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Comparing cosmetic primers, III.
My journey may never be complete!
Yep, I am still on a mission to try as many beauty products as possible in order to find the perfect batch! Over the last few months, I’ve tried four new primers, along with an eyelash primer, and I’m here to report my findings.
Balance Me Instant Lift Primer
I got a sample of this primer in my Birchbox! Here’s the description from Birchbox.com: We have our fair share of things we wouldn’t mind getting rid of (pesky neighbors, traffic delays—to name a few), but helping our pores disappear would be at the top of our skincare wish list. This formula uses hard-working ingredients like hyaluronic acid and acacia gum to tighten and blur enlarged pores and smooth and refine your skin’s surface for a glowy complexion.
This one has a thick texture, so it’s good if you have larger pores. Because of its texture, I really felt like I was doing something good for my skin while wearing this. It’s white in color, but rubs in easily.
I’ve seen this primer range in price from $12-$45, so search around if you want to try it!
Smashbox Photo Finish Radiance Primer
I got this as a sample, too, either from Sephora or Birchbox… but I loved it! Honestly, all of the Smashbox primers I’ve tried have been a success, but this one has a little bit of a sheen to it, which I love for summer. Here’s the description from Smashbox.com: This moisturizing face primer gives you an instant golden-hour glow. It has a satin-smooth formula that illuminates, perfects & enhances radiance while hydrating for better makeup application.
Price for this one is around $35 – but it looks like you can buy various sizes on Amazon, including a sample for $7.
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+
I bought this after seeing my favorite makeup artist (ahem, Jaclyn Hill) spritz some on her Beauty Blender before applying foundation. I have been using it ever since and am LOVING it. I use this in addition to a cream primer directly on the skin. Here’s the description from Ulta.com:
The holy grail of hydrating mists! M·A·C Prep + Prime Fix+ gives an instant boost of hydration while delivering a soft sheen to refresh and set makeup. The lightweight, prolonging formula is packed with vitamins and minerals, infused with a blend of green tea, chamomile and cucumber to gently moisturize, soothe and enhance your complexion. Pair with your favorite products in near-endless ways – to sheer out foundation, intensify the color payoff of eyeshadows and highlighters or simply to extend the wear of makeup.
Ummm… since I bought the travel size (1 ounce for $12), I did not know it came in different scents – it comes in original herbal, creamy coconut, romantic rose, and calming lavender. I will most-definitely be getting the romantic rose! This is my first time trying a spray primer, and I think it’s perfect for use on a beauty sponge (nothing beats the cosmetic wedge, if you ask me). This one is $26 for 3.4 ounces.
Laura Geller Spackle Hydrating Primer
This is the second primer from Laura Geller that I’ve tried and I like this one better than the Champagne one I reviewed last time. This one really is hydrating and I would almost say you could use it and skip your moisturizer, but I feel like that’s just not right to say. Here’s the description from LauraGeller.com:
Introducing Spackle Hydrating, a multi-tasking marvel that not only perfects, but also hydrates skin with moisturizing ingredients for normal to dry skin. This vitamin-rich formula moisturizes and soothes skin while priming it for make-up application. Formulated with natural, soothing and hydrating ingredients such as Aloe Vera Gel and Cupuaçu Seed Butter.
Laura Geller Fortifying Lash Eyelash Primer
This came as a sample in my Birchbox, and having used the Laura Geller mascara, I was excited to try this. I don’t think I’ve ever used an eyelash primer before so I can’t compare it, but I’d say you can’t really go wrong with adding an extra layer of color to your lashes. Here’s the description from Birchbox.com:
You prep your skin before foundation and apply a base coat before nail polish, so it only makes sense to get your lashes ready for mascara too. A swipe of this primer strengthens and lengthens your fringe and helps prevent clumps. The black tinted formula blends in seamlessly underneath your mascara (read: no white streaks in sight), and even wears great alone on low-maintenance mornings. Lashes look longer, more defined, and dramatic for eyes that do all the talking.
This is $22 – I’ve only seen it in black.
What primers are you guys using? I think so far, the Smashbox Radiance and the Bare Minerals original primer are my favorites, on top of the MAC Fix.
9/50 Shades: Lovelorn.
Colors, colors everywhere.
Hey there! Just when you thought I’d forgotten about the “50 Shades” lipstick series, here I am with a new color.
I had to dig up a backup for #9 because, originally, I wanted to tell you all about one I’ve been using recently by Victoria’s Secret. It’s their Beauty Rush line in “Melon Out,” and it’s similar in texture to the tinted Carmex I featured in this post.
HOWEVER, upon looking at Victoria’s Secret website (as well as Amazon), it doesn’t look like it’s for sale anywhere, and I’d hate to feature a product on here that you can’t actually buy. I say all of that to say that having tried some of the VS lip products, they’re pretty good for the price.
LOVELORN.
Anyway, I’ve got another good color for you this time: Lovelorn, by MAC.
I used to love MAC makeup. Those were the days when my parents paid for things and/or I had no bills, so I could slap down any dollar amount for non-essential items. That day is NOT today, but I did buy this lipstick for a formal I had a few years ago. I wear it on special occasions and it’s been worth the $16 I believe it was.
Lipstick is actually the product that made MAC famous. The “Lovelorn” shade is part of their Lustre line, which promises a semi-gloss finish on the lip. In general, MAC lip products have a nice feel on the lips, a decent scent, and are long-lasting — well worth the money!
What are some products or perhaps experiences you splurged on and it ended up being totally worth it?
Pic of the Week.
Look at my sad little Blackberry.
For Valentine’s Day, I treated myself to a gold iPhone 6. But of course, it’s not just any gold iPhone 6 — it is my first iPhone, ever. Seriously.
For the past… Oh, seven years, I’ve had various Blackberry Curves. And before that, I rocked a Sidekick like a boss.
Truthfully, I started using a Mac in high school when I wrote for the school newspaper (Triangle, where you at?). When I got to college, and started working for their newspaper, they used Macs, too. I pretty much fell in love, bought a MacBook, an iPod, and later, an iPad.
But I could not give up the Crack…Blackberry. After all, crack is whack. Thanks, Whitney.
However, in the last year of having the Blackberry, it just wasn’t jiving well with my career needs. As a blogger, editor, journalist, and digital media guru, I need a mobile device that’s going to handle the crazy amount of emails I get, in order to keep the business alive.
And how am I supposed to claim I’m a social media expert when I don’t have Instagram (I do now, @Orangejulius7), or access to hot new apps?
The iPhone was really not even a luxury, but more of a necessity. Nonetheless, it was beautiful when it arrived on my doorstep in its sleek, white box. And the fingerprint detection? Money. So money.
As of now, I can do basic things on it, I’ve successfully used Siri’s help once, but other than that I feel completely clueless as to how to use the damn thing.
And as an actual phone, like, to call people, it completely sucks. If anyone knows the trick to this, that’d be a tremendous help.
And yes, I know I sound like a complete dinosaur. For the past few years, I’ve really tried top my technology game — I bought a new car, a subscription to Sirius radio, a camera for blogging purposes, and a voice recorder for interviewing accuracy.
But anyone that knows anything is aware that technology is ever-changing, and if you don’t keep up, it’s a long game of catchup to play, right before the new thing comes out.
In any case, I need YOUR help! Give me your iPhone tips, tricks, fun apps, games, cool people to follow on Instagram, and whatever else you think I need to know to survive!
Halp.
This Christmas: go glam.
Merry Christmas Eve! I hope you all are prepping for a fantastic day filled with love, kindness, and okay, a little bit of glamour. One of my favorite things about Christmastime is having the excuse to pull out my glitter eyeliner, shimmery shadows, and bold colors.
I’ve always loved experimenting with makeup, and opening a few gifts under the tree that assist in my hobby never hurt anyone. Sure, I know you’ve already hit up some holiday parties, but there’s still time to get a fabulous look in for Santa’s arrival, and for the days leading up to New Year’s!
This year, glitter and gold are completely IN when it comes to holiday makeup — hallelujah! NY Magazine has 4 cool ways to wear gold eye makeup, including dusting loose gold glitter on your freshly mascara’d eyelashes (Yes!). Get the look:
- Urban Decay Loose Glitter in Goldmine
- Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara in Black
- Cover Girl Professional Natural Lash Mascara in Clear
Now, I’ve always admired Emma Stone — her style, her movies — so, when she stepped out this winter wearing matte red lips and slightly stained cheeks, I loved her a little more and knew I HAD to steal this look (check out Vogue for the details). Get the look:
Bobbi Brown Party Shimmer Brick
I have always loved a smokey eye, and I found a great tutorial by Carli Bybel on a Grunge Glam Holiday look. I’ve never gotten into the whole makeup tutorial thing, but she does a really great job. To get the look (shown in the main picture above), Carli used:
— Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Stick — Makeup Geek Pigment in Nightlife — BH Cosmetics Forever Nude Palette — Katy Perry false lashes in Oh, Honey! — Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Mascara in Black — Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black — MAC Fix — Bronze glitter powder — Nude lip pencil — Buttercup Lipstick by Gerard Cosmetics — NYX powder blush in Pinky — Bobbi Brown Party Shimmer Brick
To polish off your look, don’t forget a fabulous nail hue. Elle magazine has 30 cool nail colors for all of your holiday party nail-needs.
Whether you’re going out and about for the holiday, looking fabulous, or you’re cozied up at home (experimenting with your new makeup from Santa), I hope your Christmas is fantastic! I’m looking forward to sharing even more with you in the New Year.
Merry Christmas to all!
