Mac Primped Out: Eye Look Bag in Drama Taupe

 This is another great holiday set from Mac that doesn't fail. They came out with three different choices of color combinations that you can choose from. Since i love wearing more dramatic smokey eye most of the time, i thought this was perfect. Every set comes again in the cute animal print clutch, this time in green - yay variety! The set is $46.50 and it comes with a bunch of good things. First we have two eyeshadows as a duo, mascara, eyeliner and a brush. The total value of the products is $58.50, and this is without the bag and the brush included in the set. So onto the products....

'Filament' / 'Black Tied' eyeshadow duo

• Filament Eyeshadow - this is described as a 'platinum silver' and its a luster finish. This shadow looks really pretty in the pan and when swatched, and then when i used it the fallout was insane. Doesn't show up as much on the eyes and its not that easy to apply. I see more fallout than i do any color. I will keep trying to see how i can use this one but its a so-so for me.
• Black Tied Eyeshadow - i've had this one on my list for a long time. I have a few matte black shadows but i heard that this one is a must-have in the collection. The blackness is really nice and the silver sparkle in it are not overboard or falling out all over your face. It blends beautifully as its a velvet finish so i really love this one. 

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'Bad, bad black' Opulash mascara - i love the formula of this mascara. I do feel like the brush may be a little too big for some people to use but it brushes the lashes really nicely and ads some dimension to them. The formula is an intense black so it does work in darkening them up. The one downside for some people might be the size of the brush, especially if you have smaller eyes. Other than that its a good mascara.

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'Engraved' Powerpoint Eye Pencil - i absolutely love this eyeliner. I normally wear gel liners but this is a great liner that i've been using for a few days now to line my eyes. Its so smooth and applies really easily. Its waterproof and does last all day without smudging. This particular shade is a rich black and it lines the eyes beautifully for that dramatic look. I would consider repurchasing it in the future for sure.

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275SE Medium Angled Shading Brush - this brush is so handy, and works really great. I used it to apply my crease color and it works really nicely to stay in that crease and blend in the color well, i love it.

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Unless you think you would use all the products, or don't own them already, this one can be a pass. I dont regret buying it since i dont have any of them and really wanted to try them out, this was the best opportunity to get them at great value. I'm happy with it, however you don't need to rush and grab it if its not what your looking for.

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Thoughts?

xoxo

MAC Primped Out: Lip Look Bag in Lavish Coral

The holiday gift sets at Mac are quite overwhelming this year, as always. The packaging is soooo cute and the makeup included has variety and the size of most of the sets are worth looking into. This lip bag that i picked up is mostly coral shades, but they do have another one with pink/fuschia shades if you prefer more of that color. The pink clutch is a vinyl feel material with leopard pink and inside it has a patterned design. Inside you will find three full size products: lipstick, lipglass and lip pencil. Did i mention FULL size?!? Yes! It's a good value in the sense that you save a bit plus you get a cute clutch with it. All together for $39.50. So onto the products -

'Shy Girl' lipstick - this is like a warm peach with a slight sheen to it, due its cremesheen finish. This shade is part of the permanent range and one that some of you might be familiar with. I dont own this shade so it was really nice to try it out and i really love it. The slight sheen makes it easy to wear on its own even though it doesnt last a long time, its a really nice shade you can quickly re-apply and wear on its own. Definitely a shade to have in your lipstick drawer.

'Kiss Me Softly' Cremesheen Glass - this is a soft peachy shade with tiny gold specks in it. I for one love cremesheen glasses. I think the formula is really great, shinny and not sticky. It does tend to settle into the lip lines a little bit but personally it doesnt matter. It works really nice paired up with the lipstick in this bag.

'Boldly Bare' Lipliner - this is a great lipliner that works great with the lipstick or even other browns. The shade is a brown that leans more on the reddish side and it works smoothly on the lips if you want to use it as an all over the lip color and wear a more neutral shade on top, or even just a gloss.

I do recommend checking out this gift set, especially if your obsessed with peachy coral shades like i can be sometimes. Like i mentioned, the value of it is great, all three products can add up to be about $59, and you would not be getting the cute clutch that you would in this set. Check it out before they're gone!

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Thoughts?

xoxo

Mac Glamour Daze Haul!

Macs recent collection is probably my favorite this year. It's sparkly and girly and there's something for everyone. The holiday collection is quite large and a lot to take in but in addition to all the nice gift sets that they came out with, the separate collection - Glamour Daze - has a great deal of extra dimension products for face and eyes and other various things. Going at the Mac counter was a bit overwhelming but its a lot of fun to see the cute variety. I picked up a few things from the collection that i know i will use more. They are a bit more pricey due to special sleek packaging so i didn't want to go too crazy, so i chose carefully. So here's a more detail review of each product that i picked up.

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'In the Limelight' nail polish - this is my first Mac nailpolish that i've tried and i really like it. I've been on the lookout for a really nice mint color and so far this is what i found. Im sure other brands are available that have this shade but i picked this one up anyway. I tried it once so far and i feel like you do need to work with it a bit. Two to three coats should work to get a good color payoff and avoid any streaks. Love the shade and the quality, so far i have no complaints.

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'Beauty' lipstick - this is a real light cool toned pink shade with a glaze frosty finish. Seeing it i knew i had to get it. It is quite light when applied but i like to pair it up with something more dark and blended looks really nice. It doesn't really last long on the lips at all so that's the only downside about it and if your darker skin this might wash you out if you wear it alone. Otherwise its a gorgeous shade and im glad i got it.

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'Feminine Edge' fluidline - i picked up this shade even if it doesn't really seem to work as a eyeliner. It looks pink in the pot but when applied its more sheer and sparkly than anything. If you keep adding product you get a hint of pink but its mostly silver glitter, which i personally really loved about it. I would not use it all over the lid or just as an eyeliner alone. I would added under my waterline or if i want to brighten up an eye look with lots of sparkle and glam. Its a bit awkward to work with just because the glitter shows up first before any color of any kind, but i still love it. I will post an FOTD soon with me wearing it so you can see what i mean.

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'Stolen Moment' Extra dimension eyeshadow - the only thing that was kind of disappointing was the size of the eyeshadow. Earlier this year when the extra dimension eyeshadows came out they were much larger. However, i could not pass on getting at least one that i knew i would wear a lot and this shade did not disappoint. The quality is really great in my opinion, goes on smoothly and its the perfect all over the lid color. It reminds me a lot of Satin Taupe, which is my all time favorite, but a bit more plummy and brown with some silver sheen in certain light. I really with it was larger since i feel like im going to use this one a lot, but i would just buy a backup soon.

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'Whisper of Gilt' extra dimension skinfinish - is described as a 'light soft white gold with shimmery sheen'. Its the prettiest champagne highlight that just brightens up the face to beautifully. This shade is a re-launch form a collection from earlier this year, which i missed out on so i was happy that i got my hands on this time. I love the gold glow it gives off when i apply it on my cheekbones and it just brightens up the face especially when i use brown or gold based eyeshadows. This is also a perfect shade for cooler toned shades. Highly recommend it.

'Superb' extra dimension skinfinish - is described as a 'soft peach nude with multidimensional shimmer'. Its slightly darker than 'Whisper of Gilt' skinfinish, and more of the brown side. It works really nice with a more bronzed peach blush and warm tones. The bronze peach shade adds a really nice metallic glow to the face and i really love it. I do think its worth having both shades if your a highlighter junky like me, unless you prefer wearing one shade over the other. Either way, i recommend checking both extra dimension skinfinishes.

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So this is all i picked up from the collection. There's so much more to it to check out, including more eyeshadow shades, lipsticks and glosses, blushes, eyeliners, nailpolishes and mascara. It's a gorgeous collection and i highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

XOXO

Did you pick up anything from Mac Glamour Daze collection?

FOTD - Purple Rain

I talked about the new NYX purple eyeshadow that i got and was really eager to try it out. I wore it alone all over the lid with a simple liner and i absolutely love it. I'm excited to try it out with other shades and mix things up a little bit. Hope you like it! 

FACE: 

Mac Studio Fix NC40

Mac Blot powder in medium dark

Mac Blunt - contour 

Mac Melba blush

 EYES:

UDPP

NYX Deep purple e/s

UD Bootycall highlight

Mac Blacktrack 

Benefit They're real! mascara

LIPS:

Mac Angel lipstick

NYX Sweet Heart gloss

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xoxo

Small NYX haul

Recently dropped by Ulta to check out some NYX products. I was looking for some blushes and lip products, but ended up getting a few lippie goddies and one eyeshadow that i've had on my wishlist for a little while now. With all that said, here's what i got:

Deep Purple single eyeshadow - as soon as i saw this shade and swatched it i knew i had to have it. I probably own more purple eyeshadows than anything else because they work great with brown eyes. This shade is a more black purple and really great for smokey eyes or more dramatic look. Its quite sheer and metallic with tiny silver specks. The slight downside is that there's a bit of fallout so you need to be careful. Other than that its a gorgeous color.

Xtreme Lip Cream in Natural - this is a pale pink beige shade and i love it. Its very soft and pigmented with a glossy finish. Its not sticky so it feels really nice on my lips. Because its so pigmented the color is real nude and it may look like a lot on your lips so a little does go a long way. I like to wear it mixed with a darker lip color, since it lightens it up a bit and gives me a nice shade. One downside that some people might not like it the smell. Its almost like plastic, but it doesnt bother me much.

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sweetheart - this is my favorite gloss at the moment. NYX has amazing glosses and the mega shine ones are the best ive tried so far. The shade is a nude peachy shade with slight silver sheen to it. It just brightens up my lips and the fact that its not a sticky gloss is a major plus. I like to pair it up with any lipstick because it compliments both a nude or a pink shade. It smells like cherries which i really like and i do wish that they stay power was a bit longer, but ce' la vie.

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Clear - because i love the quality of these glosses i figured why not add a clear one to my collection. Same quality as the Sweet Heart gloss and i love it. If i wear a more matte lipstick or color in my lips with lip pencils, this clear gloss is great to just add on to the look.

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Have you tried any good NYX products lately?

xoxo

Current Obsession - Tangle Teezer Original Pink

 First time i found out about this brush is from my fellow bloggers page Zara which you may know as Mouldyfruit! She had only good things to say about this brush so when i saw it at my local Sallys Beauty Supply store i knew i had to have it. I'm so happy that i found it since i thought they had it only in the UK. If you are from the UK and are interested in the brush, you can check out Zaras review on it HERE.

One of the most annoying things to me is to brush my hair after i shower. I have naturally curly hair so its really hard sometimes to tame it down and work with it smoothly. Even if i use conditioner, i still have knots in my hair and using a regular brush just pulls my hair out. First time i used the Tangle Teezer i almost screamed. Brushing my hair has never been so easy and smooth going. It untangles any knots easily without pulling the hair painfully out of my head. The bristles are soft and because of the way that they're arranged and different size it helps work with any part of your hair. Even after i style my hair, using this just makes everything look smooth and put together. I would definitely recommend checking this brush out especially if you have thick curly/wavy hair that gives you a hard time. 

Look for it at your local Sallys Beauty Supply. It's around $12 but i promise its worth it. 

It also comes in purple, but of course i had to have the pink one! 

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Thoughts?

xoxo

Few of my September favorites!

I feel like i haven't done a favorites post in a really long time. This year is really flying by and i really dont know where my heads at. I have a lot of posts lined up this month and im hoping i can keep up for all of you. With that said, here are a few things that i've been using nonstop the past month and some even before that. Generally, they are products that i see myself purchasing or using over and over again. 

Bath and Body Works "Sweet on Paris" body lotion - i use this lotion almost every single day. The sweet smell is so addicting and it does leave my skin soft and moisturized. The scent sticks around for the day and i love that. I've had someone say i smell like cookies LOL! The Paris theme is just adorable and its worth checking out as Bath and Body Works has more Paris themed scents and products available.

Bath and Body Works "Falling Apples" candle - i think i have to go back and get a backup of this one, its been lit up constantly. That apple fresh scent is amazing and feels so cozy to me. I love all the fall candles that they came out with but this one has been my favorite so far, until i decide to go back and pick up some more soon.

L'occitane Purifying Rice Toner - i've been using this for a few weeks now and i really love it. It helps clean my face without irritating it like other toners would. This toner is designed for those with oily skin like myself, to help mattify the face and i feel like it really does work. Unfortunately i think they discontinued this product since i can't find it in the store anymore nor online. Boo!

Apple Ear Pods - this isn't beauty related at all i know, but i do use my headphones when i blog so it is relevant in some way. These are Apples new headphones that are possibly the best headphones i've owned so far. They are really comfortable and the sound is amazing. It doesn't feel like i have a concert going on in my own brain, so i can enjoy music comfortably. It's also a mic so i use it when i make a call and need my hands free. I have really small ears so i always need really tiny headphones that actually fit in my ear and i was worried about these at first but when i tried them they fit perfectly. I would recommend these to anyone that is looking for new headphones.

L'occitane Immortale Brightening Moisture Cream - this is my favorite face cream that i've tried and used. I will have a more detailed review post about this product because its worth talking about and letting you know more about it. I will tell you that it's generally designed to correct wrinkles, even skin tone and brighten the complexion. I have noticed a difference in what my skin feels and looks like and i will explain in full details soon so stay tuned.

Victoria's Secret makeup bag - i recently got this when they had an offer not to long ago. It came in a set with two other larger makeup bags with purchase. I love this one though because of the size. It fits perfectly in my purse without taking too much space and it fits a lot of my makeup and other things i like to carry with me. Love it!

Mr. Pumice - this man knows how to take care of my feet. I purchased it at Sallys Beauty Supply and it works wonders. Its basically and two sided bar that work together magically. The coarse side is the darker purple side, which you use first to get rid of any dry skin. The medium side is the lavender which you use after the purple to smooth out the feet. Its not rough on my feet and it really works to leave my feet smooth and looking clean.

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Thoughts?

What are some of your favorites the past month?

One n' Only Argan Heat Ceramic Dryer

 I have been on the lookout for a new hair dryer since my last one broke - RIP baby CHI dryer, sigh. I went over to Sally Beauty Supply to check some things out. Of course i was a bit overwhelmed with the ton of choices that they have. After what seemed like ages, i decided to pick up the One n' Only Argan Heat Ceramic Dryer. Its probably one of the best hair dryers ive had in my opinion. It dries my hair really fast and doesn't seem to dry it out like my other one. I also loved that it came with a small size Argan oil, which is really healthy for the hair - from what i know. When i do try it, i will have a separate review post about it with more details on that. When i picked up the dryer, they had a special to get a free brush, i got one of those also, which is really good. You can check out the dryer on Sally website. Here's what they say about it:

• Professional 1875W AC motor      
• 6 heat/speed settings      
• Concentrator nozzle       
• Removable lint filter       
• 8-ft power cord        
• Ionic generator        

The One 'n Only 1875 Watt Argan Heat Ceramic Ionic Dryer features a grill that is infused with Argan Oil, derived from the Argan Tree. Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids, omega-6 and vitamin E. It is valued for its ability to revive and nourish dry, damaged hair. Ceramic provides even heat distribution and emits far-infrared heat for gentle styling, as well as natural ions that reduce frizz and static for smoother, shinier hair. 

 

 Argan Heat smooths the cuticle for silky and healthy looking hair and eliminates frizz creating brilliant shine. Helps to preserve the color and integrity of hair reviving and conditioning it.

The One 'n Only Argan Heat Ceramic Dryer is a lightweight dryer weighing just 22 ounces with a professional grade AC motor and ionic generator. Other features include 6 heat/speed settings, cold shot button, concentrator nozzle, removable filter and cold shot button. 

 

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The fact that its an ionic dryer attracted me to it, so it helps the hair stay shiny and healthy. I love that it has a variety of speeds and heat settings, so you can adjust it based on your personal preference. I like to use it on high setting, which helps hair dry really quickly which helps avoid damage in the long run. The one thing that may bother some people would be that it is on the heavy side. Its a fairly large dryer but i don't mind it. I would recommend this dryer if you have frizzy hair like me. It leaves my hair with very little frizz, since my hair has a mind of its own sometimes and likes to be curly. The quick dry hair is time saving, leaving my hair fully dry, soft and shinny. 

 PROS:

• Leaves hair shinny
• Little frizz
• Dries really quickly 
• Various speeds and heat settings
• Long cord 
• Really affordable 
• Slick look
• Comes with small Argan oil bottle

CONS:

• High setting may sound too loud 
• Big dryer may be heavy for some 

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Thoughts?

xoxo

FOTD - Naked Club

I feel like i haven't done an FOTD post in a while. So here's one of what i wore today. I'm kind of obsessed with Macs eyeshadow Club. Its such a nice versatile shade. Today i paired it up with more of the brown and a pop of teal to make it look natural but still fun. Club eyeshadow is one of those shades that you just need to have in your collection. Its a satin finish and it applies very smoothly. Depending on the light and what other shades you pair it up with, it shows up differently everytime. Im going to keep experimenting with it and see what else i come up with. For now here's the look, hope you like it! 

FACE:

Mac Prep & Prime primer

Mac NC40 foundation

Mac NW25 concealer 

Mac Medium Dark blot powder

Mac Melba blush

Mac Blunt contour blush

EYES:

Too Faced primer

Mac Club - all over the lid

Urban Decay Buck - in crease 

Urban Decay Virgin - highlight

Urban Decay Sin - inner corners

Mac Blacktrack fluidline 

Mac Fashion Circuit electric shadow - below waterline

Benefit "They're Real" mascara

 LIPS:

Mac Peachstock lipstick

Mac Sheen Supreme Bare again lipstick

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xoxo

Review - L'Occitane Bonne Mere

I can honestly say im obsessed with L'occitane. It has so many amazing products that i keep trying and they never disappoint. They also always come out with nice sets that have great value and are worth checking out. One nice set that i recently picked up is the Bonne Mere, which is a new line of lotion and body wash made of milk and honey. Full size bottles are available of course, but this set was too cute to pass.

 It came in this nice tin bowl which is great for storing makeup or other things. The set had both the honey and milk products that look like travel size containers - two body washes, two lotions and a bar of soap.

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Bonne Mere, Milk - these are the ones with the blue label and they are lovely products. They leave the skin really smooth and it smells really nice and fresh. I gave these two to my mom because i she really loved the soft scent that wasnt overpowering and just left the skin feeling very soft. The soap smells just the same and its a great addition if your prefer to use a bar of soap instead of body wash.

Bonne Mere, Honey - this scent is my favorite out of the two. I absolutely adore the small lotion. I just throw it in my purse and its really handy. It smells just like honey and almost has a nice earthy scent to it, i absolutely love it. I will definitely buy the full size lotion of the honey one. It leaves the skin extremely soft and not heavy or oily like other lotions that take forever to get absorbed by the skin. Body wash is just the same and feels really amazing, i would recommend checking this scent out.

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Have you checked out anything good from L'occitane lately?

MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadows!

 This is a very long overdue post i know! But i figured i would mention these since some of you might have picked some up. After reading some reviews online on these eyeshadows i was a little hesitant to get them. However, after seeing them in person for myself and swatching them i fell in love so i knew i had to have them. The formula is i think something new for Mac and i have to say its really amazing. They are extremely soft and velvety to the touch and feels like a cloudy delight. All new 12 colors are quite unique in their own way although i found like i could live without certain shades. These 4 are the ones that stood out to me the most. I keep trying to find words to explain the formula but i think you just have to go feel it for yourself. Its heavenly pigmented and almost feels wet to the touch but with one swipe the dry frosty beautiful shade just stands out like no other. The shades are all very metallic and somewhat shimmery, which i personally love, but if shimmer is not your thing then you may stray away from this collection. Since that's all i can think of saying generally about the eyeshadows, im going to talk a little about each one that i own and my experience with them since i did take the time to try them before i actually say something about them. I did not wear them all over the lid yet so im not sure whether it would crease or not. I will keep you all updated about it.

Electroplate - is described as a cool gunmetal gray, though i do feel it has a slight purple hint to it with light sparkle and metallic finish. I absolutely love adding this shade under my lower lash line to add some shimmer to my eyes. Works great with gray eyeshadows and with slight purple tint to them - great for brown eyes. The one downside about it, that really isnt a big deal but i feel i should mention, is that it feels a bit flaky when picked up on a brush and you need to really pack it on carefully. But once on your eyes, its the best.

Superwatt - is described as a light shimmering taupe.This shade is a lot easier to work with and apply on the eyes. It has a great metallic finish and it can brighten up any natural makeup look you do. Applying a little on the inner corners or under the lower lashline can really add some extra dimension and brighten things up a bit. Its really soft so it just glides nicely and blends quite well.

Switch to Blue - is described as a rich cobalt. Its a darker blue that has soft little shimmers and almost looks like a nice satin finish. This shade is the deepest out of all and one that can add a pop of color. I did try wearing it as a top liner, since it is dark enough to be worn as a liner without shrinking the eye, however i found that it creased onto my lid and just made it look like i had a bruised eye - no one wants that! So i only use it if i want to add a little something under my lower lashline to a smokey eye, so it can work great with dark greys and lots of smokeyness.

Fashion Circuit - is described as a bright kelly green. Its a really gorgeous teal color thats more on the green side with slight sparkle and a nice sheen. This is probably my favorite one out of all the ones that i got. Again, this works to add a nice pop of color under your lid and give a bit of sophistication to the look. Ive gotten the most compliments when i wear this and its great to work with. Its really soft and easy to apply and a little does go a long way.

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Did you get any of these eyeshadows? 

What do you think?

Review - Mac Prep + Prime Products

I had these Prep + Prime products on my wish list for a while now. Finally i decided to go ahead and try some out, see how they and if they are worth adding to my makeup routine. I did some research before i went ahead to my local Mac. The reviews varied on either side of the spectrum, with some people loving the Prep + Prime and some hating it. I decided to go ahead, try and see for myself how these products work. So here's my personal review and what i honestly think about these two that i have tried so far.

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Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage - this is the description of the product: "An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder." - i had the chance to try it out a few times and i really do like it. The description is quite accurate in the sense that it makes foundation application easy and without a problem. Leaves my skin real soft and the small light reflecting particles makes my skin look glowy and healthier. My face has some redness so i thought this would help a bit. When i apply the base my face becomes more red, possibly because of me rubbing on the lotion, but it seems to subside a bit and even out throughout my face. I don't see that it helps so much on blotting away any excess oil. Having oily skin, this seemed like a great thing but it doesnt work for me. All-in-all im really glad i got this product and will consider purchasing it again.

Pros:

- makes foundation application a dream

- no strong scent

- not sticky or heavy on the skin

- very soft and easy to apply evenly

- comes in a bottle with a pump

- little goes a long way - one pump on the entire face

Cons:

- doesn't really help with excess oils

- doesn't really help with lasting power

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Prep + Prime Transperant Finishing Powder/Pressed - this product is described as: "A silky, colourless finishing powder suitable for all skin tones. Reduces shine while optically minimizing the look of lines & imperfections. Wear over makeup or on its own. Now in a pressed compact for ease & portability." - I usually use my blot powder that adds some more color to my face. Trying a more transparent powder seemed like a good idea. This powder leaves my skin feeling extremely soft and blends in nicely without it looking like its caking my foundation. I use a brush to apply the powder to my face. My main concern was that it would make my face look like i'm a powdery ghost. I do feel that it has the tendency to make the foundation look a tad bit lighter than it is, compared to my usually face powder that just adds more color. I do love the fact that it helps with keeping my skin from getting too oily around my t-zone.

Pros:

- leaves my skin very soft

- doesn't make my foundation look cakey

- blends well and is transparent

- no scent of any kind

- not too messy and powdery

- compact with a mirror for easy touch-ups

- makes face look smooth and healthy

Cons:

- tends to lighten the foundation even though its translucent

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Have you tried any of the Prep + Prime products?

What do you think?

xoxo