My Most Favourite Primer EVER!

I don't know what it is about this particular beauty product that has always interested me but even before I became a makeup artist I was on the hunt for a great primer.  Now it seems like EVERY brand of makeup has their own primer but I remember when I was first looking the mention of the product to sales girls often got me confused looks.

Over the years I have tried MANY primers...some I've liked, some not so much...but never one that I absolutely loved (kind of like my dating life lol)!  But NOW I've found my one true love (we're still talking about Primers btw...not relationships...I'm still working on that one ;) ) - Arbonne Makeup Primer!

I actually tried this primer about a yr ago...and even wrote about it on this blog.  I got a sample and I loved it then but I didn't go and buy it for myself..not sure why.  Fast forward a year, I've now taken the plunge and I'm sorry I waited so long!

For any makeup newbies or novices who are asking - What's a primer and why do I need it?

Basically, it's a product you put on before your foundation (you can wear it alone w/out foundation too btw).  It's like when you paint a wall in your house you always prime it first...primer for the face is the same kind of idea.  A good primer sort of diffuses and diminishes fine lines and pores....it just smooths out the surface of your face so that foundation lays nicer and you'll use less of it.  It also creates a barrier between your skin and your foundation and personally I find foundation lasts longer w/ it.

So what is it about this particular primer you ask?  Well first off you only need a small amount to do the entire face b/c the product is that concentrated...so yes, it might be on a little bit of the pricier side (equivalent to Smashbox Primer) but it will last you a long time so it's worth it IMO...plus remember since you're using a primer you'll need less foundation...therefore saving money there too ;).  This primer just leaves the skin feeling so smooth and silky and it really does do what it says - diminishes the appearance of fine lines and pores.

 Also in the past I've found w/ some popular primers (Smashbox I'm looking at you) they've been a bit heavy and sometimes depending on the client's skin when I've gone to put foundation over top the primer has sort of balled up or rolled off...NOT GOOD!  I've yet to experience this w/ the Arbonne Primer.  I should mention I'm not alone in calling this The Best Primer...even the readers at TotalBeauty.com agree - it was voted #1 (beating out big brands like MUFE, Smashbox & MAC) w/ an average reader rating of 9.9!

Other reasons I'm a big fan of this Primer...and other products from Arbonne:

• Hypoallergenic
• Dermatologist Tested
• PH Correct
• Vegan Certified, Peta-Approved
• No Parabens, Phthalates, Artificial Dyes, Fragrance, Mineral Oil or Formaldehyde-donating Preservatives
• A lot of their products are also Gluten Free which is becoming an important thing for a lot of ppl too
• They also have a really strong Green Commitment - responsible harvesting, don't use endangered ingredients, print w/ soy based inks when possible, recyclable packaging or packaging made from recyclable materials

So overall just a very responsible and socially conscientious brand which is cool.  Their products are available online and they have literally hundreds of other great products available.  Plus a lot of really cool deals, discounts (20% off all orders) and free products if you sign up as a Preferred Client (which is open to anyone...not just Pros..but it does have a joining fee just an FYI..but still a good investment if you plan on buying a few things).

Oh one last thing...if you don't like anything you buy w/ Arbonne you have 45 days to return it!  Yes, that's right they are so confident in their products that you have a 45 day money back guarantee...that's pretty sweet!

One thing is for sure I'm definitely going to have 2 of these Primers - 1 for Myself & 1 for my Kit b/c I'll be honest I don't want to share it w/ anyone ;)

For anyone interested here's a link to buy it!

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Base Review

About a mth or so ago the wonderful ppl at Apothica sent me a full size bottle of Vincent Longo's Water Canvas Base/Primer to try.  Anyone who knows me knows I'm kind of obsessed w/ finding the perfect primer...I don't know how this even started.  I heard a lot of good things about the Vincent Longo line and esp. about the primer and their Water Canvas Foundation (which I was VERY tempted to try but worried since I was picking from online I would not pick the right colour). 

Unfortunately, I haven't found anywhere in Toronto (although it is available in Vancouver) that sells Vincent Longo cosmetics and there isn't that many places that sell it in the US either (quite a few places in California) which is a shame b/c there are some great reviews about some of the products...well at least we can all order from Apothica!

So overall I like this primer.  I really wanted to try it out on a number of my clients as well as myself to really get a thorough opinion of the product and I can say there was no one that it didn't work well on.  It feels VERY light...lighter than any primer I think I've ever used!  As you may remember I reviewed Arbonne primer not that long ago and I really liked it b/c it left a really soft almost baby powder sort of feel on my skin while this product I didn't really feel at all although it did work by extending the wear time of my foundation, helping the foundation blend and spread easier, stopping makeup from creasing in my laugh lines and minimizing my pore size. 

Some ppl might like that you really couldn't feel it and I have to say I think it's a really good primer for men's grooming jobs b/c it just goes on so smooth and light and personally when I'm doing men's grooming I try to use a very light hand w/ my makeup and literally only apply makeup where necessary b/c let's be real it doesn't matter who the guy is they usually want to spend as little time in the makeup chair as possible and want to have the makeup feel as light as possible. 

Also in the past I've had issues w/ silcone based primers like Arbonne and Smashbox getting bally on occasion when you layer the foundation on top (usually just using less of the primer solved this problem).  I had no issues w/ this primer doing that on any of the clients I used it on and I used it on ppl of all ages, genders and races. 

Technically, it's suppose to work best w/ the Vincent Long Water Canvas Foundation but let's be real usually that's just a marketing ploy to get consumers to buy both products.  It worked fine w/ any of the different foundations I used on my clients from liquid to powder to cream. 

The price is a little high for some ppl.  It really depends on what your budget is.  It's around $44 and the tube isn't that large but a little bit goes a LONG way.  It has a gel like consistency and it's not greasy feeling at all. 

I think overall I really liked this primer for my Men & Children clients b/c it did feel super light and not greasy but I think for myself I still preferred the Arbonne primer b/c I really liked velvety smooth finish I felt on my skin after I applied it and I think it just worked a bit better for my skin type. 

Arbonne Skincare & Cosmetics Review

So the lovely ppl at Arbonne sent me some makeup and skincare products to try out and review so of course this was very exciting for me and I'm looking forward to reviewing more products from other cosmetic/skin care companies in the future (hint, hint cosmetic companies ;) ).

So I got some great samples from their RE9 anti-aging skincare line as well as a sample of their makeup primer and their sheer glow highlighter.

First I'll talk about the what I LOVED!

I LOVED their Makeup Primer!  I'm always on the hunt for a good makeup primer and a lot of products out there disappoint me.  I found it to have a similar feel to Smashbox but better b/c sometimes I find the Smashbox primer to be overly greasy.  You only needed a very small amount of it (the tiny little sample literally  lasted me a wk!) and I really did feel that it created a more even, smooth and soft canvas for my makeup to go on.  I esp. noticed this difference around my nose and eyes where the skin can get a bit dry this time of year.  My makeup spread and laid a lot smooth and easier over these areas and my skin felt A LOT softer and smoother!  I also found it was a great mattifier and helped keep my my oily skin at bay.  Just a side note on usage - only use a small amount otherwise you might experience a bit of balling of the product on your face when you put your foundation on but if you only use a small amount of the product that shouldn't happen at all. 

I also Really Liked the RE9 Restorative Day Creme w/ SPF 20 and the Night Repair Creme.  They were lightly fragranced so if that is not something you like then that might be a problem but I actually really enjoyed the slightly citrus smell.  They were also both very luscious and rich and gave a lot of moisture to my skin but didn't leave it feeling greasy either.  They absorbed very nicely into the skin and I did find it felt softer and more supple afterward.  I find a good, rich moisturizer is VERY important this time of year b/c my skin can get really dry esp. around that delicate area around the nose that tends to get all dry and sore when you blow your nose all the time.  I also really liked that the Day Creme had an SPF of 20 b/c it's important to me no matter what time of year it is that I get my SPF protection.  Again one positive I would say about ALL the Arbonne products - you only need a little bit b/c they seem pretty high concentrated which I definitely appreciate. 

Another side note...since we are talking about anti-aging skincare always remember when you put on your moisturizers don't forget your neck!  Your neck needs love and sun protection too!  Also whenever you're applying moisturizers or serums to your face always lightly rub into the skin w/ sweeping upwards strokes like they do at a spa when you're getting a facial.  Gravity doesn't need any extra help lol so don't give it any by rubbing in your moisturizers w/ downward motions or strokes. 

The Sheer Glow Highlighter was also a Really Nice product.  If you're looking for a subtle, pearlescent glow for your cheekbones, bridge of your nose or brow bone area then this is a really great product.  I'd say it's a great day time highlighter and it really does create a more inner glow sort of highlight b/c it doesn't have any shimmer or sparkle like a lot of highlighters but more just a pearlescent quality to it.  If you are looking for something w/ more shimmer or sparkle or a more bold highlighting effect for a night out or something I might suggest something else but for a subtle glow it was a good product.  It blended very nicely on the skin and didn't look obvious at all. 

A couple of the products in the RE9 collection weren't bad but they are firming and wrinkle reducing products and being that I was just given a small sample it's hard for me to say whether they really made a difference or not so it's probably better if I don't try and talk about them too much.  I will say they did feel nice and absorbed well into my skin though.

Two products I wasn't that crazy about were the Smoothing Facial Cleanser and Regenerating Toner.  Again they had a slight fragrance to them so if that bugs you then these products wouldn't be for you.  Personally, I just didn't feel they were as effective as some of the other facial cleansers and toners I have used in the past.  I like my skin to feel really clean and fresh after my toner and I felt w/ this product that there felt like there still might be some residual residue left behind.  Also I don't know if there is alcohol in this toner as I didn't find the ingrediants listed on the website or sample package I received but that is something I would like to know b/c I personally try to use Alcohol Free toners b/c the alcohol can have a drying effect on the skin.  Plus there are just cleansers and toners I like better at a fraction of the cost.  They weren't bad just not my fav. products and I wouldn't buy them on my own.  EDIT: Stessa from Arbonne sent me the ingrediant list for the Toner and there is no alcohol so that's good :)

Overall though I really liked the line and I did feel that my skin felt smoother and the texture felt improved. 

Some other neat things to know about the RE9 Anti-Aging Skincare Line:

Products Are Formulated Without:
* Animal Products or by-products
* Formaldehyde-donating preservatives
* Petroleum-based ingrediants - Benzene, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Phthalates, Toluene
* PABA
* Dyes or Chemical Fragrances (so I guess any fragrance I noticed was natural)

Our Products are Pure, Safe and Beneficial
* Botanically Based
* PH Correct
* Vegan Approved
* Hypoallergenic
* Dermatologist Tested

If you want to try a sample pack or to get 20% off an Arbonne order contact Arbonne consultant Stessa Peers at stessapeers@gmail.com. Just mention that Jessica Jean Myers sent you to take advantage of the 20% discount or sample pack.

So yeah EVERYONE is a Winner!