PORE fessional

POREfessional, worth the hype? Absolutely.

Now, I don't think I have particularly large pores to begin with, but when one of my friends popped this in the post for me I thought what the heck, I'll give it a go, see what all the fuss is about.
I'm usually not fussed about Benefit products, I find them very overpriced and disappointing (please don't hate me, Benefit fans).

I apply this as my primer after I've moisturized, with my fingertips, starting with my T-zone and then to the rest of my face.
Benefit say you can apply it over the top of your make-up as well, I haven't tried that yet, it seems a little strange to me! I suppose that's more if you want to reduce the look of your pores?!

This makes my make up stay put throughout a whole working day and into the evening, it's great to stop it sliding, and means I have to touch up less.
I think my favourite thing about this product is the silky consistency, makes your skin feel super duper soft. I just want to stroke my face everytime I've finished applying it (weirdo...)
It is slightly scented, but nothing overpowering, I hate using highly scented products on my face.

I would have shown you what it looks like on, but it literally just disappears into your skin, creating a smooth base for your foundation.

It's quite pricey at £23.50, but I've used it every day for a couple of months now, so it's lasted fairly well. I know lots of people don’t really see primers as an essential in their make-up bag, but this really does help your make up stay put.

Have you tried POREfessional? What's your favourite primer?

High & Low: Primer

Hourglass Mineral Veil £52 Space NK Gosh Velvet Touch Classic Foundation Primer £9.99 Superdrug

There's one item I'll never skip when applying makeup before an evening out or a day in the heat, primer. Designed to increase the longevity of makeup, smooth over skin, minimise pores and keep shine at bay. Nothing new here, all primers seem to have those claims but there's one particular formula that seems to be causing quite a stir, so much so in fact it's the best selling item in the whole of Liberty Beauty Department, Hourglass Mineral Veil. 

Being the most decadent primer I own at £52, the formula is unbelievable, so silky smooth, practically like I've applied a different layer of baby-smooth skin on top of my own. It leaves a beautiful matte satin finish on my skin, blends seamlessly into the skin and foundation applies like a dream over the top. 

The big question is, apart from it's skin smoothing properties, does the formula do anything fantastic to the longevity of makeup in comparison to it's less expensive competitors like GOSH Velvet Touch Classic Foundation Primer? (£9.99)  

In terms of texture they are completely different, as soon as Hourglass is applied it makes my skin feel almost airbrushed, foundation applies like an absolute dream over the top and blends seamlessly, overall looking much better. Whereas GOSH feels heavier on the skin, has a slightly thicker formula and a velvet finish. 

After conducting multiple half face tests*, at the end of long days the difference in my skin was hardly noticeable, both were shiny in similar places and my blush and concealer looked relatively the same. 

wearing Hourglass Mineral Veil

Depends what your goal for a primer is...for me above anything it's increasing longevity of makeup (no matter how lovely it makes my skin feel) and I'll take whatever else comes with it! Hourglass no doubt makes my skin feel the most gorgeous it ever has but it's good to know there's something similar at a fraction of the price...

Have you tried either of these primers?

*where I get overly involved in trying products by applying one product to one half of my face, the other to the other side and compare the difference after a certain amount of time - usually a day. 

New In: Estee Lauder Matt Perfecting Primer

I'm definitely a primer girl, having combination skin the benefits of using a primer are phenomenal. It's one step I rarely forget mainly because using a primer makes my skin feel so smooth and flawless, as well as making foundation and concealer blend beautifully over the top. The biggest factor for me is the increasing the longevity of my makeup which usually goes up by around a good couple of hours.

As opposed to powdering over the top of glowy foundations to control shine I opt for a primer and of course being really into mattifying primers I had to give Estee Lauder's new release a whirl. Estee Lauder recently released 2 new primers, one for illuminating and one for mattifying. Matte skin being my finish of choice I've been giving that one a little test drive. You've probably seen Givenchy Mister Matt Primer pop up here quite a bit purely because it works at keeping my skin shine free and provides a really smooth finish for makeup but how did Estee Lauder compare?

First up are the facts... 1 bottle of Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer will set you back £21.50 for 30ml, which is a decent price for a primer, especially compared to it's more expensive competitors. Benefit Porefessional at £23.50 for 22ml and Givenchy Mister Matt for £25 and 25ml.

Overall it prolonged my makeup staying power by around three hours. Compared to Givenchy Mister Matt wasn't too much of a difference in lasting power apart from my skin looking more decent when using the EL. As well as pores looking a lot less visible after a long day. When comparing both textures Estee Lauder would be my one of choice, the texture described as a 'gel-cream' is much more nourishing and feels less siliconey than Givenchy. It's similar to a moisturiser that drys matt whereas Givenchy is much thicker, velvety and harder to blend into the skin.

So in summary Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer is really giving my old favourite Givenchy Mister Matt a run for its money! There's just one more mattifying base I've been trying so stay tuned for that      

Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer is £21.50 and available at John Lewis here and at Estee Lauder counters (it's already sold out online!)

Dior's Miraculous Lash Primer!

If I could only do two things in my makeup routine it would be Foundation and Mascara as both make such a difference! I'm totally obsessed with lashes, making them longer, thicker and more voluminous - so much so that I sometimes layer on different mascaras to get the effect I want. I'm aware fake lashes make al the difference but they are so hit and miss and I don't have the patience on a day to day basis! 

I've tried lash primers before but most of them made my lashes appear more clumpy as opposed to longer. You've probably seen the Dior DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum pop up quite a bit on here and that's because it's a goodie! Made to enhance, protect and lengthen lashes and it does just that. Over the past year and a half I've been using this I still can't get over how amazing the effects are! I do put on a good couple coats of the stuff but it makes me look as though I have the thickest lashes!

Above left is without Dior primer and right is with Dior primer both below L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara - ta-da I'll let the results speak for themselves but now you can see why I'm so smitten with this primer. The comb brush ensures all lashes are fully coated and helps avoid any clumps by combing through. It apparently promotes lash growth too!

Have you ever tried a lash primer?

Dior Lash Plumping Serum & Primer is £23 and available here or at Dior counters 

How To: Tired/Pick-Me-Up Beauty

There are often those nights where time in bed is very limited and I wake up feeling and looking very drained. I'm sure you've all been there too! Whenever I need a pick-me-up, makeup is definitely the thing thats gonna do it by helping me look a lot better!

Firstly I start with applying a primer, in this situation I would choose a really moisturising one like Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer (link to review here) then onto foundation, which I choose depending on what time of day it is and how long I'll be going out for. In this situation probably a medium-full coverage like my lovely Dior Nude NudeSkin Foundation. To make myself look a lot more glowing and a lot less bla I mix my foundation with an liquid illuminator, my favourite has got to be Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer Skin Illuminator as its very thin and subtle. Mixing the one pump illuminator two pumps foundation on the back of my hand and slapping that on with a foundation brush for maximum coverage.

Next up, the concealer - it's got to be the big guns for these tired eye bags! Just as I like to mix my foundation with an illuminator I do the same with concealer, using Dior Skinflash in 02 followed by Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer which I love as it's super creamy but very full coverage. Onto the cheeks, there's really only one colour I'll use on a day like this and that's pink, it just has the effect of lifting the skin helping me look less tired! My pink of choice is very appropriately named Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush. 

For the eyes I'll even out my eyelid colour with Mac Painterly Paint Pot (link to review here) followed by mascara but only applied to top lashes to give the effect of lifted eyes. To brighten and widen my eyes I'll apply Pixi Eye Bright Liner along my waterline. I'll finish with a really moisturising non sticky gloss, like the By Terry Laque De Rose SPF 15. 

What are the products you rely on to help you look more awake?

Currently Loving: Mac Constructivist Paint Pot

If you follow my blog you'll probably be aware of a little product that pops up quite a bit called a Mac Paint Pot in Painterly. One of my few holy grail products that I rely on daily over and over again! The Paint Pot is a cream product that can be used as a primer or a cream eyeshadow. Perfect for any eyeshadow wearer as it gives the eyeshadow something to adhere to, making it last longer as well as allowing the pigmentation to be stronger (you can read my full review here) There are many other colours I had not yet tried so decided to pick up the colour Constructivist, a warm brown with a slight shimmer. Perfect for a smokey eye! I've recently been applying this all over the lid with some other colours added for a very deep shimmery brown smokey eye.


If seeing how I do it & what other products I use would be interesting pop a comment below and let me know! (in the style of this post here)

Mac Paint Pot in Constructivist 

Do remember to make sure the lid is on tight or they can dry out!
Available for £14.50 at Mac here or at Mac counters

Mamechiyo for Shu Uemura

Currently Japanese artist Mamechiyo has teamed up with fantastic brand Shu Uemura to give us these limited edition designs on their best selling products. I picked up the Under Base Mousse which I actually wrote about here. I also bought a Brightening Cleansing Oil. There are different oils for each skin type, anti aging, oily or dry skin. The oils are used for removing makeup by applying to dry skin, massaging in and removing with warm water and a cloth. Surprisingly for an oil they feel very light on the skin and out of the three I've tried, Cleansing Beauty Oil (green bottle), Classic High Performance Balancing Beauty Oil (cream bottle) and Brightening Cleansing Oil (purple bottle), the Brightening Cleansing Oil is the one I prefer. I'm not sure if there is a different formula but it seems to take of makeup with much more ease than the others. Especially heavy eye makeup! You can buy them in two sizes, 150ml and 450ml (above). Both will last you a while, as one pump is enough to spread around your face.

Below is a video about Memechiyo for Shu Uemura:

Available from Shu Uemura counters now or online here

The Big Benefit Experience- Part 3 First Base, a review of That Gal Primer

Good evening beauties, I hope you've all had a fab weekend! 

Firstly, sorry for the lack of posts over the past couple of weeks.

Now, every beauty junkie knows that gorgeous skin is the key for barely there make-up. 

So if you have an uneven skin tone and blemishes then Benefit's That Gal primer will be your skin saviour! 

I know most of you beauties probably don't use a face primer, but That Gal is a great way to prep your skin before applying make-up for a flawless finish.

It's £21.50 comes in quite a generous tube, but I must be honest and I do think it's a little overpriced. 

You just need to squeeze a couple of blobs out and rub them in evenly all over your face, the same way you would do with a moisturiser. 

The light pink pigments tone down the redness of any blemishes.

That Gal  creates the perfect smooth base for your foundation, and will stop it sliding throughout the day, meaning less touch ups for us beauties!

I like this primer because it isn't to thick and doesn't feel heavy on my skin, and it smells scrummy too. 

Another great Primer to try and a slightly cheaper alternative to That Gal is by Too Faced and called Primed and Poreless £18.50. It doesn't have a lovely scent like That Gal, but is quite a lot thicker, so perfect if you have uneven skin.

Why not give it a try beauties?! Xx