It's the product junkie in me! I'm not a fan of the "franchise", but can't help but peruse and purchase the latest and "greatest" on KKW Beauty (and every other cosmetic site I can think of). There's something about the KKW Beauty brand AND it's not the makeup! Admittedly, I have fallen victim to the Kardashian world domination effort.

I love the KKW Beauty packaging. It's good quality and attractive. The brushes are great. They're dense, soft and a pretty shade of pink (me and pink is like a bull headed for a red flag). I haven't washed any of my brushes yet, so I might retract that statement..

I lost the instruction card that came with this light concealer kit, so I watched the KKW Beauty tutorial a few times to be sure I'm getting the application right. The tutorial shows Mario Dedivanovic applying Kim's makeup and explaining his process. Kim Kardashian starts off by saying that Mario doesn't want her to speak during the tutorial, but she continues to chime in.. No surprise there - she is royalty after all!

The concealer is nice. The color in the light kit is No. 4 and suits my pale, olive-toned skin nicely. The texture is medium and blends well. I would compare this concealer to the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer (LOVE this one). The KKW Beauty concealer does have a strange chemical scent - Hmm.. This liquid concealer comes in a small 0.162 oz container and has a doe-foot applicator. It's not gonna last long.

As per the Mario Dedivanovic KKW Beauty tutorial, let the baking begin.. But first, lets put things into perspective here. Kim Kardashian has a near perfect base (no-makeup base) and doesn't have the same struggles as most of us. I'm pushing 40 and masking dark circles is the least of my worries.

I think women of a certain age should stop wearing eye liner and mascara under the eye - makeup is meant to accentuate and why would you want to call attention to your tired, puffy, wrinkled eyes? You don't! Thats is why I avoid powder in this area. It seeps into your wrinkles and creates a dried-up prune"ish" look.

KKW Beauty Baking Powder is no exception and not suitable for anyone with even one wrinkle. This stuff made me look dry AF and only accentuated my wrinkles. I let the baking powder sit for a about 10 minutes and tried to smooth out the result with my beautyblender, but the powder was relentless and caused serious streaks under my eyes.

Step 3 - I applied the Brightening Powder No. 1. I hoped this would finalize the application process and possibly make it look better, but NO! It's too light and I looked like an alien! It definitely covers dark circles, but unless you plan to pile on a ton of makeup, this look is too much. This is not a no-makeup-makeup kinda look.

I have NEVER experienced makeup "boogers" before and was checking may eyes all day to make sure none had returned. I had these pale clumps of goo in the corners of my eyes and am assuming it was the excessive powder under my eyes. GROSS!

Should women approaching or over 40 "bake" their under eyes? NO, keep the baking in the kitchen and I don't mean do your makeup in the kitchen. Women of a certain age should opt for minimal makeup. Eat healthy, drink water and get lots of sleep - leave the faux, too much makeup look to the youngins. Under eye makeup baking is a dangerous zone for most of us.

Albeit, I love the KKW Beauty brushes. The Dual Ended Sponge and Brush Applicator in the concealer kit is perfect for travel. The sponge is great for blending under the eyes and around the nose. This dual-ended brush has landed a permanent spot in my Cosmocube.

I'm sure the KKW brand was created and is backed by expert makeup artists and specialists and suitable for the younger generation, but this kit fell short of my "old" expectations. I was hoping for a perfect look, but ended up with prune face - I get botox three times a year and take good care of my skin, so if this kit accentuated my minimal wrinkles, I'd be cautious if I had a few.

JANUARY 19th - It's been a few days since my initial experience with this kit and my opinion has slightly changed. I'm still not a fan of the the baking powder, BUT I revisited the Brightening Powder No. 1 over my go-to concealers and LOVE the result. I apply Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown concealers, let it sit and after 15-20 min, I gently swept the Brightening Powder No. 1 along the dark areas. This powder made my eyes look brighter and gave me a fresh look. I'm a fan!

The three cosmetics I can't live without are blush, eyebrow gel and lip balm. I LOVE blush and have as many shades as I do lipstick colors. I usually opt for coral shades - cool tones look great with pale skin and black hair, but I do dabble in pinks and neutrals sometimes. Blush changes your complexion (and overall look) dramatically. Whether you want a subtle no-makeup-makeup look, drama or sun kissed skin, you can transform your face with blush. I have a great Spring/Summer collection of blushes - the variety of colors make for the perfect look in every situation..

The Bobbi Brown Cheek Glow Palette (Pearl and Pink Flush) includes the amazing BB Pot Rouge cream blush and a cream highlighter. This palette can be used on your cheeks for a subtle glow or on your lips. I've been using Pot Rouge on my lips for a while, but never on my face. Cream blush always seemed little strange to me - application is more difficult and I like using makeup applicators, rather than my fingers. You gotta prime your face before applying cream makeup and only a little at time. The heat exuded from your fingers allows you to blend the blush nicely, so take your time. If you have dry skin, cream blush is a good solution. The Pink Flush shade and Pearl highlight in this palette are perfect for summer - pretty and subtle.

I've always been a fan of Bobbi Brown blush. There's a variety of shades in matte (for the perfect flushed look), or shimmer. The pigment is strong and the color lasts. The brighter/darker shades can be heavy in color, so layer lightly. Bobbi Brown Blush in Coral Sugar gives you a subtle pink-flush. Apply to the balls of your cheeks for a healthy look. Bobbi Brown Blush in Apricot is a vibrant shade (a deep coral), and is the perfect evening color.

Bobbi Brown Blush in Nude Peach and Laura Mercier Joie De Vivre Windflush are the perfect no-makeup-makeup shades. These colors give you a subtle-flush (wind flush). The peach shades will look great on any skin tone, especially pale tones. When your outta time or just lazy, these blushes are great for a little color and no-fuss look.

MY FAVORITE - Givenchy Prisme Blush in Rite and Givenchy Prisme Blush in Spice. I'm obsessed. These prisme blushes can be used four ways - candid alone (lighter color), bold alone (darker color), harmonious (combination of both), or structured (allow your brush to pick up the light on one end and dark on the other, then apply with the darker shade on the bottom. I have one negative critique - the scent is strong and unpleasant (kinda like an old ladies perfume). I'm not sure why blush should even have a scent. If you're sensitive to smells, this blush is not for you.

These colors are AMAZING. The peachy-coral shades of Rite (pictured) are sweet and subtle - Perfect for a sun-kissed glow. Spice is a little darker, with a coral undertone and pink highlight. LOVE.

I have combination skin; rosacea, acne and oily. I struggled to find makeup to meet my long list of needs. My dermatologist recommended I try Bobbi Brown makeup. It's been a few years since my first purchase, and now I practically own every product made by Bobbi Brown. The makeup gives me the results I want and doesn't irritate my skin or clog my pores. The BB cream and yellow based Sheer Finish Loose Powder cover the redness on my cheeks and the Tinted Eye Brightener along with the white Retouching Powder masks dark circles under my eyes. Together these four products allow me to create a natural base, before adding blush, eye makeup and lip color.

I start with under eye cream and add a small amount of Tinted Eye Brightener. I gently sweep the Eye Brightener at the base of my under eye circles and blend upwards. Too much under eye makeup will sit in your wrinkles and cake in the corners of your eyes, so use sparingly.

Then I apply my favorite makeup product Bobbi Brown BB Cream. I squeeze the cream onto the back of my hand and using a foundation brush apply the cream to my face using circular motions to blend it in. I start on my forehead, blend down the bridge of my nose, apply to my cheeks and blend down around my chin and neck.

Finally I sweep the Retouching Powder under my eyes and across the bridge of my noise to brighten my look. Bobbi Brown Retouching Powder is amazing. It is available in six shades; each one combats specific discoloration of your skin. These powders even out your skin tone and brighten your look. 

If I need extra coverage I will apply a small amount of Sheer Loose Powder. I strive for a natural look and most days forego the loose powder.

Visit a Bobbi Brown makeup counter at any major department store for a consultation; the knowledgable makeup artists will help you find your perfect makeup shades and teach you how to apply your makeup.