Nivea Men Post Shave balm as a primer "DOES IT WORK?"

Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

"As a Primer?"

$5-7

DOES IT WORK?

So have you guys heard of using the nivea men post shave balm as a face primer?  Yes, I said primer.  I recently watched some youtubers and they have heard that "nikkietutorials" on youtube swears by this stuff by using this as a face primer.  But does it really work?

First of all, this post shaving balm is said to be an extra gentle formula that is enriched with vitamin E and natural, soothing chamonmile and witch hazel extracts which soothes the skin from irritation and it improves the skins condition over time.  It is also formulated with no drying alcohol and it is lightly fragranced.  

After saying that, does it really work as a primer?  I would have to say yes.  At first I was skeptical about this product because I was very indecisive if this really worked or not.  But, I think it depends on what or how you look at a product.  When you first apply the balm it has a clear and very liquidy consistency.  As you apply it to your face, it has a sort of manly fragrance.  So if you have a very sensitive nose, I do not think this is a product for you.  But, the smell does go away after a couple of minutes, so if you do not mind then it should be fine.

After applying the balm it has a slight tacky feeling and it somewhat reminds me of glue, but not in a bad way.  After a couple of minutes the product dries and it really hydrates your skin.  Then after applying your foundation and face makeup it gives a semi dewy look.  It makes your makeup go on smooth and makes it feel nice and smooth.

The downside of this product is, if you have large pores, than this will not diminish them.  As the day progresses it does keep your makeup staying on throughout the day.  I have combo skin with an oily T zone and it keeps my makeup lasting through the day longer than if I do not have a primer on.  But, at the end of the day with this primer my T zone does tend to get a little oily. 

Overall, I think that this is a great cheap alternative for a face primer.  Even though it might not compare to the high end primers, you still get 3.3 fl. oz. of product which is about triple the amount of a regular primer.  AND it about $5 for this product!  If you are a person that likes to save on makeup items and are looking for a great alternative, then I suggest that you try this out.  

Rate: 4/5

Pros:                                                                       Cons:

-cheap                                                                -does not minimize the look of pores

-get a lot of product for your money                   -lightly fragranced (would of been nice to be 

-lasts pretty much the entire day                         fragranced free, but it is ok)

-makes your makeup go on smooth

-does not break me out

Too Faced Le Grand Palais

 Too Faced Le Grand Palais Palette

Price: $58.00

      Here is the holiday limited edition set from Too Faced, called the Le Grand Palais.  I think that Too Faced has really done it with their display of cosmetics.  I love Too Faced not only for the quality of their products, but also for their displays.  The packaging on all their products are very cute and eye appealing.
     This palette here comes with an amazing display (as seen below).  When you open the palette up it shows a mini display of a little house.  I think it is very cute and makes the palette that much more fun.  Not only does this palette come with 15 eyeshadows, 3 highlighters, and 4 blush/bronzers, BUT it also comes with their "better than sex" mascara, shadow eye insurance primer and a melted lipstick in peony.  

(left to right: white christmas, satin sheets, vintage lace)

(left to right: delightful, moon on their wings, cobblestone, city lights, dreamlight)

(left to right: string of lights, yule log, wish list, arc de triomphe, belle femme)

(left to right: stiletto, eiffel, midnight in paris, champs elysees, party dress)

(left to right: stardust blush, skyline blush, sun bunny bronzer)

Overall, Too Faced has yet to never disappoint me on their packaging and product.  It comes with a very cute dollhouse box and it also has many different deluxe sized products to try out.  This palette also comes with everything from highlighters to blushes and their famous sun bunny bronzer, along with 15 pretty eyeshadows.

Rate: 5/5

Pros:                                                                                    Cons:
-packaging is very cute                                                 -some fallout in the glittery shadows
-pigmented & long lasting
-comes with a lot of product

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow palette

 Urban Decay Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette

Price: $60

(Sale as of 12/27/15: $39)

      This palette is the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani limited edition eyeshadow palette. It comes with 15 amazing, smooth and buttery shadows.  Recently though this palette has gone on sale for $49!!!  (As of 12/27/15)  That's a great deal!  And for those who are in Hawaii, you can find it on sale at the Sephora in Waikiki.
      I think that this palette is very neutral and you can easily create a day to night look with this.  It also comes with some color so you can glam up you eye look with a hint of a color.  The eyeshadows are also smooth and easy to blend out.  I especially love the pigmentation on these. 

 

 (left to right: blonde, bathwater, skimp, steady, punk)

(left to right: baby, anaheim, stark, zone, serious)

(left to right: pop, harajuku, danger, 1987, blackout)

Overall this is a fun palette to play with.  It has a bunch of neutrals which are great for a day makeup eye look.  Or you can change it up for a night look.  You can also add a fun pop of color to brighten up your look. 

Rate: 5/5

Pros:                                                                                          Cons:
-15 buttery, easy to blend eyeshadows                            -none
-great range of colors
-pigmented & long wearing
-comes with a good sized mirror
-packaging is cute

Urban Decay Vice 3 palette

Urban Decay Vice 3 palette 

$60

20 eyeshadows, double ended brush, and mirror

 

*Box of the palette*
The palette is very sleek.  If you have the Urban Decay Vice 2 palette, this Vice 3 is skinnier than that. 



*Picture of the case the palette comes with*
The palette fits exactly in the case.  You could also use the case as a makeup bag if you wanted to.

*Palette*
The palette is shiny.


*opened palette*
The palette comes with 20 eyeshadows and also a double ended brush.  It also comes with a good sized big mirror. 


*Close up of the palette*
20 eyeshadows.  The palette contains eyeshadows that are matte, satiny, and shimmery. 


*top 10 eyeshadow swatches*


*bottom 10 eyeshadow swatches*

These 20 shades consists of many different variety of matte, satin, shimmery shadows.  The matte colors seem to have fallout.  But all these shadows are easy to blend. 

*truth*
matte off white.  It has a hint of very little glitters in it. 


*undone*
very light taupe with very little shimmer in it


*downfall*
matte light brown


*DTF*
medium brown with few glitter


*dragon*
nice forest green with shimmer


*freeze*
silver with a blue undertone and shimmer


*heroine*
navy blue that comes off as purple


*brokedown*
coppery color with gold flexes


*vanity*
deep purple


*lucky*
coppery gold.  More of an orange tone.


*reign*
brown with gold flex


*bobby dazzle*
shimmery sheer white


*alien*
baby pink with gold flex in it


*alchemy*
raspberry pink


*bondage*
unique deep purple that has a slight brown undertone


*sonic*
frosty pink


*last sin*
frosty cream color


*angel*
unique light gold with very little silver in it


*defy*
dark brown/gray


*revolver*
dark gray/light black

Physicians Formula youthful wear spotless foundation

Physicians formula youthful wear cosmeceutical youth-boosting spotless foundation and brush SPF 15 in light 6223

Price: $11-13

So this is the new Physicians formula foundation.  It says that this is a skin perfecting ultra fluid foundation that delivers flawless, spotless coverage and a finish so natural it looks invisible on the skin.  It also says it is a weighless liquid veil that feels weightless on the skin.  It improves the appearance of dark spots, age spots and sun spots over time and erase 20 years of natural skin darkening. It is also an SPF 15 foundation and says to look up to 10 years younger!

*packaging the foundation and brush comes in*

I think the packaging is very cute.

*information I put on the top of this page*

*Outside view of foundation and brush*

*foundation itself*

 

This foundation has very cute packaging.  The bottle is glass and when you screw the cap off, it is a dropper for the applicator.  It is a little weird, but I thought it was kind of cool and different to have.  The consistency of this foundation is extremely liquidy.  When applied to the face I first applied this with the brush it came with (I will explain more below the brush picture).  However the brush did not work, so I used my fingers instead.  The foundation blended very easily and it takes a little while for the foundation to set and dry.  After about 30sec-1 min the foundation sets and it does not come out completely matte, but it gives off a satiny almost dewy kind of finish.  But I really like the finish of this foundation because it looks very natural.  For the feel of this foundation, it is super light weight and does not feel like you have anything on your face.  It does have a slight smell of  a very light scented glue stick but not enough to bother me.  I have been wearing this foundation for about 10 hrs and it has slightly worn off and I do look a little oily in my T-zone.  I have combination to oily skin.  This is also a light to medium coverage and it does great in evening out the skin tone and complexion.  But if you are a person with a lot of acne or scars I would still recommend a concealer.

*Picture of the dropper applicator*

*The brush*

So this is the brush that the foundation came with.  I thought I would use the brush since the foundation came with this.  The brush is very dense and compact.  The brush itself is very small and I thought it was going to take forever to use this brush for my whole face.  The instructions say to apply 2-3 drops of the foundation directly on the brush.  I did that... And I did not like the brush at all.  As soon as I put the brush to my face, no foundation transferred to my face.  Instead the brush soaked up the foundation all into the bristles.  So instead I just used my fingers to apply.

Overall I really like this foundation.  I don't really have any dark spots except some acne scars but I will be a little while till I see if it will work.  I also don't know if I look 10 years older because that would mean I would look 8 years old... So I don't know about that one.  Overall I would recommend this for people who have combination to oily skin because if you have extremely dry skin or large pores, this might dry your skin a little more and this made my pores around my nose stand out just a little.

Rate: 4.5/5

 

 

 

 

IngredientsActive Ingredient: Octinoxate 3% Inactive ingredients: Isododecane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Mica, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Ceramide 3, Olive Glycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nylon-12, Polyamide-5, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polysilicone -11, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides