Clarins/Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Primers are so important, I have sworn by Benefit Porefessional for years but I've grown to loathe the texture of it this past 18 months, I'm going to be trialling lots of different primers this year, starting with this one, and I have to say after a week of use and not a single breakout I am impressed!

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch* has become a real cult product from Clarins and bloggers and beauty editors rave about it, I can certainly see why.  The formula is a lovely light whipped texture and it makes your skin feel like velvet, without making your skin feel cakey. It's oil free and the pastel pink shade evens out the dullest of complexions, without any added shimmer, great for oily skinned beauties.

The little pot will certainly last you a long time as a little really does go a long way,in fact a pea sized amount is enough to cover your entire face. As with all the Clarins products the packaging screams luxury and I really do like the little spatula for scooping out the product meaning no bacteria from your fingers will get into it, what a fantastic idea.

My skin is oily and I have large pores, this seems to have helped improve my skin condition and as I mentioned no breakouts is such a big deal to me because so many products make my skin flare up within a matter of days. 

It gives a real airbrushed effect, blurring out imperfections and blemishes. It plumps the skin and fills fine lines, not to mention it sits really well around the eyes without creasing. Thanks to the Acacia Micro Pearls that absorb moisture, and the Vitamin E that protects the skin this one will be hard to beat on skin like mine as it combats all my concerns in one go. It smooths over any dry areas meaning you wont have to worry about make up 'clinging' and looking flaky. It also stops foundation slide and this stuff locks mine in place from 6am-7pm easily. Even through a hot and sweaty gym workout.

I've taken a few shots to show you how it looks applied on the skin, the left hand side shows my bare skin,  I apologise I know it's awful! The middle shot shows my skin with the Smooth Perfecting Touch applied on it's own, straight to the skin, and the right hand shot shows the Smooth Perfecting Touch applied after being mixed into my foundation and then applied with a stippling brush. 

 

I'm very impressed, this one will be hard to beat and If you haven't tried it yet give it a go!

This retails at £26 for 15ml but it will last ages, head over to the Clarins Website to order yours now.

xXx

*PR Sample

Clarins/Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base

I love a good primer, wouldn't dream of applying my foundation without one, and my eyes are no exception. I often wear eye primers on their own as I don't tend to wear eye shadow during the day, I've been reviewing this Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base from Clarins* It's a smooth creamy formula, which works to help disguise any imperfections on your delicate eyelid area and it provides a solid base for your eye make up, it doesn't crease or slip all day and if you just want a natural look it's great on it's own. 

This is from Clarins Autumn Make Up Collection. 

It only comes in one shade and I'm assuming it'll be suitable for everyone, and thanks to Clarins 3D Pigment particles it gives a real lightening effect to the eye lid area, and I just wear it on it's own day to day. 

You can see the little mole on the back of my hand which gives a great indication of the coverage this offers,  if you've got age spots, veins or any imperfections your concerned about then this is a must have for you. 

I've also tested it on my eyelids to show you the before and after too. I have no mascara or anything on here so do excuse the blank canvas but I wanted you to see the full effects of the base on it's own.....

The top picture shows no product and the bottom shows the base applied. 

You can grab this on the Clarins Website right now!, it retails at £22 and will last you ages as you need the tiniest amount per application. 

Do you use primer before applying shadow? 

xXx

*PR Sample

Maybelline Baby Skin

It finally here ladies! 

First the Baby Lips boom, and now Baby Skin, I LOVE cutesy packaging and this little tube is hard to resist, the sweet pastel colours are gorgeous. I cant stress how much I love the girliness of the Maybelline 'Baby' products, and they really will look fab on any of your dressers, or in your Muji.

I love a good primer and I'm conscious of my pores so anything that targets them is a big plus for me, it's a clear gel formula and it really transforms your skin into silky smooth goodness ready for makeup. 

I'm really surprised at how good this stuff actually is, 

it provides a kind of blurred effect on pores and imperfections on your face.

If your a fan of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer but you need a dupe, then this is it, for a fraction of the price too, this is just £7.99 a tube. 

Are you going to succumb to the latest addition to the family? 

If you missed my earlier review on Baby Lips catch up on it here

xXx

Nivea Express Hydration Primer

I remember seeing Nivea in my Nan's bathroom as a young girl, and never really given it much of a thought, a brand thats been around as long as I can remember, people do swear by Nivea but I have always passed it by. Recently though they have launched a product that has taken the beauty world by storm, it's everywhere!
 If you still are none the wiser (where the heck have you been?!) let me introduce you to the
 Nivea Express Hydration Primer....

One thing I would like to point out...don't be fooled by the size of the box, the product is just 50ml in size, but at just £4.99 its a total barg. 

I am a usually a Benefit Porefessional gal, but at almost £25 for just 30ml of the product this stuff really is a steal at under £5, this is a must have for beauty on a budget. 

Available in 2 varieties 

'Normal & Combination Skin' and 'Dry & Sensitive Skin', there will be something to suit your skin type, I picked up the normal/combo skin version as I do tend to get a little oily during the day. 

Foil sealed so you know it's totally fresh and clean until you open it, being a little obsessive about germs I love that its so securely sealed. The screw top means you wont have any spillages on the move either. 

I know some of you don't like scented products,and this stuff does have a fruity smell to it, reminds me of melon, and I love the feeling of it on my face. 

It's texture is really thick & creamy, and as it states on the box it's 'effective hydrators' mean that the primer literally melts into your skin in seconds. It leaves your skin feeling super soft and minimises pores, giving you the perfect base for make up. 

A little goes a long way this amount covered my whole face, and neck, I will update you all as to how long this lasts as I will be using it everyday. I have been testing this out on a typical day at work, so applying it at 6.30am and removing at around 7pm, so it lasts a good 12 hours, it even makes your eyeshadow stay put as I dabbed a little on my lids too.Really grips on to your foundation and stops it slipping during the day, I do have a tendency to be a little oily and found while wearing this I don't need to top up on powder during the day.

This little pot of primer goodness is currently on offer in Superdrug for just £3.99, so go stock up, I promise you wont regret it.

Seems good old Nivea really pulled it out the bag with this stuff, It's going to be a firm fave in my beauty regime.

Stay gorgeous dolls!

Love