BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector review

          Primers can do wonders for your makeup, extending its longevity and freshness throughout the day. However, finding the right one can be difficult, especially if you're sensitive to silicones (e.g. dimethicone) like me. Recently I've been testing BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, a new silicone-free primer, courtesy of BECCA Cosmetics.

         The BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector is a mattifying primer that can be worn above or below foundation --- and can also be used as an eyeshadow base for oil control on eyelids. The texture of the primer is that of a thick gel. It doesn't have the slip of silicones, so I found that the best way to apply the primer was to distribute it between my hands and press it onto my face. The BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector did help extend the life of my foundation, without causing any silicone-induced breakouts!

Ingredients: Water, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleandic Acid.

         BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector ($36 for 1.35oz) is a great option for those who are looking for a mattifying primer to extend the wear time of makeup. I have a feeling that this primer will come in handy in the hot, makeup-melting summer days ahead! I'm glad it's free of silicones, and the simple ingredient list is a plus too. BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector is available at Sephora and BECCA Cosmetics online.

         Thanks for reading! Have you tried BECCA Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector? What is your current primer of choice? What BECCA products have you been using lately?

Love, Dovey.
Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own. The link in this post is NOT an affiliate link. It is present for your convenience only.

NARS face basics

            I've been schooling myself on the basic face base, again. Now that it's spring, I've been wearing minimal to no eye makeup, lots of mascara and pretty blush and lip colors. I've re-examined my current selection to find basic face items to use as starting points in my daily routine. The exercise helped me fall in love with my NARS basics all over again. In this post I'll write a few thoughts on each item.

1.NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow base -I'll dab a spot on each eyelid and blend out with my ring finger (like you're supposed to do for eye creams). The formula may have a slight edge on UDPP, but I don't mind using either. (UDPP has cost effectiveness on its side though).  I've also tried Too Faced's primer as well however I don't like the smell. The tube seems small, but it's been going for a few months now.

2. NARS Copacabana multiple (reviewed here) - I'm currently avoiding powder cheek products for allergy reasons, so I'm relying on cream highlighters. NARS Copacabana gives my skin the lighter version of the J.Lo glow when applied to my cheekbones. It's not to warm or frosty; it's a natural light beige based glow which looks good in conjunction with almost any cheek color. I use my finger to pick up product as opposed to smearing the stick on my face.
3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville - In the poor winter light, I let myself get away with slightly off-color foundation matches. However, in spring, a natural face means a natural looking face. I don't have the option of tinted moisturizers; almost all have chemical sunscreen (I'm allergic) or don't don't appeal to me. For example, I swatched Too Faced's new BB cream the other day and it was full of glitter! To make do, I'm using my all time favorite foundation formula: NARS Sheer Glow. I have two different colors: Deauville and Ceylan (reviewed here). I'm always declaring allegiance to one side, only to change my mind a month later. Currently, I'm Team Deauville. I mimic a tinted moisturizer finish simply by using less product. It's not nearly as awesome as being able to use the new NARS tinted moisturizer, but it keeps me happy!

          Thanks for reading! What are some of your most basic items? Do you have a brand that you seem going back to? (On that note, I would recommend reading Everyday Beauty's recent post on favorite brands)!

Love, Dovey.

Sephora Friends and Family haul

          Today I'm presenting my purchases from the Sephora Friends and Family sale this year. I was inspired to post by Beauty Vigilante, who shared her haul as well. It's fascinating to see what essentials people pare their lists down to. It says a lot about them, don't you think? I tried to stick to big-ticket basics like foundation and foundation and tools. Recently I've had the notion that I'd fallen a little out of love with NARS. However, judging from the number of black cardboard boxes in my Sephora haul, this was clearly not the case!

          Recently, I've been exploring foundation. I've used most of my NARS Sheer Glow in Ceylan (Light 6) and love the formula, however I felt the color washed me out because it lacked pink. I therefore picked up NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville (Light #4) which has a mix of yellow and pink undertones. Secondly, I've wanted to try MUFE HD foundation for a long time, because of it's photogenicity. I ordered MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Foundation #118 (Flesh) in a value kit that came with the HD powder, primer, and kabuki brush.

          In terms of eye products I ordered NARS Manchourie eyeshadow duo, NARS creamy concealer in Vanilla, NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow base, and Sephora Professionel Smoky eye brush. My favorite product so far is the smoky eye brush that I first read about on The Non-Blonde. I didn't know what I was missing until I got this a couple days ago! I was also quite excited to get NARS Manchourie eyeshadow duo. I've been using this as liner for the past two days, and will try to post a review and photos this weekend.

          To satisfy my nail needs, I picked up NARS Orgasm and NARS Bad Influence nail polishes. Both had been on my list for a while. I was sad since I had missed out on Bad Influence, however it recently reappeared on Sephora's website for steal at $8! I also picked up the Tweezerman petite manicure set. It seems like a travel friendly kit, and I was much in need of a pushy tool and a hangnail clipper.In post-sale retrospect, I think I should have ordered more nail polish! I could have used some pink Sephora by OPIs.

          And.... this is for my mom, per her request. It's Christian Dior Capture R60/80 XP Wrinkle correction eye cream. Does anyone know why all Dior products have ridiculously long, difficult to remember names? Also, on a funny side note, the product is listed on Sephora as "wrinkle restoring cream". I'm not sure people would want their wrinkles 'restored'!

          I also received a 500-point BUXOM perk, that I'm enjoying now, as well as a 12 oz. bottle of Philosophy Purity face wash as a 100 point perk. I probably have enough Purity at this point to wash my face well into next next year! I also find the fact that I have 600 points sitting around to be somewhat disturbing, but I should probably not dwell on that fact... Products that I barely passed on during the sale were more Sephora Professionel brushes, NARS Orgasm multiple, NARS Brumes eyeshadow duo, and more nail polish.

          Thanks for reading! Is everyone else enjoying their Sephora Friends and Family hauls? Care to share any surprise favorites?

Love, Dovey

Makeup Minis

      
          As I mentioned in my first edition of makeup minis, I have so many makeup and cosmetic samples that need to be used. I constantly have a small collection of them on my makeup tray and stashed in other places, including my fridge! I certainly don't need a subscription service to samples, as I'm already swimming in them. Sampling can be fun because there are hits and misses. Here are my sample reviews in order from best to worst.

THE GOOD:

1. Burt's Bees Banana and Beeswax Hand Creme -  To be fair, Burt's Bees jar hand cremes are at HG status for me. The consistency is waxy and a little oily. It doesn't vanish as well as normal hand lotions. The moisturizing and healing capacity is amazing. In the winter, this is the only thing that can heal my painfully chapped hands.  My favorite formula is actually Almond Milk, but the Banana and Beeswax is nice too.

2. NARS Smudge proof eyeshadow base - I love this shadow base! It holds shadows and liner slightly better than Urban Decay Primer potion. The color is clear when applied. I've used up most of this sample, but I keep scraping with the wand hoping for more. I'm not sure if I will splurge on this in the future, although it is my favorite shadow base. The opaque bottle makes it hard to see how much is left and I don't like the un-hygienic wand. Because the bottle would be finished more quickly, I think it would become an expensive habit.


3. Smashbox Photo Finish lid primer - This is also a great shadow base. I'm surprised, since I haven't heard much about this before. I would say the eyeshadow and liner holding capacity is great. There is a color to the base that is more prominent than UDPP. It's almost concealer-like. I like how it covers up some of the vessels / imperfections in my lid. The color looks fine on my skin, but I think it might look odd on paler or darker skin tones. Again, I don't like the wand.





THE BAD: 
 
4. Benefit Ring my Bella fragrance - This is a fruity smell. It reminds me of Bath and Body Works' Sun Ripened Raspberry. I like raspberry, but I'm not that impressed, considering this is supposed to be a more expensive scent. The scent also seems rather synthetic.

5. Smashbox Lash DNA mascara - Can I count the number of ways I dislike this mascara? First, let's start with the pseudo-science-y name. I'm not sure what they were going for with "Lash DNA." Lashes don't even have DNA. Second, the barrel is impossibly large (see photo above).  Either you poke yourself in the eye, or end up applying to the tips. Third, the formula clumps. It's very volumizing, but incredibly clumpy. I've tried layering this on top of another mascara to add a little volume. It works, but adds too many clumps. I was glad to find it's been discontinued. 

         That ends this episode of Makeup Minis. Are there any mini hits or misses you've experienced lately? Thanks for reading!

Love, Dovey.

Urban Decay Primer Potion tube comparison

A quick pic for you today comparing the Professional Size Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion to the newest Urban Decay Primer Potion Tube. 

I was curious about the difference between the professional and regular size ever since the new smaller tube came out. I've had my pro size for a while now, and just bought the smaller UDPP as a gift. The professional size ($29 for 0.85oz) was a better deal than the new tube ($19 for 0.37oz). However, it would take forever to use up even the small tube. I also read on Musings of a Muse that after 6 months the texture of the UDPP in the pro-tube seems to change to a thicker unusable form. I hope this isn't the case, but we'll see. I've had mine for a few months now and so far so good.

I like the packaging on the pro size better, with the shiny cap, but that's a minor cosmetic detail. According to Sephora the smaller UDPP is also limited edition. I wonder when Urban Decay will make up their mind and stick to one style of packaging. As long as they keep offering tubes instead of wands, I'm a happy camper!

The background is from a painting I started a while ago. Blogging takes up a chunk of my free time, so I haven't had much time to devote to art. Photographing things for the blog and applying makeup have been stand-ins for my art-fix for a while, however I think I need to pick up some brushes and draw on canvas (that's not my face) sometime soon! Are there any hobbies you've picked up again recently?

Love, Dovey.