SmashBox Photo Finish Primer Water Review

I have never been the biggest fan of primers. I just never found 'the one' that felt right on my skin. I have rather normal to dry skin and really dislike the texture of many primers. Many of them have that silicone texture which just does not sit right with me. 

I am a much bigger fan of primers that provide moisture to the skin. I used to LOVE the Lorac AquaPrime and although I do not own it, I think I would be a lover of the TooFaced Hangover Rx primer because they both provide a more hydrating feeling. 

When I heard Smashbox released a Primer Water, I was all over it. I love sprays such as MACs Fix Plus and the fact that a product was created to apply to the skin before makeup that would help your products last longer and provide a refreshing boost of moisture made me a happy makeup junkie. The spray bottle makes application a breeze. Not only that, but it's a sanitary way to apply a primer as well. The pump distributes plenty of product with just a couple of sprays and the mist is nice and even so you don't have to hold the bottle at different angles to make sure your entire face gets covered. The mist of product feels so refreshing. It's an instant sensation of freshness and hydration to the skin. After letting the Primer Water set for a little while your makeup has a nice sheer canvas and application is really nice. The formula is made with out alcohol, oil, or silicones so it's suitable for all skin types :)

The spray can be used a couple of ways to ensure your makeup is locked in place. I personally could use this stuff all day long, especially with the warmer months approaching. You can use this as a true primer and spray it before your makeup, you can use it as a setting spray OR you can use with as a refreshing mist just to add some hydration to your skin. 

The Smashbox Prime Water also leaves the skin with a tacky feeling after a few seconds of application so it provides a base for your makeup to adhere to. 

Have you tried the Smashbox Primer Water?

February 2015 Beauty Favorites

Hi guys, welcome to my February 2015 Beauty Favorites :)

July 2013 Beauty Favorites

Hello lovlies. I am finally getting around to posting a monthly favorites!

 Lets start with the roots! The BigSexyHair dry shampoo is the only dry shampoo (other than when I used baby powder way back when) that I have tried but I find it to be good stuff! I usually put this in my hair either the day after I wash my hair or on the third day. It gives your hair a thick, almost dry texture but even on the third day it gives you a second day look. BigSexyHair Dry Shampoo also provides great volume with no teasing necessary. Tousling your hair will provide it enough lift for nice volume. The one trait of this product that could make or break it for some people is the scent. It smells like coco coffee. I don't mind it at all, but if you are scent sensitive this may not be the dry shampoo for you.

Filling in my brows has been an overall favorite of mine during the months of June and July. I always thought my brows were dark enough but after using mac espresso to filly my brows in - I feel like my whole look changes! 

Along with Mac's Espresso eyeshadow, another favorite for the month of july is this angled brush from Crown Brush. The bristles are stiff so it works well for precision. 

Mac's Coral Bliss Lipstick is a practically perfect coral lipstick for summer. It's a creamsheen so it's nice and moisturzing on the lips and it provides a slight sheen. It's not too pink, peach, or orange - it's a perfect blend of all three! Normally creasheen's don't last very long but I find they last a couple of hours with a good lipliner.

Maybelline's Fit Me Blush in Medium Neutral is just a blush I've been wearing to give my face a very subtle flush. I have had this for a while but was not so enthused with it until now. It just provides a very pale rosy color to my cheeks and it does have a nice sheen to it. These are VERY sheer. Even the swatch below took a lot of building up before it came through in a photo. I was very into minimal makeup this July, and even throughout the summer so this was an easy choice for a daily blush - and it was only $5 :)

I know a lot of beauty bloggers are over the BB cream craze but the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream is very appealing to me! I wear this a couple of different ways. Sometimes I will use this as both my moisturizer and foundation, add some concealer and set it all with a little powder and head out the door. Sometimes I apply 2 layers to even out my skin tone and add a touch of either Nars Sheer Glow or the Revlon Colorstay Whipped foundation over top. It's a very hydrating BB cream so it does give a dewey look until you set it. My skin appears brighter and very even toned when I wear this as just my base. It comes out of the tube almost looking like a mix between a mousse and a cream. One negative to this is the scent. It has a strong smell like alcohol that's not pleasant, but it does dissipate after it's bended in.

I am so upset to have hit pan on my Mac's Prolongwear Sun Dipped Bronzer. Sun Dipped really warms up my face without looking muddy or orange. It lasts all day and the packaging is so perfect. I have a full review of this bronzer here. 

I started using the Sally Hansen Airbrushed Legs  at end of June when my tan really started to become apparent. I have the shade medium for  a little extra color on my legs, but what I really love this stuff for is how flawless it makes your legs look. This covers up any bruises or other imperfections you have on your legs. The spray makes your legs to appear to be wearing nude stockings. I don't know how you should apply it but I spray the product from the aerosol can into my hands and rub it all over my legs. This might sound like my legs would look really uneven with this method but this is a streak free product! Great for summer months when you are looking to show off a little leg!

Welp, those are my monthly favorites! I have already begun making notes of my August favorites - maybe I will post in time for September :)

EOTD ft. Lorac Pro Palette

So there was a lot of buzz surround this palette on MakeUpAlley a little while back and I honestly had no urge for it. I went to Ulta one day and while it still didn't wow me (probably because I have plenty of nude shades already), I purchased it anyway. What won me over was the silkiness and creaminess of the shadows when I swatched them. These are some of the most softest shadows I've used. The color range was right up my alley too. 

The more I thought about it I realized I don't have enough matte neutral shadows to do a completely matte eye. 

The shades in the Lorac Pro Palette are nicely pigmented, blend really easily, and comes with shimmer and matte shades. 

I am really happy I bought this and would recommend if you are searching for a new palette. The price is $42.00. For 16 good quality shadows (and a sample of their primer) I would say that is a decent deal :)

This is one EOTD I did using Lt Bronze on the Lid, Bronze on the center of my lid and Pewter on the outer corner.

Do you have the Lorac PRo Palette? What are you favorite looks to do with it?

February Favorites 2013

March is here and we are one step closer to spring :) I am surprised I got this post done in time considering there were only 28 days to February! Allow me to get started

Eyes and Cheeks:

Wet n' Wild Brule: This is the my lids but better eyeshadow I have been looking for! It has been sold out pretty much every time I go to search for it in any drugstore. I finally found it at a CVS and I am already regretting not purchasing a bunch of backups. It is a creamy nude tone color that matches my skin tone perfectly. I have been using this as a wash of color all of my lid and then something like Soft Brown  or Wedge by Mac in the crease for a simple everyday - work look.

Mac Blush Cantaloupe - This is one of Macs Pro shades that I received in a swap. It does not look like much in the pan by any means but on my NC20 skintone it gives a really nice neutral flush.

L'Oreal Colour Caresse Shine Stains - I am going to do a proper review on this product very soon but I had to share this today because I have but I have been wearing this all month! These are especially good for going out at night when I don't have room in my wristlet for any sort of lip product. I swipe some on before I head out at it lasts a good portion on the night! After the gloss fades it leaves a nice color stain on your lips. I have the shade Rose On and On - a wearable pink shade.

Lip Combo Alert - NYX Pumpkin Pie + Laura Mercier Lip Glace Bare Naked: A nude combo I have been loving. Bothe of these products are amazing enough on their own but together they look so nice. They can be seen work together here


Nyx Jumbo Pencil in Milk - This was a product I rediscovered this month. I really disliked this product when I first bought it. I wore it as a base but it creased terribly on me. This month I have been only wearing this in my inner corner to brighten my eyes up and I find it works really well for this purpose!

Queen Helene Scrub I was looking for a new exfoliator and I came across this in the drugstore - Honey and Oats Scrub by Queen Helene. It's such a successful scrub because unlike most other scrubs I have used, the ingredient that is actually meant to scrub does not dissolve!! Your not working quickly to scrub each part of your face before the exfoliators disappear on you. I only really use then when I find I have dry patches of skin that I need to scrub away.

My favorite nail polish this month was definitely L'Oreal's Now You Sea Me. I rarely wear the same polish more that 2x in a year let a long in one month! I have a full post on this polish here