I've had a few reader questions lately about my makeup routine, so I thought I'd start a little extra series about my favorite products--the ones that fall into the failsafe, can't-live-without-it, worth-every-penny, Holy-Grail-of-Beauty-Products category. (Bonus: seldom-seen close-ups of my face--who doesn't want that?)
First up is an unlikely superstar: foundation primer (specifically NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer). Although I'd read about it in magazines and noticed it as I browsed through the aisles at Sephora, I have to admit that I wasn't really into the idea of primer. I didn't like the concept of adding another layer of goo to my face, thinking I was just upping the potential for my oily, sensitive, breakout-prone skin to have a complete meltdown by the end of the day.
My first experience with primer wasn't a happy one, unfortunately. A sales associate convinced me I should give it a try, and I haplessly spread a thick layer of a the non-oil-free (oil-ful?) variety over my skin and caked a layer of foundation over it. By the end of the day, the predicted oily meltdown and subsequent breakout were a reality. I swore off primer forever.
Against my better judgment, I gave it another try when I got a big sample of the oil-free formula in a NARS gift bag. I use bareMinerals READY foundation (likely the subject of a future Beauty Bonus), and I noticed immediately that the powder went on much more easily and smoothly. It had the same effect as buffing extensively with a kabuki brush, leaving the powder evenly spread over my skin. The finished look was smoother and more dewy-looking, which I loved, but I wasn't sure it was going to last. When I looked in the mirror at lunchtime, I was pleasantly surprised that it looked about the same as it did when I left the house. Later that evening, I was thrilled to discover that, barring some excess oil, my makeup was still holding strong, blush and all.
I kept using the Pro-Prime over several days (the true test), and my skin seemed to tolerate it really well--no extra breakouts, redness, or sensitivity. I was hooked. At $34 a tube, this new addition was not an inexpensive addition to the repertoire, but it was a great one that has continued to perform really well (it's my Photoshop for real life).
First up is an unlikely superstar: foundation primer (specifically NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer). Although I'd read about it in magazines and noticed it as I browsed through the aisles at Sephora, I have to admit that I wasn't really into the idea of primer. I didn't like the concept of adding another layer of goo to my face, thinking I was just upping the potential for my oily, sensitive, breakout-prone skin to have a complete meltdown by the end of the day.
My first experience with primer wasn't a happy one, unfortunately. A sales associate convinced me I should give it a try, and I haplessly spread a thick layer of a the non-oil-free (oil-ful?) variety over my skin and caked a layer of foundation over it. By the end of the day, the predicted oily meltdown and subsequent breakout were a reality. I swore off primer forever.
Against my better judgment, I gave it another try when I got a big sample of the oil-free formula in a NARS gift bag. I use bareMinerals READY foundation (likely the subject of a future Beauty Bonus), and I noticed immediately that the powder went on much more easily and smoothly. It had the same effect as buffing extensively with a kabuki brush, leaving the powder evenly spread over my skin. The finished look was smoother and more dewy-looking, which I loved, but I wasn't sure it was going to last. When I looked in the mirror at lunchtime, I was pleasantly surprised that it looked about the same as it did when I left the house. Later that evening, I was thrilled to discover that, barring some excess oil, my makeup was still holding strong, blush and all.
I kept using the Pro-Prime over several days (the true test), and my skin seemed to tolerate it really well--no extra breakouts, redness, or sensitivity. I was hooked. At $34 a tube, this new addition was not an inexpensive addition to the repertoire, but it was a great one that has continued to perform really well (it's my Photoshop for real life).
Do you have any amazing products you think I should try? Let me know--I love experimenting!
P.S. Make sure you stop by here tomorrow--I have a very exciting collaboration and contest I can't wait to share with you!
Note: I was not compensated in any way for this product review--I just love this primer that much.
