Product Review: bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer

For the last year or so, the only full face primer I have used has been the first primer I ever used; Amazing Cosmetic's Anti Ageing Primer (I've been through about 3 tubes of the stuff) because no others I ever tried ever held a candle to it. Until now. As part of my Sephora Beauty Insider rewards I got a miniature of BareMinerals original Prime Time Foundation Primer. I'd never really tried any bareMinerals products, not being into the whole mineral makeup craze a few years ago, so I had no idea what to expect. 

bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer: £21 / $23

The fluid is clear much like my Amazing Cosmetics one, but putting it on my skin reminded me of what my primer used to do for me before I started using foundation and moved to Los Angeles where my skin got a lot oiler (and worse), but so much better. You don't need much, and it glides onto your skin with your fingertips leaving velvety smoothness in its wake which is not at all drying, but very clean feeling and not oily; the perfect adhesive base for your makeup which I have been seeing incredible results from. As well as this original version they have a neutralising version, a brightening version and an oil control version, so when I get back to England next month and my skin has settles down a bit I will be able to go to the bareMinerals counter and sort one out that perfectly suits my skin type. I've also been looking to replace my eyelid primer for a while; I'm not a fan of the Benefit 'Stay Don't Stray' and I'm allergic to the cult Urban Decay Primer Potion offerings, so I'm very happy to see bareMinerals also make a Prime Time for eyelids that I will have to try too. 

What are your go to primers for face and eyes, and are there any other bareMinerals products that you really recommend I should try?

Product Review: Belif Sugar Coat Lip Balm

I have a very bad track record with lip balms. Even the ones that are supposed to be amazing don't really do much for me. The only balms I can 100% get behind at the moment is Dr. Lipp's Nipple Balm For Lips, with Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment coming in at a close second. I've literally been trying out different lip balms for years, up until the point where I pretty much know I won't get on with a balm the moment I get given it. 

Belif Sugar Coat Lip Balm c/o Napiers: £8.50

A while ago I was sent a little collection of sample size products from Korean skincare brand Belif who are now stocked at Napiers. Some of the products I did not get on with, and some of them frankly baffled me, but something I was sent from their range that really stood out for me and I was very impressed by was their Sugar Coat Lip Balm. It smells slightly herbal, reminding me of herbal toothpaste without the 'fresh' minty note. It tastes like that too. While you think it will be like a traditional balm, it is actually a bit like a lip gloss in texture, a little sticky. Since falling head over heels for Dr. Lipp's balm, I think it is this glossy nature to the balm that stops it being drying, and makes this product 'work'. It really is one I would recommend you buy if you have problems finding lip balms that work for you, and life me offerings like Vaseline and Carmex actually make you chapped lips worse, not better. The only downside to this product I can see is where as Dr. Lipp is sticky you can apply that straight out of the tube if you feel so inclined  with Belief's balm is is pretty impossible to avoid getting a really sticky finger after application. I think this product would work much better in a lip gloss type tube.

Have any of you found any other gems among either Belif or other Asian skincare brands. The only other Asian product I use every day and simply adore is DHC's Deep Cleansing Oil which is a godsend when removing waterproof mascara. 

Product Review: L'Occitane Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner

On my mission to totally overhaul my haircare, I have been experimenting with lots of different new shampoo and conditioners of late. While I'm usually all over them for their skincare products, when I was offered samples of one of my go to skincare brands L'Occitane's shampoo and conditioner offerings, I thought I'd give them ago. As they're one of the few brands I totally trust to make products for me to put on my face, why should the same not be said for my hair? I can also trust that they would be all natural.

L'Occitane Repairing Shampoo: £15 / $20, L'Occitane Repairing Conditioner: £15 / $20

Something this shampoo and conditioner combo has on all the other brands I have been trying like Alterna, Bumble and bumble. and Sachajuan is that it comes out a bit cheaper, something that needs to be noted with a product you are going to be using every single day. The shampoo does not feel moisturising  but is not at all drying. The smell really reminds me of L'Occitane's Relaxing Bath & Shower Gel. The conditioner is quite a bit thinner than you would usually expect from a conditioner (in my mind, the thicker the conditioner the better job it does) but still leaves your hair feeling silky, and to me really smells of 'France', making me very excited to finally be heading back this Summer. 

I don't think these hold a candle up to some of the higher end versions I have been enjoying recently, perhaps I would put them on level with the offerings I tried from Bumble and bumble. which I was surprised by how unimpressed I was with, as everyone always goes on about them as a brand. However, as they are a bit cheaper and don't have any of the nasties that are bad for your hair that drugstore and high street brands like Herbal Essences have, I would say these are really good everyday choices, or something to grab the travel size of when you are heading off somewhere for a few days. 

What shampoo and conditioner combo do you use on an everyday basis?