review: nyx angel veil primer

Hey guys!

Today, I thought I'd do a review on the NYX Angel Veil Primer! Although it's not available here in Australia, I've noticed that there aren't a lot of reviews on this little tube of goodness. I'm not sure how long it has been available to purchase in the States for, but either no one likes it or nobodies bought it, because I have read probably one review online before buying it.

I used this pretty much everyday for two weeks as a primer in order to get a proper impression of it. I have to mention that this is not the typical primer that I go for. I have normal to dry skin, and definitely prefer a primer that hydrates my face. However, I have been loving what's in this tube! 

Read on to see my thoughts!

Firstly, for a drugstore primer, this tube is incredibly cute! Its white with black writing, and a pink lid. The primer itself is white and silicon based - which i was surprised by because honestly looking at swatches of it online, and even at my own, this doesn't look like a silicon primer. More sort of creamy, and fluffy.

It blends in like a dream and completely brightens my complexion! It goes on completely white, and blends into my skin as I'm pale - however, if you are someone with a darker complexion, this may not work for you as it stays quite white even after its blended in. But, I feel that because it's so white it really really brightens up my face. It also corrects my skin tone really well. I would say it has a similar concept to Korean BB Creams, in that it has a whitening effect on your skin, helping to correct all redness and uneven skin tone. This just doesn't have the skincare benefits of the Korean BB Creams.

Here are some swatches for you:

 

As you can see, it has lightened and brightened my skin considerably, and also corrected the redness and unevenness. I really enjoy this primer for something different in my routine - and according to some people, it is EXTREMELY similar to the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (which retails for $69AU at Mecca). I can't comment as I haven't tried the Hourglass primer (it's on the list), but if you compare $20something to $69, I know which one I would rather be paying.

I found mine on eBay for roughly $20, but you can find it here on BeautyJoint for $19.25 AU.

Have you tried this primer? How did you get on with it?

Until next time my loves...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

my current favourite primers

Hey guys!

A week or so ago, I mentioned that my primer box (see above) is absolutely overflowing with primers. Why do you ask? Well, the face is 100% my favourite part of my makeup routine. You may all know that my foundations are already taking up the majority of my collection, but I honestly believe that without a primer my foundation wouldn't look as nice nor stay as long.

As such, I have collected all of these primers in hopes that I would find the primer to end all primers. I typically go for primers that provide hydration or a luminous finish as I have normal to dry skin, and I just find that these help my foundation glide on over any dry patches and help prolong the wear of my makeup - I don't ask for much.. I have already made a post on Primer 101, in which I go into detail of which primers are the best for different skin types, if you are wondering which primers will work will with your skin.

When I asked if you guys would like to see some of my favourite primers from this box, it was a definite yes. I am always on the lookout to try something different, and the primers I will mention in this post are my favourites thay I've tried on my quest so far. Actually, theres six (which I will mention despite not owning it at the moment) that are all the ones I love and switch between in a semi-regular basis.

Read on to see which primers made the cut!

1. Bourjois Happy Light Luminous Primer (not pictured)

Of all primers that I have tried, this is my favourite! I only don't own it at the moment, because I recognise that I may have a slight problem in hoarding primers and don't need anymore at the moment. I have however mentioned it a million (exaggeration?) times on my blog, and it is just everything I want in a primer and more. It provides my skin with an extra hit of hydration without being a moisturiser, and a tacky enough surface for my foundation to adhere to and stay all day. Plus, it gives me a subtle glow before I got in with the rest of my face. As soon as I use up some more of my collection, this baby will be the first one I buy. It retails for $21.95AU here on the Priceline website.

2. Models Prefer Liquid Light Brightening Primer

A newer purchase of mine, this is fast becoming a favourite in my primer routine. I honestly didn't expect much, because I always thought that Models Prefer products were a bit miss rather than hit. But I was definitely proved wrong. This is a creamy formula with subtle shimmers in it that doesn't make you look like a disco ball but just livens up your complexion. It does provide some hydration, but really I just love it because of how my skin looks when I go in with my foundation. It does help my face to stay on a good eight hour day as well. This retails for $16.99AU here on the Priceline website.

3. ELF Cosmetics Mineral Primer in Green

This product is probably the one that garners the most questions on my Instagram. Does it work to correct redness?  Is it worth spending the little amount it costs? Guys, this is up there with my most favourite and coveted primers. Yes, I'm as shocked as you are! This actually works really well to neutralize my redness, plus my makeup is pretty much going nowhere when I put this primer on. It is silicone based, so I do wait a minute or two for it to sink in to my skin, but honestly, this is worth every dollar and I would 100% pay it all over again. You can find these at Kmart, I only paid something between $8-12AU.

4. Benefit Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer

This is the only high end primer that I've tried and loved. Its a balm type of primer that you swipe on your face and then rub in with your hands. It smooths over any dry patches I have and makes them pretty much non-existent. While I haven't worn it on my face for 15 hours, I 100% believe that my makeup would still be on my face at that mark. Plus, its lasted me forever and the packaging is so adorable. For a high end primer, I would pay the money again if I ran out. You can find this at Benefit counters in Australia for $47AU or here on the Benefit website for $32US.

5. Garnier Perfect 5 Second Blur Primer

I won't harp on about this primer as I have a full review on it here. But, I really like this primer because it honestly blurs the blackheads on my nose! Any imperfections I have are magically gone when I use this primer, and considering its price, I was so impressed. I would definitely recommend trying this if you are someone who wants a cheaper alternative to something like the Benefit PoreFessional. This retails for $16.99AU here on the Priceline website.

6. Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer

This is another newer addition, but I am loving it! It reminds me of my Bourjois Primer the way it feels and makes my skin look. While this is made for more mature skin, I think that people with drier skin would benefit from trying products that are made for more mature skin. This is because they provide an extra shot of hydration to your skin, which is definitely what I want in a primer. This is like going in with a moisturiser after my actual moisturiser, and smooths on my foundation. I would recommend this if you are, like I said, someone who suffers from drier skin, because this definitely hydrates my skin. This retails for $24.95AU here on the Priceline website.

And there you have it! My current favourite primers - I love going through my box of wonders and realising what I love and don't love about the ones that I own. There are still others on my list, but I will stay strong in my resolve not to buy anymore until I clear out this box a little.

What are your favourite primers?

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

primer 101: not to prime is a crime

Hey guys!

Apart from a good skincare routine, the one other routine I always always always make sure to follow is to use is a primer. Using a primer as base for your makeup is so important, as not only can it help the longevity of your makeup, or 'blur' certain imperfections, but it can also help your makeup go on more smoothly and blend flawlessly.

I really wanted to do this post, because I feel like primers are so neglected when it comes to a beauty routine. This may be because some feel that primers are a waste of money - and to be perfectly honest, that's down to personal preference and opinion. I have normal to dry skin and notice a HUGE difference when I wear a primer and when I don't. This also may be down to a certain primer not working out for you, which this could again be down to personal preference, but it also could be because you are not using one that is catered to your skin type.

Basically, in this post, I want to talk about all things primer. I will go through each skin type and any other additional needs and imperfections, and give you my opinion on what type of primer you should be looking for. Hopefully, this will help some of you that are looking for a primer that is suited specifically for your skins needs!

SKIN TYPES

DRY SKIN

Basically, if you have dry skin you are going to want to look for primer that is going to hydrate your skin, smooth over any dry patches and provide you with a more luminous, radiant, dewy finish. This is because people with dry skin usually have issues with their foundation sinking into their dry patches and emphasising them, rather than gliding over them, and a matte finish can make your skin looking even more dry and dull.

Luckily, drier skin girls will not usually have an issue with the longevity of their makeup. The issues we normally have is it blending over our skin flawlessly, and making it look less obvious and more natural. Unfortunately, without a rigid skincare routine in place already, it can be quite difficult to get our skin to be completely smooth and hydrated before foundation. But, a primer can help, especially those above that both have hydrating and luminous properties (Bourjois Happy Light Luminous Primer and L'Oreal Lumi Magique Light Infusing Primer), and a silicon primer (pictured below) can also come in handy when going over those pesky dry patches.

People with normal skin can usually get away with using any primer.

OILY SKIN

Ah oily skin. Being completely honest, I do not have a drop of oil in my skin, so I cannot comment on any actual primers that are going to completely control your oil. From what I understand, a good skincare routine in place that really caters towards oily skin will make a huge difference in the . Using an oil on your face at night is supposed to stop your skin from producing excess oils, which could help with keeping your face nice and matte.

Usually, people get oily through their t-zone - their forehead, nose and chin. Basically, for this skin type, you are going to want a primer that keeps your face matte. This means keeping your oils at bay so that they do not seep through your primer and foundation, because this happening can cause your makeup to look patchy, uneven, greasy and can also cause your foundation to oxidise. Checking that a primer is oil free can also help, as it won't be containing any other excess oils. Using a mattifying primer such as the Lorac Porefection Primer or Benefit's PoreFessional can help combat the oil!

Apart from primers, another product that can help you keep the oil at bay is a setting powder. Putting this over your foundation once its set is supposed to help the longevity of your makeup and keep it looking matte. I would recommend carrying it with you throughout the day in case you need to touch up.

COMBINATION SKIN

People with combination skin have exactly that - a combination of dry and oily skin. I really feel for you girls who have this skin type, because not only do have to keep your oil at bay, but you have to also make sure that your foundation is able to glide over any dry patches you may have as well.

What I would recommend is that you use two primers - a mattifying primer for where you are most oily and another primer that smoothes down your drier skin. A silicon based primer, like L'Oreal Studio Secrets Base Magique could be a good option for those dry patches.

SKIN IMPERFECTIONS

REDNESS

This is something that I personally have struggled with for a long time. Basically, there are two ways that I have used to combat the issue. One is to use a whitening BB Cream (like the Skin 79 Super+ BB Cream) which will even out your complexion and provide a little more coverage - or you can use a green based primer. Because red is opposite to green on the colour wheel, using green over any redness you have is a great way to even out your skin tone and balance your redness. Two options that I use often are the Lioele Veil Vita BB Cream in Natural Green and the NYX Photoloving Primer in Green.

Another product I have tried recently is the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness. This is a neutralizing crème that is supposed to be used under your foundation. I have been using it both under and as a foundation for a couple of weeks now, and have noticed that my redness is showing up less when I use it.

PORES

Basically, if you have larger pores, your makeup can sink into them and make it obvious that you are wearing foundation. If you suffer from this, you really want to conceal them or blur them in a way that makes them unnoticeable so that your foundation just glides over them. I personally do not have large pores, but I do have big blackheads that like to sit all over my nose. To hide them, I use the Garnier Perfect Blur (review here) which is really inexpensive and does a great job at hiding them. The other more high end purchase that is said to be good for larger pores is the Benefit PoreFessional - I have never tried myself, but have heard rave reviews from people who do have bigger pores.

BLEMISHES

To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if there are any primers out there that help hide a pimple. Really, the best thing to do if you have any pimples or blemishes is to not put makeup on them until they are free from puss, as putting products on them can actually make the pimple worse. But I understand that we are sometimes impatient for things to heal, so what I suggest is finding a primer with salicylic acid in it. This can help to fight the blemish causing bacteria as well as being a primer for your makeup at the same time. One option is the Smashbox Photofinish More Than Primer which claims to help diminish your pimple while also being a great primer!

That's all for this post! Let me know your thoughts on this - this is my first time tackling a 101 post, and I really wanted to give a thorough explanation (which I hope I did). If you have any questions, feedback or things you think I should add to this post, please let me know down in the comments!

Until next time...

xxxx

in between blogging, you can find me here!

instagram: http://instagram.com/beautybybek

twitter: https://twitter.com/bekaaturner

mini review: l'oreal lumi magique pure light primer

Hey lovelies!

 

Todays post will just be a quick review on a product that I feel is held favourably in most reviews on Youtube and other beauty blogs. Seeing as Australia pays something like 200% (I have heard that figure somewhere, but don't quote me on it) more for cosmetic products than every other country in the world, our drugstore items are priced similarly to most high end products in the US. Because of this, it is really hard to determine what is actually worth the money, and what is not, which I have said before in previous blogs.

 

Todays product is not a bad product I feel, but I feel like a fair review needs to be done by someone who has paid the Australian price for it rather than the US price. I'll be reviewing it under five different categories: What the Product Is, What it Claims to Do, What I Think, Is It Worth the Money? and Would I Repurchase? Hopefully, by the end of the review, you may have made your mind up about it as well :)

 

I also need to stress that this is not a reflection of the brand in question, but the product itself.

 

The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer

 

Swatch of the primer

 

What is the product?

 

The L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer is the base primer that is supposed to go hand in hand with their L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation. It is supposed to give your skin a boost of hydration and brighten your appearance so that once your foundation is applied it looks all dewy and glowy, all while prolonging the wear of your foundation.

 

What does it claim to do?

 

From L'Oreal's Australian website, it claims to be "... ideal for preparing the skin for beautifully radiant make-up results." and that it "... masks irregularities and uneven textures." It also says it provides an "... even-textured surface for foundation to look its best and stay on the skin longer."

 

What I think?

 

Here are some photos before and after applying the primer (all photos are taken in natural light):

Before primer

After primer

Before and after side by side

 

Do I think this is a bad primer? No, I don't. In terms of it evening out my skin tone, and brightening my skin it definitely does a great job. It is not completely clear in the photos, but I do feel that this helps my foundation to go on smoother and definitely makes my skin look absolutely radiant.

 

The issue I have with this primer is its staying power. Typically, foundation lasts pretty well on me, except in my t-zone. I am not oily, it just so happens that foundation tends to wear off my nose and chin pretty easily, which is why I set it with a powder to help it last as long as it can. However, this primer does not help your make-up last any longer than if I was not wearing any primer at all. Maybe it's just my skin, but I find that I can only wear this primer and foundation for about two hours before I can see it starting to wear off.

 

So.. Is it worth the money?

 

That's the other issue I have with this product. In Australia, this retails for $27.95AU. Is it worth that? No. It's a lovely primer in the beginning, but people usually buy primer for two reasons: correcting uneven skin tone and to help the make up stay on longer. For $27.95 I expect it to at least do those two things, and a musical act for me. It does correct skin tone and make your finished look more radiant, but there are plenty of other, more affordable primers that do that and keep your face from wearing off.

 

In the US this retails for $12.99USD which is much more reasonable than $27.95AU (about $25US for any American readers). If you can get it cheaper, either if you're visiting the States, or making an order with a shipping service, even online or on sale, sure give it a try. But I would definitely research it further (don't go just off this review) before you pay the full price in Australian drugstores.

 

But keep in mind that just because I'm not hugely fond of it, doesn't mean that it won't work for you :)

 

Would I repurchase?

 

Not in Australian drugstores. Maybe on eBay, but I have plenty of primers to get through before I need to buy another.

 

Please let me know if this review was helpful in the comments below, and if you'd like to see more in this format :) I really value your opinions!

 

Until next time xxxx

 

*all products mentioned in this post have been purchased by me, and all photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise*