YSL | Touche Éclat Blur Primer

Just recently I've been trying out a new primer, the Yves Saint Laurant Touche Éclat Blur Primer. When it comes to primers, I'm pretty rubbish at remembering to put them on under foundation, but I've really made an effort with this one, and I think that's because it's so freakin' pretty! I mean look at it - IT HAS GOLD SPARKLES IN IT! Seriously, I nearly lost my s**t when I took this out of the box!

Ok, now we've got that little outburst out of the way, lets just take a moment to appreciate this.... ok done? Good, let me tell you a little bit about this.  This primer c/o House of Fraser, encompasses all of the YSL science behind their Touche Éclat range, which embodies light and illumination.  This primer is designed to brighten your skin, blur your pores and imperfections to give a better canvas on which to apply your foundation.

If you're wondering if those gold sparkles translate onto your skin, they do.  However, when you apply foundation over the top you won't see them any more.  The YSL blur primer is quite different in texture to other primers I've used.  You almost can't pump out a small enough amount as a little really, really goes a long way.  It's most similar to gel primers, but it has a VERY powdery finish, and that's not a bad thing.  Unlike other gel primers, it doesn't roll off the edge of your skin.  In the past with gel primers I've always found that instead of masking my pores, they'd actually highlight them - but with this one I haven't had that happen.  My foundation sits on top of it beautifully.  If anything, I've found that I need even less foundation than normal as the primer underneath seems to spread the foundation out more - I know that sounds strange, but that's what I've found.

It's certainly one of the best primers I've used.  It hasn't broken me out and has really helped to keep my foundation looking flawless on my skin for longer.  As you might expect, this isn't exactly a budget buy, it comes in at approx £29.50 - but like many things in life, you really get what you pay for.

To shop the Beauty Confidential offer just visit House of Fraser here.

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*Post contains a PR sample

Smashbox 24-hour photo finish shadow primer

After 12.5 hrs wear with the GOSH forever shadow stick - only *just* beginning to crease (this image was instagrammed at the time)

As you'll probably know, Smashbox are famous for their primers, specifically face primers.  So when I discovered they did an eye shadow primer I was super duper intrigued.  When I had a play with it I saw that it's quite a matte texture and very thick and heavy (as in, freakin' hard to get out of the tube!).

That aside, this is quite possibly the best eye shadow primer I've used.  I've always been Urban Decay for eye shadow primer since I discovered it existed, but unless I let the tube get to about a year old (to start drying) it creases on me in about 6 hours, even the Eden one (I'll be doing a review on that some time soon too).

So how does this compare?  Well, if you saw my GOSH forever eye shadow review, you might remember me mentioning this there.  By itself, it out performs Urban Decay by about 3 hours, if I apply the makeup about 7:30am, it'll crease about 3pm ish.  But, with the GOSH forever eye shadow, I get about 13 hours out of it before it starts creasing at all.

That's, freaking, amazing!  If you're not away, I have possibly THE oiliest eyelids known to man, well the right lid anyway.  Everything creases on it, and I mean, everything.  But, with this and the GOSH shadow, it doesn't.  My left eye doesn't show any creasing at all even when I take my makeup off after like 17 hours, but my right (oily) lid creases after about 13 hours with that combination.

So, as a stand-alone primer, it's very good, the best I've tried.  With the GOSH product, it's in a whole other league :)

You'll be able to buy this product later on this month :D

This months Biggest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Jaina from Which Beauty Box UK

 

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*This post contains a PR sample, all opinions are honest and my own

Bourjois happy light base serum in matte

Over the last year or so, I've tried a lot of primers, and each primer has thrown it's own set of issues at me.  Like, rolling off the side of my face as I try to apply foundation (these tend to be the ones that feel like a powder finish), or clogging my pores up which makes my foundation look horrendous.  So far, the only ones I've found that really work for me, are the ones that masquerade as a moisturiser (think Nivea Express hydration primer).

So it's understandable that I approached this one with some doubt.  I picked it up at the Cardiff blogger event Helen and I organised a few weeks ago - 5 of us all bought the same one (well, 4 did, the other went for the luminous version of it).

The first time I used it, I did not get on with it - it emphasised my dry skin and pores, but I couldn't tell if that was because I was trying a new serum underneath it, or a new foundation sample (I managed to talk Laura Mercier into giving me a little sample of it at the counter).  So, the next day I used my normal Dior BB cream and the Vichy life serum, low and behold I had a beautiful finish!

After a shaky start it's now woven it's way into my daily makeup routine, who've have thought?  What I like about it most is how when combined with the BB cream and life serum it really helps to control oil on my t-zone like a boss.  I'm not saying it's perfect, it doesn't work with every foundation I have, with some it does the 'whoa look at these pores/dry skin' thing, but on the foundation I wear the most it works beautifully.

You only need a small amount too and you're good for the day.  For me, this worked out to be a great buy, which is really saying something for a primer as I have such fussy demanding skin.  So thanks Bourjois for another fantastic product!  You can pick yours up at Boots for £10.99.

This months Biggest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Amy from Srslylou

 

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Nivea express hydration primer

My first experience of this was in the form of a little sachet inside a magazine.  I'm a big fan of Nivea's skincare so was excited to give it a try.

That was back in the day of my spending ban, well, once I was off it and I remembered that this little beauty existed, I hastily rushed out to purchase one for myself.  Typical of most primers, a little goes a long way.  It's consistency and texture is just like their Pure & Natural day moisturiser which I'm a massive fan of, and holey attribute my skin now being clearer to.  This primer creates a perfect base for your BB cream or foundation without it clogging up your pores.  I found that my foundation looked better for longer when I was using this, typically lasting for a good 12 hours before I started looking patchy.  It dries to a non-oily or greasy finish and doesn't leave any residue on your skin, unlike some of the more gel type ones, which can roll off your skin at the sides, yeah... they don't work for me.

Aside from thinking it's great and generally loving it, it also comes with a great price tag, just £4.99 and it is also available for sensitive skin.  You could also use it in place of moisturiser as the product itself is very moisturising :)

This months Bigest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Hayley from Water Painted Dreams

 

Written by Georgina Kent