Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer

Face and eye primers I can generally get on board with. Lash primers not so much. I understand them. I see a difference with them but they are just not something that would end up in my personal or pro-kit. Some love a lash primer, and to be fair I haven't tried that many and though Subversion by Urban Decay is the best I've tried I'm not in a rush to repurchase.

So Subversion claims to give 'thicker, longer, stronger' lashes but for me what I overwhelmingly found was that it made my mascara clumpy. I'm also usually in a rush and with whatever mascara I'm using it takes a while for me to make sure all the white is covered and the clumps combed out. Maybe I would love a black lash primer. But what I really think is, I don't need one. I'm happy to whack on a load of mascara but I still like a reasonably natural look - not like fat spiders legs - and therefore it's better for me to have an extra layer of mascara rather than a primer.

Everyday Guide to Primers

Primers is one of those subjects that once you get started it's very hard to know when to stop - you can now get photography fluids and other post-moisturiser, pre-foundation fluids that I didn't include here. Nor did I include lash primers. I've gone for basic primers as they were originally - to prep the skin and increase the longevity of your make-up.

For a lot of people you don't need a primer but I often get asked about whether people should use them and if so which ones. Primers are great because you can use them for just where you need them, they don't necessarily need to go all over your face. If I am prepping a brides skin I will often use primer over the majority of the face, then a mattifying primer on the t-zone and an illuminating one on the tops of the cheek bones.

I only use them on myself if I am going to a wedding or going out, out. Otherwise I find my foundations last pretty well all day anyway. I do however, always use them when I am working on brides or on someone with an oily skin.

I do use an eye primer every day as I find it really helps my eye make-up stay in place and I am often testing eye products so I'll use primer on one lid and not on the other to see how it affects the shadow/liner I'm trying.

All the products I've mentioned are listed below. Let me know what primers you love or hate and don't forget to subscribe to my channel.

My Everyday Guide to Brows

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
Laura Mercier other primers
SuperMatte Anti-Shine from Make-up International
MAC Fix+ Spray
Joan Collins Timeless Beauty 10 Effects
Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer
NYX HD Eyeshadow base
Lola Eye Base
Laura Mercier Eye Basics
Urban Decay Primer Potion
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil
MAC Longwear Paint Pot

This Works In Transit Camera Close-up - Quick Review

As you can probably tell I'm a bit undecided on this product. It has made the dramatic difference to my skin that I was hoping for but it's a really good all-rounder moisturiser and works well under make-up.Would I re-buy? Maybe

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You can read my full review here

You can get This Works In Transit Camera Close-up from:

Feel Unique
Look Fantastic
This Works 
Space NK 

Lola Eye Base

What I love is when I'm given something to try out and it actually works. I've used a lot of eye primers, some are good, some aren't. The Lola Eye Base is a really good one. Reasonably priced, available on the high street (well M&S) and does everything it says it will.

This primer has a really nice smooth texture and is easy to use. I apply it with my fingers, you can use a brush if you want. The beige colour will even out paler skin tones and provide a great base to make colours brighter. It looks very yellow in the pot. It's not. It will prevent any creasing and would work really well on oily lids. When you first apply it it's slightly sticky, then creamy - so you do need to leave it 30 seconds or so before applying your eye shadow.

This Works In Transit Camera Close-up

I've been using This Works In Transit Camera Close-up for months and yet still undecided on whether I love this product or just don't really need it. I've heard great things about it and I can see that it would be a great moisturiser to have in a pro-kit but there is something a bit lacking for me. Maybe it makes to many claims. It promises a greatness that is very hard for any cream to live up to.

This is a mask, moisturiser and primer in one. It is absolutely fine as a moisturiser and very nice under make-up so I suppose in a way it's a primer. I haven't noticed any effect on the longevity of my make-up. If you have very dry skin this isn't going to do much moisturising for you. But it's also quite hard to find a good moisturiser for the mornings. You can use this over an oil, or under an SPF. It's quickly absorbed, hence why it's so nice under make-up. Do wait for it to be fully absorbed first thought - about 10 minutes.

A lot of people seem to find that this reduces the appearance of fine lines. I have not noticed this but I actively avoid noticing anything to do with my fine lines. And I just don't see how it's a mask. Suggestions welcome.

I would say that this would be a good product if you are going away and want to take hand luggage or are able to pack a small wash bag. I'm not though I find myself imagining that maybe I'll just be taking this with me to France in a couple of weeks. This and some SPF. And my Environ AVST 2 moisturiser. I did originally buy the This Works In Transit Camera Close-up to take in my hospital bag when I went to have Jim - it did the job then.

CLOSED - LMB Turns 10 - August Giveaway

As August is my birthday month I'm going to include something that is one of my absolute favourites, the eye palette I would have on my desert island and probably my most recommended products - the Louise Young Essential eye palette. I am so pleased to be able to give one of these away. When Louise sent it over I think I went ultrasonic with excitement. 

There are so many things I love about this palette I'm not going to list them all here but I will write a full review of it soon. You can my not-so-quick review of it here. I use it everyday and on most jobs I do. If you lost all your make-up this palette would pretty much have you covered - brows, contouring, smoky eye and simple blending. Black eye shadow fans, this is the only one to use.

To go with this amazing palette I have an LY30 Angled Brow brush perfect no only for creating great brows but for doing powder liner too and some NYX HD eye primer which I use pretty much every day.

To enter all you have to do is follow me on YouTube and leave me a comment below letting me know your YouTube username.This competition is open until 27th August 2016. Good Luck

LMB turns 10 - February 2016 Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

Thank you to everyone who got involved last month. Now to February's giveaway and I have three really exciting prizes.

The original Naked Palette from Urban Decay is 7 this year and although I have one in my kit that I do use sometimes, it is here as the winner of the go-to eye palette for my personal use. Whenever I don't know what eye make-up to wear or I don't have very much time, or when I go on holiday this is the palette I reach for.

NYX HD Eyeshadow Base

I've been wanting to review this for ages but it's been hard to find a UK stockist but finally NYX HD Eyeshadow base is available in Boots (hurrah!). As regular readers will know I find primers a tricky thing to review. I do test them using one side of my face so I can see the difference but I think often they depend on skin type, what you are wearing over them etc etc and it's the same for eye primers. Those with oily lids will need to use a primer but different forumla's will work better than others...

Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer

I bought this with a desire to be blown away by it. I wasn't. BUT the more I use it the more I like it and that's saying something as primers are a hard thing to review. There are so many contributing factors to whether your make-up stays on or not, weather, the product you are using, how your skin is that day, the list goes on. How it makes your skin look and feel is a matter of personal preference.

Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer is not going to fill your wrinkles in the way that some primers do but it does smooth it and, as the name suggests, give it the most beautiful glow. A glow that, for some, will be too much and for others this alone will be enough (I am jealous of those in the latter category).

But not for me in my pregnant/post-baby grey, blotchy horror skin phase I need all the help I can get and this really is a lovely way to start of your make-up or, if you have great skin, you could just wear this as is. It's very moisturising so also great if you find a full-on foundation leaves you feeling a bit dried out. It's also one of the best primers for having a good vitamin content so it's genuinely nice to your skin. If you have oily skin this is probably not going to work for you. Yes it says its suitable for all skin types but I've found that oiler skins often don't look great at the end of the day with a glowing primer underneath.

 

What You Need to Know - Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer

• £24/US$22
• Good for dry, dehydrated and normal skin
• Evens skin tone and adds glow
• Contains Vitamins E, A and C
• Available in the UK from Pixi, Beauty Bay, Look Fantatstic
• Available in the US from Target, 

Premae Harmony Balm - Product of the Week

When I get sample sizes of things I usually put them in my make-up or wash bag to use when I'm away from home. That way they don't take up too much space and I get to try that one thing out for a continued period of time rather than trying out lots of different things at once. Premae's Harmony Balm was in my washbag for a recent visit to Norfolk and was the only facial moisturiser I took with me.

It is not only a lovely moisturiser but a fantastic primer for make-up or perfect if you are going for bare skin reducing oil and redness and giving a really silky finish. I was surprised how in love with this I was. When my spending ban is over I shall definitely be buying a full sized version of this.

Cover FX Skin Prep

There seem to be quite a few primers coming out on the high street at the moment (some of which I'm in the process of trying out) and I love that there are more reasonably priced products on offer. However, I think some products are worth spending a bit of money on and a great primer is one of those things. I'm a huge fan of Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer and it has a regular place in my professional kit but it has some competition.

Cover FX do three primers but the Skin Prep is the most versatile. Incredibly matifying I think this would be a great alternative primer for those with oily skin, it really smooths the skin and provides a lovely base for foundation. I've also found that you need less of your foundation because this primer optimises coverage to make it go much further. You can use it as an anti-ageing serum as it helps reduce the sign of fine lines (which I've yet to see... I don't have that many yet) and does reduce pores.

I've tried a lot of primers and this really does make a visible difference and is even lovely on it's own with a bit of concealer where necessary. My only problem with it is the price - £44 for 30ml is a lot of money even for a product as good as this. I'm going to keep it in my pro-kit with the Laura Mercier (a more reasonable £28 and nearly as good) to use as and when I need it and, if you have money to spend, this is a great product but I'm wondering how much better it will be compared to the cheaper alternatives appearing on the high street. I'll have to let you know.

Clinique Touch Base for Eyes

I wanted to try Clinique's Touch Base for Eyes for a long time as it seems such a fantastic product. So my sister very kindly bought it for me in Canvas for my birthday so I have been finally trying it out and I have to say that I have been using it most days. The colour is fantastic, it lives up to its name, and it's fantastically easy to apply and provides a great waterproof base for other eye colours. I've been using it a lot for when I want simple, slightly contoured and lined eyes and my shadow hasn't budged all day. Definitely worth its £10.50 and a great present for the hard to buy for beauty addict in your life. I can see this being a permanent part of my make-up kit.

What You Need to Know - Clinique Touch Base for Eyes

• £12.50 or US$15
• Two shades available in the UK - Canvas and Canvas Light  
• Six shades available in the US 
• Waterproof
• Can be worn alone or as a base for eye shadows
• Available in the UK from Clinique, John Lewis, Boots,
• Available in the US from Clinique, Sephora,

Strobe Cream

My rather long silence is due to me being on an Intensive Guide to Make-up Artistry course at the London College of Fashion and the intensive part is no lie. I'm exhausted. I'd had rather an optimistic plan to blog the course like a diary but some how I just don't think that's going to happen. I do, however, have a definite favourite stand out product that we've been using on the course that I think is just fantastic.

Mac's Strobe Cream can be used as a moisturiser or with foundation and gives a lovely dewiness to the skin that is wonderful in photographs without being shiny. Because of the light reflecting qualities is reduces the appearance of fine lines and open pores. For anyone doing photo shoots or wedding make up this is a real must have.

Mac Fix+ (Product 3 - Top 10 for 2010)

In May I tried out Mac Fix+ and I really liked it. It really does seem to keep my make-up on during the day and is a refreshing spritz if you are about to go out without reapplying your make-up in the evening. It also works well as a primer before applying make-up if you don't want to use a cream primer or want something that is going to do two jobs for the price of one. I love spritzing this on tired make-up or make-up that's been matted out with powder to bring life back into it.

The worst thing about this is the spray mechanism. Although I like the packaging and on principle the way the spray works (you twist the top slightly in order to get the downwards action) you really don't get an even covering as you do with a more traditional spray. The best thing about this is the smell - it smells fantastic. First thing in the morning after the night before this will really perk you up and refresh you.

I really recommend this to anyone who wants a little help keeping their make-up during the day or wants something at their desk to keep their face refreshed during the day or wants to reapply their make-up in the evening. It's £11 and you only need a small amount so this is a good investment.

Primed and Ready - Laura Mercier Eye Basics and Benefit's F.Y.Eye

I'm a big fan of primers. OK I'm a big fan of all make-up for some reasons primers are something I never get bored of trying. I think it's because I thought they were just another rouse by make-up companies to get me to spend money but then I found some that actually did make a difference. It should come as no surprise then that I've been testing out another one.

I wear quite a lot of eyeliner and find that this can stain my lids. I have been using Benefit's F.Y..eye (£17) which I just love the texture of (it leaves your eyes feeling silky smooth) and it does take the lids back to their natural colour. However, it does occasionally let those evil creases appear (which I hate). I did think that this was just inevitable but have now found something which defies the crease!

Laura Mericer's Eye Basics creates a perfect canvas for your eye make-up - enhancing the durability of it and camouflaging imperfections. Not only that but the skin friendly ingredients soothe your lids and provide healing benefits and anti-oxidant protection for this delicate skin area. It comes in different shades - I've been using Linen which I thought would be too light but is actually perfect.

The primer itself blends easily and drys smooth leaving a semi-matte finish that is crease proof and water resistant. For those of you who brave the world with a minimal amount of make-up this is great on it's own as a natural colour for your eyes.

I have really noticed the difference in the staying power of my eye make-up since I started using this. It comes highly recommended from me - definitely worth a try (and available here) xx

Holiday Benefits

I don't know what it is about Benefit. Are the girls who work there are trained to tell when I'm vulnerable? do they send out chemical signals that makes me open my wallet? Before going on holiday I went to Boots on High St Kensington to get my top up of HydraQuench Cream by Clarins (which has changed... I don't like change but I'm sure this will be just as good as it always was). I already had everything else I needed for my holiday (it's amazing what you find when you are moving house. In my case 4 boxes of products. Mr J was pleased). The Boots on High Street Ken is a terrifying honey trap for those of us who think that a new item of make-up is a necessity and I couldn't believe it when I resisted the Clarins facial bronzers and the only Origins outlet for miles around. The door was in sight and then... I got sucked into the Benefit counter. I should have kept my head down but I made the mistake of making eye contact and that was that.

I was feeling pretty low. I miss my long blonde locks and hate this mildly washed out ginger state that I'm destined to live in until my natural hair colour wins the fight (please win!). The thought of a little spruce up was too good to miss so I allowed myself to be pressed into a chair and things put on my face. A wiser person would have absorbed that and then made their excuses but not I. Yes I know that when I get home to apply my new purchases they will look nothing like they did in the shop but I find myself getting them anyway. Nor do I think to myself about what the little restraints in the product department could lead to in the fashion department. I decided on two things... if I bought four then I got £10 worth of points on my boots card. This to me seems like a fantastic idea, nevermind that £40 not spent is worth more than points I can only use to buy more products.

So what did I leave with?

• Talk to the Tan - a facial bronzer that can either be mixed with your moisturiser or foundation or you can just use to highlight. I found it most useful post holiday when I always have a big non-freckled patch at the top of my nose from my sunglasses. It also neutralises any under eye concealers that can sometimes make me look a bit odd (once again due to the influx of freckles on my cheeks post holiday). It's £19.50 but you don't need to use very much so hopefully it will last a while. What is great is that you also don't need to be scared of it - I have yet to make myself orange!



• Erase Paste - having been a devotee of Bo-oing for the last 6 or so years I was reluctant to try anything else. I really hate the blue bags under my eyes and Bo-oing is the only thing that comes close to fixing them. It is quite thick however so I let the make over girl try some one me. It's 'brightening camouflage for eyes and face'. Its really creamy and blendable and actually is really good. I'm not sure it gets rid of the blue as good as Bo-oing so I am still using a tiny bit of that underneath and then the Erase Paste which is really smooth and actually does reflect light (something I always thought was rather mythical before). It's pretty steep at £18.50 but again you really don't use very much of this at a time so will hopefully earn its keep! it's also fab for using around your nose to minimise any redness.


• Talent Brush - it's all very well having the Erase Paste but with what should I apply it? I really love Benefit brushes. They are the perfect size and usually do exactly what is required of them. I was advised that the Talent Brush was actually better than the more expensive Concealer Brush (£14.50) and can be used on eyes and lips too. For some reason this is not currently available on the website but I think it was about £12.50 and is great for any application (although i still swear by the Fluff Brush £13.50 for eyeshadow application).


• F.Y...Eye - is a nude primer for the eyes. A devotee of Lemon Aid which is still unbeatable if you have stains or dark patches on your eyelids but this is unlike any primer I've used before. It feels (and looks) completely matte and although still doesn't succeed in the impossible (keeping my eyeshadow on completely) it does a pretty good job at it and is great for a slight neutralisation of colour. Once again a seemingly steep price for such a small pot but only a tiny amount is needed.

I was a bit dubious about the Talk to the Tan at first - I mean how often do you need highlighting tan? but since I've returned from holiday I've been mixing it in with some of my paler foundations and it really works at darkening them up slightly but not losing the nice consistency and finish of the foundation.
To top it all off I was a very lucky girl and as payment for hauling ass to Wiltshire and driving my sister to a wedding she got me Lust Duster a fantastic loose power for eyes and face. This is great and although comes in loads of different colours my favourite is Snow Bunny as this can be used on the cheekbones and brow bones as a highlighter which is a great and simple addition to your make-up if you are going out after work xx