PRODUCT REVIEW: Revlon- 'Photoready': Perfecting Primer

Here is another product review for you! As you are probably well aware, it is approaching Christmas and the party season. This means that we will most likely be going out a lot more and need our make-up to last as long as possible. I love my current foundation, Rimmel: Lasting Finsih 25 hr (No.100, Ivory), it lasts for a very long time on my skin and doesn't dry it out. However, this post isn't focusing on foundation, but a primer.  Having a clean, smooth base before adding make-up will increase the longevity of the make-up and will also make your skin appear more 'airbrushed' as the products applied afterwards will glide across the skin and not sink as deeply into your pores and attach to dry patches of skin, so overall, allowing an easier, more flawless application. 

The primer I have been trying out recently is the Revlon- 'Photoready': Perfecting Primer. 

Packaging

The packaging is quite simplistic, which I feel makes it appear more chic, this is shown throughout the majority of Revlon products. The pump on top is easy to use and creates little-no mess. 

Price

I have been put off in the past, like quite a few of my friends at the price of this product, it retails at just under £12. I never thought it would be worth the money and always went for the cheaper ones, for example Maybelline: Baby Skin. However, this product completely freaked my skin out so I didn't use it again. I thought that this may be due to the quality of the product which quite often relates to the price. Anyway, enough about Baby Skin... the Perfecting Primer is more expensive so I thought it would probably work a bit better than cheaper ones I'd used yet still not breaking the bank/ indulging into high end brands. I must say, it is worth the money!

Longevity

Although you can use this product alone (it will reduce the visibility of pores), I personally have always worn it underneath foundation, or at least a bit of concealer. Ever since I started using it I have noticed a difference in the texture/look of my skin with make-up on. I have spot prone skin and dry patches and my make-up used to cling to those areas and made me feel quite self-conscious at times, this was also due to the fact that I was setting my make-up and concealed spots with powder which would emphasise the dry areas. I do still powder my face but paired with this primer, the dryness isn't as prominent. I also apply this primer onto my eye lids (I don't know if you're supposed to or not but... it worked for me!). I have had issues in the past with eyeshadow creasing and my eyeliner transferring into my crease slightly. I know you can buy eyeshadow primers but I don't really have the money to be perfectly honest, hence why I popped this primer all over my face! My eyeshadow no longer creases and my eyeliner no longer transfers! Even after a night out where I've been getting a bit hot after having a good 'ld dance.. my make-up has been in pretty good tact! 

Overall, I'm loving this product and I will definitely be repurchasing it once this pot is empty! If you're ever going to buy a primer I would say now is the time... you won't want your make-up slipping down your face at a Christmas/New Year party! 

Hope this has helped!

Speak soon

Isabel x

Halloween Series: 'Cracked Doll' Make-up

As you are all probably aware... it is nearing Halloween! I thought I would do a collection of posts to help you out with make-up, food and drink ideas for any parties you are going to or hosting! So, here is number one...

DISCLAIMER: I'm not a make-up artist so don't expect too much ahaha! 

This is my brother's beautiful girlfriend, Zara. She very kindly agreed to model this look...  

So if you want to find out how I achieved this...keep reading!

STEP ONE

Prepare the skin so you have a fresh, clean base. I did this by using my Garnier- Micellar Cleansing Water to remove any excess oil and left over make-up from the day before. I then moisturised Zara's skin with a light, day cream by Simple and used a lip scrub from Lush to exfoliate her lips. 

STEP TWO

Once the moisturiser had soaked into her skin I just applied a basic base onto the left side of her face. I used Rimmel-Match Perfection Foundation (100 Ivory), Collection- Lasting Perfection Concealer (1 Fair) as a highlight under the eye and on any blemishes. I then set this with Rimmel- Clear Complexion Powder, added a slight contour with a bronzer from Accessorize and a light flush of NYC- Cheek Glow Powder Blush (650 NoLiTa Pink) and finally put a little bit of Benefit- High Beam Highlighter onto her cheek and brow bone. 

STEP THREE

I then did a 'smokey eye' using my Urban Decay- Naked 2 Palette. I applied 'Booty call' (a light, shimmery pink) all over the eyelid,  'Tease' (a light purpley-brown) into the crease and outer corner of the eye and then finally layered 'Busted' (dark brown) and 'Blackout' (black) into the outer corner with lots of blending. I also brought these two shades underneath the eye to continue the 'smokiness'. To add even more depth, I used a black kohl eyeliner pencil in the water and tight line. I then curled Zara's eye lashes and added a couple of layers of mascara to the top and bottom. I also filled in her eyebrow with Revlon- Colorstay (500) in the shaded labelled '3' on the back. 

Okay, so that is the 'pretty' side of look done...now for the 'doll' side! (Eeeek!)

STEP FOUR

Using a white eyeliner pencil (I used one by Barry M), map out where you want the 'break' to be. 

STEP FIVE 

Fill in the remaining area with white face paint (I used one by Snazaroo).

STEP SIX 

Once you've applied one layer of face paint, let it dry and then add another. Keep layering until you are happy but I left some patches that weren't as well covered to show wear and age. After this I cracked open my MUA- Winter Forest eyeshadow palette and dipped a fluffy eyeshadow brush into 'Slate' and applied this around the outside of the face. Using a lighter shade (Dove Grey). I lightly contoured under the apple of the cheek to create a shadow (giving the illusion of a plumper cheek). I continued this technique into the creases either side of Zara's mouth and under her bottom lip to make them look fuller. 

STEP SEVEN

I then attended to Zara's other eye! I put a light wash of 'Dove Grey' eyeshadow all over her eyelid with 'Slate' in the outer corner and crease, blending them until they appeared soft. After that, I drew a thin line as close to Zara's lash line as I could with my Collection- Extreme 24 Hour Felt-tip Liner, this is to hide the fake eyelash seam. I then applied some rather huge eyelashes (Eylure- Exaggerate No. 145) on to her top lashes and some more lengthy ones onto the bottom lash line (Eylure- Lengthening No.35). This was quite fiddly considering neither of us have really used fake eyelashes before! 

STEP EIGHT

Once we'd finished faffing with the lashes, I applied quite a lot of blusher onto Zara's cheek, trying to emphasise the apple. I also created the typical 'love heart' shape lip associated with dolls by using a lip brush and a red lipstick (Bourjois- Rouge Collection No.13). 

STEP NINE

I then filled in her other eyebrow with a dark brown shade from the Revlon palette I had used earlier on (I also mixed in some of 'Dove Grey' as well to make it bolder). I then grabbed my felt tip eyeliner again and went around section mapped out beforehand. 

STEP TEN

Start adding the cracks! Remember there would be some holes alongside tiny and deep cracks. But really just go for it, don't be scared!

STEP ELEVEN 

With a small eyeshadow brush I got a little bit of 'Dove Grey' and went over some areas to add shadow and wear. 

Then just do your hair however you want, I went for pigtails!

FINISHED! 

Here are some more photos...

Speak soon

Isabel x