Lancome Cils Booster XL Mascara Primer - Review

For some reason, I have been pining away to use a mascara primer. Nothing really spurred this desire, but it was becoming all-consuming - all I could think of was mascara primers. During Sephora's Friends and Family sale, I found a kit from Lancome that included a trial size of one of their primers, Cils Booster XL. Because the kit also had a mascara I wanted to try (Hypnose Doll Lashes), I finally could try a primer without spending too much money.

Although this is a trial size, it looks like the full size, just smaller. The cap/brush are black, with silver lettering saying what the product is. The bottom/tube is white, most likely to make it easy to determine what's inside - no Lancome mascaras (or anyone else's, for that matter), have white tubes.

The primer it's self is white, as well. One coat will start to dry clear, but if you layer (which is a must), it stays white-ish. One coat doesn't seem to do much, but with 2 - 3 coats helps define my lashes, which seems weird because that means I'm putting more and more stuff on my lashes, but it's true. It also adds length, but no real volume. Sephora says:

Give your lashes an XL boost. This innovative mascara base maximizes the result of any Lancôme mascara. Features micro-fibers for enhanced effect; triangular brush helps separate lashes.

I haven't noticed any fibers, and I didn't get a chance to use this under a Lancome mascara (I had other things to use up), but I tried this primer with They're Real! and Lashblast 24Hr, and it seemed to add soemthing to them. Neither mascara flaked without the primer, and there wasn't a difference in wear time or smudging, either.

To sum things up, this mascara added length for me, but little else.  For $23, I would hope it'd do something really measurable, but I don't know if the cost is worth it. I probably wouldn't purchase this on it's own, but I'd happily use a sample.

Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray - Review

It's a fact - I have oily skin. I am willing to try almost anything to make it possible for me to skip blotting through out the day, including a specific setting spray. When in Ulta several weeks ago, I found a mini-size of Urban Decay's De-Slick spray, and decided to give it a try.

A full size, 4.0 oz bottle retails for $29, and the mini size gives 0.34 oz for $12. Obviously the full size is the better value, but, because I wasn't convinced this would work, I figure I saved myself $17 by trying the smaller size. It appears the small size is an Ulta exclusive, as it's not listed on the Sephora site.

Sephora says:

This high-tech, hypoallergenic formula keeps skin looking beautifully matte all day, without clogging pores or causing breakouts. The weightless mist absorbs excess sebum and controls surface shine, leaving your makeup looking fresh and newly applied. Your makeup won't melt when it's hot or become dehydrated and cracked when it's cold and windy because Urban Decay's patent-pending Temperature Control Technology, which lowers the temperature of your makeup to hold foundation, eye shadow, blush, and concealer in place. 

Unfortunately, this product did nothing for me. Nothing. Other than annoy me, that is. The directions state you should spray this on, then apply your foundation as usual, then spray your face again. I'm fairly certain these instructions are more for Urban Decay's benefit rather than yours, though - this bottle lasted me about a 7 days. No joke. And, I didn't even spray my face twice per use, thinking that might be overkill. In the end, it didn't matter if I just spray before foundation, just after foundation, or both before and after, the results were the same. I was still as oily at the end of my day as I am without this product at all.

I can't recommend this. At all. It did nothing for me, and thus, was a waste of $12.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer - Review

After finishing my last full size primer, I decided to explore the samples I had hanging around. Then, I started hearing awesome things about Hourglass's Veil Mineral Primer, and it somehow found it's way into my Sephora Friends & Family order. I've been using it for about 3 weeks, and here are my thoughts.

Packaged in a lightly frosted glass vial, with a pump applicator, this is the smaller size. $17 gets you 0.33 ounces of primer, however, $52 gets you 1 fluid ounce. I love the fact that a smaller size is available - I don't have to spend a ton to get a good sized trial.

The tube is clearly labelled, which is nice. I haven't noticed any fading on the lettering, which is great. That says a lot about the quality of the packaging. Again, this is a glass tube - glass. Who packages a mini size in glass? Hourglass, that's who!

From Sephora's website:

This clean, satin-finish formula helps keep makeup looking fresh and prevents fading. Veil Mineral Primer also absorbs excess oils and minimizes the appearance of pores by evenly distributing light to help hide and soften skin imperfections and fine lines.

If you couldn't tell from the pictures of the vial, the product is a white cream. It's extremely light weight, and blends to nothing. It definitely leaves that silicone-y feeling behind on your skin, which I don't find unpleasant. This primer does provide an SPF of 15, which is a nice touch. It does keep my foundation looking great all day, but I haven't noticed it minimizing the appearance of my pores. I don't have fine lines, so I can't speak to how well it "distributes" light. I still end up being shiny at the end of my day due to oil, but that's par for my course. I do feel I appear less oily than I have with other primers, like Smashbox's Photo Finish (I used it for 2 days and could just tell it was not meant to be... I could see oil derricks being constructed on my nose and forehead).

Overall, I'm very impressed with this product. I am considering putting down $52 on the full size, but I have a few other primers to check out (trying to use up samples is getting tiring, but I want to start reducing the amount of clutter, and scads of samples take up a lot of room).

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Polysilicone-11, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hexyl Laurate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isosterate, Stearic Acid, Alumina

(I was amazed at how short this list is!)

Smashbox Photofinish Light Primer - Review

Are there any products that you feel are so hyped that they must be garbage? That everyone associates with a brand, and they promote the crap out of it, and the brand pays of it wins magazine awards? Well, Smashbox's Photofinish primer is like that to me. I don't want to like it, because I can't believe it's any good. Good products stand on their own, right? A brand doesn't need to convince us to buy it, if it really works - we'll find it, buy it, and recommend it to friends on our own.

Rant aside, I am drowning in Smashbox samples (seriously, if you haven't ordered from their website, you are missing out - 1 free deluxe sized sample with each order, 1 more if you're a Pretty Points Member, and there's Let's Do Lunch for Pretty Points Member... freebie overload!). I decided, after finishing my Korres silicone free primer, I should give these a shot, so I picked the one I felt would best suit my needs - a light-weight, nongreasy primer that will improve the wear-time of my foundation, and help prevent my oily skin from defeating my makeup by the end of the day. Here's what Smashbox says about Photofinish Light:

Our latest primer innovation! Our new oil-free, 60% water based primer is ideal for oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin. This silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for visibly softer skin and can be worn alone or under foundation to increase its longevity. The revolutionary formula has oil absorbers for a smooth matte finish all day, light diffusers to minimize the appearance of imperfections, and vitamin C and peptides to help even skin tone and promote collagen production for a flawless future.

I long to have a nice, luminous-yet-matte, finish. My skin, however, has other aspirations. My pores, like most people who share my oily skin type, are large, especially on my nose, and chin. I'd like to have a primer that helps minimize them. I can't really say that Photofinish Light does this. I believe it does help control oil a little, but I'm not completely matte at the end of the day. I'm pleased to see my foundation is still present on my face, and it hasn't migrated.


Photofinish Light is a white gel-textured primer that blends to clear. It does not offer any SPF value.


This primer doesn't cause my foundation to "stick" to my skin, though. It will still transfer onto my phone, hand, etc, which is sort of annoying. Photofinish Light leaves that silicone-y feel on my skin, and doesn't seem to cling to any dry areas.


A full sized tube is $36 for 1 ounce. Occasionally, QVC or Sephora will offer a larger size at a value price ($49 for 2 ounces at sephora.com). I like this well enough to consider purchasing it, once I've run out of options (which will probably take forever). I don't know if I'd run out now to buy it, though.




Ingredients:


Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Oligopeptide-10.

Korres Face Primer - Review

A long while ago, when the Naked palette from Urban Decay was still sold with the dual-ended liner pencil, I grabbed one from sephora.com. Because I hate paying for shipping, I also picked a sweet deal they had for 2 Korres primer tubes (each containing 0.34 fl oz of primer) for $12.00. Recently, as I combed through my stash for the billionth time, I realized I hadn't tried either primer. In my never-ending quest to use everything I own, and finish some products, I decided to try this primer out.

This primer is available at Sephora, and retails in the full size tube for $28.00. For your money, you get 1.01 fl oz. This primer has some pretty big claims behind it:

Rich in skin-soothing botanicals and Vitamin E, this 99 percent natural formula refines skin texture without silicone, minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and reduces pore size. Your skin will be primed and ready for a makeup application.

Sounds awesome, right? The only problem is that most primers make the same types of claims regarding fine lines and wrinkles, pore size, etc. So, really, the only thing that makes this primer different, to my eyes, is the lack of silicone. For oily-skinned gals like myself, silicone can be the only thing keeping us semi-matte throughout the day. I didn't really expect much from this product, but I was somewhat pleasantly surprised.

I like that Korres didn't try a cutesy name for this product. I mean, if you're looking for a face primer, why not buy the tube that says "Face Primer," right? Anyway, the tube is pretty nice. It feels like that metalized plastic, so it has some heft to it. The primer itself is a thick lotion, almost a light cream consistency. It melts beautifully into the skin, however. The scent reminds me a bit of the Vitamin Enriched Face Base from Bobbi Brown, as does the consistency. Like the Face Base, the scent is unnoticeable once you have applied the product.


Does it do anything it claims to? I guess my pores were not as noticeable, but I don't have fine lines or wrinkles (yet), so I can't speak to that. Did my make look nice for a long period of time? I supposed. My foundation (Tarte's Amazonian Clay Full Coverage blah blah foundation) easily stayed put all day on my oily face. This primer didn't do anything about my oily skin, though. I was a grease-ball after a few hours, but nothing broke down, which is fine. I think if I had blotted, I wouldn't have had any oil issues. 


Would I buy this again? Probably. I can't help but feel like this is a less expensive version of the Bobbi Brown Face Base, and it's packaged a bit more conveniently. At the same time, I would like to find a primer that suits my needs (namely, preventing oiliness). I think this would be a fabulous primer for normal or slightly dry skin types, because Vitamin E is great for your skin and this also contains jojoba oil, and glycerin (a humectant). 


Ingredients:


Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Melissa Officinalis Distillate* (Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water*), Dicaprylyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco- Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Benzyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil* (Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*), Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Betaine, Citric Acid, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract*, Honey, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Linalool, Pectin.

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base - Review

I'm an oily-skinned girl who loves a matte yet slightly luminous look. No matter what I try (with one exception), if a foundation as the word "luminous" on the bottle or tube, I'm screwed. Apparently, to most makeup formulators, oily gals don't want luminous - they want a greasy face! And, "natural" finishes translate to... OILY! (although, that's sort of poetic justice - I mean, my face is naturally oily, so a "natural" finish for my face... yeah).

So, I've given up on finding a foundation that can stand up to oily skin. Instead, I've turned my focus away from foundations and towards primers. I've tried several, and the one that I'm working with now I love (except the price kinda stinks). A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Bobbi Brown event at one of my local Nordstrom's. The artist who did my makeup had several skincare recommendations for me (of course, they were all Bobbi Brown and uber pricey), and didn't really talk up this little gem. I asked for a sample (since it's $50 for a jar, more on that later). She gave me a generous sample in a 5 gram jar. I've been using that sample daily, under the Maybelline Fit Me and Tarte Amazonian Full Coverage Balancing Foundation, as well as a to-be-reviewed Estee Lauder Doublewear Light. I've never been more impressed with a primer!

It doesn't claim to be oil-controlling, or mattifying, which are typically the two terms I seek on a primer's label. Instead, it claims:

"Rich in feel, but never greasy, this advanced oil-free, face formula, with Shea Butter, instantly hydrates, softens, and cushions skin. Carrot Extract and Vitamin A Complex help minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamins C and E help protect against environmental damage. Grapefruit and Geranium fragrances leave a light, uplifting scent on skin. With daily use, skin looks and feels its best."

Usually, I'd call a foul and say "Really? You want me to believe all of this? C'mon!" And I can't speak to the wrinkle/fine line claims. I can say, however, I love the way my skin feels after applying this product. It feels soft, smooth, and happy. I don't use a daily moisturizer under this product, for the most part (some mornings, I've used Bobbi's EXTRA Face Oil, another thing I'd like to review), because I don't really feel it necessary.

I really believe Face Base has made a difference in the way my makeup wears. Every foundation I've applied on top of it has lasted all day. I still get oily, but the fact that there's still foundation on my forehead at the end of the day is almost unprecedented. Setting with a good powder (still looking for a holy grail powder, though) helps the look last, but previous primers, like Murad's Oil Control lotion (which doesn't live up to it's name), or MAC's P+P with SPF, can't hold a candle to this primer.

This is fragranced. I mean, it does contain a lot of essential oils. Carrot is, apparently, very... uhh... overpowering. This smells delish, a soft citrus with maybe a hint of floral. Even my husband thought it smelled nice, and that's truly saying something. The fragrance isn't apparent on the skin, but if you're someone who is sensitive to scents, you are forewarned!

This product costs $50. That's a bit much, especially since I balked at paying $30 for MAC's Prep + Prime with SPF primer (the first two tubes I had were ah-maz-ing, the third... not so much). I was able to purchase this during Bobbi's last Friends and Family sale for $45, which I felt was still a bit much, until I realized how much product is in the jar. 1.7 fluid ounces. Most primers (and foundations, for that matter) are sold in 1 fluid ounce jars/tubes/whatevers. Additionally, I don't use very much of this. The amount shown above? Enough for my face. Seriously. As I mentioned, I've been using a 5 gram jar that was fairly well filled for 3+ weeks, and I'm not done with it yet! I didn't feel so cheated, after looking at it this way.

Overall, I love this product. I really, truly do. It's expensive, so, I'd recommend a sample first (to make sure you like it), and then start scouring your CCO! Regrettably, I haven't found anything similar.

Makeup Forever HD Microperfecting Primer in #1 - Review

One thing I would love to change about my skin is the ruddiness on my cheeks - it's hell to get a blush to look even when you have surface redness going on. After much deliberation, I broke down and bought MUFE's "Microperfecting Primer" in #1, the green shade.

This retails from Sephora for $32. As with all MUFE, Sephora is the exclusive retailer of their products (unless you happen to live near one of the MUFE stores) in the U.S. According to Sephora, this is "A lightweight, oil-free complexion corrector that enhances the skin's texture and primes the skin for makeup application. [This product] 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." The green shade is supposed to "minimize redness."

For the price, you may be questioning the value. Packaged in a taller, more slender tube than it's foundation counterpart, the HD Primer gives you 1 fluid oz of product - which isn't bad, considering I only use a fraction of a pump with each use.

The amount above is enough for me to cover the red on my cheeks, and have a bit left over for my nose, if I need it. I've had my current tube of this primer for about 10 months, and am about halfway through it. As you can see, the product is very pigmented. Texture-wise, it feels like a gel. It does feel hydrating, but I wouldn't want to use this as a moisturizer, due to the pigmentation. The first time I used this, I used it all over my face - HUGE mistake. This is meant to be a targeted-use product. When overused, at least in my experience, you look a bit jaundiced, which isn't exactly flattering.

I can't say I have noticed my foundation applying any better (or worse) than usual, or lasting any longer where I have this product applied. My cheeks tend to be normal/dry. Because of the texture, I think this primer would be okay on oily skin, too. Because of the pigmentation of this product, it really does allow me to wear blushes and have them show up without piling them on.

Overall, this is a fantastic product! Because so little is needed, I feel the price is fine. Sure, it'd be awesome if it were cheaper, but you get a ton of product, and don't need a large amount. I'd strongly recommend this product to any one who has redness, like moi.