Review of silicone-free Cargo blu_ray activating face primer

I may have finally found the only primer I can use all day that doesn't break me out, and I'm not sure that it really does anything, or anything much anyway.

*sighs*

I picked this primer up from BeautyBay some time ago and have been oh so cautiously testing it ever since. My skin's been relatively good of late, so instead of leaving well enough alone I start testing stuff on it. Of course. (Bad Me!)

I was really excited to learn that BeautyBay sold it and shipped it for free because I've been on the hunt for  silicone-free primer since forever. As an oily skinned girl with big nose pores it's just something you want to work for you. 

Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer is a Love Potion

Well... it's certainly got me falling in love with it.

In a nutshell, it's uhmayzing. But if you want to find out how I ended up buying this little love potion, read on!

Waste of money: Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer

It sounds like a good idea doesn't it? A primer for your eyeshadow AND your undereye concealer. 

Unfortunately, to put none too find a point on it, this product is absolute crap at both functions.

First, even after shaking it for ages, over several days, the damned thing still excretes an oily siliconey liquid before popping out some lumps of brown clay-like material. 

When you've managed to smooth this over your eyes, initially it does even out your undereye circles and if you have pigmented eyelids, would probably help those too. 

This is where it gets even crappier.

It not only doesn't help eyeshadow to stay AT ALL, it makes your undereye concealer look even heavier and cakier. It's supposed to prevent fading and caking! 

Bottom line is, don't waste your money on this garbage. I'm deeply disappointed in Benefit for having put out a product that is this awful. 

At full price, it's US$26 - expensive for a primer, INSANE for garbage. 

Thank goodness I got it as part of a kit with a mini cream eyeshadow and a mini tub of erase paste. Neither have been superbly impressive but neither have gone straight into my bin either.

Definitely stay away from this one. 

Note (Sept 27, 2012): Have contacted Benefit Customer Care about this three days ago and have received absolutely no response. 

Get it before it goes: Too Faced Lockdown Cream Eyeshadow

Right, so the full name is Too Faced Lockdown Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow - which is insane and far far too long. But names aside, the short review is this stuff is awesome and you should get it while:

• Strawberrynet is still on sale at HKD121 (plus the usual loyalty discounts - think I ended up paying less than HKD100 for it)
• They're in stock because it's been discontinued!

The shade I got was Bedroom Eyes, a shimmery brown taupe (yes taupe again) with, I’m sorry to say, glitter. But not too much or too chunky glitter. It’s very much like Urban Decay’s Sidecar in many respects - only Bedroom Eyes is less glittery. Thank heavens.

Because I take miserable swatches, I encourage you go here. She took absolutely lovely ones.

Why am I so in love with it? It really really lasts. All day. On oily skin and without primer. It’s also a really awesome primer in itself.

Review: Australis Primer

This particular product was a bit of a cult hit when it first launched in Australia last year. Aussie beauty forums are still arguing about how good it actually is but whenever Australis happens to be on sale in Priceline and Target, the first product to disappear from the shelves is this primer. It takes aaaaaages for new stock to arrive.

It took me quite a while before I could lay my hands on this elusive product. Now that I have, I don’t have any problems finding it in stores. Just another one of those perverse mysteries of life, eh?

The main reasons for this primer’s hit status are it is cheap and it delivers. They just hiked up the price a few months ago but it is still pretty affordable at AUD 13.95 for 40 ml. Priceline has 20% discount sales on Australis products pretty often anyway, so it is just a matter of watching and waiting.

‘cone haters like Kahani would be pleased to know this primer doesn’t have any silicone. A quick glance at the ingredients list gives me a wave of déjà vu though as it seems pretty similar to many BB cream ingredients lists I have read before: orange water, green tea extract, aloe extract and retinyl palmitrate.

The primer is a little watery and feels cool and tingly going on. It sinks quite quickly into the skin for me so I don’t have to waste much time waiting before putting on my foundation. It is also safe to use around your eye area (I emailed the company to check) and I have never experienced any stinging or itching although the cool sensation feels a bit odd.

I use this quite frequently under my BB cream and mineral foundation and prefer it over Monistat. Monistat makes me feel as if I am wearing a heavy mask while this is nice and light. It isn’t as mattifying as I would like it to be but it keeps the oilies down to certain extent and keeps my foundation from wearing off or turning splotchy. This was during winter though and I am wondering how it will deliver now that the weather is warming up rapidly.

Verdict? Cheapie but a goody. There are probably better primers out there but if you are on a budget, this is worth a go.

Review: Missha Pore Minimising First Base

If I knew Korean, I would apply for a translator's job in one of their many cosmetic companies. Some of their products' names are so ridiculously long, they fail to slip off your tongue with ease.

I am a sucker for anything which claims to minimise pores so when I spied this little guy for AUD 12.90, I snapped it up! I was in the market for a makeup primer anyway and the price seemed about right.

When I brought it home to use, I was horrified to find that the product had shimmery particles (remember what I wrote some time back about the Korean obsession with shiny?). The particles weren't too big and they did have a nice sheen BUT rule of thumb says that shiny is a no-no when you want to hide large pores. The reflected light makes your pores look even larger than they actually are.

I kerplunked on my face anyway to see how this worked. It did okay in filling up some of my larger pores but not for moon craters. Then I dusted on some matte powder to tone down the shimmery-ness and waited for a few hours to see how it would go.

3 hours later, I was blotting madly and cursing mildly. I don't oil up that much on ordinary days!

I am writing this primer off as a no-no. The shiny bit was bad and so was the zero oil control. I am trying to finish this off by using it on gloomy winter days when my face could with some amount of brightening.

To its credit though, I didn't break out while using this product after using this product for 2 weeks. If you have dry skin, no large pores and don't mind shimmer, you can take a peek at this. Or ask me for a sample.

Review: Benefit Primpcess

Yes my Benefit haul from the US has arrived. And the first thing I did was crack this baby open, it contained so many goodies I've been lemming. Their eyeshadows, Bo-ing concealer, Eye Bright, Creaseless Cream Shadow (how was I to know a warehouse sale would crop up?) and Bad Gal Lash mascara. And so far, I really love this adorable box! Read on for reviews.

Entire Kit
I have to admit I really love the kooky packaging, and how sturdy it is despite being made of cardboard. The mirror is nice and big too, and everything is securely packed. Nothing rattles around.

All the products go really well together, and the "beauty lesson" is fun and gives you ideas - even if you ultimately realise that the eyeshadow application technique really doesn't work on Asian eyes. *sighs*

The only thing missing from this kit, is an eyeliner. Technically you can use the brown shadow as a liner - but let's face it. I'm not blonde with big blue eyes. Brown liner does nothing for me.

Overall, this kit is totally worth the US$34 (RM123) plus shipping (and a free Miss Popularity I might add) I paid. I'm not so sure if it's worth the RM169 they're attempting to selll it for in the stores here though. -_-

Creaseless Cream Shadow in R.S.V.P
First up, this wee jar of cream shadow is SO CUTE. It's a miniature version of a full-sized cream shadow glass pot. Sure it's a bit of a hassle getting it out of the case, but I forgive it everything once the adorable itty bitty thing is in my palm. And for all that it's tiny I think it does have a nice amount of product in it - especially considering how little you need to use.

The shade is a lovely shimmery pale pink that makes a great base/highlighter shade. It's also supposed to function as an eye primer, which I believe it does - although perhaps not as die-hard hang-in-there as Mac's Paint Pot. It does however apply much more smoothly (and feather-light!) and sets faster than the Paint Pot.

Bo-ing Concealer in Shade 02
This concealer has totally blown me away. The teeniest bit covers like no tomorrow, blends in totally and looks like skin. I'm completely in love and will probably get a full-sized one! It also lasts, doesn't fade or budge all day. Plus 02 is my shade perfectly.

I use it on blemishes, undereyes, over dark spots and it works amazingly well. I rather thought it was all hype but I'm so glad this kit gave me a chance to try it out. LOVE!

Eye Bright
I like the idea of this pink cream. You're supposed to blend it in on the inner corner of your eyes, and from the outer corner to the end of your eyebrow - but I'm not convinced it actually does anything. It's supposed to make you more wide-awake. Perhaps if I test it post hangover I may be more impressed. Or maybe pink is just not quite the shade needed to perk up my eyeballs.

Eyeshadows
Although these shadows are very soft, and have excellent colour payoff I'll admit to being a bit disappointed with the colours they chose. The matte cream shade is well... bleh, the pink shimmery "contour" shade is lovely, but the brown is so cool it can look grey if you're not careful. And yet isn't quite dark enough to make my eyes really pop.

I think these three colours work best if you're fairer, and very cool toned. As it is I find myself reaching for a warmer cream highlighter to dust over and warm the look up abit. Or using the brown with great caution, and only with a cool-toned blush and lipstick.

Having said that I'd be very happy taking this set along for a trip as the shadows do create a very polished and subtle day-look.

Brushes
The brushes are surprisingly good! The concealer brush really is too tiny to do more than swipe the concealer on for you to pat out with your fingers, but it is the perfect size for applying eyebright. The fluff shadow brush is a great size, not too small at all, and the mini "talent" brush, although small, applies RSVP easily enough. It's so refreshing to find a kit with brushes you want to KEEP.

Conclusion
The only thing I haven't tried in the set is the Bad Gal Mascara because I have other mascaras and don't want to crack this open until I'm ready to use it up in 3 months. I may also save it for a trip.

Overall, if you're looking for a nice pressie, or just want to treat yourself this Christmas you can't go far wrong with this kit. It really does have the best of Benefit's eye products and will let you try out 5 products before you decide if you want to invest full-size. But please, buy it from the US if you can. The markup here is unacceptable!

Mac Conversion: I love Mac Paint Pots in Painterly!

Yes ladies, I fear it is true. After my boast about my non-addiction to Mac Cosmetics, I now have to eat my words because I am now addicted to not one, but TWO Mac products! *hides face in shame* I have succumbed to Mac's Paint Pots (RM75) and their Select Cover Up Concealer in NC35 (RM65). In my defense though neither product were chosen for their Mac-ness or even for pure aesthetics, but for performance and (believe it or not) affordability.

This review is for the Paint Pot in Painterly, and not as an eyeshadow but as an eye primer. Sadly living in humid Malaysia I find that my eyeliner runs everywhere (yes even THIS liner ran amok on very hot day!) and my eyeshadow fades. Unacceptable! So I discussed with Syen on eye primers, and decided that a Paint Pot in a nude shade offered the best value price-wise and performance (based on MUA reviews).

Painterly is THE perfect nude shade on me. It just disappears into my eye area, brightening it up ever-so-slightly. Some prefer Bare Canvas because it is shimmery, and who knows I may get it someday. However for a first shade, I felt that Painterly would be the best all-round investment as it creates a perfect canvas without altering the shadows used over it.

Performance
As a primer, this product certainly doesn't disappoint! My shadows apply more vibrantly over, and they last much much longer - even my loose mineral shadows. My eyeliner also stays put all day, it may fade slightly, but there is no smudging or running (thank goodness!). At the end of long, hot, sweaty days my eye makeup looks stunningly fresh.

I'll admit I've never used any other eye primer in my life, so I feel rather underqualified to judge this one's quality, happy though I am with it. When Syen gets a go at this, we'll append her more knowledgeable views. ; )

Application

When choosing between a Paint Pot and a Paint tube, the pot won hands down despite its higher price and reviews stating that Paints actually performed better as primers. It all comes down to application, I just couldn't FACE a squeezy tube that would run amok when I'm rushing for work in the mornings.

Applying from the pot though is killingly simple. You can use your finger, but I prefer to use the small Mac Concealer brush that came with a Christmas set I purchased many moons ago. A dab and a few quick swipes and the lid is done. The brush also allows me to apply a fine line of the product on my lower lids to help keep my rebellious liner in place. Very little product is needed and a pot is going to last me ages.

To aid blending I always swipe a light shimmery base powder shade over everything before proceeding with my mid tone and crease shades.

So thus begins my downfall as I slide ever deeper into the world of Mac fandom. How much longer will it be before I begin to collect their blushes and eyeshadows fanatically? I shudder at the thought whilst clutching my beloved Paint Pot.

Review: Benefit F.Y. Eye Primer

If you're like me, you'll know that there's a tragic side to having double eyelids.

It's called oil. And it has a fondness for screwing up beautifully-applied eyeshadows, and liners and everything else. Your eyeshadow which was just painstakingly applied a few hours earlier? Gone. It's all muddled up into a miserable looking crease.

It certainly doesn't help when MAs actually tell you (like during this makeover when I wasn't wearing any eye-makeup), "Dah-ling, you really need something for your OILY lids!"

Yea, Mr, I know. For your information (F.Y.I, geddit? *grin*), my hero's called F.Y. Eye.

Benefit says:
"The eye primer to prevent greasy, creasy eye lids! Stop eye shadow sliding with this apricot souffle primer. It locks on shadows and leaves a smooth satin finish so you look perfectly put together all day."

Benefit products, I find are sometimes kind of a hit or a miss. But this one's definitely a big hit- in my books, at least. I found this little pot of magic souffle on MUA, and it's been my oily lids' best friend for err... almost two years now, I think.

F.Y. Eye comes in a 7gm pot, with a souffle, or mousse, texture that's easy to apply. It does make eyeshadow and liner stay put for hours and hours, and even if there is a crease, it's very minimal.

Colourwise, it's pretty much skin colour (like in the picture, but more peachy/orangey). However, don't worry about the primer turning your lids into a bright orange colour. Applied properly, it blends out into a nude shade and your lids won't even look like you've got anything on!

I like using my ring finger to pick up a bit of product (be careful not to pick up too much, but not too little either!), and rubbing it between my fingers for a short while to sort of smooth the product out. This also warms the primer to go on the lids better. Which is pretty important, or eyeshadow will end up looking cakey otherwise. And that would totally defeat the purpose of the primer to begin with, wouldn't it?

Price wise, I find it on the high side at RM95, but I've been using the same pot for almost two years, and I still have 3/4 of the pot left! There's a logo at the bottom which says to toss the product in 6 months, but there's no weird scent, and it still looks good so, oh well...

To conclude, I do love it. It keeps my lids happy. But I don't know if I would buy another pot as I'm always itching to try new stuff.

Just, you know, FYI.

At last! Silk Naturals hears my cry for oil control: SN Foundation in Heavy & Tinted Oil Control Primer

Karen, the founder and genius behind Silk Naturals, is truly a beauty-addict's fairy-godmother. Hearing the cries of her loyal fans for a foundation with heavier coverage and better oil control, she not only rewards us with a foundation that answers all of the above, but also with an oil control primer!

Read on for the reviews on her Heavy Coverage foundation in Buttery Gold, and Tinted Oil Primer

Heavy Coverage Foundation in Buttery Gold
I have a large collection of mineral foundations by now. And I find myself reaching for this one more than any of the others of late. Although it doesn't provide as full a coverage as J.Lynne's offering or L'oreal's, I find the finish to be very natural. Not too shiny or matte. Plus it seems to stave off the oilies well-enough even in the hot and humid Malaysian climate.

I use it over GloMinerals Concealer (review coming soon), and in combination they make my blemished skin look perfect. I find the foundation to be long-lasting too. And of course with the blend-your-own system you can customise it to suit your skintone exactly.

If you have been using SN's foundation in original though, you should read this and take note that the ratio for colour to white base will be different.

The starter kit retails for US$11.95 and the samples are currently discounted!

Tinted Oil Control Primer
I have absolutely no idea what's wrong with the image on the SN website. The tinted primer is certainly not GREEN! Instead it's a neutral flesh-toned shade that applies sheerly and looks great as a finishing powder - really blurring out imperfections. On good days I even use it instead of foundation.

I use it more as a finishing powder than primer as I already use OC8. Although quite frankly, OC8 isn't holding up too well in the Malaysian weather. I find the primer makes a huge difference, and often use it as a blotting powder during the day.

As the primer is tinted it doesn't lighten the colour of my foundation or make it look ashen making it perfect as a finishing powder. Paler girls (I'm light-medium) may find it too dark for them.

I bought a sample for $0.99 and immediately ordered the full-sized one for $8.95! I love it that much!

What's in My Makeup Bag ~

About a week ago, I got tagged by Tine from Beautyholics Anonymous on what's in my makeup bag. Well, err... honestly, I don't really carry a makeup bag around on an everyday basis.

Blasphemy, I know.

So, instead, I'll be showing you the contents of the makeup bag I brought with me to Hong Kong, which are mainly all my basic, staple makeup products. Skincare stuff were all in another bigger bag, which we'll leave, perhaps for another day. Happy viewing!

See if you can spot them:

• I got the bright pink makeup bag from Etos in Amsterdam. It's a perfect size, and SO pretty! Comes with a mirror in the front flap too! How cool is that? (And yes, EVERYTHING went in there!) =P
  
• ZA two-way foundation - I can never do without this!
  
• Skinfood Lemon Fresh Pact (compact powder for oily/combi skin)
  
• MAC Pinch O' Peach blusher - My travel staple. You seriously cannot go wrong with this!
  
• L'Oreal Blush Delicieux MAT in True Rose - For an added "pop"!
• The Body Shop Shimmerwave in Peach - I love me some shimmer.
  
• H & M eyeshadow duos in Hot Sands and Skydiver
• Silky Girl eyeshadow duo in Smokey Sparks - How do I love thee, let me count the ways...
• Benefit F.Y. Eye primer
• Clean & Clear blotting sheets (not in the photo) - Never leave home without it!

You must be wondering then, where's the lipstick? Ah... I have another little case for the lippies which a dear aunt gave me years ago. It's big enough for three lipsticks and it has a big mirror too! Love it!

You didn't really think I'd go to Hong Kong with no lippies, did you? (This is the FIRST time I'm travelling with only TWO lipsticks! *beams* )

• Sebamed lipbalm with SPF30 - This is good stuff that I cannot do without.
  
• MAC Hug Me - For a neutral everyday look.
  
• Maybelline Watershine lipstick in Kir Royal - To add a little shimmer oomph! =)

(From left: MAC Hug Me and Maybelline Kir Royal)

So ladies, that's what I brought to Hong Kong. What do you think? Too much? Too little? =P

Review: Benefit "That Gal" Primer

Remember the sample of "That Gal" I got from Benefit? Well.. I sorta lost it. And was totally boo'ed out about it until I got the full-sized one to test via Kiss and Makeup! (Ok, so I called the PR and asked, but I thought it deserved a second chance after all the bad rep).

And bad rep it has. Just read this review, and this review. And believe me when I say that I fully trust these girls, they know their beauty!

So why do I like it so much?

Well, first off as I explain in my full review here, I feel that it's been mis-marketed. The poor thing isn't really a primer so much as a brightener - rather like everybody's darlin' Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.

Another reason is that I like its bright pink shade! It really does do wonders for a dull Asian complexion. Alot of Caucasian girls though are dealing with ruddy faces, the last thing they want yes yet more pink slapped on! So it also depends on skintone. I think for Golden and Olive skintones, this bubblegum pink baby brings on that glow.

I do feel however that at £19.95 for a tiny amount it is rather overpriced. But so's Clarins at £25!

Discount code + Review: J. Lynne Mineral Foundation, Primer, and Finishing Powder

I've completely fallen in love with J.Lynne's foundation and matte primer - and it kills me because at US$18 and US$15 respectively, it isn't as affordable as my beloved Silk Naturals. However, the foundation and matte primer when used together provide full coverage with a gorgeous natural air-brushed finish, and most importantly, oil-control - that I longed for in Silk Naturals' Mineral Foundation.

I came across this brand on the amazing Mineral Makeup Blog where they mentioned J.Lynne's clearing-out 50% sale on sample baggies (sadly, now ended). From the rave review on the foundation's finish, coverage, and oil-control properties I knew I had to at least give it a try.

I bought the foundation in three shades, Fair Golden (0.9), Ivory Golden (1.5), and Ivory/Light Golden (1.9), the Mineral Matte Priming Powder in Peach, and the Mineral Finishing Powder in Golden. I was rather horrified at the shipping charge - US$11, until I read the FAQ and discovered that J.Lynne will refund surplus amount once the package has been sent. And I did receive a refund of US$8, plus three samples of her mineral glows and eyeshadow.

Mineral Smooth Foundation
J.Lynne has a comprehensive collection of almost 40 foundations shades running the gamut from cool - neutral - warm, from fair - dark. So finding a shade that suits you should definitely be possible. Of the three shades, both Fair Golden and Ivory Light Golden were a tad too yellow for me. Ivory Light Golden could pass in a pinch, but Fair Golden was very yellow indeed! Fortunately, Ivory Golden was just right (I feel like goldilocks).

The foundation is a joy to use. You don't need much, and just one layer applied with my Bobbi Brown Kabuki brush was enough to even out skin tone and cover minor blemishes. Using a concealer brush I went over my undereye circles, and more stubborn blemishes, concealing them perfectly.

The foundation felt lightweight and very comfortable. The finish was air-brushed, not as shiny as L'Oreal. but not as flat as Silk Naturals. I really loved this as I wanted enough light-reflecting particles to detract from my acne scars, but not so much that I glowed like a disco ball in the sun.

It also proved to be oil-controlling and long-lasting when used with the matte primer. I only needed to blot once in a long evening out (unheard of!), and my eye-makeup and blush stayed fresh and in place all night. The foundation on its own without the matte primer does provide pretty good oil control, better than either Silk Naturals or L'Oreal.

At US$18, it isn't as good a deal as the SN foundations, but it remains a more affordable buy than L'Oreal's foundation here in the UK. I just hope I can hold out till the site has another sale or offer on its foundations.

Mineral Matte Priming Powder
This primer comes in three shades - Porcelaine/Fair, Peach, and Ivory/Light. I chose to apply this with a foundation brush as I really wanted a high degree of oil-control. The primer provides a certain degree of coverage, and I found the Peach shade brightened my complexion and disgused minor blemishes without altering my skintone. If you have oily but clear skin, you may be able to just use this primer and skip the foundation.

This primer - used with the foundation - is a dream come true for me. Until now, this degree of oil-control has been something that I long for, and dream of but have never quite found. Even Milk of Magnesia gave up on me once summer hit, but this foundation and primer controls like nothing ever has before.

Used with another, less oil-controlling foundation, the primer does control oil, but once the oil broke through, it all went downhill from there. I had to blot and powder like normal every 2 hours or so, something I found unnecessary when the primer was paired with J.Lynne's foundation.

The primer can also be used as a finishing powder, providing a matte not-quite translucent finish. However, like most mineral products, once it's settled into the skin, the primer becomes more translucent and the foundation is allowed to shine through.

Mineral Finishing Powder
Golden, should have been called yellow! Or "Banan" like the famous yellow powder by T.L'Clerc. The powder proved to be quite translucent however, although too yellow to be paired with J.Lynne's foundation in Ivory Golden. But I can see it being useful for correcting foundations that are too pink or orange, and for brightening up the undereye area.

The finishing powder was light and airy, but no better (as far as I can tell) than Silk Natural's finishing powder. It provided the same slightly diffused look, and didn't provide much oil control. One thing going for this product though is the wide range of colours. Available in flesh tones as well as colour correcting shades of Mint (for red tones in cool girls), Lavender (for orange tones), and Olive Green (for red tones in warm girls), the powder can also be used as a colour correcting primer.

Verdict
If I'm still as in love with the foundation and primer when my samples run dangerously low (each sample lasts a week, I - with great foresight - bought two of the matte primer and will be mixing the foundations together to make them an acceptable shade I can use for longer) I will probably invest in a full-sized foundation and primer, but give the finishing powder a miss as I don't need it.

Discount Code
If you'd like to give J.Lynne cosmetics a try, simply enter RET87452 in the coupon code box at checkout for a 10% discount for first-time shoppers. You should know that this is a referral code and will benefit me when you use it.

Duped: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

One of my mean, sneaky beauty tricks when travelling is to nip into the duty-free shop at the airport and make good use of the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm tester they always have lying around. Dabbed under my eyes and on the apples of my cheeks, this balm does wonders to waken up my travel fatigued, zombie-grey, airline tortured skin.

Much as I've always loved this balm though, I just can't justify its £25 price tag. Now thanks to this dupe by Boots I may not have to. At £8.50, Boots Time Delay Instant Radiance Balm is a steal - especially with the £5 off coupons they're giving out with every purchase £5 and above. So hurry ladies, the vouchers end May 20.

How the two compare
Clarins claims that its balm cosmetically smooths out signs of fatigue, and gives skin a glow. This I can testify to. The peach-tinted, light, shimmery fluid really does work wonders to wake up a tired face. However, the balm also claims to help makeup last longer, work as a facial mask, and will with long-term use promote a radiant complexion. As I don't own the balm I can't speak to these additional benefits, but maybe one of our readers can?

The Boots Time Delay balm doesn't claim to do more than help things along cosmetically. A peachy-pink light liquid with a slightly metallic shimmer, it too wakes up a complexion exhausted by travel, a hard night out, or a long day's work. The non-greasy fluid when used under makeup gives that luminous glow-from-within look that I love for nights out. It also seems to moisturise slightly, and thus far it hasn't caused breakouts.

This dupe may be only skin-deep, and I doubt it will prevent me from using testers in the airport (after all, it means one less liquid I have to get through security), but at least I'll get to take the radiance home.

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers to cheaper alternatives to expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.

Product Review: Milk of Magnesia as a Mattifier

While I adore glamour and pretty packaging in beauty products, I care more about bang for your buck, and products that work. Milk of Magnesia (or Cream of magnesia) as a mattifiant is perhaps even more unglamourous than Monistat Chafing Gel as a primer, but it works!

Recommended by Paula Begoun and Tyra Banks, I've come across this product time and time again in beauty forums and on Makeup Alley, but until now I've never tried it. Mostly I've been afraid it would break me out like most mattifiers I've tried ( The Body Shop Tea-Tree Matte and Boots No 7 Shine-Free Makeup Base to name two), but also the idea of using a laxative on my face was just... ew.

But my oily skin is so frustrating to me that I at last caved in and bought a bottle of Boots Cream of Magnesia for £2.75. I've been trying it for the last week, and here's my review.

How to Use
Give the bottle a good shake. Then using your fingers, apply a light layer as evenly as possible on your skin, after toning and moisturising, before concealer and foundation. Allow it to dry, and you may notice white streaks here and there. Rub with fingers to smooth out. Dampening your fingers speeds this process along but it's not really necessary. Allow to dry completely before applying foundation over.

I have heard that MoM does not always work well with liquid foundations, but works wonderfully well with powder and mineral foundations. But you'll have to experiment to see what works for you.

A thicker layer of MoM works as an oil-absorbing mask. Spread it on, allow to dry and rinse off for tighter-feeling oil-free skin.

How it works
Milk of Magnesia, or Cream of Magnesia is essentially liquid magnesium hydroxide, a harmless, inert chemical that absorbs oil but won't irritate your skin. Some preparations contain mint or cherry flavouring. While this may be fun, I prefer the scentless flavourless generic type because it's cheaper and less additives = less irritating.

Verdict
Initially, I was pleased, but not very impressed. It did stave off the oilies for perhaps an hour or two longer than not using it. This on its own isn't bad, No7's Shine-Free Base didn't seem to do anything, cost about £9, AND it added the crowning indignity of breaking me out. So, if MoM could stave off the oilies for a bit I wasn't going to complain.

However, daily use of it seems to be decreasing the amount of oil my skin is producing. Online reviews warn that some women found their oily skin becoming parched and dry with prolonged usage, so I should keep an eye on my skin, and stop just before it dries out.

Also, absolutely no breakouts whatsoever has been caused by MoM. So, I'll keep using and post an update if anything drastic occurs. But for now, I have an effective, non-irritating mattifying primer that's cheap as chips. I may find a prettier bottle for it though. *winks*

The most famous brand of MoM is Philips Milk of Magnesia (pic) retailing at Boots for £3.25 but cheaper, generic brands can be obtained.

Duped: Smashbox Photofinish Primer

I swear I haven't gone insane. But this is one dupe I keep coming across again and again, in beauty site after beauty site, including Makeupalley. Word on the street is, Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel is an acceptable if unglamourous alternative to the famous Smashbox Photofinish Primer.

The key it seems is the base silicone ingredient present in both products - Dimethecone. Smashbox Primer contains dimethecone and a bunch of other skin-loving stuff, whereas Monistat is chiefly plain dimethecone. But for so much less we can forgive it a few antioxidants.

Now, unfortunately this is NOT a review comparing the two. Much as I wish it was, I - poor student that I am - could only afford to try the Monistat. As it wasn't available in the UK, I went on to eBay and bought a tube there. My only encounter with the coveted Smashbox primer, was when I played with a tester and smoothed it on the back of my hand. Not a very good test I think you'll agree.

The gel promises to be non-greasy, fragrance-free, non-irritating, and non-staining. When spreading it on, it does have the same odd feeling that the Smashbox primer has. Dry yet slick. My mineral foundation goes on very smoothly over it, and my skin looks poreless and airbrushed. So far, no breakouts, but on the other hand this does nothing to control oil, which is what I hoped it'd do. It doesn't make it worse, but it doesn't control it. So far I can't tell if the primer prolongs makeup life. Some reviews I come across on MUA swear that it does though. Still for the price, what do you have to lose?

*Disclaimer: The "Duped" column refers to cheaper alternatives to expensive products. It in no way implies that the cheaper product deliberately duplicated the pricier version. In some cases, the cheaper product may pre-date the more expensive product.