Multi-Functional Primer

I've found a new product. And it's a foundation primer that is multi-functional. I think I may be in love (though we do know that sometimes I can fall out of love just as quickly). However, I think this one should be around for some time. It's the Cover FX Clearprep FX Matte Foundation Primer. Here are its jobs:

Mattifier
Upon using Clearprep for the first time, I felt exactly what they meant when they said matte -- it's nice and light. The product goes on your face extremely smoothly and doesn't feel like those excessive oily products. Hey, I can't afford to be throwing more oil on my face!

Zit-Fighter
Clearprep advertises an anti-acne feature, which we can see on the ingredient list in the form of salicylic acid. I'm not sure if it actually has helped get rid of my problem areas, but it certainly can't hurt, right?

Shine Buffer
I must say, I am one of the oiliest people I know and it grosses me out. I've tried so many products to stop that oil from coming through my pores, but many do not meet my expectations. I definitely saw a difference when I used Clearprep. It didn't solve my problem, but I was blotting a lot less throughout the day and felt that this was in large part due to Clearprep's presence.

Primer
I'm definitely an advocate for priming before applying your foundation. It keeps a tighter hold on the product and helps fill in any spaces before you apply your foundation, whether it's liquid or powder. This mattifying primer certainly does a nice job and I like the staying power it has.

Clearprep may not solve all of my problems (ie, I do get oily eventually), but really I'm just so oily -- it would seriously take a miracle. I definitely recommend checking out Cover FX Clearprep FX Matte Foundation Primer.

Available at Sephora, $39.

My Latest Eye Combo

Continuing with the beauty immunity theme, I wanted to tell you how I get my eyeshadow to stay on longer now than ever before. I have always loved Benefit's F-Y-Eye, but I think it was just time for a change. My face is so seriously oily so it's important to really prime the you-know-what out of my eyes. I started using a combination, which yes takes a little longer, but seriously helps me not have a crease until a while after I leave the office - that's more than eight hours of work that this combo needs to do for me and I'm certainly pleased.

This combination is of concealer and primer. Now, I haven't really attempted to shy away from this particular combination for the simple fact that it's working so well. My fave concealer is Prescriptives' Camouflage Cream and I've coupled it with Laura Mercier's Eye Basics in Flax. These two creams, once blended in, give me a nice clean eye to work with.

I first got the idea to use concealer when I was working with a client and she told me she used concealer on her lids to cover up some redness. I had never done that on myself before (as I don't have much discoloration), but I started and it proved to be a great start to this method of priming my eyes for regular eyeshadow. This is especially perfect for when I go out and really need to exaggerate my eye makeup. Who needs raccoon eyes after a fun night out?

Different methods work for different people so if you find that this combination doesn't work for you then try switching it up. There are lots of primers and concealers out there on the market - you just need to find the one that you like the best.

-A

Wedges are a Must

Today is a day for adding. As I applied my makeup this morning, I realized something. I really wanted to add to my post about priming because I never explained the technique I use with my beloved F.Y. Eye.

When I first began using the product, the girl at Sephora told me to use a Q-Tip to get some of the product out of the bottle and then to use a wedge for blending and smoothing purposes. Over time, of course, I became a little lazy and started using just the wedge to apply and spread the primer. I feel like this really is the easiest method. If you take the corner of the wedge and dip it in the primer you'll get enough to smooth over your lid. If you need some more you can always add.

But which end do you use? Well I like to use the thinner end to grab the product from the bottle and I then use that end to rub it in a little. Sometimes I'll use the fat side that's perpendicular to the thin side. So if you have a wedge with the longer side sitting on the counter, use the larger side that goes top to bottom to really blend the product. Otherwise you may get some extra F.Y. Eye leftover on your lids. You want to really blend enough of that product on your lids.

But don't be using that wedge for weeks on end because that's just unsanitary and wedges are seriously so cheap at your local drugstore. Go get 'em!

-A

Photo: Drugstore.com

Prime and Proper

It's all about priming. For any good eye makeup job, you'll want to make sure you're not doing work for nothing. If your eyeshadow is going to crease in an hour or your mascara is going to wear off ASAP, what's the point?

I've used primer ever since high school when I got my makeup done at Sephora for junior prom. It was the best day because it was this day when I was introduced to Benefit's F.Y. Eye. It is the most amazing base because after I apply this to my lids, my eyeshadow will literally not move all day long. I can go to work, go to dinner, and go out afterward without even touching up! My shadow will stay in place all day. It's fantastic. My mom tends to have a little bit more of an issue with her oily skin (though mine is pretty darn oily!) so I got her using Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion. It works like a charm!

As for my lashes, I just became addicted to Prescriptives' Lash Builder Mascara Basecoat. It really provides a start to lengthening my lashes before I put a few coats of mascara on. I find that my lashes are fuller, longer, and stay put all day long. It may look strange at first, as your lashes look a little white-ish. But once you put on your mascara, your worries are gone, especially since the white coat dries clear. S likes MAC's Prep + Prime Lash for $13.50. Think of this product as a basecoat for your lashes - you wouldn't polish your nails without a basecoat, right! Or would you?!

-A

Photo: F.Y. Eye - Sephora.com; Lash Builder - Prescriptives.com