New To My Collection | Makeup First Impressions

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well. I am currently isolating due to the NHS track and trace app telling me to do so. I feel absolutely fine at the moment, so fingers crossed I didn’t catch the virus! Today I wanted to share a post that I’ve been meaning to share for a little while – it’s another post in my ‘new to my collection’ series… this wasn’t always a series but it has become one overtime as I am addicted to trying new products! All of these makeup products I received from work after a premium beauty conference (and a couple from previous work things) where I learnt lots about brands and products. I am really lucky to get to try out so many things, but I’m glad I am able to share my thoughts with you guys as well as customers at work.

PRIMERS
So this conference primers seemed to be a particular focus, and I received four different ones to try! These are of course first impression reviews, however I have used all of them at least a few times.

YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer (£31)
I’m still firmly on the fence with this one. I don’t really go for silicone based primers such as this one usually. I prefer a creamy or hydrating primer, as I have drier skin, AND silicone is known to clog pores so when I can I have been trying to use less. This doesn’t feel overly silicone to the touch, it is a little more gel like than other silicone primers (for example Benefit POREfessional). I like the gold flecks for radiance and I do think makeup looks radiant on top of this, depending which foundation you are using of course. Makeup definitely glides onto this nicely, and skin is blurred – however I don’t have a massive issue with large pores personally. I wouldn’t say this has had much of an affect on the longevity of makeup, at least not that I have noticed yet, but I wouldn’t say silicone primers tend to keep my makeup on longer. Like I said, I’m on the fence so I will continue using and see how I feel. At the moment, this isn’t a primer I would go out of my way to repurchase. At £31, I can pick up other primers which I prefer!

Smashbox Vitamin Glow Primer (£30)
Of all the primers I received, this one is my favourite at the moment! I’ve been really enjoying it. This one has a thinner serum-like texture which feels refreshing and somewhat hydrating on the skin. It contains vitamin B, C and E to brighten and revitalise the skin. It soaks into the skin pretty quickly, so I do try to work as quickly as possible when I use this one. I particularly like to use this one on minimal makeup days and it makes the skin look nice and healthy. Looking at the ingredients this one does also contain silicone unfortunately, but I cannot feel it within the texture at all. It also contains niacinamide, a power ingredient which is so popular at the moment for helping large pores, fine lines, dullness & uneven skin tone. I was surprised but happy to see this ingredient in the primer.

Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer (£26)
I haven’t used an awful lot from the brand Urban Decay, so I was excited to get to try this out! This feels lighter on the skin than I expected. It feels like a hybrid between a cream and silicone primer. You kind of need to apply more of this than other primers to really feel it on the skin, so I think I’ll go through this fairly quickly. It does seem to grip makeup, and it’s one I’ve been using if I need a full days wear out of my makeup. I think this is quite a nice option for a primer, but I do have other ones I love a bit more.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer (£32)
I really like having this option in my makeup collection! It isn’t something I would reach for daily, as it isn’t a super hydrating primer, instead it is a blurring primer. This one is silicone free though, yet it blurs the skin and pores like a silicone primer would. So for me, this is the best of both worlds when I am looking for something blurring and more mattifying. The texture of this is quite thick for a primer but it is easy to massage into the skin. If you like a silicone effect, but want to stay away from the ingredient then I really recommend giving this one a go.

MASCARA

NARS Climax Extreme Mascara (£22)
I have only used this one a couple of times so far, so this is definitely a first impressions review. Though I am hoping to share a full review on this one as it was the winner of my Instagram poll which asked which mascara you’d like to see a review on. I love the brush on this one – it’s a standard looking mascara wand which I like. It doesn’t feel scratchy on the eyes when you apply the mascara. You can definitely achieve some crazy volume with this mascara with just one quick layer, but it can get a bit clumpy, so it depends if you like that look or not! My lashes also appear longer and curled. I can’t comment on the level of transfer/smudging I get with this (a problem I have with so many mascaras) as I just don’t think I have tested it for long enough, but watch out for a full review! I love the packaging on this one so much.

KVD Vegan Beauty Go Big or Go Home Mascara (£20)
It seems rare to get a fully vegan mascara, so I was really intrigued to try this one out! I haven’t opened my main tube of this, but I have a sample size which I’ve been using. The brush is quite big, which I personally really like. The formula of this feels quite heavy on the lashes until it has dried, which is a strange feeling, but doesn’t bother me. I like the volume I get with this one, it isn’t as extreme as the Nars one, but it definitely builds volume really nicely and lifts the lashes. I like that this mascara is also formulated with olive and sunflower oil. I do think this mascara is a safe option if you want a volumising mascara.

Huda Beauty Legit Lashes Mascara (£24)
I haven’t actually opened this mascara yet, as I don’t want to open all my mascaras at the same time and have them all dry up. But I still wanted to mention it in this post. If you want a review on this one, just let me know. I think this mascara is interesting as it is two mascara’s in one. It has two different formulas, and two different brushes! It has one side for volume, and the other side for curl & length. So, you should be able to achieve everything with this. I am excited to give it a go when I finally get round to opening it up.

Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Mascara (£21)
Again with this mascara, I haven’t opened the main one, but I have TWO minis which I’ve been using, so I can still share my thoughts! Out of all the mascaras in this post, I have used this one the most, so I can share a bit better of a review. The wand in this mascara is quite unique as it has a ‘flat to fat’ brush. You can load on the mascara using the fat side to build volume, then you can use the flat side to comb through the lashes to define and separate. I appreciate this as some mascaras are so hard to achieve separation with, but this brush does separate lashes nicely whilst also giving me good (but not crazy) volume. This truly gives my lashes everything and makes them look so nice, but unfortunately this has been smudging/transferring so badly on me under my brows! I do have this problem with so many mascaras because of my eye shape, but this one is particularly bad, so I have to keep checking in the mirror to remove the smudges! I am really sad that this happens, because if it wasn’t for that I would adore this one!

OTHER MAKEUP

Origins Ginzing SPF 40 Tinted Moisturiser (£32)
I’ve never really been a tinted moisturiser kind of girl. I think because I’ve always tried to wear it as a substitute to foundation on a makeup wearing day. However, I’ve been using this one on some days I’ve been wearing zero makeup as a way to just add a bit of colour and evenness to my bare skin. This one adapts to your skin, providing a very sheer tint. It’s moisturising and energising so it makes the skin look healthy. If you’re looking for a super sheer tinted moisturiser then this one is a nice option.

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Envy Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick in Languid Love (£27.50)
I was excited to try out an Estee Lauder lipstick, as I haven’t tried any before… they’re pretty pricey and I love other more affordable lipsticks so I haven’t ever felt the need. The shade I got is Languid Love; a peachy nude. I was expecting this to be extremely sheer, but it definitely has more colour pay off than that! It glides on nicely and feels moisturising. I do like this, but I don’t love it, and for the price I wouldn’t repurchase. It reminds me of a Maybelline lipstick I had in the past, I think from the Colour Sensational range.

Smashbox Gloss Angeles in 72 and Honey (£16)
I am all about gloss these days and rarely have a full makeup look on without a gloss! Smashbox make some great lip products and this gloss is no different. I love the peachy nude shade we got (similar shade to the Estee Lauder lipstick). The gloss has nice colour payoff, and isn’t too sheer. It is non-sticky and instead feels nice and moisturising on the lips, probably due to the hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.

ICONIC London Sheer Blush in Cheeky Coral (£18)
I haven’t experimented with many liquid blushes yet, so I was happy to give this Iconic London one a try. I am still on the fence with this one though. I like the shade, but it does come off pretty sheer on my skin unless I apply quite a lot. When I do achieve what I want, it looks lovely and natural with a bit of a healthy glow! I have tried blending this out with a beauty sponge but I think the sponge soaks up too much product. I prefer using my fingers or a stippling brush. I will keep using this before I make any final judgements.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (£16)
I’ve only just started to use this eyeliner, even though it’s been waiting unopened for so long in my makeup collection! I like the felt tip applicator as I find them easy to use. It goes on easily and dries down quickly, and it has great staying power. I wouldn’t usually go for waterproof eyeliner as I don’t feel I need it and it makes the removal process a little harder, but this one is nice. I don’t love it as much as my favourite KVD Tattoo Liner or Benefit Roller Liner, but it is still a nice option.

BECCA Light Gleam Primer & Topper Liquid Eyeshadow in Dusk (£21)
I have to say, this is such a lovely liquid eyeshadow duo! I have never been into liquid eyeshadow, but this one is truly so nice, and I am wanting to try other shades. The one I have currently is ‘dusk’, an olive green ‘primer’ with a golden shimmer ‘topper’. The primer side is a full colour moussey texture shadow with a doe foot applicator. It glides on easily and I simply tap/blend it out with my finger. The topper side has more of a small brush applicator – again I simply swipe on the lid and tap out with my finger! The shade dusk looks nicer on the eyes than in the tube, but I can imagine other shades would be even more up my street.

That’s all I have to talk about in this post. Is there any of these things that you currently use and love? Or any you’d be tempted to try out for yourself? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks so much for reading.

Jazmin xx