Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Review

Primer... a product that not a lot of beginners know of.
A product that i've received tons of questions of.

What exactly is a primer?
Basically make-up primer acts as a barrier of your skin from the make-up. It also makes the foundation adhere on to your sin a lot better. Though there are a lot more benefits that each & every primer has but the main purpose of a primer are the said 2 reasons.

Now, let's talk about this primer that had received lots of raves from make-up mavens.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Make-up Base.

Housed in a cute red glass jar, this little gal could easily become your best friend! It comes with a free tiny spatula.

You can read the leaflet that was included on it. Just click it for a bigger image...

Here is the ingredients list:

A silicone-based primer!
I know i said before that silicone breaks me out but i just feel like this primer could make a difference.

This is how it looks like...
It's fragrance-free & goes invisible when you apply it on your skin.

Since it's silicone-based, it glides smoothly on the skin. It could easily smooth out uneven surface like scars, blemished areas & open pores. As what some users say, it makes the skin "as smooth as a baby's bottom" & i agree!It does make the skin velvety-smooth!

A little goes a long way!
I hope you'll be able to see the difference of how it looks like with it on. If you took a closer look, you'll see the fine lines almost disappearing. I took the pic right after i applied it. I should have given it a few minutes to settle before pictorial.

The difference might not be obvious but you can feel how this fills up your pores!

As for my thoughts...
I did not experience any major breakouts but it did cause whiteheads on continued use. I can't use it for everyday, but it's ok since i mostly just stay at home. I make sure that i have this on when i go out just because i like how smoothly i can apply my foundation on, i think it prevents splotches & caking too because it really makes the foundation adhere on your skin better.

Now, no matter how this makes my skin really smooth it turns me off (not the whitehead-causing problem). It doesn't have any oil-control at all. tsk! What a shame! Every time i put this on, i have to make sure that i have oil films or a pack of facial tissue. It seems like this makes my skin oil up more, maybe that's the cause of my whiteheads.

I don't have any problem with it before when i still got combination skin but since it has become too hot lately, my skin went from combination to oily. *sigh*

So i would only recommend this for girls with normal or dry skin only.

I got mine on StrawberryNet. You can click HERE.

PROS:

• diminishes fine lines, wrinkles & enlarged pores instantly!
• scent-free
• disappears on the skin! no color that could alter your foundation
• locks moisture on the skin; won't ever make your skin feel dry
• includes a spatula
• packaging is really sturdy!
• a little goes a long way

CONS:

• no oil-control
• could cause whiteheads (imo)
• might be expensive (but it's worth it!)

Will i buy it again?

Nah, this could last forever on me because you just need a very little amount to cover the skin. 

Will i recommend it?

Well, i would really love this if only this has oil-control but that doesn't stop me from loving this because i can now understand why most girls go ga-ga over this. It is a great primer for normal/dry skinned girls but sadly, not for oil-skinned ladies like me.
:(

Have you tried this?
What's your favorite primer?

Hope you all have a good day!
Jaa ne~!
^_^


ps:
Product sent as sample. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Opinion shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company. Use at your own discretion.

why i like strawberryNet~

I'll tell you another reason why you should definitely shop at StrawberryNet.
By the way, if you miss my post about it you should check it out HERE.

I went to the post office last thursday to pick up a parcel that i have been really waiting for~!

See?
I told you that they gift-wrapped their products!
I like the special feeling that you get when you open something dainty like this. Don't you all like it when the moment you received a package you will see something so cute inside waiting to be unwrapped? I love the thrill of it!

Weeks ago, i was contacted by StrawberryNet if i would be willing to feature them on my blog. I immediately said yes all because i am a fan. I already made posts about them before because i am a happy & satisfied customer. I don't feature anything on my blog that i haven't personally tried & tested, mind you. This site got my 100% approval & recommendation.

You can easily track your parcel too!

They would give you a tracking number so you'll know where your package is. I didn't include mine here though for safety reasons. hehe
I was checking where my package was & i'm glad that they are actually in time! The time that it was in transit jives with the time that the PHILPOST had received it. Yay!

I will definitely be getting more products!
I'm just waiting for an allowance period since you all know i hate customs. I'll be making another StrawberryNet haul sometime within next week.

They already have their Easter Specials... I'm not really sure what i'm gonna get the next time. I think i'll go for hair care products...hmmm... but i wanna try Lauren Luke's palette too... also perfumes! But you all know that i can't purchase something that is more than $50 because the customs officer will definitely give me a hard time..
gaaahhhh!!!
Doshio?! What to do?!

But for now, this is what i got from them.

I have been looking for a primer for a long time now & it feels like this one is much more highly-rated compare to the Laura Mercier one. This one is silicone-based though. My skin reacts to silicone but who knows... maybe this time it won't. I am keeping my fingers crossed on it.

Clarins, please work on my skin!
Onegai~

Of course, i'll tell you more about it once i've full tested it.
Well then, i hope that you all will have a great weekend,ladies!
Jaa ne~!
^_^


ps:
Product sent as sample. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Opinion shared is personal view & is no way influenced by the company. Buy at your own discretion.

Avon Simply Pretty Fresh Radiance Makeup Base Pink Glow In depth Review

Wow! That sure is one of my longest post title ever!

The first primer that i have ever used was Benefit's That Gal...which i love because it does make me look awake & brighter...especially when im feeling a bit under the weather & my face looks so sordid...add the fact that it's pink & the scent is quite lovely..even if i prefer fragrance-free stuff, but i learned to love it & has become one of my 'wake me up"-er ...(you can read my review HERE)

What i just found as a major disadvantage with it is that it's not available locally. You either have to buy it from Ebay or thru local resellers, which often times proves to be hard to find since not everybody uses it.

As i search for a good alternative for it, i saw this tiny pink tube on the online catalog of Avon Philippines...& i wanted to buy one but since i don't know any Avon Lady, it took me sometime before im able to get my hands on them..

For the cheap price of Php150 (more or less $4), it's pretty cheap to let it pass...

We know that most primers are pretty expensive, so i was actually surprise to know that this is really cheap. Here in the Philippines, Revlon is considered as high end brand already..lol.. because its expensive! The Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer, which i heard is just more or less $12 in US is sold here at $18+....so just imagine how much the REAL high end brand is here...Guess how much the price is for UDPP.....if its $17 in US...you can buy it here (from local resellers) from $21 to $28!

Anyways, going back to the real review...

It's just 10ml on a small squeeze tube, but im pretty sure that it will go a long way for you don't really need a lot....


It's so little that my Lola camera (Lola is the tagalog word for Grandma) can't even focus on the description... (-_-")

I tried looking in the internet for some info about it, but i guess that this is not available in every country that's why i can't find info about it...(correct me if im wrong about this not being available in different countries)

I'll just type it out for you,gals.. (i have to thank my little bro for helping me with this!)
Since, there's no available info on the net so this might be the first real info available so i'll really give it a full blow by blow...lol!

"Make your make-up last longer with Simply Pretty Fresh Radiance Makeup Base. Apply before foundation for an extra radiant glow. Smooth moisturizing formula glides on gently to give an even & brighter skin tone."

Ingredients:
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polysurbate 60,
Stearic Acid, Talc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Myristyl Myristate,
Triethanolamine, SD Alcohol 40-B, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate,
Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Lanolin,
Methylparaben, Lanolin Oil, Lysine, Oryzanol, Propylparaben, Tocopherol, Fragrance,
May Contain Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Chromium Hydroxide Green, Iron Oxides

Here is a pic of it
It doesn't look that pink...
it looks more like a pinkish beige at first, but if you spread it out it would then be pink.

Here is a picture if it's spread, together with Benefit. You can see that That Gal is pink & Avon is just pinkish.

What's great about it is that it got that tiny hint of pink "sheen"...which i think is better because it really gives that nice glowing, dewy look especially if you just wear it alone. I guess its because that sheen will reflect light (in a mild way) that could result in you looking glowy & radiant...

See this pic?
I put it a tiny amount of it...then i just lightly spread it out just so that you can see how it stands out clearly...this pic was taken indoors...night time..

Then this would be how it would look like if you spread it. You might not see the difference between the two, unless you click it & you'll see that the one with Avon have that radiant look to it...sugoi!
Last but not the least, it makes the make-up adhere to your skin better....for its a bit 'sticky' but not slick...

Ok...after that lengthy text about it, here's just a breakdown of it.

Pros:

• cheap
• easy to buy IF you have an Avon Lady near you
• convenient enough to toss in your tote bag
• fragrance-free
• hygienic packaging
  

Cons:

• might not be available internationally (again, im not sure about this..let me know if this is available in other countries too)
• not that good in controlling oil (in my case 4hrs at most)
  

I'll definitely buy this...actually ill buy this instead of That Gal...all for the above reasons....first & foremost is that its cheap but i think gives me a more radiant look instead of the more expensive primers that i have tried.

So with that, im done with it..

Jaa~!

Benefit "That Gal" review

Remember when i said, i'd try out Benefit's "That Gal'?

Well,yesterday i went out & had to put make up (of course!) & tried it. As what i said, i have an oily skin & i do perspire a lot, which is why im not so keen on using primer because in the end ill just wipe it off with my constant patting of hanky on my face.

First thing that i like about it is the scent. It really smells so good. It's flowery & fruity but not overmuch...I just love it.

Then the color...it's pink!Isn't that a lovely pink shade?!
It's so girly....just like what other people said, i was also worried that it will give me a tint of pinkness if i applied it. After i put on my moisturizer, i waited for a couple of minutes then i put it on. It feels a little "greasy" without being greasy...(get it?) I heard that even in Smashbox Photofinish it feels like that too....Anyway, I like how it feels, it kinda give the feeling that it locks in your moisturizer plus it makes my skin feels velvety soft & smooth too!

Ok, Upon applying my makeup...foundation, cheek tint, blush,etc..i did notice a difference. It made my makeup look flawless, like its coming together nicely for the first time! (uh..that makes it sound like i always end up looking like a mess before the "no primer" days,huh?)

I like how it gives me that "flawless made up" look. Before i use primers, i look ok, but sometimes, while im putting the rest of my make up i can see some spots where my foundation is not doing a good job of covering (like dark spots). Now, my foundation is even & it actually makes it look like i don't even have large pores anymore! (well,i exaggerated a bit...i still have some, but its not that visible anymore...not unless you really look at me too closely)

Good Points:
-'readies' your skin with all the makeup you're going to put
-smells nice (if you like a flowery-sweet smell)
-its pink! (i love pink!obviously)
-its hygienic

Bad Points:
-expensive (sooooooo expensive..wallet not happy at all ;_;)
-not available in the local Department Store

So,the verdict? I definitely love it!

I'll buy it! Maybe i'll just buy it straight at Benefit.com & throw in the Erase Paste & other stuff too but then again,its ridiculously expensive! Im an ebayer & i actually got that sample from one trusted ebayer too. I know that there are lots of fake stuff you can buy at Ebay, but there are also good ones. you just need to make sure that the seller got good feedbacks.

on the hunt for face primer....

I first heard this from my friend...She just mentioned it in passing that this is what she is currently using. Since i perspire a lot, i was thinking that i don't actually need a face primer, because later on in the day, when i wipe my face with a hanky, no matter how softly i pat it my foundation will just be removed.....so im thinking..."why bother putting primer?".. *shrugs shoulder*

But lately as i was doing some beauty/makeup researches, i always come across face primers. I am using eye primer & it really works..but my lids are just oily..they're not sweating (lol!) so i only use eye primer. My curiousity piqued when lots of people are actually saying that a primer will definitely change putting makeup on.....hmmmmm...isn't that something?

& with that i began my hunt for face primers, currently what im eye-ing is the Photofinish from Smashbox & That Gal from Benefit. These stuff are not exactly budget-friendly... :( So, im actually looking for some samples for me to try on first & see if it actually works...

I was able to get my hands on Benefit's "That Gal" brightening face primer...I haven't used it..but i will definitely use it..maybe on saturday because i will go out & i need to put makeup. But i opened it & smelled it...& it smells so nice!I really like how the way it smells. It's sorta flowery & sweet...i just hope that the smell won't linger when im putting makeup...i don't wanna break out because of the fragrances included on the product itself.

Now...all i need is to get my hands on Smashbox's Photofinish...hmmm....ill not buy it unless i have actually tried it...so...i need a sample first....wonder where i could get one?

As soon as i've tried "That Gal", i'll let you guys know about it....

Have any of you tried both of it?Which one works better?