (APPLE MINT) LEAF EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF WATER, JASMINUM OFFICINALE (JASMINE) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, NELUMBIUM SPECIOSUM (LOTUS) FLOWER EXTRACT, FREESIA REFRACTA FLOWER EXTRACT, IRIS SANGUINEA FLOWER EXTRACT, LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM (EDELWEISS) FLOWER/LEAF EXTRACT, LILIUM CANDIDUM (MADONNA LILY) STEM EXTRACT, NARCISSUS PSEUDO (NARCISSUS) FLOWER EXTRACT, ROSE EXTRACT, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, PEG-8 DIMETHICONE, TRIBEHENIN, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, ACRYLATES/DIMETHICONE COPOLYMER, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL ISOSTEARATE, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, FRAGRANCE, CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS (CI 77288), YELLOW IRON OXIDE (CI 77492)

Corrector 6 g / 0.21 oz

Club Clio (Korean retail): ₩15,000
RoseRoseShop: ₩15,000
YesStyle: USD $16.90
Amazon: USD ~$12.00

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint packaging tube

Packaging

A slanted doe-foot applicator in a twist-to-open tube. The bottom portion that holds the corrector is frosted durable thick plastic or glass, hard to tell. While it is nearly impossible to see how much of the product is left in the tube because the product likes to adhere to the sides of the packaging, the angled tip makes it easier to scrape the sides.

A small detail, but something I like, is the small notch which stops anyone from over tightening the cap.

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint swatch

Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent

Very pale mint in color. The consistency isn't runny; liquid enough to spread easily yet still holds its shape wherever and however it is applied. Once blended the green is matte and barely noticeable. It does make my skin look brighter (or on darker skin tones even whiter)—which makes sense since Titanium Dioxide pigment, white, is the third ingredient whereas green and yellow are dead last. There is a faint floral scent but also unnoticeable when applied.

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint how I apply

How I Apply

No matter the tool I choose to ultimately blend out the corrector, I prefer to evenly spread a thin layer of green over the entire central region of my face because it does lighten my skin-tone a bit. If I only apply it on my cheeks and chin my forehead usually looks too dark after applying foundation in comparison.

Patting and dabbing with any method is better than wiping or rubbing.

Fingers // The easiest method. My least favorite method. Blending can be uneven since fingers aren't perfectly flat.

Damp sponge // Requires the most work (have to wet and then wring dry the sponge). My most used method of late just because I've been applying foundation with a sponge as well. Blends evenly but also sheers out the coverage even more. Best for those going for a natural translucent makeup look.

Cushion puff // Takes little effort and is quick. My preferred method when trying to be as low-maintenance as I can. Blends well and gives thicker coverage but makes me look extra bright/pale.

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint applied comparison

lavlilacs Review Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Color Concealer - 002 Mint applied side comparison closeup

Thoughts & Recommendations

I believe in the above photos I blended the Clio green corrector with a damp sponge.

When looking at a comparison of the corrector on my bare face, the color correction and brightening effects are obvious. As soon as I do a closeup side-by-side view (sans foundation), I start to question the correcting abilities. When I put a light-to-medium coverage foundation over top, the work the corrector does seem even more minimal. Corrector side is brighter but I want redness cancellation, not tone-up.

It looks to work okay on slightly pinkish patches of skin. In any spots where the red color concentration is higher, the corrector doesn't seem to work well. I would attribute this to the thin consistency and (lack of) green pigment.

I had been wary of the pastel green from the beginning. But found some saving grace in how blendable and lightweight the Clio Kill Cover concealer is formulated. With that said, I think that is precisely where the downfall is especially in a low-pigment corrector format. It blends into something overly sheer and all I am left with is a white cast that evens out my skin a teensy bit.

The corrector formulation doesn't settle into fine lines or pores. It isn't overly drying for something with a matte finish. But if there are any dry patches and flakes the product will like to latch onto those.

Before even considering the more expensive color correctors available, I'm glad I gave the Clio Kill Cover Liquid Color Concealer a shot. It was about a third, for some even half, the price of ones listed on Sephora. Even though this particular one didn't work miracles on me I now have a comparison on hand to help weed out what could be better formulation or to see if it is worth the money.

I won't recommend this particular color because the pigmentation is rather weak. The formulation is worth checking out, at the least, and Clio does offer an orange (peachy/salmon) color and skin tone variety concealers that from others' swatches look eons more pigmented.

January Haul

lavlilacs January 2018 haul

My original plan was to get through at least the first couple month of the new year without a beauty purchase. But I ran out of my makeup remover. Then I discovered my local Target was clearing out their inventory. A couple of "browsing" trips later and a lighter wallet to boot...here I am with a haul post to share.

As I was nearing the end of my previous tub of heimish cleansing balm, I contemplated whether to just get 1 replacement in-store or buy multiple brands at once to stock up for the rest of the year. I like to save as much as the next person but I didn't want to hoard, y'know? After going through some price versus quantity comparisons, I decided to just go ahead and repurchase another heimish All Clean Balm in its newer flip-top packaging since I came across it in-person and at a reasonable price (USD $18 + Californian/SF sales tax). It will sound silly, but this is the kind of packaging I have been wishing and dreaming for companies to use with their cleansing balms. I cannot wait to see if it is actually as practical and effective as I thought it could be.

lavlilacs January 2018 haul - Target Sonia Kashuk

It has been at least 3+ years since I bought my last makeup brush. My collection isn't humongous but it is more than enough for my face. The more brushes I accumulated the lazier I got with deep cleaning them weekly. That is why I stuck to only a handful of the same brushes the past year or two in order to help develop a better habit (which has worked wonders if anyone is curious).

Now that I have incorporated the use of multiple eyeshadow colors into my daily routine, I found that I didn't have the right tools on hand. Many of the eye brushes I had were too large for my eye shape or did not function well. The only problem was my unwillingness to invest towards more brushes because everyone knows how expensive the better quality brushes and more size-variety brands can be. As soon as I chanced upon the Sonia Kashuk clearance at Target, I picked up one of almost every brush they had tagged. All were ~50% off original prices and under USD $10 per brush.

I picked up the Sonia Kashuk Tools:
  • Tapered Powder Brush No.19
  • Domed Multi-Purpose Brush No. 18
  • Synthetic Foundation Brush No. 05
  • Synthetic Concealer Brush No. 32
  • Large Domed Eye Shadow Brush No. 20
  • Precision Pencil Brush No. 31
  • Synthetic Crease Shadow Brush No. 08
  • Small Eye Shadow Brush No. 07

Truth be told I probably didn't need yet another foundation or concealer brush. The domed brush and crease brush might be too large for my eyelids still. But I just couldn't resist that price. At least now I have a better understanding of what shapes work for me if I ever decide to go for the luxurious ones.

SHISEIDO Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free

lavlilacs SHISEIDO Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free Review

It's been years since I last used any Shiseido products. Even though my mom isn't into beauty anything, I always associated the brand with a more mature audience since I grew up seeing it fill my aunt's vanity. Especially the thick and rich Benefiance line, which also has a grandma-esque aroma IMO.

Shiseido Pureness Mattifying Moisturizer Oil-Free was one of the first higher-end brands I tried as a teenager as per said aunt's recommendations. She thought it would suit my then skin type well since she very much trusted the brand with their anti-aging products. I might have accompanied it with the Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free but perhaps I didn't; I don't have any memories of it in particular, good or bad, and I think I know why after using it for the last month or so.

lavlilacs SHISEIDO Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free packaging

Shiseido's description:

Give your skin power over shine and imperfections.

Bring new radiance, softness, and balance to blemish-prone skin with this refreshing, alcohol-free softening lotion. Lightly rehydrates, leaving skin smooth and comfortable.

For all skin types.Dermatologist-tested.

Directions
Saturate a cotton pad and smooth over face after cleansing.

Ingredients
WATER(AQUA/EAU), DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, XYLITOL, PPG-13-DECYLTETRADECETH-24, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, SODIUM CITRATE, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM), SODIUM METAPHOSPHATE, CITRIC ACID, DIMORPHOLINOPYRIDAZINONE, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, PAEONIA ALBIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, SAXIFRAGA SARMENTOSA EXTRACT, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT (ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT), TOCOPHEROL, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, GREEN 3 (CI 42053), HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) LEAF EXTRACT, YELLOW 5 (CI 19140), BENZOIC ACID

Toner 150 ml / 5 fl oz

Shiseido (USA retail): USD $24.50
Macy's & Sephora: USD $24.50

lavlilacs SHISEIDO Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free bottle

lavlilacs SHISEIDO Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free bottle closeup

Packaging

Comes in a light blue bottle with a pump dispenser and an accompanying cap. A fresh bottle does come with a sliver of a security seal sticker to indicate if it's been opened or not. I have come to appreciate watery toners that come in pump bottles since it controls how much product I use and reduces the chance of creating a mess because of stray droplets.

lavlilacs SHISEIDO Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free dispensed

Color, Texture, Finish & Scent

The watery liquid is blue-tinged and has a light/clean perfumy scent (that doesn't linger long). It doesn't leave any residue or tackiness.

How I Apply

I use 2 pumps of the toner on a cotton round and wipe my entire face and neck, mostly after my morning cleanse...sometimes also at night (but I usually prefer something with AHA or BHA in the PM).

Thoughts & Recommendations

In my younger years, this kind of softener a.k.a. toner would have been the type of product that made me question whether a toner is a necessary step in the routine. For one, it is pricey! It also doesn't seem like it does much other than wipe remaining dirt, if any, off my face.

While those two thoughts don't just change with age, I have just grown accustomed to the act of using a wipable toner...because I like to see that it does pick up stuff sometimes even after a double cleanse. Price-wise I think there are cheaper options available that does essentially the same thing, has a similar ingredients list (i.e. Thayer's Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free), yet still formulated without fluff things like fragrance and color.

I haven't used the Thayer's toners in a very long time so I can't attest to how it'll actually compare.

I didn't have any issues with it; no rashes, no breakouts, etc. Since I don't typically follow-up with my skincare products right after cleanser, my face does dry up between the cleansing and toner steps. In that regards, the softener did what I wanted—refresh and rehydrate my face while picking up any residual dirt and dust. The hydration effect isn't long-lasting but that is what the rest of my skincare routine is for. I could see it suitable for oily, combination, to normal skin types; those with drier skin would probably want something more nourishing.

If my aunt hadn't gifted me with a bottle of the toner, I would definitely not have dropped almost USD $25 on it for myself. The Shiseido's Pureness Balancing Softener is pleasant to use, just nothing spectacular in my books. Having it be alcohol-free and pH balanced is great but then there are things like fragrance and color in it which seem a little unnecessary. I am not sensitive to them but there are people who are. Unless you are someone very brand loyal to Shiseido, I would skip this toner. Maybe it's time for me to revisit Thayers again?
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