Shu Uemura Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer

New from Shu Uemura and new to me is the Shu Uemura Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer ($50). The product name is pretty self explanatory - it's meant to instantly minimize and blur pores. While the primer is currently available in the pretty, limited edition Yaz Bukey packaging, is a permanent product. 

The texture is has an uncanny similarity to that of The Body Shop Instablur, as both products contain silicone-based ingredients. Though The Body Shop Instablur is slightly thicker and I found that it pilled up on my face when I tried to blend foundation over top. The Shu doesn't do this. The Body Shop and Shu Uemura both fall under the L'Oreal brand umbrella, so the similarities weren't too surprising after thinking on it for a while. 

An incredibly flattering close up of my nose... 

I don't have huge pores, but I do have quite a bit of oiliness in my bigger pore areas. It's clear that the Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer really does blur make the oiliness and the pores disappear upon application. I find that the primer works best alone or underneath liquid foundation. Under a powder, I find that the primer causes my powder foundation to appear slightly patchy. The primer doesn't really hold my oil slick back and I need to blot by noon. However, my pores look minimized all day and the coverage of my foundation lasts 1-2 hours more than it normally would. 

Zoomed out - worn with no foundation

I would totally wear this on a no-foundation day, as it makes my skin look flawless without looking cakey or made up. While the packaging is awesome and the product minimizes pores like magic, I'd only deem it as a nice to have. If you can skip out on the cool packaging, there are some less pricey options. 

What's your fave pore minimizer? 

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Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer N in 03 Creme

Lately, it feels like I've been testing a lot of primers...Make Up For Ever, Shu Uemura... and now the Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer N in 03 Creme ($40, available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations), which also comes in the shades Dragee and Miel. Of all the primers I'm used to using, this beauty from Paul & Joe is the most unique. 

Firstly, THAT PACKAGING THOUGH. Can all primers just come in the frosted glass bottle with a pump? Secondly, it smells lightly of orange blossoms, something unique to all Paul & Joe skincare products. Thirdly, the texture is like a thin lotion. Lastly, it has a slight iridescent sheen of champagne and gold. It's not glittery but it gives the skin a little moisture, a little coverage and a little glowy oomph. Hopefully, you tell that I've captured sheen in the photo below. 

I never really gravitate towards moisturizing primers, but this doesn't make my skin feel oily, rather using the primer makes my skin feel soft and supple. Since I feel like I prefer a mattifying primer in the T-Zone, I apply the Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer N to the outer edges of my face, focusing on the cheeks. If it's any indication that this primer prolongs the wear of anything on top, my blush lasts a couple hours longer, which is nice. Overall, I'm really enjoying this, as the product looks and smells delightful, adds longevity to my face makeup, and adds a natural looking highlight to the face. 

Have you tried any primers from Paul & Joe? 

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WIN IT: All 10 of the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizers ($430 VALUE)

Launched just last month, the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizers ($42 each) are the new and improved versions of the MUFE HD Primers. Similar to the HD primer line, the MUFE Step 1 Skin Equalizers are available in various shades to tackle various discolouration. More specifically there are 10 variations in the Step 1 Skin Equalizer line - 5 for texture and 5 for tone.

TEXTURE - mattifying, smoothing, hydrating, nourishing, redness correcting

TONE - pink, blue, yellow, peach, caramel 

TO APPLY: redness/radiance before mattifying/smoothing OR redness/radiance after hydrating/nourishing

While I have yet to post a review of these products, I've been pretty happy with the yellow-tinted one I'm trying thus far. 

Make Up For Ever has kindly offered to send one lucky reader ALL 10 of the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizers. All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter below. This is open to residents of Canada, age 18+ (or with parental consent). Giveaway closes Wednesday, April 22, 2015. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK! 

Giveaway prize provided by Make Up For Ever Canada. I received all 10 of the Step 1 Skin Equalizers for editorial purposes. 

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Philosophy Total Matteness Oil-Free Mattifying Pore Eraser

Serious case of shiny-face is always an issue for me, all year-round and especially in the summer. Lately, I've been relying on Philosophy Total Matteness Pore Eraser (30 mL for $42 at Shoppers' Drug Mart, Sephora, and Hudson's Bay) to keep my personal oil slick in check. 

[dat left face doe]

"Now you see them now you don't. Watch pores pull a disappearing act." The Philosophy Total Matteness works exactly in the way it suggests. It smooths over pores, creates a matte finish, and lasts ~4 hours on a hot day. However, there's very comparable products at lower price points. I like Philosophy Total Matteness because it's liquid. It feels a bit lighter than a thicker lotion or silicone  (i.e., Bioderma Pore Refiner, Rimmel Stay Matte, Make Up For Ever HD Primer, the Body Shop Instablur). My only issue with this is that I'm having a hard time finding a foundation that smooths over Total Matteness without picking up dry patches on my nose - so the Total Matteness Pore Eraser works best on days when I don't want to wear any base makeup. 

Overall, a good product with very comparable dupes. I'd pick a primer/pore refiner based on how heavy you want something to feel. If anything, the Philosophy Total Matteness is more lightweight and less-heavy duty, so if that suits your skincare needs definitely check this one out! 

Do you prefer a lighter or heavier primer/base/pore-refiner? 

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Mika for Shu Uemura POREraser UV Under Base Mousse SPF 35 PA+++

Warmer weather calls for longer lasting products, SPF, and all the things I still look for in base products - good coverage, oil control, and pore smoothing. The Shu Uemura POREraser UV Under Base Mouse ($46) claims to do it all - it's a "base" primer that can be worn with or without foundation. In the Mika for Shu collection there are 4 different UV Under Bases (all with different and pretty pump packaging designs!): 

• POREraser UV under base mousse beige SPF 35 PA+++
• POREraser UV underbase mousse pink SPF 35 PA+++
• UV under base brightening mousse pink purple SPF 30 PA++
• UV under base BB mousse BB Beige SPF 30 PA+++

"The shu uemura light as air UV under base mousse is a make-up essential, it veils skin to transform it into the perfect canvas for the sweetest or sultriest wonderland fantasies... Light as air mousse for medium skin tones that provides a pore-less semi-matte finish." 

As mentioned above, There are two colours - pink and beige. "Pink" is for light skin tones, while "Beige" is best suited to those with medium skin tones. I'm typically in the light-medium range, but I find that beige is a little light for me. 

Pumping the bottle produces a lightweight mousse, that reminds me a little bit of a volumizing mousse for hair. The slight sunscreen scent is a little unpleasant but dissipates as you blend it onto the face. The product itself is light and soft. It smoothes over the skin in an almost water-like manner. The POREraser smooths over minor imperfections, reducing redness, mattifying, and filling in pores. Furthermore, the product extends the wear-time of my foundation by up to 2 hours. 

Not only does the Shu Uemura POREraser have the same properties as old pore-minimizing primer, it also contains SPF to protect the skin from the sun! Overall, an A+ in my books and a must-have for the summer months. 

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Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in Soft Beige and Stay Matte Primer

When it comes to foundations, "matte" is my buzzword. Any indication that a foundation is matte has me running to the nearest store to swatch and smother all over my oily-skinned face . The Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation ($5.99) is one of those products. In addition to its mattifying claims, it's also supposed to be oil-free and ultra-light weight (hence being called a "mousse"). 

Also a new release from the Rimmel Stay Matte range is the Stay Matte Primer. Since I'm quite oil prone, I opted to pair the primer and foundation together in the hopes of aiding my complexion in staying matte for longer. 

 Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 091 Light Ivory, 100 Ivory, 200 Soft Beige, and Primer

The Stay Matte Foundation comes in 8 shades - Light Porcelain, Ivory, Light Ivory, True Ivory, Soft Beige, Classic Beige, True Beige, and Sand. I received 091 Light Ivory, 100 Ivory, 200 Soft Beige to test out. Obviously, Light Ivory and Ivory were way too light for me, but Soft Beige (5th from the lightest) has proven to be a good match. 

My first thought when applying this foundation was something along the lines of... "Holy shitake mushrooms. Coverage. Woah." If the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is anything, it's ultra high-coverage. Yes, it 100% covers all the flaws on my skin. But it's also high-coverage as in... it doesn't look natural at all and there's no way I'd be wearing this foundation everyday. 

Also true to its claims, the foundation is very light-weight. Surprisingly so, since it 100% covers every single thing on my face. When applying, it feels super soft and airy. Though, it dries quite quickly so either you can work very quickly or use a damp sponge to make the product more workable. 

As for the matte effect, the shine control of Rimmel's Stay Matte is unmatched by my current favourite CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1. The CoverGirl foundation coverage itself lasts 10 hours long but areas around my forehead and t-zone start to get a little oily at the 6 hour mark. This doesn't happen with the Stay Matte. 

The Rimmel Stay Matte Primer ($6.99) seems to be a drugstore dupe for something along the lines of the Bioderma Pore Refiner. The only differences are (1) the lesser price and (2) the slightly weightier texture (3) Rimmel's Stay Matte Primer can be worn over or under makeup. I prefer to wear this over exclusively over liquid foundations because I like the way Bioderma feels directly on my skin. Also, the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer does move my foundation a little when applied overtop but it's nothing that can't be fixed with a light coverage powder. For extra oil-prevention, I  make a product sandwich on my face. A layer of the Bioderma Pore Refiner, then foundation, then the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer and lastly a light dusting of powder. Lately, the sandwich has been my trusty go-to oil-fighting power squad that lasts me a full 12 hour day. 

All in all, both the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation and the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer are impressive products for a fraction of the price of a similar something you might find at Sephora. Although the Stay Matte Foundation is a bit too heavy coverage for everyday makeup, it's perfect for special occasions and it photographs like a dream. 

Do you like matte or dewy foundations? Do you use a primer? 

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