NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer - Oil Free

Today we are taking a break from thinking about the holidays and reviewing a new primer that I have been using for the past few days.  I have a hard time finding one or two primer formulas that I consider to be "holy grail" as my skin changes so much with the seasons.  I have been using the formula from the NARS for the past few days and this is one of the highest rated primer formulas on Sephora's website so I had very high expectations of it.  I have two major thoughts on this product; the first being that I was expecting a bit too much from this product and the second being that I might love this product in the warmer weather.

NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer - Oil Free is my latest trial in trying to narrow down the perfect primer formula for my skin.  This light, oil-free formula is not what my skin needs at this time of the year and might be a candidate for a great formula next May.  NARS is one of my favorite brands and I would expect that a company that offers such a range of foundation shades and great formulas would offer more than one primer formula. 

"An oil-free gel primer.  This gel primer instantly refines the look of pores, regulates shine, and creates a matte surface to the skin for smooth and long-wearing makeup application. Mineral Powders manage oil in the T-zone while blurring the look of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.  This product is alcohol free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist tested, synthetic and fragrance free.", states the Sephora website. 

I think I should have tried this formula in warmer weather, my skin will only get drier over the next few months and this formula is just too light for me right now.  This gel formula went on easily and blended well but I would prefer a creamier formula right now.  This formula was easy to layer foundation and powder formulas over but I would have liked something creamier for when I blended my concealer in my under eye area.  To continue using this product at this time of the year, I will need to switch over to a creamier eye cream in order to be able to blend my current concealer formula easily in this area. 

This formula keeps my makeup in place for a full eight hours.  That being said, I think this formula was designed for best use with powder formulas.  I love how nicely my face powder and powder blush blend with it but it doesn't work as nicely with rich, creamy face makeup formulas. 

I do like this formula now but I don't think I will be able to keep using it much longer.  As I stated above, my skin will only get drier as we head closer into winter and I will hit a point where I will need a creamier formula to continue hydration throughout my whole makeup routine.  I think I will need to start looking for another formula soon and then put the rest of this tube aside until next May.  This isn't quite what I had in mind when I just ordered a new primer but I guess I will just have to head back to Sephora and make the best of having to shop again...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer

In the summer months, I rely on a good formula face primer more than ever.  This is the time of the year that I give up on foundation and use a combination of BB Cream and bronzer and need to make sure that I have a solid base for the semi-sheer BB Cream, a low quality primer will not set me up for flawless skin and will make my face look as though I have not tried to improve the texture of it.  I have finished up an Urban Decay formula that I liked but didn't really love, that formula was a spray that worked nicely with a foundation but I wanted a creamier formula to use with my BB Cream this summer.  The Sales Associate at Sephora recommended a good formula from Too Faced and I decided to give it a try, I was considering a formula from NARS but really wanted to try something a bit different.  So my latest foundation primer purchase is Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer and I have been playing around with it for about a week now.

The Too Faced formula is slightly thicker than what I am used to and I was a bit afraid that it might be too heavy for the summer months but it hasn't affected my skin during the most humid days of the summer and therefore I think that I should be good for the rest of the summer and then into fall when I go back into using foundation and loose powder as I normally do.  I am liking this formula and having quite a good run with all of the new makeup products that I have bought in the past few weeks.

I bought this product from Sephora but I know that it is available at Ulta if that is where you prefer to do your beauty product shopping.  My goal is to get to the next Sephora 500 point Beauty Insider reward before the end of the summer and so I have been ordering from them more than usual. 

"A makeup primer scientifically formulated to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup.  This one-of-a-kind makeup primer was scientifically formulated to wear alone or under bronzers and foundation powders for a look of flawless skin without makeup. Vitamins A & C, mulberry extract, and a powerful dose of Retinol virtually banish pores while tired skin is left hydrated, firmer, and detoxified. Primed & Poreless creates the perfect canvas to allow powders, bronzers, and foundations to slide seamlessly on the skin—delivering a flawless and perfectly blended look that stay in place all day. Skin appears brighter, fresher, and younger.  It looks great on any skintone! The nude tone becomes invisible once applied."

I was expecting a white or clear formula so I was a bit surprised when the product squeezed out of the tube and was a deep nude color.  I then warmed the product up in between my palms and then the product turned clear and was very easy to apply.  The formula comes out a bit thick when first squeezed but the formula melts nicely when rubbed in between my palms.  I would not want to use this product without first melting it a bit, I can't see that it would apply well when used straight out of the tube. 

The product applies smoothly to the skin and then blends in easily, this is as easy to apply as many of the thinner formulas on the market.  The sets up my skin for the application of my BB Cream and then using a bit of concealer directly under my eyes.  A base application of this product smoothes any texture issues that my skin is having that day and helps the BB Cream and concealer apply much more smoothly and I have to use less product to cover up the flaws on my skin surface.  The vitamins in the formula help to brighten my skin and I look better after the initial application of the product itself.

I had no idea that the product contained Retinol, I have never heard of a primer containing this ingredient and have only seen it used in night treatments and creams.  I also have not seen this ingredient used in products that are made to be used in the daytime, retinols have the reputation of making skin more sensitive to UV rays and now I am surprised that I haven't had any issues with sun sensitivity or redness.  I honestly cannot believe that the dose in this product can be very large because it would not have been approved for day usage, so I am doubting the claims of Too Faced when they claim "a powerful dose" and feel that there is a very small dose of the ingredient in this primer.

With the claims of the Retinol in this product put aside, I do really like this primer and will be using it for the rest of the summer and then into the winter.  The formula applies well and keeps all of my makeup in place throughout sweating and the hot weather.  It sets the stage for great makeup application and I am loving this product so far.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray

I have been using a primer from Smashbox for the past few weeks and I have been very happy with the light gel formula and wasn't really looking for new formula when I was shopping at Sephora the other week.  I have been a fan of Urban Decay for many years now and so I stop at their counter in Sephora every single time that I visit, whether or not I am looking to add anything from this line to my shopping bag.  One of the Sales Associates at Sephora recognizes me (actually many of them recognize me) and knows about my love of Urban Decay and wanted to show me a newer product that she had been using on herself.  When she said that is was a lightweight face primer, I was immediately interested because I need a lighter weight product in the warm weather and Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion is one of the best eye shadow primers that I have ever used and I am always looking to see what other primers this company brings out.

The product that she used on me is the B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray, a light spray face primer that contains great ingredients for the skin.  If I am going to wear a primer all day long to keep my makeup in place and if it contains great ingredients to help my skin out then that is an added bonus for me.  I had seen this product on the Urban Decay website but I had been under the impression that this was a treatment product and not a face primer.  Guess that I was proved wrong that day at Sephora...

"A soothing prep spray that features the first stabilized form of vitamin B6, which absorbs oil, minimizes pores, and reduces redness.  Spritz on this soothing spray any time of day to hydrate, prep, and soften your skin with vitamins and antioxidants. Use it in the morning to prep and wake up your skin, during the day to refresh your skin (without messing up your makeup), or at night before your treatment. Versatile enough for people of all ages and skin types, this energizing formula is great for your skin and it feels amazing.  This oil- and paraben-free spray comes in a sleek, soft-touch bottle that emits a calibrated, microfine mist. It goes on so light, you’ll hardly feel it. Vitamin B6 normalizes overactive cell-signaling proteins (called cytokines) to help control sebum production, vitamin E provides antioxidants, and willow bark (rich in natural salicylic acid) aids cell turnover."

The Sephora website provides some of the results that were obtained during the clinical trials...

"In a clinical study, after 8 weeks of use:
-Over 81% of participants had a measurable reduction in oil and surface shine.
-Over 78% had more radiant skin with less redness and fewer blemishes.
-A majority of participants had a measurable improvement in pore size.
-Over 72% had a measurable improvement in their skin’s overall appearance."

I see that this product can be used as a primer or a treatment product as needed.  So far I have been using this as a primer, I prefer the Caudalie Grape Water or Beauty Elixir and I don't plan to switch from either of these products any time soon.  I use two sprays of this product to cover my entire face.  The Sales Associate preferred to spray the product on and then let it dry by itself, I tried that approach but felt that it took too long to dry fully and completely.  I found that I get the best results from spraying it on and then patting it into my skin to make it dry quickly and more evenly.  I don't think that I have to best control over the product when I only spray it and let it dry, some areas of my face soak up too much product and then others don't get enough.

This is one of the lighter primers that I have used but it still keep my makeup in place for a full eight hours.  It doesn't get sticky or tacky when makeup is applied over it even when the weather heats up as it has been so far this week and it keeps my makeup looking fresh throughout the whole day.  I do see a reduction in surface shine, especially in my T Zone area but I see that any time that I use a primer.  My skin is in the dry side so surface oil is not my primary concern and I would be interested to see how ladies with oily skin used and liked this product, it is light enough that I could see it working very well for every single skin type.  The same thoughts apply for the reduction in pore size.  The redness in my cheeks is somewhat reduced, my skin looks better without makeup but this product also helps my makeup go on better and smoother which also helps the appearance of my skin.

This primer could become a new favorite of mine from Urban Decay, it primes my skin very well and then helps to treat it at the same time.  I like the spray container but I have to blend it myself to makeup sure that it absorbs evenly in all areas.  I wasn't in the market for a new primer when I bought this but I have now decided that this Sales Associate knows more about what I need than I do!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer

I have recently put my Clarins Instant Touch Primer away for the season, I love this thick, creamy foundation primer in cold weather but it is too rich for the warm weather months.  I first reviewed that formula about two years ago during one of my French Theme Weeks and I have been using and buying it again ever since.  However this is a formula that is only good in cold weather since the texture is a thick balm and will get oily as soon as the spring weather begins.  I put this formula away at the very beginning of this month and I then ordered a lighter formula from the Sephora website and I have been using it over the past two weeks...with great results so far.  I chose a Smashbox formula because I have a close friend who swears by their primers and face products and I wanted to try them out for myself.

The primer formulation from Smashbox has often been among the top rated products on the Sephora website and has won Allure awards for several years running.  I believe that the original formula is still the best selling and I was surprised at how many versions are available for purchase now, after my experience with the Hydrating Foundation Primer, I know that I will be buying every single one that will work for my skin type and that this product line lives up to all the hype around it.  I believe that the original formula Smashbox primer was one of the first primers that I ever saw at Sephora...before I even truly understood what a primer was or how to use it for best results. 

I believe that I first saw this primer formula when I began visiting the Sephora in King of Prussia while I was still in college.  At this time, this was the only Sephora that was available to me and when I would visit, I was most interested in the major products (NARS Orgasm Blush, Chanel fragrances) and wasn't paying attention to all less glamorous products on the shelves.  I am so glad that Sephora has come much closer to me and that I have learned a lot more about beauty in the last eight years!

I ordered this primer formula from the Sephora website, "A hydrating foundation primer that leaves an immediate cooling, refreshing sensation on the skin.  Hydration is essential for healthier, younger looking skin and makeup that just looks better. Give your complexion a moisture boost while creating a perfect canvas for foundation application with this lightweight, oil-free formula. It contains Hydraplex12 extract derived from desert plants, which allows the primer to immediately quench parched skin and seal in moisture for hours with a protective barrier that fills in fine lines and pores."

This formula is a very lightweight gel texture, it is the polar opposite from the Clarins formula that I have been using for months before ordering this product.  The product description states that it has a cooling sensation when applied to the skin and while this is a slight exaggeration, I can feel an immediate difference in my skin surface when this product is applied.  The primer formula sinks into my skin quickly and easily, it sank it so well the first time that I was unsure that I had the correct amount on my finger for application, I used less than a dime sized drop and I learned after several applications that this is the perfect amount of product to cover my whole face and then to work down into my neck and chin.  I use less of this product than I have of the Clarins or the MAC Prep + Prime formula.

What results do I see from this product?  After using it on moisturized skin, my foundation or BB Cream spreads on my easier and I have to use less product to cover my whole face.  I do not have fine lines to fill in but I was interested to see how it affected the appearance on and size of the visible pores on my T-Zone.  I can see a reduction in the appearance of them and then my foundation or BB Cream almost completely gets rid of their appearance, this is my favorite aspect of this product.  It creates a smooth appearance to my skin without making me look "made up" and my skin still looks very natural after my makeup application.  This formula makes my makeup stay in place all day long and never gets heavy, I have noticed that it doesn't stand up very well to sweating during a work out (however most primers aren't made for this so I don't hold it against the product) but it works very well for normal activities.  This will be a great formula to use in the summer months and I look forward to seeing results from it all summer long!

After using this product, I can see why the Smashbox Primers are cult favorites and why they are always recommended by Sephora associates and beauty magazines, I now want to start using more face products from Smashbox and will be adding more primers from this line to my makeup collection.  I think that the Hydrating formula will be a constant favorite of mine since it works perfectly with my skin (at least in warm weather - I don't know if it will work as well in the cold weather when my skin gets very dry) and I know that I will repurchase this formula over and over again.  I am now looking at foundation and concealer formulas from this company for when I need to replace these products!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Skincare Ingredients Week Day Two - Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer

Yesterday we started the Skincare Ingredients Week off with anti-oxidant Vitamin C and today we are going to look at another top quality anti-oxidant ingredient.  I am all about anti-oxidants since I am trying to protect my skin from the elements and try to prevent signs of aging before I have to spend time at the dermatologist to correct them.  The second anti-oxidant ingredient that we are looking at this week is the Pomegranate fruit, a fruit widely used in both beauty products and all kinds of foods and beverages.  Pomegranates are one of the hottest ingredients in skincare and the extract is popping up in every single type of skincare product on the market.  I have explored pomegranate in many skincare entries before, this ingredient effectively protects the skin but often does not irritate the skin in the way that Vitamin C can.

Pomegranate fruits have their roots in the Middle East and had been part of their culture for many years before the trend began in the United States and Europe.  Pomegranate has been proven to mostly protect the skin but has also been shown to help reduce some of the visible signs of aging.  The pomegranate fruit extract is mostly effective in helping to restore elastin and making the skin more resilient.  Elastin keeps the wrinkles from forming and the skin from sagging, protecting the elastin fibers will help to slow down the signs of visible aging.  This fruit is most effective at protecting the skin from free radicals, using anti-oxidants will form a protective layer over the skin and bind to the free radicals in the air.

I have used pomegranate-based skincare products many times before so when I thought about this ingredient and what it is used in, I decided that I wanted to try it in a completely different form from what I have used in years previously.  Korres is a company that I have used for many years previously and last spring, they introduced a primer that is spiked with the anti-oxidant ingredient.  I ordered this primer last year and this Sephora order contained both this primer and then so many other skincare products that it is was inspired me to write an entire Theme Week on Skincare Ingredients.  I used this primer all through the spring and summer and then well into before I switched over to a more hydrating formula, I will be picking it up again within the next month and squeezing every last drop out of the tube before I order another.  I once read in an issue of Allure that certain sunscreen ingredients can age the skin so it was important to provide your skin with some type of barrier between the outer layers of the epidermis and the product itself.  A primer will be the perfect product to form that barrier...

"A water-based mattifying, pore minimizing, and skin-perfecting primer.  If your symptoms are visible pores, unwanted shine, and an overall makeup meltdown, then Korres has the remedy for you. This clinically proven, universally nude Pomegranate Mattifying Primer blends to an invisible matte finish while minimizing the appearance of pores, balancing skintone and texture, and preparing skin for smooth makeup application and long-lasting wear. The 94% natural, non-comedogenic formula is water-based so it allows skin to breathe and never clogs pores. The formula is loaded with antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract to help tighten pores, willow bark extract to balance skin, witch hazel water to mattify and tighten while removing excess oil and dirt, and rice starch to absorb excess surface oil and soften skin."

This formula is perfect for the spring and summer, it absorbs excess oil and really helped my makeup to stay in place during the higher temperature days.  I am not the person that really needs a lot of mattifying and pore reduction but I love the improved tone and texture of skin when using this product.  This primer has a much thinner texture than most of the ones that I have used, the texture is that of a very thin lotion and a small amount very quickly absorbs into the skin.  Any skin type will benefit from the use of this primer and it is a great product to have in my spring and summer makeup arsenal.

This product makes me much more interested in what types of skincare benefits can be found in makeup products.  I will keep looking for beneficial ingredients in my primers and foundation along with looking for them in my skincare products.  I hope that this type of primer formula will be the norm very soon and that I will have even more choices like this.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Primping with the Stars

Last fall, we saw Benefit release a bunch of great palettes right in a row and this spring will be no different.  I think that I see at least two or three new ones on the Sephora website and we aren't even out of the first week of January yet, who knows what else will be waiting for us over the next few weeks.  Primping with the Stars is the first set that really got my attention, I loved the name and it jumped out at me right when I was browsing on the Sephora website.  This is a set that contains some of the best selling and cult items from Benefit, I can already see two of my favorites from this company: They're Real! Mascara and The Pore-fessional Pro Balm.  They're Real! is one of the few mascaras that I would ever repurchase and the primer is one of the best for the warmer weather months (for skin that isn't as dry as mine, this would be a good priming choice for every season in the year).  I also spy the Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain, my first product ever from this company and one that I still use.  I wonder what other cult Benefit favorites will work for me now...

This set is exclusive to Sephora so I will pull all of my information from this company's website.  "An all-time greatest “fake-its” kit for face, cheeks, eyes, and lips that'll make them all starstruck.  Primp yourself to star-worthy status! This collection of Benefit’s iconic favorites for the face, cheeks, eyes, and lips will make you red-carpet gorgeous. Now that’s cause for applause!"

The products in the set!

Stay Don't Stray Stay-Put Primer - A 360 degree primer for concealers and eye shadows.  Tell your eye makeup to stay, don't stray! This dual-action primer works 360 degrees around the eyes to make concealers and eye shadows REALLY stay put. Concealers never crease and eye shadows stay vibrant and true—you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!  Stay Don't Stray preps, protects, AND perfects!  Preps: The lightweight formula blends seamlessly into skin, brightens eye area to minimize the appearance of fine lines, and comes in a universally flattering nude shade.  Protects: Hydrates with sodium hyaluronate to lock in moisture, fights signs of aging with vitamins C & E, and does not contain parabens.  Perfects: It's long-wearing to keep makeup looking fresh, locks on ALL concealers & eye shadows and prevents creasing of eye makeup.

Some Kind-A-Gorgeous Foundation - A sheer, oil-free, cream-to-powder complexion perfector.  This lightweight, translucent, foundation-like product smoothes out imperfections and evens skin tone with a silky, smooth finish that's super natural and super gorgeous.
- Medium - sheer natural beige

Benetint Rose-Tinted Lip and Cheek Stain - The original—and still the best—rose-tinted cheek and lip stain.  Benefit Benetint is a kiss-proof and smudge-proof, indelibly sheer tint. It gives an innocent yet provocative glow to keep everyone guessing, "what has she been up to?"  It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle.
- Benetint - rose

The Pore-fessional Pro Balm - A PRO balm that minimizes the appearance of pores.  The POREfessional quickly minimizes the appearance of pores. Apply this silky, lightweight balm to achieve translucent pore coverage and smoother-than-smooth skin. Pores—now you see 'em, now you don't!  Oil-free. Instructions included.

Girl Meets Pearl Liquid Pearl for Face - This soft, golden-pink liquid pearl luminizer features light-reflecting pigments to give your complexion an exquisite, dewy glow. It includes raspberry & chamomile, known for their soothing properties…and sweet almond seed extract known to help improve skin firmness & smoothness. Pat it on over blush to highlight cheekbones with a pop of pearly pleasure!  Pat & blend over makeup for eye-catching luminescence. Wondering how much to apply? One twist for subtle sheen…two or more for dewy radiance.
- Girl Meets Pearl - rose gold shimmer

They're Real! Beyond Mascara - A jet-black mascara that lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts, and separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look.  This mascara features an exclusive brush specially designed to maximize the performance of the long-wearing, glossy formula revealing lashes you never knew you had! Staggered bristles grab close to the root, boosting length and volume beyond belief. The precision bristles on the custom-domed tip lift, define, and curl even your tiniest lashes. The end result is luxurious, silky lashes that won't smudge, clump, or dry out. 

I am thinking that buying this set would be a great choice for me, I already know that I will use and love three of the products.  Both the primer and the mascara are top choices of mine and I would never turn down a reason to pick up some more of these two products.  And if i can get more of these two products and then try some new ones out yet too?!  I want this set!

Girl Meets Pearl is the product that I am most interested in, I want to use it over blush when I go out at night.  I do think that it might be too much for the daytime hours but will look wonderful at night to brighten up my pale skin this time of the year.  This product could make my winter pale skin look a million times better.  I am always game to try a new eye shadow primer so I will use the Stay, Don't Stray that is included with this set, I love it when I can find a new formula of eye shadow primer that works as well at the Urban Decay version of the product, I need to have a few good formulas just in case Urban Decay would be sold out of what I want or change up their formula. 

The foundation shade in this set might be too dark for me, I would have to hold this product until next summer when I have used self-tanner a few times.  I typically would only use a power formula during the warm weather months anyway, my skin is too dry in the fall and winter for it to work well.  I will have to put this product on the back burner for the moment.

So far I love the new sets from Benefit and I am so excited to see what other sets come out in the next few months!

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Prime Future

This week is the biggest week of the month for MAC, several new collections are coming out.  Some of the collections are full color collections and others are more targeted toward a specific type of product.  First we will look at the targeted product collections and then we will get into the full color collections.  Why MAC is deciding to release four collections in one week and have little to nothing coming out the rest of the month is beyond me but I will just appreciate all the new products that I have to buy and try over the next month from this company.

Prime Future consists of two new types of primers, I love the Prep + Prime product from MAC so I am excited to see what else has been released in this collection.  I liked the original product from Prep + Prime but the eye primer in this collection left a lot to be desired so I am hoping that the new products will be more like the original.  "MAC Prime Future: Introducing two new all-over face primers.  Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion saturates skin with a concentrated burst of hydration.  Velvety Prep + Prime Skin Smoother instantly fills in fine lines and wrinkles, evens skin texture, and mattifies while softening the skin."

The new primers from MAC...

Prep + Prime Skin Smoother - A velvety skin perfecting primer that instantly fills in fine lines and.  wrinkles.  Contains powerful anti-oxidants, evens skintone, and mattifies - while softening the skin.  Convenient compact makes it perfect for on-the-go moments.

Prep + Prime Moisture Infusion - A lightweight serum that saturates the skin with a concentrated boost of hydration, making it a unique hybrid between skincare and priming.  Gently soothes, revives, and replenishes the skin while preparing it for foundation.

I would use the Skin Smoother product now and the Moisture Infusion more in the cool weather.  I hope that both of these are permanent since I want to try both of them, I will buy Skin Smoother within the next few months and then wait a bit for the Moisture Infusion.  I am very much looking forward to buying and reviewing these products in the hopes that they measure up to the original Prep + Prime product.

photo courtesy of MAC

Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm

Within the past week, the weather has gotten warmer and spring has officially arrived.  One of my first indictions was that my Clarins Instant Touch primer was making my skin feel very oily and my makeup was sliding off during the day instead of staying put all day as it did during the winter months.  The exact same thing occured last summer when I first tried the product out so I expected this.  However I planned for this a few weeks ago and bought a tube of one of the best-selling products at Sephora, Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm.  I first tried this product out when I received a Sephora Beauty Insider 100 Point Perk sample of the product, I tried it out for a week and then decided that I needed to buy a tube of this for the warm weather months.

This product can be used as a tradition primer or as a touch-up treatment during the day.  I mostly use it as a primer, I have very rarely needed to use on top of my makeup during the day, my skin never got oily enough to need to touch this product up, therefore my review will treat this product more as a primer than a touch-up treatment. 

The Benefit website provides a full description on the product itself and the usage of it.  "Quickly minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin!  Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under, or over makeup.  Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put.  Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to prorect skin from free radicals."  This balm is lightly tinted so this is one of the few primers that actually can be used alone and still improve the texture and appearance of the T zone area.  "Apply The POREfessional from the center of the face outward by patting lightly with fingers...pay particular attention to the T zone area.  Keep it in your bag for touch-ups during the day."

I have used this product alone and under makeup the most, I rarely feel the need to have to touch-up with it.  I apply this product straight onto my finger and then dot it on five areas of my face; forehead, chin, nose, and then both cheeks (in that order).  This order allows me to get the majority of the product on my T zone, where it is most needed.  My cheeks need very little of this product since my pores are much smaller in this area and my skin is much drier.  The product melts quickly and easily into my skin and there is no left over residue.  When used alone, it helps to refine the texture of my skin and helps to minimize the appearance of the larger pores on my T zone, I feel that this product works better with the application of foundation and loose powder.  This product alone is not enough to really create a flawless finish, it is better as a base product.  Once applied under makeup, I will get a full day's wear out of my makeup with little oily break throughout on my T Zone.

I have only needed to touch-up up with this product on one day so far.  On that day the humidity was very high and I needed to touch up with both this product and then powder on top of it.  Personally, I prefer to touch up with Boscia Blotting Linens instead of adding more product on top of the oil already on my skin.  Personally, I just wouldn't really use this product in that fashion, I hate the thought of adding layers onto my skin when I could just blot off the oil and leave 95% of my makeup in place.

This is a very good primer for someone with more normal to oily skin.  I wouldn't see that anyone with dry skin would have problems with it but there are primers that are more hydrating than this one.  I would recommend this one more for someone with of an oily skin type since it performs best for this type of skin.  It really helped to minimize pores and oiliness, but foundation and loose powder are needed to really get the best results from this product.

photo courtesy of Benefit

MAC Prime Focus

Prime Focus is a new collection of three primers that MAC has released this week.  MAC Prep + Prime is already a favorite primer of mine so I am so looking forward to seeing what else MAC has to offer now in the primer category.  The traditional Prep + Prime is already a fantastic product that has never let me down so I am interested to see how MAC has improved on this product and what they have done to enhance it.  I am wondering if I would like this product in a tinted formula to reduce some of the redness in my cheek area, especially as my skin gets drier and redder in the wintertime.

"Three multi-tasking, high performance Primers that are must haves for every makeup kit: MAC Prep + Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer SPF 35 and MAC Prep + Prime Translucent Finishing Powder, now in both Loose and Pressed form.  Perfection has never been so easy!"  So now we have two finishing powders in this collection and tinted versions of the traditional primer.  Have I died and gone to heaven?!  I am also looking for a new loose powder to use once I have finished up my summer bronzer so this little group of products is just right in line with what I need to buy right now.  And I say "need" because a purchase from here will be replacing products that I ran out of, not adding another pink lip gloss to my already huge collection!

The new additions to Prep + Prime...

Prep + Prime Translucent Finishing Powder - A silky finishing powder that provides an invisible way to set makeup.  Reduces skine while optically minimizing the look of pores, lines, imperfections.  Available in one universal color that suits all shades.  Wear over makeup or on bare, moisturized skin.

Prep + Prime Translucent Finishing Powder/Pressed - A silky, colourless finishing powder suitable for all skintones.  Reduces shine while optically minimizes the look of lines and imperfections.  Wear over makeup or on its own.  Now in a pressed compact for ease and portability.

Prep + Prime Foritified Skin Enhancer - A tinted skin primer fortified with soft-focus powders to help even out skin tone and add radiance.  Lightweight and invisible, it goes on under foundation or powder for a naturally perfect look and subtle glow.  Helps protect against pollution and UV rays.  Available in four tints: Illuminate adds radiance to a sallow complextion; Neutralize calms a red, blotchy complexion; Adjust brightens dull skin; and Recharge adds a little "boost" to any dull complexion.  Fragrance free.

I need both of these powders!  I can't wait to see how using both the primer and the finishing powder together helps to even out my complexion.  I will buy the loose powder to use in the morning to set my makeup and then keep the pressed powder in my bag to keep the complexion prefection going on throughout the whole day.  From the primer collection, I need to buy the Neutralize shade and I would also like to add the Recharge tint to use when my skin looks awful in the cold weather. 

It looks like I need to visit the MAC counter and pick up a couple of these products before the cold weather hits this fall.  MAC Prep + Prime is a group of very high quality products and I am very happy that MAC has continued to release new products in this collection.

photo courtesy of MAC

French Week 2011 Day 3 - Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

French women are known for their flawless skin and the lack of face makeup that they wear on a daily basis.  In America, I feel like we pile on the foundation, concealer, and powder to cover flaws or try to hid behind a tan (real or fake).  There is a lot that I feel that we can learn from French women and using the correct face products is a big one.  One of the best-selling French beauty lines is Clarins, a line of fantastic skincare, makeup, and tanning products.  Clarins creates many of the top rated skincare products that are on the market today and the best-selling and top rated sunless tanning formulas. 

Clarins was first founded over 50 years ago in a small store in Paris and has since evolved in a worldwide beauty brand.  "Clarins is born!  Mr. Jacques Courtin-Clarins decided to 'take beauty seriously' and opened his first beauty institute on the rue Tronchet offering women personalized treatments and advice.", states the Clarins website in the About Clarins part of their website.  Mr. Clarins the unique Institut face and body treatment methods and created luxury products made exclusively from plant extracts.  The brand was a skincare leader in France by 1980 and within the next ten years, spread out all over Europe as a leading brand of skincare.  In the early 1990s, Clarins expanded the line with the color collection and then went into fragrance over throughout the rest of the decade.  Today, they are a worldwide beauty brand and will only continue to grow larger and better.

My first Clarins purchase occured with the writing of this blog post, I had often looked at their counter before but I had never really stopped and bought anything there.  So what did I buy and why did I decide to purchase the product from Clarins and not another brand?  I purchased their top-selling primer since French women have such lovely skin and I was hoping that I should steal some of their glow for myself.  The product that I purchased fromthe counter that day was Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, a makeup primer that is made to cure a range of skin issues, from pore size to fine lines and wrinkles.

"The modern, magic makeup base that smoothes skin's surface and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pores for a flawless complexion."  This product is housed in a jar instead of the traditional pump bottle or squeeze tube.  It has a thicker texture than most primers and actually melts onto the skin for blending.  When on the skin, it really helps to minimize the appearance of pores and allows me to use much less foundation and concealer.  I can't comment on how it works for fine lines since I don't have any of those to conceal at the moment.

The Sephora website reports on two more aspects of the product than the Clarins website does, the active ingredients and the findings of the clinical trials.  This product contains three main active ingredients: Acacia Micro-Pearls, Pink Pearl Pigments, and Vitamin E.  Acacia Micro-Pearls help to temporarily refine skin texture, filling in fine lines and wrinkles.  Pink Pearl Pigments optically minimize fine lines and wrinkles while softening facial features.  Vitamin E is used in this product to protect the skin while keeping it comfortable. 

The clinical trial results are quite impressive for this primer.  95% of users reported noticing smoother skin, 77% of users reported fewer fine lines and wrinkles, and 73% of users reported more refined skin textures and pores. 

This product worked best for me in the pore refinining and smoothing aspects.  It really cuts down on the amount of other products that I need to make my face look clear and bright.  The texture of this product is much thicker and I found it more hydrating than most other primers.  That being said, much as I love the improvement that this product gives my skin, I will be putting it away for the fall.  It is just too much on my skin with the very high heat and humidity of July.  On the same note, I also don't recommend this for someone with very oily skin, it will be too thick and hydrating.  However, normal and dry skin types will love this product and will reap all kinds of benefits from it.  Just as the French intended...

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Primed for Perfection

MAC is capitalizing on it's superior knowledge of primers and their ability to make these products at a superior level in this industry.  This month they have brought out a small collection named Primer for Perfection and consists of two new products that will only make them an even bigger force in this primer industry.  I have been a loyal fan of Prep + Prime since it was first used on me at the counter and I only continued to love it more as I used and used the bottle that I purchased.  I think it is time for me to add more primers from MAC to my makeup collection...

"MAC owns the primers category.  Now we're talking Prep + Prime further than ever with this collection.  And a wonderful new shaded highlighter debuts with this collection - Prep + Prime Highlighter is lush and cushiony, yet lightweight.  The click "pen" allows for exact application."

The new primers...

Prep + Primer Highlighter - A pen-style highlighter that efficiently brings a soft sheer wash of colour to the skin.  With its precise application, adds radiance just where you want it.  Goes on smoothly for cushion-soft wear.  Use over makeup for highlights, touch-ups, or under makeup to brighten and prime. 
- Light Boost - soft yellow cream
- Bright Forecast - mid tone peachy coral
- Radiant Rose - light shell pink

Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye - Instant eye prep!  This quick fix reduces the look of puffy eyes and under-eye shadows while imparting a bright natural radiance to the entire eye area.  Perfectly primes the eye for makeup.  Use regularly and see those instant benefits become more permanent!

I am excited to try both of these products!  The Vibrancy Eye has me the most interested, since it sounds like a version of Prep + Prime created just for the eye.  I have to ask the MAC associate if this product is a sub for a regular eye cream in the morning or if it is made to be used on top of an eye cream.  The result of this question might change how interested I am in this product.  I don't know that it will have the high amounts of dark circle reducing factors that I am used to in eye creams.  The Highlighter pen reminds me of Touche Eclat from YSL and one that I have worked with from Pout.  The Radiant Rose shade is of most interest to me with all the pink in my skintone.

photo courtesy of MAC 

It's Here!

One of my many beauty wishes has come true! Urban Decay has just released a giant version of their best-selling Primer Potion. And they redesigned the tube for this release! This tube will last me for months and the redesigned package will ensure that I get every last wonderful drop of product out of the tube. The Sephora website states that this product is limtedc edition so I recommend getting it soon before it sells out (and it will!). When I got to replace my tube, I will be replacing it with one this size!

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Prep + Prime

I have been on a huge primer kick lately. I went from not using it at all to needing it everyday and feeling naked without it. The latest primer that I have been trying is MAC Prep + Prime and let me tell you that I love it! I was first shown this product when I was buying foundation at MAC and the manager used this primer underneath to both show me the primer and how well it works with the foundation. I was really happy with the combination so needless to say, I bought both of the products after trying them out.

The MAC website states, "An ultra fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder." This formula is much creamier than the Make Up For Ever formula and I still like both of them. The Make Up For Ever one since be better suited to warmer weather because I got a slight cooling effect on application which I did not experience with the MAC. The MAC formula is much creamier and I find that it is easier to apply than the other one. This one might be better for when my skin is drier in the winter.

This primer is also housed in the pump formula and one pump is all that I need to cover my whole face with it. I have tried this product both alone and under makeup. Under makeup, it evens out my foundation application and allows me to use much less product. Alone, it mattifies my skin, reduces redness, and evens out the texture. I really like it alone on days when I want a natural but still put together look and I either don't havethe time or the motivation to pull it off.

I recommend this product to anyone with normal to dry skin and who wants to anchor their makeup and be able to use less overall. This product makes me want to try some of the others in this collection.

photo courtesy of MAC

Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer

After loving the HD foundation and the matching powder, I don't hesitate to try anything from the Make Up Forever HD collection. Today, we are going to look at the Primer, which is actually the first item that I bought from this collection at Sephora (many items from this line are exclusives) but I had put it aside and totally forgotten about it. I found in the other week in my train case and decided to give it a try. I have never used face primer before even though I swear by eye shadow primers. The other week, I was at MAC and Prep + Prime was used on me and I loved the feel of it so much that I bought it and decided to try out this product that I already owned to see if I got the same feeling from both.

Sephora states that this product is "A lightweight, oil-free complexion corrector that enhances the skin's texture and primes the skin for makeup application". The website provides further product details right here, "HD Microperfecting Primer deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a glowing effect. Creates a protective layer on the skin allowing foundation to glide on easily and last longer". This product is available in one translucent shade and six color correcting shades. I have have the clear shade and imagine that this would work for every single skin type and tone.

So what I do I like about it? First of all, it feeling cooling and calming going on. I apply it with my fingers and let it set for about 30 seconds after application. I tried applying it with a makeup sponge but I felt that too much of the product was just absorbed right into the sponge. I have been told that primers can be worn on there own on low maintence days and I have tried this out yet but I would really like to. Right away, I can see a reduction in the redness on my cheek area. Also, my pores appear much smaller and any oily areas in my T-zone are mattified. Using this primer makes my foundation apply much easier and I have to use less foundation than I did before working with this product. I am really happy with the results.

This product comes in the same style pump bottle that the HD Foundation is available in. Two full is perfect for covering my whole face without wasting any product. I actually have nothing bad to say about this product and I would recommend it to pretty much anyone.

Here are the shades that you can choose from...

- 0 Neutral - adds natural luminosity to the complexion

- 1 Green - minimizes redness (ideal for skin with rosacea)

- 2 Mauve - counteracts sallow undertones

- 4 Caramel - combats ashiness in medium to dark skin tones/warms golden tones

- 5 Blue - adds radiance to fair skin/reduces minor imperfections

- 6 Yellow - lightens dark complexions

- 7 Pink - brightens the complexion/counteracts sallow undertones

After the success of the Neutral shade, I would love to try this product in both the 1 Green and the 5 Blue shades. I love Make Up For Ever HD and I am beginning to believe that this collection is one of the highest quality lines on the market today.

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Prep + Prime Eye

This is my first non color product purchase from MAC. I was running low on Urban Decay's Primer Potion and was shopping on the MAC website and needed another item in my cart to get free shipping or something like that. So I decided to give this product a whirl and see if it was comparable to Urban Decay. So far, it hasn't lived up to what I expect from an eye shadow primer.

MAC describes this product as, "A light textured cream to wear on the eyes as an undercoat to eye makeup. Primes the lids. Smoothes textures, neutralizes lid color. Use under eye shadow, pigments, paints, and concealers." This primer is available in three shades; Light, Medium, and Medium Dark. For myself, I chose the lightest shade. This product is packaged in a flat, round container and the user uses their finger to apply the product.

The texture of this product is very different than that of Primer Potion. Prep + Prime Eye is much creamier instead of the somewhat tacky feel of the Urban Decay Primer. I prefer the feel of the Primer Potion becuase I really feel that this formula is too creamy and thin to really keep my eye makeup from budging. The creasing that I experience with using this primer is more than I would experience with the use of the Urban Decay Primer (though my less than if I applied no primer at all). I don't find that I get the highest amount of pigment payoff when I use this primer as compared to the Urban Decay product.

Since Urban Decay slightly revamped the applicator on the Primer Potion, my only complaint with that product has been mollified. I can get the perfect amount of product out of the Urban Decay tube but I find it harder to do so with this product because of the flat tub. The first few times that I used it, I ended up applying way too much product which made my eye makeup cake worse than ever. I got the application down to a science but I still prefer the applicator of the Primer Potion.

The only aspect that I really love about this product is the fact that it neutralizes color on the eyelid and still looks very natural. On low maintence days, this product could be used alone to get rid of color and shine to the lid. I much prefer my Primer Potion to this product and doubt that I would buy it again but I like it enough to work through the tub that I have already purchased.

photo courtesy of MAC

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic

I used to be a conceal-a-holic. I couldn't leave my house without full foundation and tons of concealer covering up all the "flaws" that I insisted were all over my face. I went through concealer like water. And this was in college so it wasn't all that long ago. Now I am more enlightened and have realized that the tons of concealer that I used to pile on just made everything worse and appear worse too. But even though I am using much less now, I am still interested in finding and trying the best concealers on the market today. Benefit's new set, Confessions of a Concealaholic puts all their best concealing and brightening products all in one set.

Sephora states that "Embrace your inner conceal-a-holic! Why fight it when you can hide it, conceal it, camouflage it, and cover it? This concealing and brightening kit has EVERYTHING you need to live happily ever after!" This kit contains both primers and concealers so a step by step application can be done and a flawless face can be achieved no matter what the original problem is.

Here is what the kit contains. It contains "That Gal" which is a brightening primer. It contains two shades of the "Boi-ing" industrial strength concealer. The offered shades are a light shade and a shade that can be used for medium complexions. My best results have come from mixing concealers so I am very happy that Benefit puts two shades in so the user can create their own best match. This kit also contains "Erase Paste" which is a brightening camouflage for eyes and face. This kit offers it in the shade that medium complexions would use. Another brightening product that is offered in this set is the "Lemon Aid" which is a sheer yellow color correcting primer. I have wanted to try this product out for my undereye circles but haven't gotten around to it yet. On the other side of the shade spectrum of brighteners, Benefit includes "Eye Bright", a pale pink brightener.

In addition to the above products, this collection includes concealer brushes and step by step instructions for all of these products. I love that Benefit includes instructions in how to best use the products. Benefit almost always includes some type of instructions in their sets and I hope that other companies will jump on this bandwagon. This is great kit for someone that needs to try different concealing products and learn how to use them correctly. I don't have any of these products though I have heard great reviews on most of the individual products in this kit. This will a welcome addition to my collection of products.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Yesterday, we looked at Too Faced's Shadow Insurance eye primer. Today we are going to look at Primer Potion from Urban Decay and decide which of them is a better product. To start off with, I have used Primer Potion much longer than Shadow Insurance. In fact, I used Primer Potion before Shadow Insurance ever even debuted on the market. Primer Potion itself has always made me very happy and i never would even have thought of trying another product except for the annoying packaging. We have all seen the You Tube videos and the beauty blogger posts where the tube is cut into and the remainging product is scooped out. And once the whole process is complete, the user finds out that she has wasted about 1/3 of the product becuase of the wand and the style of the packaging. Not cool. Since I am a klutz to begin with and therefore should not even consider putting a sharp knife into my hand, I decided to try something with different packaging. But what am I giving up?

Here is the description of the product from Urban Decay, "This miracle eyeshadow primer is unmatched by any other in the beauty industry! The genie in this bottle fulfills three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant and lasting color, and absolutely NO creasing. Apply Primer Potion to lids before shadow application. It dries down almost instantly (and invisibly), creating smooth lids that are super powered eyeshadow magnets. The formula is full of silicone, which you beauty mavens know makes for a smooth and silky application. Packaged in a pretty genie bottle, our Potion applies with a magic wand and flocked applicator".

This product is available in two shades, the original shade is flesh toned and the new Sin shade has a bit of champagne shimmer to it. The Sin shade can be worn with shadow over it or by itself for a polished, natural look. My thoughts today are going to be around the original formula, I haven't gotten the Sin shade yet. This product comes with a doe foot applicator and until recently, has been straight. Urban Decay must have heard all the whining around the packaging and they have updated the applicator to now be on an angle so much less product is stuck to the sides of the tube, allowing the user to not waste their favorite primer.

Primer Potion makes my eye shadow last all day. All day, as in over 12 hours. If I don't take my eye makeup off at night (with remover, water does nothing to get this product off), it will still be going strong next morning. Cream eye shadows last most of the day with this product but they are pretty much maxed out after 12 hours and begin to fade away. This product is not quite as creamy as Shadow Insurance and could make extensive blending a bit harder than the other product. I haven't really had any issues in that area arise yet.

So my choice...Primer Potion all the way! Also, with the release of the Fall 2009 products from Urban Decay, primers for the face have been released that are housed in squeeze tubes that look very much like the Eye Primer tubes. Maybe Urban Decay has something else in the works for us...

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Eye shadow creasing has always been a huge complaint of mine. It always seemed to me that no matter what brand of shadow that I was wearing, it would be creased and fading within a few hours of application. For a time, this forced me to give up on eye shadow almost all together, I ended up doing a neutral eye everyday and collecting massive piles of lip gloss. Then I thought to try out some primers. My first primer was Urban Decay Primer Potion (which we will look at tommorrow) but I always hated the packaging and needed to see if there was anything better out there. Too Faced has never really been a brand that I have owned a lot of products from so I was rather hesistant to try this one out. But I needed to give it a shot at some point, so I picked up Shadow Insurance to give it a run.

Shadow Insurance is defined by Too Faced as being an eye primer. Here is the description of the product from the Too Faced website, "Your full-coverage insurance policy against all fading creasing melting blurring oil-slicked and hard-to-blend eye shadow accidents. Our silicone-based eyeshadow primer transforms any eye shadow into a perfectly blendable color-drenched intensified version of itself then locks it down perfectly until you take it off. Our skin soothing formula evens out the skin tone on your lids and smoothes out lines while it secures a barrier between the oils of your skin and your makeup so no shadow catastrophes will ever happen again".

This product comes in one flesh toned shade and blends easily onto the eyelids. The squeeze tube is very convenient and I like that it allows the user to squeeze the only the needed amount out and reduces waste of the product. The tube was always my major complaint with Urban Decay so I was very happy with this type of packaging. This product gets me about 4 to 6 hours of shadow wear with minimal creasing. I don't really feel that this company's claim that the product intensifies color is really all that accurate. It adds a small bit of intensity but not enough for it to be really effective. It seems to work equally well with both powder and cream shadows, however the cream shadows produced creasing slightly fasting than the powders (as they always do for me anyway).

So which one is my final choice? We will see tommorrow after I get go into the pros and cons of Primer Potion.

photo courtesy of Sephora