Nivea Men Post Shave Balm As A Primer?!

Preparing my skin before applying makeup is an essential step to my routine, and using a primer is vital to make sure my makeup lasts all day.

 I am a massive fan of Manny MUA and in one of his recent videos I heard him talk about the Nivea Men Post Shave Balm as a primer. At first I completely dismissed the idea and refused to be believe it worked and passed it off as a hype that would be forgotten about within a few weeks. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I made a trip to Boots to try it out myself.

 To cut a long story short, the Post Shave balm contains an ingredient called Glycerin which is tacky so anything that goes over the top of it will stick. In this case that means your makeup will stick to the Post Shave Balm and therefor, the Balm acts as a primer making your makeup last all day. 

 Obviously the product helps give the skin moisture after shaving so I find this keeps my skin moisturised and feeling soft. I have also noticed it's helped clear my skin up since I've started using it and it has definitely reduced redness. 

 One of my favourite things about this product is the smell. It has that masculine smell which I adore but it only lasts a few seconds and then it goes away. After using this product for over a month, I have learnt to keep rubbing the primer on my face until I feel it go tacky. This way my makeup lasts that bit longer and you get the full value for your money.

 This is one of my favourite products at the moment and I would recommend it to everybody. At £5.35 it is most definitely worth trying out. The bottle contains 100ml of product and you only need a small amount so it'll last you a very long time. A lot longer than any regular primer.  

Where- Boots

 Price- £5.35

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Makeup Revolution 144 Eyeshadow Palette- Review

One of my favourite things about Christmas, apart from the Berry lipsticks and the smell of Christmas trees,  has to be the cute gift sets and bargains you can find in the drugstore. At this time of year you can find some really great bargains for gifts or just a treat for yourself, so when I walked into my local Superdrug one thing that caught my eye in particular was the Makeup Revolution 144 Eyeshadow Palette 2016 Collection. Makeup Revolution is slowly becoming my favourite drugstore brand and that speaks volumes considering Bourjois is my go to brand!

The shadows are encased in a very large palette which isn't very practical for travelling, (unless you carry around a Mary Poppins bag, which I don't think many of us do!) this wasn't something that bothered me because I knew at the time I purchased it I wouldn't be traipsing it up and down the UK.

Personally, I am a fan of the packaging. Although it can come across a little cheap. For example, it doesn't feel the most sturdiest as if the lid could snap off,  I really like the way the shades are lined out. All of the neutrals are together and it works from lightest to darkest with the more daring colours along the bottom rows. And because the palette is black it helps to make the product look that bit more professional.

There are 144 shades in the palette and the variety is incredible. As I mentioned it works from light to dark with a fair mix of matte, pearly and shimmery shades. The pigments on these are fairly strong but its important to remember this palette is only £20 (£10 a the moment on a half price deal) so I'm not quite ready to throw away all of my other eye palettes but it's still great value for money.

Like any other Makeup Revolution eyeshadows I have tried recently this palette has yet again impressed me. There are plenty of brown matte shades that are perfect for the crease and it has something to suit all skin tones. I was shocked with how little fall out the product has so I can do my flawless base before my eye makeup (kA- Ch'ing). One particular shade that has impressed me is the matte black located at the very end of the fourth row. Trustworthy matte blacks aren't always easy to find in the drugstore as the pigment can be weaker and not as long lasting but this has proven me wrong! The majority of these shades apply like a dream. Even the matte ones. They feel buttery and smooth and since the pigments are so strong you don't need to keep applying product to the brush. I have created many Smokey looks and I am surprised with professional it has looked and it competes with some of my more expensive palettes.

Now, as impressive as this product is, it needs to mentioned that some of the shades have a poor pigment and they don't apply as nicely. It tend to be the brighter, more vibrant colours that suffer which is a shame because overall the palette is incredible. As an aspiring makeup artist, I find it difficult to use these colours especially over the lid and the only use I can find for the is on the inner corner or dragging it along the bottom lash line which is better than nothing but not overly practical!

I've been reaching for this palette everyday recently and I love working with the variety but mainly the more neutral shades because they don't make you look washed out or ill. Always a bonus! And there is such a mix of warm and cool neutrals there is something that will work for everyone. This palette is just as good, if not better than some of my high end products. I would recommend this to everyone and since it is so cheap you would be silly not to pick it up!

Where- Superdrug
Price- £20 (currently £10 on a half price deal)


Katie x



 

  

Am I Using The Right Foundation?

Now, as all Makeup users know, foundation is an essential part of makeup to create that flawless base we are all OBSESSED with. There are so many different foundations on the market and its fair to say that drugstore brands have 100% upped their games by competing with high street, but because of all the choice, a lot of foundation wearers do or have the potential to wear the wrong shade or something that doesn't suit their skin type.

To get technical, foundation is worn to even out the complexion but if you wear the wrong type it can enhance all of these flaws we try so hard to cover. And that's why I wanted to create this post, to explain the different types of foundation.

Cream Foundation

This form of foundation is aimed at people with mature, dry and dehydrated skin as it softens aged skin, adds moisture to dry skin which is a godsend to achieve a dewy/ radiant finish.
They tend to have a high oil content and are often VERY rich which would be a DISASTER if your face often feels like an oil slick.

Liquid Foundation 

Liquid foundation is probably the most common and easiest type to get hold of as brands offer something to suit all skin types AND WHAT A DAY TO BE ALIVE THIS IS. However dry skin people should stay in their lane by using products with a dewy finish and oily skin should aim for products that are "oil free" such as matte finishes.
The consistency of a liquid foundation tends be thin however fuller the coverage the thicker the product will be. This type of product doesn't tend to have a lot of oil in it and are supposed to feel lightweight.
As somebody with combination skin, I am able to use powder on my T-zone and leave my cheeks with just foundation to avoid them drying out.

Mousse Foundation

Come on, confess! We've all been there and tried the 'Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse' and it was our holy grail product before we moved onto bigger and better things. It was Marmite for a lot of people and either loved it or hated it. I for one loved the stuff. Mousse products tend to feel dry and have a matte finish which isn't great for the poor souls with dry skin. The coverage tends to be medium-full and many brands can look cakey if you try and build it.

Gel Foundation

Gels have a VERY thin consistency so it only gives a very light coverage which should be avoided you feel as if you need a little more covering troublesome areas. The main reason this is used is to add light colour to your face and mask slight "imperfections." On the plus side, because the coverage is so light it is suitable for all skin types.

Mineral Foundation

Mineral foundation is similar to liquid foundation in the way that they are very versatile. This tends to be a powder product (but you can get liquid mineral foundation). It varies from light to full coverage as they contain minerals such iron which is great for spots.
The brand that I always associate with mineral foundations is 'Bare Minerals' and there are products to suit all skin types however people with dry skin may prefer a liquid mineral foundation.

Pressed Powder

I know what you're thinking, why has this new kid put press powder as a foundation? Well, even though it technically it isn't a foundation it is often used with it to set everything that has been applied. People commonly use a coloured version to lighten/darken their foundation and it adds to the coverage. If not, a translucent powder can be applied to set which helps decrease oils.
It best suits oily/ combination skin as on dry skin it often makes your foundation flaky or cakey.


I honestly love the idea of sharing the things that I'm learning about makeup in college so here I am! I don't know whether this is something people are interested in but time will tell! thank you for reading lovelies,
Katie x