Top 10 Face Primers

Primers act as a base for you makeup to sit on and stay put through out the day. The best primer acts as a barrier between your makeup and skin. It allows your make up to glide on smoothly on the skin and look naturally airbrushed. When it comes to makeup, primers are your best friend. They stop the skin from looking oily, full of pores, greasy and prevents makeup melt downs.

The internet describes primer as, “A cosmetic primer is a cream or lotion applied before another cosmetic to improve coverage and lengthen the amount of time the cosmetic lasts on the face. There are different kinds of cosmetic primers such as foundation primer, eyelid primer, lip primer, and mascara primer.”

Since there are so many primers in the market right now it is hard to pick the best one.So today I am going to list down the top 10 primers.

Benefit Pore-fessional Primer: ($31) As the name suggests, this primer helps minimize the appearance of pores on the face. It gives a smooth, matte base for foundation and concealers. As instructed, the primer is to be applied on top of your moisturizer and can be reapplied to absorb more oil and minimize pores. However, sometimes moisturizers can enlarge pores which is why if you have oily skin or have a lot of pores, it is advisable to use a light, gel moisturizer.

Too Faced Hangover Primer: ($32) This silicone-free facial primer promises to boost skin’s radiance and moisturize it thanks to the presence of coconut water in it. This primer has turned out to be a best friend for oily skin beauties. Since there are so many matte finish primers out there in the market, this primer is a great pick for the people who want something that suits dry skin.  It eases dullness slightly and sets a soft surface for makeup to be applied over.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: ($49) It is a silicone based primer which if used too much has the potential to clog pores. However, this primer gives a very smooth and sleek finish and base for makeup application. Less foundation is needed when applied over this primer as the foundation easily glides on. It makes the makeup last for 6-8 hours. Only a pea size amount is required to cover the whole face and it comes in a travel friendly squeeze bottle.

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer: (Various prices in various stores) It works as a nice matte primer and doesn’t allow oil to appear on the skin for several hours. It successfully makes the makeup stay put for a long period of time. Unlike rest of the primers, this is actually very affordable and get’s the job done.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer- Radiance: ($36) This primer gives the skin a very luminous, youthful glow. It should be used all over the skin for a dewy glow, or can be applied to the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the forehead for a subtle but noticeable radiance. It holds the makeup in place through out the day and is a perfect choice for people who don’t want a matte finish.

Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer: (24 Pounds, $29) This is a sheer, lightweight primer which has a silky texture and a pale, bronze tint that leaves a shimmer finish. The formula isn’t as elegant as many other primers nor does this smooth over pores or wrinkles the way some can. It’s more of a moisturizer than a primer, though it works under makeup if you don’t mind shine peeking through.

ELF Studio Hydrating Face Primer: ($6) It is a great primer at a great price for sensitive, normal and dry skin types! The product smooths on easily and does what a primer should, which is prep skin for makeup application. It contains some really good antioxidant vitamins which considering the price, is a really good thing.

Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12 Hour Perfecting Primer: ($31) This primer has smoothing effect on skin texture and its silky finish helps your foundation to stay put for a long time. The smoothing effect of this product also helps reduce the appearance of minor dryness or flaky skin. This primer offers a good combo of antioxidants, but it contains a few fragrant plant oils that can be potentially risky for all skin types, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer: ($45) This silicone based primer fills in pores and gives a very matte finish to the skin. It is a highly recommended primer that stays put for a long time and provides a smooth base for makeup. It diminishes the appearance of pores as expected from it.

Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector: ($42) This primer excels at providing an immediate matte effect that lasts and helps diminish the appearance of pores on the face It is a light, water based primer which has the potential to keep the shine away from face for hours! It is a very beloved primer and buyers have claimed that it exceeds expectations.

Hope you guys found this post useful and if you aren’t a member of my S&S family yet, be sure to click on the follow/subscribe button! 🙂

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Top 10 Setting Powders

Hello beautiful people!

Finally my laptop is fixed and I can concentrate on creating content for all of you! My laptop had faced a technical problem when it was updating itself which resulted in malfunction and everything was lost. After I got it fixed, the Wi-Fi started creating problems and it turned out that the chip inside got corrupted in the process which is why I had to go and get an external device to plug it in my laptop so that it can connect to the internet. Gosh, all that led to a lot of time/date mishaps for me. I mean, I thought I uploaded on Wednesday when it was actually Thursday then on Saturday I thought it was Friday but my mum corrected me in the end! Silly I know but that happens when I get stressed out Which is why my posting was completely off the track last week but now that everything is better, I can start posting properly. This post was supposed to go up the day before yesterday and I was uploading it from my phone app and it turned out that it didn’t upload itself as it was too big which is why I am posting it properly from my laptop today.

So let’s jump right into the topic, shall we? J

What are Setting Powders?

Setting powders can either be loose or pressed and they help “SET” the makeup in place. They can provide sheer coverage or be translucent in nature. Setting powders are used at the final stage of makeup allowing it to stay locked in its place and last throughout the day. It helps delay the process of shine or oil to show up on your face. It is generally used on the T-Zone and especially on top of concealers to avoid creasing.

The most commonly asked question is- Which Setting Powder should I use?

It is a question which has several answers. Choosing a setting powders mainly is based on the skin type and tackling the main problems. For me, since I have oily skin, I go for the ones which help mattify my skin and reduce shine. As you read on, you will get to know which ones I use from the list. When buying a setting powder, you must always read the labels to make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. You have to know what your ailment is and find out which one will help you in rectifying those issues. There are several kinds of setting powders in the market to pick from- mineral powders, loose powders, and pressed powders so on. Pick the type you are comfortable with. Loose powders can be a bit tricky for beginners to use and you might end up with the powder all over your clothes which is why pressed powders are more convenient and easy to use.

Here is the list of TOP 10 Setting Powders:

There is a huge list of setting powders to pick from which is why I am going to divide the post in 2 parts, each list containing 10 recommendations.

LAURA MERCIER SECRET BRIGHTENING POWDER:  ($25)

I came to know about this powder from beauty YouTubers and did my research on it. It is a very lightweight, white but transparent loose powder which illuminates and brightens especially the under eye area. The powder is finely milled and does not settle into lines, pores and doesn’t allow the makeup to cease. It casts a white glow but nothing too stark and visible in fact it actually makes the under eyes lighter and brighter. It gives a very natural, soft finish which doesn’t look or feel like makeup at all.

MAKEUP FOREVER HD MICROFINISH POWDER: ($35)

A personal favourite and a constant companion in my handbag, this setting powder by Make Up Forever is wonderful when it comes to setting makeup. It is a loose powder and comes in a small case which is very travel friendly. A little goes a long way with this product and it does do what it claims to offer. It leaves the skin feeling incredibly soft and airbrushed. It doesn’t sit on lines or clog pores. I love how it makes my skin look. Thought it may be on the pricey side, if you do have it stored in your wish list, do give it a try!

LAURA MERCIER LOOSE SETTING TRANSLUCENT POWDER: ($38)

This loose powder is highly recommended and very much beloved in the setting powder community. Though not travel friendly, due to the powder being loose, the product is an excellent choice for people who yearn for the matte, shine free look. This powder does take away all the dewiness from the face and gives a complete matte look which can be a winner for oily skin beauties. It sets makeup beautifully and does not accentuate dry patches or fine lines. It doesn’t clog pores and keep the skin oil free silky smooth, all day!

RCMA NO COLOR POWDER: ($12)

If you watch Kathleen Light’s beauty videos, you will know that she made an entire video praising this product not too long ago. Ever since then, she has been using it non-stop and it has created quite a rave. The RCMA powder has a finely milled texture which melts into the skin instead of setting on top and gives the skin a very smooth and flawless finish. It doesn’t look cakey on the skin and doesn’t have loose powder lying idly on the skin. The powder is pigment free unlike several traditional powders which helps keep the makeup consistently in place throughout the day. It is also very affordable unlike several other setting powders.

NARS LIGHT REFLECTING SETTING POWDER: ($37)

Available in both loose and pressed form, this setting powder from NARS has a pearlescent sheen and is completely transparent even though it looks white. The powder blends seamlessly and actually softens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines! It feels incredibly velvety and silky on the skin and does a wonderful job of removing the shine from face. It doesn’t feel dry nor does it sit on dry patches.

MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH: ($32)

This product from MAC is a mineral powder which helps set the foundation beautifully. It gives a matte finish result and helps hide the pores. It also adds a little bit of coverage and gives a perfect second skin like, natural finish. The powder is finely milled and doesn’t crease or set into lines. It is very long lasting and is a favourite among mineral makeup product users. It is travel friendly and compact which will easily slip into your handbag pockets.

RIMMEL STAY MATTE LONG LASTING PRESSED POWDER: ($4.99, 3.99 pounds)

This pressed powder from Rimmel gives a very fresh, matte finish which helps control oil for normal skin for several hours. However, oily skin beauties may have to do frequent touch-ups with this product. It is a great product for normal skin types and it sets makeup nicely. It is also very affordable and gives the skin a soft, smooth texture. It is a lightweight formula which doesn’t look cakey on the skin or set on dry patches.

TARTE SMOOTH OPERATOR AMAZONIAN CLAY FINISHING POWDER: ($33)

The loose powder from Tarte comes in a very pretty packaging and helps absorb all the excess oil from the face. It leaves the skin looking matte and keeps oil at bay for several long hours. If you have oily skin, consider this to be a really good pick for you. However, since it provides such a matte finish, it is not suitable for dry skin. It gives an air brushed look and doesn’t leave behind a white cast. It doesn’t accentuate pores or crease on fine lines. The powder itself is very soft and smooth.

MAYBELLINE FIT ME PRESSED POWDER: ($8)

The pressed powder from Maybelline is currently sitting among my other products and I use it for my everyday looks. It is very light weight and finely milled. It blends very easily and provides a little bit more coverage on top of foundations. The case is lightweight and travel friendly. It does help in keeping away the oil for hours and doesn’t accentuate pores or sit on dry patches. It sits on the skin nicely and gives a very fresh, soft natural finish.

LA MER THE POWDER: ($65)

According to the reviews I read, this powder is ideal for fresh-faced look. It gives a natural finish to the skin, only better and gives a dewy, hydrated look. It covers up very well and is very light and gentle on the skin. It is one of the priciest powders there is. It is finely milled and translucent in colour. However if you have very oily skin, this won’t suit you but it is a nice choice, though an extravagant one, for normal skin types who desire a fresh faced dewy look.

There you go folks! Have you used any of the products above? Which setting powder is your holy grail? Mine no doubt is the Make Up Forever one and I love it! Tell me about yours and your experience with any of the products above!

Please join the S&S family and I’ll see you all soon! xo

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Top 10 Concealers

Hello beautiful people!

Did you guys have fun during the weekend? Enjoying the sun? I bet you guys had a blast! Sadly, after Sunday comes Monday and we all know what that means! Groaning and moaning as we make coffee and head off to work or school. Sometimes (Well, most of the time) it can be very hard for us girls (And obviously boys too! 😉 ) to go out looking fresh and fab on a Monday morning. For all we know we just had a really long night and dark circles greeted us on Monday! Let’s not forget the pimples who stare at us gleefully, reminding us about the entire slab of cake or chocolate we devoured last night, watching chick flicks with out girl friends!

We all have faced it and that’s probably the worst thing you need on a Monday morning! Besides that or you just remembered you forgot to do your homework over the weekend! (Guilty!)

For those dark times in our lives when we are super exhausted and drained out yet have to look utterly fresh we lean on concealers to do their magic. In my opinion, concealers are a boon to the make-up world and they make jobs so much easier. Concealers can be used to hide dark circles, illuminate the under eye, highlight the facial points and tackle minor facial problems such as scars, blemishes or dark marks. Sometimes, just concealers are enough to highlight and manage the face when you don’t feel like wearing foundations.

You can also read about my Top 10 Foundations to know which ones are best in the market right now.

So today I am compiling a list of 10 best concealers available in the market. Personally I think there are 20 but I decided on splitting them up in 2 posts but in my opinion, these top 10 bad boys do the job perfectly.

Bare Minerals Bare Skin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer: This concealer provides light to medium coverage that works wonderful for the face or under eye area. It does resists creasing and gives a very natural-looking satin matte finish. The formula of this concealer is neither matte nor dewy which makes it an ideal choice for most skin types, including acne prone, sensitive skin.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: A personal favourite of mine, the Fit Me range by Maybelline has won everybody’s heart and why not? It is a creamy light weight concealer which provides buildable medium to full coverage which is very inexpensive, pigmented and gives a very natural finish. Its lightweight texture makes it feel like a second skin and they are oil and wax free.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: If you watch Zoella’s videos on YouTube, you must have seen her using and wearing this concealer non-stop. Recently, Kathleen Fuentes a.k.a. KathleenLights from YouTube used this concealer recently and loved it. It gives a very natural matte finish and provides buildable coverage. However this may not be suitable for dry skin as it may look flake-y otherwise it’s a wonderful concealer which stays put for a long time.

Maybelline Super Stay Better Skin Concealer: I struggled with this one, guys. I mean, I was not sure whether to  put the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer at this spot or this one as they both have wonderful reviews and customers have been equally happy with both of them. Which one would you guys pick out of the two? Do let me know. Like others, Maybelline Super Stay Better Skin Concealer provides buildable medium to intense coverage without feeling heavy or looking cake-y on the skin. This concealer has been often described as “just right” and I agree! It works wonderfully on my sensitive skin. However, it may cause problems on too oily and too dry skin.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: I can’t tell you enough how overly satisfied people have been with this concealer! This concealer by Nars with its thin texture avoids the tendency to crease into lines around the eyes and provides medium to full coverage. It glides smoothly and blends like a dream on the skin and leaves it looking bright and radiant. There is a big selection of shads to pick from as well. Have you used it?

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat / Radiant Touch: This concealer which comes in a very sleek and stylish pen case acts as a highlighter and a concealer. It adds a subtle touch of radiance under the eyes making them appear bright and fresh. I acts as a nice concealer as well by providing medium coverage but it’s the added bonus of highlight that wins all heart. After the buzz that this highlighter concealer created, several other brands have come up with similar products Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi concealer is one of them.

Lancome Teint Miracle Concealer Pen: This concealer comes in a beautiful pen case and provides a very soft matte finish along with subtle illumination under the eyes. It provides light to medium coverage and is perfect for days when you want to look fresh and go with the “No Make-Up Look”. It is however expensive.

MAC Studio Finish SPF Concealer: This concealer is like magic in a pot. It provides buildable intense coverage and hides all blemishes and dark circles perfectly without creasing or caking up. It is very long lasting and comes in several shades. Its pot packaging is perfect for travelling and there is no chances of it popping open.

L’Oreal True Match Concealer: This concealer has very nice consistency and provides medium to full coverage which is easy to blend out. It stays put for good many hours and does not accentuate the pores or feel heavy on the skin. The applicator is very soft on the skin and a little amount of this product goes a long way!

Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer: This concealer does what it says people! However you have to be extra careful when applying this as it is so thick and pigmented. It is best to apply in a dotted manner in small areas and quick blending. Because of its texture and pigmentation, one bottle lasts for a year so it is totally worth the price. If you are in the hunt for a full on coverage concealer, waste no time look no where else, go and grab this baby!

There you go, my loves! I hope you agree with this list and let me know which ones you have used, which ones are on your wishlist and which ones are your holy grail concealers!

Also, it took some time but I have finally figured out which days work the best for me so from now on expect me to post on Styles and Sensibilities every Monday, Wednesday and Friday! 🙂 Today is Monday and I’ll see you guys on Wednesday!

Please follow and join the S&S family! 🙂

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Top 10 High Coverage Foundations

Did you know that women in Greece used to apply chalk and white lead powder on their skin to make it fair as it was considered fashionable for women to have pale skin? Romans also used to prefer this but they used white lead paste instead. Sadly, these endeavors with lead led to the death of several Greeks and Romans. If not death, the skin was left disfigured.

Later on they started making creams using tin oxide, animal fat and starch. Men also used to apply these to make their skin tone lighter. They extracted fat from animal carcasses and colour from tin oxide which was made by heating tin metals in open air. The combination of both resulted in a coloured smooth creamy texture which was very much in demand.

Over the years, several recipes and methods have been used to create foundations however we are now in the age where we get the best products made by the best companies out there in the market today. We have several categories of foundations to pick from which will suit every skin type and colour.

Listed below is a list of the TOP 10 HIGH COVERAGE FOUNDATIONS:

• Estee Lauder’s Double Wear: Estee Lauder provides us with high coverage a huge range of shades to pick from. The texture is liquid-y and not at all tacky. It is very pigmented and easily blendable. It is perfect for day wear as it has SPF in it which is an added bonus. The skin is left feeling luminous and it doesn’t feel heavy or oily.

• Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation: Along with a semi-matte finish, this foundation also gives off a very natural glow-y look. It is very easy to blend and the finish is very silky. It comes in a plastic bottle with a pump dispenser which makes it travel friendly as well. It contains fruit extracts and stay up to 6 hours.

• Make-Up Forever High Definition Foundation: They provide a huge range of shades to pick from. The formula of this product is very pigmented, lightweight and blends very easily. 2 pumps of this is enough to get that flawless full coverage look as a little goes a long way with this foundation. It gives off a very satin, natural finish and doesn’t look tacky, at all!

• M.A.C. Studio Sculpt Foundation: This foundation provides buildable coverage with the love of SPF in it. It lasts for a really long time and gives a matte finish. Oil is not visible on the skin for several hours. It blends like a dream and hides a lot of imperfections without the help of a concealer.

• Clinique Beyond Perfection Foundation + Concealer: The comfortable texture of this foundation doesn’t feel heavy on the skin and allows the product to be properly blended before setting into the skin. It provides a semi-matte finish, and provides buildable coverage. It is a nice choice for oily skin. It is also travel friendly.

• Revlon Colorstay Foundation: If you have dry skin or oily skin you can pick up this foundation as they come in separate category. Revlon Colorstay provides medium to heavy coverage which is perfect for special occasions when you want the full make-up look. It provides matte finish and doesn’t let oil to leak out for several hours. It is moderately priced as well.

• L’Oreal Paris Infallible Lasting Perfecting Foundation: This foundation from L’Oreal provides great coverage and great staying power. It provides buildable medium to full coverage and is suitable for all skin types. It comes with a pump dispenser which controls the flow of the liquid. It provides a semi-matte finish.

• Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation + Broad Spectrum SPF 20: This foundation provides a matte finish so it is suitable for oily skin. They have an extensive range of shades to pick from. The formula is pigmented and provides buildable coverage and blends easily. It also has a decent staying power and doesn’t look tacky.

• Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation: Since this foundation is 37% water, you can pretty much fathom how lightweight and thin this foundation from Lancome is. It provides medium to full coverage and lets you take time to buff or blend it in as it doesn’t dry off instantly. Skin doesn’t look cakey with this foundations which is why this is perfect for everyday use. It gives the skin a semi-matte natural finish making it look very hydrated and healthy. It is oil free and doesn’t clog pores.

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation: The foundation is not too creamy and not too liquidy- it is a good in-between which is just right. It provides medium to full coverage and is lightweight. It provides  luminous dewy look but not at all greasy. It also has the added protection of SPF in it. It is a bottle without a dispenser which is why you have to be extra careful while pouring it out. It also has a decent staying power of 6-8 hours.

 

Do let me know if you have used or are using any of the foundations listed above!

Please follow if you aren’t already and I will see you guys soon, bye!! :*

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