Fyrinnae Velvet-Gel Silca Primer Dry Skin

Primer and I are in the midst of a love affair. I only wear it for special occasions or days that I want my makeup to last all day but I still need it in my life. As a girl with dry skin I know it can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Luckily Fyrinnae's Velvet-Gel Silca Primer for Dry Skin is my new BFF. I wore it all this weekend and I have to say we're getting along great. No adverse reactions to speak of and I'll definitely let you know if that changes.

Right now I'm heading out to a concert and it seems those days are the ones that I most like wearing vibrant makeup. Primer's help to keep everything in place when the weather is warm but also keep the colors true to life and bright. This one's meant for the skin but I smoothed it over my eyelids as well and it's doing a wonderful job keeping the bright blue of MAC Freshwater bright and vibrant, the only way I'll wear blue on my lids.

If you've ever tried matte primers you'll know that they sometimes have a tendency to eat all the shimmer you apply to your face. As a chica with dry skin I like to apply shimmery blush or beauty powder all over my face to distract from any dry patches and this primer lets me do that without making me cake on the product to get any shimmer to show up. I know with one's I've tried in the past I had to give in and wear my face matte, which I honestly hate to do.

Just in case you're wondering it does appear to be different from the non-dry skin formula and I felt a slight cooling hydration upon application. I woke up the next day with slightly less dryness but it didn't stick around through my second day of product testing. I think the way it helps foundation skim over dryness, fine lines and imperfections makes it perfect for those days when I have to exfoliate but don't have time. I don't know if I can say that about some other primers that just seem to leave me feeling well, drier.

I haven't had ANY experience with other Fyrinnae products but I know so many other bloggers who love the line that I have to do more digging. They're vegan (always a plus), sell samples and make some really unique shades of shadow. Gotta do more digging into this wonderful brand. It's too bad I can't seem to find this product on their rather touchy website (the last few times I tried to go there to finish this post it wasn't there!) If you know something I don't please pass on your information.

Too Faced Primed & Poreless SPF 20 Bronze Tint

I embrace the pale I really do but that doesn't mean that I ALWAYS want to be Casper the Albino Ghost. Sometimes life just really calls for a little bit of bronze. Take today for instance, the eyes were played up yesterday and lips the day before, when does a girl have a chance to play up the skin. Sure, you can wear bright blush for a foxy flush, put on some sparkly bronzer but then the cheeks only get to have the fun. My forehead, nose and chin are jealous!

All kidding aside there is no way I can go to an important even this summer without a primer under my foundation. I just can't. Not only does primer help my makeup last all day but the colors stay true to life instead of facing and creasing in the sun. Foundation can oxidize and change color making you looking like you're wearing the wrong shade or spent too much time with a bottle of self tanner.

Too Face Primed & Poreless Bronze Tint is awesome. It's subtle but you can see a slight difference in the tone of your skin. It's so subtle in fact that when I tried it out I slathered it on Matt's forehead instead of my already covered face. He looked naturally tanner on his forehead but it wasn't as if he had a tanning mishap the previous weekend. There's also a very subtle amount of shimmer to liven up the skin. I mean, Matt's a boy, and no one would think he turned into a sparkling Edward the Vampire.

At $30 the price is pretty comparable to similar primers but this one really works. It's not as heavy as say, Smashbox, but the silky silicone makes your face feel soft and look matte. I love that this adds another layer of sun protection, something we need year round which really helps justify the price.

So whatever the occasion, work, play or mundane, you really need this product in your life and if you've never used a primer I promise you will not be disappointed.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Hint of Tint

Summer, Summer, Summertime! With the heat comes greasy skin and shine, it's pretty inevitable and unavoidable but that doesn't mean you have to live with it. I'm not! Enter Dr. Brandt Pores No More Hint of Tint.

This $45 bundle of love does it all. It soaks up oil, mattifies, reduces the look of pores and even gives you a little bit of bronze color. Use alone or under makeup for a perfect summer look.

I've used the original Pores No More and although it's a splurge I really think it's worth it. My skin looked amazing and makeup application was a breez on my now silky skin. If you're hesitant to shell out the big bucks definitely get a sample at Sephora or check for it when you place an online order as I've gotten many samples of this with my orders.

Even though I have fairly dry skin I didn't find that this product sucked the moisture from my face, it just left me soft and shine-free. The hint of tint is perfect for anyone from super pale to medium toned olive skin but I wish they would come out with a version for those of you who are darker than that.

This product is antibacterial (whatever that means in this case) and free of major chemicals like sulfates, fragrances and dyes, perfect if you're trying to do your part to help the planet and green your routine at the same time.

If you're not looking for tint or you're looking for some help with your mature skin check out Dr. Brandt Pores No More and Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging, respectively. You can't go wrong with this great brand!

L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base (Primer)

I've become a primer girl, something I never thought I'd be but here I am. Ever since I tried my first one two years ago I've become addicted. Since I'm currently unemployed and rarely leave the house except for trips to the grocery store or to family functions, I admittedly don't use it every day. In fact, I really only use it for special occasions, long days or when I know photos are going to be taken. If you've never tried a makeup primer you should know that its main responsibility is to soften flaws and help your other makeup adhere to your skin better and this one did just that when I tried it out at a long family function last Saturday.

Technically this product is called Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base but I thought that would be confusing if you weren't looking at the product. Clearly, it's not a foundation which I typically think of when I hear makeup referred to as base. I also thought that since the foundation is a souffle that the consistency of this primer would be lighter but it's right up there with Smashbox Photo Finish Light, not a bad thing at all. Also, a little goes a long way. I tried the sample that I've seen in at least three of my magazines and even though the foundation sample barely covered half of my face the same size primer sample did the whole thing. I thought that was amazing and that the jar would last forever, always a plus in my book.

I'm not an oily girl (although you wouldn't know that by looking at me now, see my review tomorrow for THAT explanation) but this primer is known to be mattifying and I can see why. My face felt soft and satiny without any of the telltale grease that usually makes it feel this good. My foundation glided right on and I had no trouble with peeling like I do some other primers. You know when you finish applying your makeup and run your fingers across it one last time and end up with rolled balls of product? I didn't have that with this one, not at all.

One thing I realized about this primer that wouldn't work for me (the only reason I wouldn't consider purchasing it) is that it comes in a jar that you dip your fingers in. Now I'm not known for being the most sanitary person in the world but that just seems like a breeding ground for germs to me. That and the fact that I can't stand dipping my hands in a jar and ending up with half the product under my nails instead of on my face.

Quickly, I wanted to let you know that I also tried the sample of the MagicSmooth Souffle makeup and again, as it comes in jar form, I wouldn't purchase it for myself. This foundation has a really sheer coverage but it blurred my imperfections without really covering them up, great for my fellow freckle-faced girls who want to proudly show them off. I applied it to half of my face and after a few hours (probably around 5-6 hours) you couldn't really tell which side was wearing foundation and which side was not, probably why they market the primer and the foundation together. I have a feeling that the smooth consistency of MagicSmooth Souffle allows this one slip off your face quicker, even without the hot and humid temperatures sure to come in a month or so. It did make my face feel soft and hydrated without making me shiny which is great for any skin texture.

How do these products rate to you? Have you tried them? I'm so glad to see so many products like this in drugstores now, letting those who wouldn't even know where to begin in Sephora have a chance to experience a makeup primer. All I can picture is my mother saying "what's a Sephora?" Show her to the makeup section in the drugstore and she's like a ravenous beast.