The Perfect Primers for a Flawless Face

Well prepped skin is one of the most important factors for a smooth foundation application – allowing a good morning moisturiser time to sink in is a great first step to a flawless look (and I have to admit it’s one I sometimes forget to do pre-coffee) If I know I have a long day ahead or that I want my makeup to last longer than usual, I have an arsenal of primers in my everyday makeup drawer to reach for.

Quite often I will pull out my Face of Australia Face Base Primer for day time use – it’s a renowned dupe for the pricier Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer*, and having compared it to the travel size NP I have in my stash I have to agree with that claim! They basically feel just like a light moisturiser and sinks in really quickly without feeling velvety like a silicone based primer. My sister has pretty dry skin and uses this when she wears foundation, and she loves how easy it is to apply and that it doesn’t break her out.

Until quite recently I was apprehensive about using silicone-heavy primers, but the pores around my nose and in between my brows have been annoying me lately so I was excited to try the Smashbox Photo Finish Color-Correcting Primer sample that I received at Sephora on our honeymoon. A thick green paste in texture, this acts like ‘spak filler’ to put it bluntly and I’ve been vigilant about double-cleansing when I wear it so it hasn’t clogged my pores or broken me out at this stage.

Last but not least is an unlikely primer in the form of the Dermalogica Oil-Free Matte SPF30 sunscreen*, which smells citrusy fresh and is something I wore all year round to protect my skin from sun damage. It leaves the skin matte without taking away any moisture from the skin and I found that my foundation sat so much nicer when I wore this underneath – a great incentive to wear sunscreen daily, no?

Now that we’ve spoken about priming the skin, I’m off to sink a coffee to prime my brain for the day…

Emma x

*Products mentioned were provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Adore Beauty Sampler Bag

I love the idea of sample boxes, but am often left disappointed with the lacklustre contents and unused products that fill my drawers even though I’ve long cancelled any subscriptions. I was elated to see that Adore Beauty have once again brought out some sampler packs, letting customers know exactly what they are getting before they order! All of the products are high quality and decently (cutely!) sized, and I was kindly sent the Skincare/Makeup option as opposed to the Skincare/Haircare option.

Before I hop onto my mini-loving bandwagon, let me mention the other products that fill this lovely sampler bag. The St.Tropez Illuminator is pretty darn cool, I had thought ‘ooh nice brand’ and thought no more of it, but when I swatched it I saw that it is fill of iridescent blue shimmers that have blown my mind. Can’t wait to play around with this and see how I can make it work for me. The Philosophy Purity cleanser is a nice size to get a feel for the brand; I actually have another of the same size in my stash so thumbs up for two travel friendly cleansers to trial!

 

I was also happy to see a nice Rose Balm from Lanolips included, I’ve had lots of experience with their lovely lip products but am yet to try this rose scented tube. Another product I haven’t had much experience with (technically) is the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer (not to prime is a crime, as Mister Christopher loves quoting when I apply my makeup!) I have heard that this is the same formula as my beloved Face of Australia Face Base primer, so thumbs up already if that is true.

Let’s talk mini products- I am a huge sucker for them! Look how darn cute the mini products are, Bioderma Crealine h20 comes in a few sizes and I had previously thought my travel sized bottle* was the cutest of the family, but as it turns out this little guy trumps them all! I will be saving this for a weekend away with Mister Christopher, until then the squeeing will continue.

Next to regular sized products from my stash, for comparison

The squeeing continues with the mini Benefit They’re Real, which is adorable compared to the regular sized mascara. I have had the normal tube for so long, sitting unopened in my mascara drawer waiting for the right moment to crack it open. I am a big fan of travel sized mascaras as I find they last a long time without taking up too much space in the makeup bag, so I am going to make an effort to try this highly lauded mascara soon. I have also had TheBalm Hot Mama in my stash for a while and think I might like it more than the famed Nars Orgasm, so when I saw this little baby pan I was thrown into a world of cute! I think it might take a bit of work with a smaller than usual sized blush brush, but seriously, I think I might just keep it out on my desk to make me smile.

So I am happy to report that the sampler packs contain a wonderful group of products to get you out of any skincare or makeup rut, and they each retail for $34.95AUD at Adore Beauty (click this to buy, not an affiliated link) I am pretty chuffed with my super cute mini's and am excited to try out the new products and see how I go with them. In the sampler you also receive a 10% off voucher to use on any full size version of the products included, which is a terrific idea from the Adore Beauty team!


What are YOUR opinions on sample box subscriptions or sampler bags?
Do you wish they were all as good as this one?

*Sampler bag was provided for consideration. Honesty, always.