Beauty: Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer Review

 

As much as I claim I'm a beauty junky I have to admit I am a complete fool. I wasn't using a foundation primer until very recently. I can't believe what a dramatic difference it has made in the appearance and condition of my skin. Prior to using primer my makeup would last fairly well but it wasn't outstanding. I also suffer from dry skin and would notice it would start to flake as soon as I applied my foundation -- not a good look.

 

 

 

I had read amazing reviews about the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer but couldn't justify spending that much money on something that went under my makeup. How big of a difference would it even make? When I got a 20% off anything coupon in the mail for Ulta I knew I had to give it a shot. If I hated it, Ulta has an amazing return policy and I could just get my money back. What was the harm?

 

Well I'm so glad I decided to try it out. Not only has my makeup lasted a LOT longer since I started using it but I've had to use a lot less makeup too! It smooths out my skin, fills in my fine lines and gives my dry skin some extra hydration so it doesn't flake up.

 

I thought that the blue tint of the primer would show up on my skin but it is completely invisible. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve received on my skin since I started using this product.

 

I’m now convinced that foundation primer is a beauty must! Please do yourself a big favor and grab yourself a bottle to try – you’ll be so happy you did!

 

Have you tried this foundation primer before? What other beauty products can you not live without?

 

 

Beauty: Arbonne RE9 Advanced 6 Step Anti-Aging Line & Makeup Primer Review

An old friend of mine who is an Arbonne Independent Consultant recently reached out to me to see if I would be interested in trying out some product samples to review on the blog. Heck yes! She sent me some sample of the RE9 Advanced 6 step anti-aging line as well as the Makeup Primer. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions of the products are my own.

A little about the company taken directly for Arbonne.com:
At Arbonne, beauty begins with premium botanical ingredients, innovative scientific discovery, and an unwavering commitment to pure, safe and beneficial products. Arbonne creates personal care and wellness products that preserve and enhance the skin, body and mind for an integrative approach to beauty. Working closely with scientists around the world and our Arbonne Institute of Research and Development (AIRD®) facility in Switzerland, we continually explore and develop scientifically advanced, botanically based proprietary formulas that meet our exacting standards for quality, safety and sustainability.

The products are great for all skin types because they work to balance your PH. Due to how concentrated Arbonne products are you only need to use a very small amount (about the size of a tic tac). This means that the products will last about 4-6 months if you're using them twice a day. So, if you're experiencing some sticker shock by looking at the prices for some of their products, think again -- you're actually spending less than most high-end brands due to how long they will last you!

Another major bonus about the Arbonne line is that the products are formulated in Switzerland where there are very strict laws about what can go into products. They ban about 1100 different ingredients compared to the 11 in the US. The products are vegan certified and are not tested on animals.

The verdict? I LOVED THIS STUFF. After only a day of using the RE9 Advanced line I could really see the difference in my skin and my fine lines under my eyes and on my forehead were already reduced. I couldn't believe it worked that quickly for me! The samples lasted me a lot longer than I expected (about 2 1/2 weeks) due to how concentrated the formula is. I was worried that the 6 steps would get annoying, but honestly because of the great results I was getting, I didn't even notice. What's a few extra minutes to have great skin? I have combination skin (mostly dry though) so it's really hard to find products that work well for me. I was skeptical that these would be the same way but was thrilled to see how well they worked on my skin.

I am currently using the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer (review to come soon!) so the Arbonne makeup primer didn't totally knock my socks off like the RE9 Advanced line did, but it still worked great! It made my makeup smooth and it was so much easier to blend it into my skin. It made my makeup last super long too - which is always a good thing after a long day of work ;)

I highly recommend trying Arbonne products out for yourself. Everyone's skin is different but with the vast amount of product lines the company offers, I'm sure you'll find one that will work for you! Contact Kelly via her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Valentino-Arbonne-Independent-Consultant/512445235474176 to try samples of Arbonne products and to get more information.

Have you tried the Arbonne line yet? Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

Beauty: M.A.C. Paint Pots Review

I used to just throw on some eye shadow in the morning and run out the door without even thinking about using a primer beforehand. I would notice that my makeup would quickly disappear and fade well before I came home at night.

I did some research and tested a few primers out but didn’t like some of the formulas. I was getting a thick, cakey eye makeup that didn’t look so hot. I figured it was better to have my makeup fade than look like I didn’t know how to blend correctly or put a ton of extra makeup in my crease.

I went to M.A.C to get some other products and noticed their Paint Pots and asked if they could be used as primer or if they needed to be worn alone. The makeup artist informed me that they could be used for both and it is a creamy formula that didn’t dry cakey. I knew I needed to give it a try!

Paint Pot description according to M.A.C: A highly pigmented eye color that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colorfast, creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M.A.C shadows and liners.

I purchased the Painterly color because I wanted something neutral to wear alone or dress up if I wanted to. It was the perfect choice. Not only can I wear it alone if I’m going for a more natural look, but can be used as an amazing base for all my other eye shadows without being too much. It has lasted me a long time and when it eventually wears out, I won’t hesitate to purchase it again.

At $18.50 this price point is perfect for the amount of quality product you get. I would recommend it to all of you! There are a ton of other shades to choose from if you want to be more daring than me.

Do you use any makeup primers? Are there any brands you swear by?

Make Your Eye Makeup and Lipstick Last

When it comes to a big event, I usually spend way too much time doing my makeup in order to make it look perfect. There have been times, unfortunately, that all that effort went to waste because my makeup creased, smudged or wore off halfway through the night. 

If this has happened to you and you’re looking for a way to make your makeup last through a whole night, try out our tips below.

Eyes

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Fading colors. Creased eyeshadows. Smeared mascara. Smudged eyeliner. Definitely not attractive. If your eye makeup suffers from any one of these, follow this advice for getting everything to stay put.

Your eye makeup staying in place all starts right after you wash your face. If you’re dousing your eyelids in moisturizer, don’t! If you experience dryness or fine lines around your eyes, by all means, use an eye cream before you go to bed. But, before applying makeup is not the time for it. Moisturizing this already oily area will cause your eye makeup to slide around. I would also avoid applying foundation to this area too. The less product you have on your eyelids to begin with, the better your results will be.

Start your eye makeup by using a primer. If you haven’t started using a primer, I really recommend spending the money on one. My favorites are Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer in Skin or Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original. Both of these work great and will really give your makeup something to hold onto.

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When you start applying color, you could begin with a cream base in the same color as the eyeshadow you plan to use. If this isn’t your cup of tea, just apply your eyeshadow.

If you are planning to wear a non-waterproof eye pencil, go over the line you draw with the same color eyeshadow.

If your mascara usually smudges, use a small eye detailer brush to pat some translucent powder just underneath your eyes.

Finish off your makeup with a very light dusting of translucent powder. Don’t brush the powder across your eyelids. Just gently dab some of the product over everything to set it all in place.

Lips

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Lips are probably the one part of the face where makeup wears off most easily. Between talking, drinking and eating, your lips are constantly moving and it’s nearly impossible for lip products to last. And if you’ve chosen a bold color, it’s never attractive to sport that half worn-off, ring-around-the-mouth look. To help make your lip product last, you could wear a stain on your lips. But, if that’s not your thing and you’d rather wear lipstick, try this:

First, before applying any kind of lipstick, use a lip balm about 10 minutes prior to applying the product. When you’re ready to apply your lipstick, gently wipe off any excess lip balm. This will help ensure that your lips stay soft throughout the night.

Second, get your products together. You’ll need your lipstick, a lip brush, a translucent powder, some tissues and a fluffy powder brush.

Third, pull apart the tissue. And no, I don’t mean tear it in half, pull the halves apart so what you end up with is one ply. You could also do this with toilet paper.

Next, apply a coat of lipstick with your lip brush. Once you’ve finished, take the one ply tissue or toilet paper and lightly press it against your lips. Dip your fluffy brush into your powder and dab it on top of the tissue. I recommend pouring some of the powder onto another surface because you’ll be dipping your brush into the powder several times. 

When you remove the tissue from your lips, you should be able to see a light dusting of powder on your lips. Repeat this process a few times, and make sure to end with a coat of your lipstick and not a coat of powder. When you apply the coats, don’t cake it on or your end result will be too thick. If you’re a fan of lip liner (I’m not), you could always start by filling in your lips to help give your first coat of lipstick something to stick to.

Do you plan to try out any of these tips? If you do, let us know how they work for you in the comments!