For some people, the holidays might be a time of respite and relaxation, on a distant beach in Hawaii or the snowy slopes of Aspen.  For me, the holiday season tends to be far more hectic than my normal schedule, from shopping for last-minute gifts to navigating the social circuit to preparing for out-of-town guests.  All of this running around leads to a lack of shuteye, which manifests itself in my weary eyes.  When I need an instant pick-me-up in the under-eye area, I reach for Napoleon Perdis China Doll concealer.

Despite the implications of its name, this concealer won't make you look or feel like a porcelain doll.  Rather than going on white and cakey, as I initially expected, it has a yellowish hue and glides on with creamy ease.  Unlike the rest of Napoleon Perdis's concealers, this one only comes in one tone, which I imagine might be a problem for certain women, especially those with very fair skin.  It is recommended to play around with other products, such as powders and bronzers, to achieve that natural, flawless finish.

Luckily for me, my skin tone warmly welcomes China Doll concealer as I dab it over the recesses of my fatigued eye area every morning.  Because it seems to dry almost immediately, I have found that it works best over a thin layer of eye cream.  When combined with a bit of moisture, the concealer leaves a soft, matte look with the slightest shimmer.  I noticed that it doesn't visibly collect in the creases and fine lines around my eyes, as some concealers do.

Because of its long-lasting power, China Doll concealer can withstand a little wetness (whether from rain, snow, or tears) without smearing.  It is also makes for an ideal base on the eyelids, since it disguises discolorations and creates a blank canvas for eyeshadow.  Dark circles and red patches are a distant memory once I have applied this concealer after a late night.

As in many makeup products, China Doll concealer is loaded with synthetic silicones, which act as emollients.  Talc is used as an absorbent, anti-caking agent, and although it has been implicated in warnings of a carginogenic nature, cosmetic-grade talc does not contain asbestos fibers and has no causal link to ovarian cancer.  The formula is, however, guilty of packing in a few potentially harmful preservatives: sodium dehydroacetate and two parabens.  Napoleon's concealer redeems itself with the antioxidant-rich vitamins A, C, and E, which confer anti-aging benefits and protection from environmental factors.  After a few dabs of China Doll concealer and swipes of mascara, my eyes can flaunt a well-rested facade when it's needed most.

Ingredients:

Aqua (water), Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Butylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethiconce, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dextrin Palmitate, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Glutamate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben