A little while back I received requests to review Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer and to do a FOTD with a NARS blush. I figured I would kill two birds with one stone.

I am a whole hearted believer in foundation primers. A good one can totally change how well makeup applies, settles and ultimately looks through out the day. You can think of primer like spacke for your face. It should decrease the apperance of surface flaws essentially gining you a smooth canvas to apply your foundation. Notice I said decrease and not obliterate. Primer will not make the scars from a run with an ice pick disappear. It's just makeup not miracle juice.

This is with primer and foundation only. WTH is going on with the fro is beyond me.

Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer is a solid primer over all. It does everything a good primer should do. I was surprised that I liked it because the last silicone based gel primer I tried was not my friend. A greasy face and a nasty breakout was all I was left with at the end of the day. After wearing it for a full 1o hours there was still blush on my cheeks which is impressive . I had to blot around the 5th of 6th hour but this is par for the course for me. My face wasn't a crisco reserve with 3 hours. The were no more blemishes than I started with when I washed my face in the evening.

The most disappointing thing about RBNSP is the fact that it doesn't seem to do anything for the pores in my t-zone. They were still just as visible as before I put it on. It is also scented. Citrus and evergreen-y if that makes any sense.

Final verdict
Cost- 12.99 for 1 oz
Would I buy it?- Yes
Who is it for? Someone one looking for a good, inexpensive primer. I would be hesitant if you have a history with breakouts using silicone based primers.

On to the goodness that is NARS blush! NARS has one of the best blush formulas in the business. Crazy pigmented and long lasting.

I can't front... I was like blush smush until I purchased my first NARS blush. It was Crazed and I was fully prepared to take it back. The whole concept of blush was so foriegn to me that I *gasp* wouldn't even wear most of the time. That all came to a screeching halt the first time I wore Crazed. It applied like a dream using my MAC 187 brush. Using a traditional blush brush had me on straight clown mode. The pigmentation is not something to be played with. At. All.

NARS blush blends like no one's business and never looks powdery or flakey. It doesn't kling to cheek fuzz or settle in pores making them like bigger. They really are perfection in a pressed powder form!

For this FOTD I used NARS Dolce Vita blush. I really could go on and on about this blush but I will riegn in my inner NARS stan. Lol. I used DV on my lips and I eyes as well. Hey... If you're gonna do it, do it big. That's my motto.


Here's a pic of the products used. The only thing not pictured is my foundation, Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer.

Publish Post

B.B.

This time I will be reviewing Revlon Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup.

Revlon says it's a

"Weightless foundation that goes on white and self-adjusts to match your exact skin tone. In 5 shades with a flawless finish."

I picked it up from Walmart for $10.97. It came with a bonus Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer so the price was right. I have seen it cost up to $13 at different drugstores though. Gotta love Wally World! It comes in a 1oz squeeze tube so the germaphobe in me was pleased. It is SPF 15 with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as active ingredients. This is worth noting because depending on what active ingredients are in your primer or sunscreen (and we do wear sunscreen, right?), they may effect the photostability... But that's a whole notha subject.


Anyways... This foundation is a tinted moisturizer. No more no less. It does match your skin tone perfectly. It offers little to nothing in the way of coverage. If you have are actually trying to hide flaws such as hyperpigmentation or dark circles then this is a no go. If you already have really nice skin and just want a little something than this may be for you. It's a great way to save a little time by combining tinted moisturizer and sunscreen into one, easy to apply step. It has a nice natural matte finish. Matte yet radiant at the same time.

The nekkid trufe

It has these interesting little black specs. Let's just say I wasn't expecting them either.

The still pretty damn nekkid trufe

Bottom line: I'll give it a 4 out 5. I can't bring myself to hate on this simply because it's a tinted moisturizer. While my skin may not be ready for coverage this light, I know that many of yours are. I think this a great, wallet friendly alternative to some other tinted moisturizers on the market. My only beef is with Revlon. If its gonna act like a tinted moisturizer then just call it a tinted moisturizer. You ain't got to lie Craig. You ain't got to lie.

B.B.