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?
It's no secret, I love to try out new makeup products. Once I find some that I love, I keep them in my daily makeup rotation. These are products that I currently use everyday during the week. You'll see that it's a mix of drugstore finds and more expensive brands. Not every makeup product has to be expensive to work great! I like to play up my eyes a little more on the weekend but I typically stick to these products below.
I figured I'd try this out since it was on sale and I'm SO happy I did. I love the pop of color it gives my cheeks and the texture is smooth and creamy. I love how it blends in my skin and it lasts all day. One of my favorite drug store finds!
I love BB creams ever since Adrianne introduced me to how amazing they are. Super light, moisturizing and I don't feel like I have anything on my face. I love it. Perfect for the spring, summer, fall and whenever you don't need as much coverage.
I love this foundation when I need more coverage. In the winter I tend to wear more foundation and this is still light but has the perfect amount of coverage. It matches my skin tone perfectly too!
Adrianne got me this mascara for Christmas and I completely understand the hype now. I never have clumpy lashes anymore and they transform my straight sad lashes into curled beautiful ones. I love this stuff!
I got this with a Tarte blush in a travel pack and fell in love. It's not orange at all and gives me a perfect sun kissed glow. I'm running low and am not happy about that! Time for a Sephora or Ulta run!
My mom bought me this after we saw a woman who worked at the Lancome counter wearing it. Her makeup looked phenomenal and she raved about the product. It's pricey, but lasts FOREVER. I haven't had to sharpen it yet!
My future mother in law got me this for Christmas and I've been obsessed with it. It's so fun to play around with all of the different colors and I love how neutral they all are. You can use this for day and night. Worth every penny!
Adrianne and I had a fun makeup night last week to try out possible looks for my wedding. She had an amazing setup of tons of makeup for me to try -- I was in heaven!
She had told me about the Smashbox HD foundation before but I still had not given it a try. Luckily we're the same shade (the lightest they offer - 0 fair) so I was able to try it out. The verdict? I don't know what I was waiting for. This foundation is fantastic. So fantastic that I went a few days later to get a bottle of my own.
It's an oil-free, weightless, liquid foundation that's packed with anti aging, revitalizing, and firming ingredients. It gives a great finish so that you look great on film and in photos. Perfect for my wedding!
The foundation covers extremely well but doesn't feel caked on like a lot of other full coverage foundations. It feels like my Smashbox BB cream that I'm obsessed with but provides some more coverage for the winter months and special occasions. I'm hooked.
It's a little pricey at $39 a bottle but I can tell it will last a long time. I don't need as much as I typically would with other foundations.
If you haven't tried this foundation out yet I highly recommend it. It's well worth the price!
Do you have any other HD foundations you've tried and love? We'd love to hear about it!
Summer is in full swing – is your makeup bag stocked and
ready? Here are a few things I consider must-haves for summer:
Eye and face primers
Don’t let all the work you put into perfecting your makeup
look go to waste when you step outside. Make sure you’re wearing eye and face
primers, and be sure to pick up separate primers formulated for each area.
A few favorites:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original
This is my year-round go-to for eye primer. It’s
lightweight, easy-to-apply and it speaks for itself – my eye makeup always
lasts the whole day.
This eye primer comes in a close second. The product is a
little thick, but once blended it will help your eye makeup stay put. As an
added bonus, using a beige-toned eye primer helps cover any redness or
discoloration on your eyelids making the colors you apply more bright and
vibrant.
Summer is the time of year where you can wear fun and bright
makeup colors and it looks totally normal. I’m a huge fan of bright eye makeup,
especially eyeliner. My absolute favorite is wearing bright green. Come on –
you can’t really get away with that during the winter.
A few to try:
Sephora Collection Nano Liner in Chlorophyll
This bright green is adorable. And surprisingly, it works
with a lot of different eyeshadow colors.
Don’t apply a thick foundation – let your skin breathe this
summer! A BB cream or tinted moisturizer is perfect to wear “it’s hot outside”
is an understatement.
Here are a few favorites:
Garnier BB Cream in Fair/Light
This is the BB cream I am currently using, and I couldn’t be
happier. I bought this on a whim from Target and have been really satisfied
with how lightweight it feels and covers up any imperfections on my skin.
Second only to bright eyeliner, bright lip gloss is another
summer makeup must-have. I prefer it over lipstick, because it doesn’t feel or
look so heavy on the lips.
Try these:
MAC Tinted Lipglass (try Pink Poodle, Saint Germain or
Angel)
I can’t get enough of MAC lipglasses. These lightweight
glosses give a big color payoff without feeling too sticky or heavy.
Stila’s lip glazes are a little bit thicker than a normal
lip gloss, but they have so many color choices that are perfect for summer. The
lip glazes don’t wear off easily and no matter which one you choose, you can be
sure your lips will have a really pretty sheen or shimmer.
I religiously wear sunscreen, so I can’t say I’m sporting
any kind of a tan – even in the midst of summer. In order to fake it, bronzing
powder is a staple in my summer makeup routine.
Tarte Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess
This is a perfect color for lighter skin tones – it doesn’t
look too orange or ruddy. It’s best applied lightly in layers.
I'm sure by now most of you have at least heard of BB Cream (Blemish Balm or Blemish Base) before but when I first tried it a few months ago it was just starting to show up in stores. I was using full coverage foundation during the winter months and although it felt a little heavy, it was okay because my face was so dry. In the spring and summer I tend to walk around with a lot less makeup on my face and hate the feeling of slimy foundation. I was searching for a tinted moisturizer to start using but I wanted something that provided a little more coverage.
Adrianne (the makeup expert that she is) told me all about this miracle BB Cream. She said it was a big thing in Japan and was just starting to surface here in the US and that I should really check out some before buying a tinted moisturizer. I forced her (okay ... she lives in this store who are we kidding) to run over to Sephora one day on our lunch break to show me different ones and help me pick one out.
The makeup artist who ended up assisting us was super nice, but MAJORLY overdone. I was terrified when she started to remove my normal makeup to apply the BB Cream. I really hope I didn't walk back into work looking overdone like that. Luckily it was perfect. She tired a few on my hands before I decided to have her apply the Smashbox Camera Ready brand of BB Cream to my face. It was amazing - light, fuller coverage than a tinted moisturizer but did not feel like I was wearing makeup at all. I couldn't believe how much it covered and brightened up my complexion.
The makeup artist told us that the BB Creams actually could help improve your complexion over time and could also be used as a primer if you were searching for more coverage for an evening out or special event. The Smashbox brand offers SPF 35 which I love and doesn't have a strong scent to it. I've been wearing it every day for the past few months and still love it. It stays on all day and even Jay has told me he liked the way it looked (he actually noticed!) So if that's not enough reason to try some of this stuff I don't know what is.
Adrianne has tried some BB Cream by Garnier and said for a drugstore brand it was actually not that bad. You might want to try out a lower-end brand before committing to a bottle of the more expensive stuff. Trust me when I say it's worth it though!
Have you tried BB Cream yet? If so, what did you think? Do you have a favorite brand you think we should try?
