Undereye concealer in 29 languages
I bought a new stick of my favorite undereye circle concealer yesterday, Benefit Boi ing Hydrating Concealer
The package had a little folded paper insert explaining how to use it. What’s to explain? You put it on under your eyes, and then you pat it in. That’s pretty much what the instructions say.
In 29 languages. I counted them. I have no idea what most of the languages are, but Benefits really wants to make sure that everyone—and I mean everyone—knows that you put undereye concealer under your eyes and pat it in.
By the way, note that second sentence in this post: “It’s pricey, but it’s one of the few that don’t emphasize all the lines and crevices …”.
I struggled with that. There’s a tension between the “one” in “one of the few” and the “few” in “one of the few.” “One” would require “doesn’t,” as in “one of the few that doesn’t emphasize.” But “few” would require “don’t,” as in “one of the few that don’t emphasize.”
So, which is it? I researched it, and the bottom line is that the verb should be plural. Which is what I had decided on my own, but it didn’t seem quite right to me. But apparently it is.
And while we’re at it, take a look at the end of paragraph 4: …”it’s one of the few that don’t emphasize all the lines and crevices …”. Note the ending. It’s a quotation that ends with three dots, and it’s also the end of the sentence. So, do you add that final period as I did, and do you do it after the close quotation mark? I say “yes.” But who knows?
These folks purport to know. But I can’t make head or tail of their answer. Can you? Help me out here.
These are the questions that give bloggers undereye circles.
She Who Must Be Obeyed.
Neo, my analysis:
” … one of the few who doesn’t ….” would indicate that the writer is working from the understanding that “one” is the subject of the verb “doesn’t,” modified by “of the few”; thus, “… one … who doesn’t ….”
If he writes, ” … one of the few who don’t ….” then he intends us to understand that the subject of the verb is “the few,” taken as pertaining to more than one individual entity.
Either could be correct.
It gladdens my heart to see someone like you who takes this sort of issue seriously. Thank you.
As for the ellipses, I do not agree with every word of the analysis to which you link. But I’m not prepared to pontificate on that before a full complement of coffee has been taken on board. ;>)
I agree with your choice of the plural verb. As for the ellipses, the link seems to allow you to take your choice. And thanks for the link!
And thanks for the reference to the undereye circle concealer. I’ll try it. Should I report?
Put in some parentheses to define the terms – which must be done in math and computer programming, but are essentially “understood” in language, which is a prime cause of ambiguity — not really a consideration here, because it’s clear what you meant, but has given rise to much litigation in other contexts.
“One of (the few that don’t emphasize all the lines and crevices …)”.
vs
“One (of the few) that doesn’t emphasize all the lines and crevices…”.
On the close-quote punctuation conundrum, I prefer to put MY punctuation outside of the QUOTED punctuation, but that is a new-ish trend, and preferences also vary according to which mark of punctuation is used (periods inside, question marks outside per your link).
More to the point (heh), it’s hard to be consistent when the MLA and Chicago can’t even agree between themselves how to do things.
I get Blue Cross/Blue Shield mailings with lots of languages, and the mailing identifies the languages. I should save one for reference.
I went in thinking this would be a lesson on make-up in general, which I find interesting as an amateur theater participant (don’t wear the stuff in Real Life).
Any chance you would tell us more about the concealer itself and how it works?
The subject of the sentence is ‘few’, not ‘one’ … so, one matches the verb to the subject, as always.
I mean everyone—knows that you put undereye concealer under your eyes and pat it in.
I didn’t know that.
Neo, since the concealer is part of the topic, how dark is “light-medium”? There’s also a “light.” I am American with Anglo-Saxon skin, not the palest, but I am never mistaken for Italian or Spanish.
Now, wait just a dog bone minute (as my father used to say). Neo, this is not the first time you have posted about your favorite under-eye concealer — and last time, it was a different one! I distinctly remember the previous post, because I fight my own battle against undereye circles, and after reading your last post on the subject, I went out and bought the brand you recommended. I’ve been happily using it ever since. I looked up the previous post to see if I was remembering rightly, and sure enough, here it is, from October 2016. And here’s the Cover Girl concealer you used to love.
It is, of course, a woman’s privilege to change her mind, and I’m always glad to have a new recommendation. But this new concealer costs more than twice as much as the last one. Tell me why you changed your mind — is this new multilingual concealer really that much better than the drugstore brand?
Kate:
I’ve written quite a bit about my dark undereye circles, which I’ve had most of my life but which have only gotten more extreme with age.
To detail my long experience with undereye circle concealers would take a book. Suffice to say I have probably purchased hundreds through the years, and currently probably own at least 20, probably closer to 30, that I’ve amassed in the last few years and which are the keepers. However, at any one time I tend to favor certain ones and ignore the others, then recycle them around when I get frustrated with the current degree of coverup. I also usually wear several at once, in a certain order.
You can see that this is a bit of an obsession.
There are many YouTube videos that discuss this, but most of them feature dewy young things who don’t need any concealer at all to conceal their mostly-imaginary undereye circles. A few are for more “mature” women, but they are only somewhat more helpful. It’s really trial and error.
For quite some time, though, the Benefit line (now called Boi-ing) has been the basis for my entire undereye routine (which, although it sounds complex, only takes a few seconds). That particular product is very moisturizing and keeps the rest from caking. So that’s the bottom layer. Then there’s an intermediate layer, which varies a lot but usually has a slightly pinkish or orange-y tone, to counteract any blue or purple. On top of that I usually use Covergirl (which has the advantage of being inexpensive and available just about everywhere) concealer (see this). I use the Medium color, and it matches my skin very well and blends the other colors so the whole thing isn’t so noticeable and looks more natural.
At least, I hope so.
Then you can put powder (makeup setting or finishing powder) over the whole kit and kaboodle, if you like. However, powder is drying and tends to stick in the crevices and wrinkles, or even create noticeable ones that weren’t discernible before, so beware. The powder has the advantage of making what’s underneath stay put longer, but at the cost of more wrinkles.
So there you have far far more than you ever wanted to hear, I’d wager.
Oh, I forgot that you have to sort of gently pat and blend each layer with finger or makeup applicator of your choice, and make sure there are no lines of demarcation. It’s really MUCH easier and quicker than it sounds.
As for colors for your particular complexion, the shades I use are a bit lighter than my natural shade (except the top layer, as I mentioned) but that’s what I’m looking for. You really have to experiment to find what works with your own skin, but what I use can work with a relatively wide range of skin colors, I think, short of very light or very dark.
Mrs Whatsit:
What you didn’t take into consideration—not that you should have—is the fact that I use several concealers at once, one on top of the other. The Covergirl one is still—well, it’s still the covering one.
See the comment I wrote to “Kate,” right above this one, and you’ll read the obsessive details.
To detail my long experience with undereye circle concealers would take a book. Suffice to say I have probably purchased hundreds through the years, and currently probably own at least 20, probably closer to 30,
Reminds me of the Megan McArdle column entitled “A Very Feminine Complaint” where she offers this admission: “I really do own 30 pairs of shoes”.
Thanks for the suggestion about concealer. I’m going to try it. What do you all think of the new “grammarly” thing on the computers? I’m not overly fond of it.
Art Deco:
Only thirty?
What’s the matter with her?
By the way, it’s my experience that liquid concealers are only for the young. They don’t have good coverage AND they fall into the creases. The older generation should stick with the sticks. Especially the creamy, moisturizing sticks.
Neo, many thanks for the detailed reply. Your eye which is not covered by the hand or apple looks good, so I may try. I have tried CG alone and it looks cakey and awful, so usually I give up and don’t use anything. As I will fairly soon complete my seventh decade of life, these dark circles have been there a LONG time
Kate:
You’re welcome.
There are more fine lines in the original closeup of the blog photo. The smaller version disappears them.
I don’t have a ton of lines for my age, but I certainly have them.
I just counted. Twenty-four pairs, including a couple of pairs of Oofos flip flops which are the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever had. I am handicapped by size problems which prevent me from buying cute shoes to go with new outfits. Actually, the new outfits can be a challenge, also …
Haha, I see we were typing at the same time. If I’d waited two minutes before posting, I’d have had my answer without having to ask the question! Thanks for the detailed explanation of your routine. I’m much more slapdash in my approach to cosmetics than it seems that you are — but at least I now have a recipe from a trusted source that works, if I ever find the patience to try it!
Beth West, I looked at Grammarly.com, if that’s what you meant. Given that I’m frequently annoyed with the spell check function I’ve got, I think I’ll pass on a grammar check. I know the difference between “affect” and “effect” anyhow.
Kate:
I am ashamed to say I have 54 pairs of shoes (I just counted). And a couple of days ago I gave about 6 to Goodwill. However, some of my shoes are at least 30 years old. And that total includes many pairs of boots (a necessity where I live), about 5 kinds of athletic shoes, sandals, high heels, everyday shoes, and the Merrills I wear when I stand to blog.
Okay, if I add my hiking boots, it’s twenty-five pairs. I included athletic shoes. If I were a cute little thing like you I’d have more. I was probably your size when I was in fifth grade. Enjoy your advantages!
I like Chicago style, final period at the end, inside the quotes. Like their last example:
Chicago style would omit the final ellipsis and terminate the sentence with a single period.
Thoreau notes: “I learned . . . that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, . . . he will meet with . . . success. . . . He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary. . . . In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex. . . .”
Actually, the style I really like allows just 3 periods wherever they use four.
Chicago style would omit the final ellipsis and terminate the sentence with a single period. The space before is enough to indicate that it doesn’t end the sentence, plus a lower case next letter, when it doesn’t. No space shows that it does end the sentence, plus a Capital of the next starting word. Because the meaning is pretty clear, the “rules” being picky is less important than the “spirit of the rules” — use grammar & punctuation marks to make the meaning clear. Which, by the way, you do; you are among the best writers for clarity on the net. (Even when I skip the eye make-up details.)
Thoreau notes: “I learned . . . that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, . . . he will meet with . . . success. . . He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary. . . In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex. . .”
I went through college and grad school with MLA, and Chicago gave us Obama. I’m not switching, even though the Chicago way makes sense here. Punctuation is a pain on the iPad, so most rules are abandoned.
As for the other question, we discussed it in grad school. The verb of the subordinate clause agrees with the subject of the subordinate clause, not with the subject of the sentence. Primary clause: It is pricey. Secondary clause: it’s one. One of what? Prepositional phrase: of the few. Which few? Subordinate clause: that don’t. The antecedent of the pronoun that is few. Since few is plural, that is plural and demands a plural verb to match. There are zillions of concealers, so you can’t mean it’s one of the few that doesn’t (see Julie). Many layers, more than makeup.
I went through college and grad school with MLA, and Chicago gave us Obama. I’m not switching, even though the Chicago way makes sense here. Punctuation is a pain on the iPad, so most rules are abandoned.
As for the other question, we discussed it in grad school. The verb of the subordinate clause agrees with the subject of the subordinate clause, not with the subject of the sentence. Primary clause: It is pricey. Secondary clause: it’s one. One of what? Prepositional phrase: of the few. Which few? Subordinate clause: that don’t. The antecedent of the pronoun that is few. Since few is plural, that is plural and demands a plural verb to match. There are zillions of concealers, so you can’t mean it’s one of the few that doesn’t (see Julie). Many layers, more than makeup.
Ah Neo, you never fail to bring an eye-wrinkling smile to your coterie of followers, faultlessly moving between the brow-furrowing realms of politics and political philosophy with pauses here and there for dance, or bunnies (remember?) or under-eye concealers — matters worthy at their moment of serious consideration, but… well, different. It makes me think of King Lear following his wrenching “Thou’lt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never,” with the immortal (and eminently sensible) “Pray you undo this button. Thank you sir.”
Ralph Kinney Bennett:
🙂
Well, after all, where would we be without undereye circle concealers and buttons? We’d be looking awfully tired and wearing tunics.
I have dark circles and bags. I have given up on concealers for my eyes. They usually emphasize the bags. I even had a Sephora “artiste” do a face makeover to get some tips. Fail. I found some caffeine containing eye lotion that does help reduce the Undereye bags a bit so maybe I’ll try your recommendation.
A new sidebar classification? Cosmetics? I’d go for that, especially pour les femmes d’un certain age.
No. Clearly… No.
The subject goes to the verb. Take out the prepositional clause entirely: “It’s one that doesn’t…”
Adding “of the few” does nothing to modify THE plurality of the SUBJECT. It’s still “one”. So the subject remains a singular and the verb remains “doesn’t”.