Clinique Universal Face Primer

Isn't it funny how we can become such creatures of habit? I have been using the same makeup primer for years, and even though I've never loved it, it just never occurred to me to try something new. I kept buying the same one and kept having the same results — crazy, right?

I was in the market for a new primer last week. I did some research and decided I wanted to try out this version from Make Up For Ever when I came across an old sample I had of the Clinique universal face primer. (P.S. One of my favorite things about Nordstrom is that you get to choose three free beauty samples with your beauty purchase!)

Funnily enough, when I first put the Clinique primer on my face, my instant reaction was, "Oh, this feels awful, I hate this!" But as I rubbed it into my skin, the texture changed from a creamy lotion feel to a soft matte, smoothing out my skin and making it the softest it's ever been. I'm not kidding guys — since I've been wearing this, I can't stop touching my face!

*These photos were taken around 4 p.m., when my skin is typically shiny through my T-zone. (P.S. Wearing this Smashbox palette on my eyes and Too Faced Naked Dolly over MAC Subculture lip liner.)

I tested this Clinique primer in several ways. Now, I know that working out with makeup on is like a cardinal sin of beauty, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. So, I wore this through a cardio workout where I worked up a decent sweat. While I usually immediately wipe down my face with cleansing wipes after I exercise, this time I actually (coincidentally) forgot to do it — and in 20 minutes, my skin looked like I hadn't worked out at all! No grease, no shine — completely matte, soft and without any trace of redness. I was actually shocked.

But let's get to the best part. I have combination skin that always starts out dry and flaky in the mornings and turns shiny by mid-afternoon. There have been maybe two or three days in my adult life that my skin didn't have an oily sheen by the end of the day, and honestly, I might have only imagined them. I've never found a product that fully combats this problem or stops my skin from shining for more than a few hours, especially during the humid summer months. The Clinique primer actually keeps my skin looking matte all day. ALL DAY! Trust me, this is a real miracle for anyone with oily skin.

Suffice it to say, I will be recommending this makeup primer till the day I die.

P.S. My favorite nude lipsticks and Sephora sheet masks for better skin

Lipstick Review Vol. 3

top row: Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 08 / NARS lipstick in "Scarlet Empress"

bottom row: Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 111 / Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Neon Red"

1. Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 08 — This was one of my very first lipstick purchases because it’s about as close to the color of my natural lips as there is, and perfect for beauty beginners. It’s a neutral shade that goes with virtually anything, and it’s very flattering. I love it for those days when I want to wear lipstick but nothing too bold, or outfits that don’t seem to match any other lip colors. The dusty pink shade is great for all seasons, so I get a lot of wear out of it, plus the formula is one of my favorites. It’s creamy without being too thick and it’s not sticky at all. It won’t last all day without reapplying, but the color is so natural that it won’t be obvious if it fades a little bit, which is a major win if you work long days like me. Rating: 5 stars.

2. NARS lipstick in "Scarlet Empress" — If you’re wondering why I haven’t posted a lipstick review since October, this NARS lipstick would be the reason. After I bought it, I wore it just about daily for the whole month of November (between my colds, that is). It’s the absolute perfect shade of purple, and it’s actually sort of a chameleon because some days it looks much darker than others. (You can see an example of the difference in this post.) It’s my favorite shade for fall and winter this year (obviously), but I can’t wait to experiment with it in the warmer months, too. I’ve been a huge fan of NARS ever since I bought my first lip pencil (Dragon Girl) over a year ago. This was my first try with one of their lipsticks, but I have to admit I wasn’t super impressed. The formula is super soft and comfortable for all-day wear, but it doesn’t last nearly as well as the lip pencils. I’m not sure if it’s just this shade since it’s the only one I’ve tried so far, but it takes a few coats to fully cover and it rubs off pretty easily, which can be a pain. Rating: 4 stars.

3. Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate No. 111 — This is the first tube of lipstick I have ever finished, which already says a lot! It was my first red lipstick and one that I loved because the color is universally flattering and the most perfect dark-bright red. This Rimmel London formula had a strange-but-not-bad smell to it, but it never bothered me. It's good for long-ish wears, but it can get a little sticky by the end of the night, so I try not to wear it for morning-to-night occasions. It goes on thick and feels creamy so it doesn't dry out your lips, which is great. What I love most about this lipstick is the slightly deeper tone that pairs so well with different colors. Rating: 4.5 stars.

4. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Neon Red" — A bold orangey-red is a statement maker for sure, so I probably wouldn’t recommend starting out with it if you haven’t tested the lipstick waters previously. I didn’t want anything too orange, so I went with the “Neon Red” in the hopes of having a stronger tone of red. I love this color for summer because it’s vibrant and bright, but I’ve also worn it in the winter to liven up a dark-colored ensemble. I like this Maybelline shade because it goes well with my light skin tone and doesn’t wash me out. The formula is creamy with a glossy finish, and it lasts pretty well throughout the day without leaving your lips stained after you take it off. Rating: 4.5 stars.

Which one of these shades is your favorite? Do you have any lipsticks you'd like me to review? Just leave a note in the comment and I'll be sure to check them out! 

P.S. Lipstick reviews Vol. 1 and Vol. 2

Lipstick Review Vol. 2

top row: Too Faced Melted Long Wear Lipstick in "Melted Fig" / Revlon Pearl in "Fuchsia Fusion" (No. 657)

bottom row: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Vivid Rose" (No. 875) / Bare Minerals Moxie in "Live It Up"

1. Too Faced Melted Long Wear Lipstick in "Melted Fig" — Okay, this is the nerd in me, but I usually do quite a bit of research on a lipstick before I buy it. I check out the color I want, look at reviews and photos of how it looks on other girls with similar skin tones. But this one was a completely spur-of-the-moment purchase. I’d never heard of Too Faced Melted before, but I was intrigued when my friend Ashley was looking at it in Sephora one day. I was hesitant because it’s a liquid in a squeeze tube, which I gave up on long ago in middle school. But seriously — it is now one of my all-time favorites. It goes on creamy but dries to a matte finish. And it lasts forever! I can get through a full meal and multiple drinks and barely need a touchup. Sometimes the dryness makes it feel like it’s wiped off, but when I look in a mirror it’s hardly moved. I’m not a huge fan of the fuzzy tip applicator (although it is soft!) because it’s a little bit harder to get a clean line, but overall, it’s my latest top pick. Rating: 5 stars.

2. Revlon Pearl in "Fuchsia Fusion" (No. 657) —This was one of the first lipsticks I bought back when I started wearing it a couple years ago. It’s the same brand as the purple I wrote about in my first review, but the formula is much better. It’s creamy and comfortable, but this one doesn’t rub off like chapstick. You’ll still need a touchup after a meal, but it doesn’t leave your lips feeling gross like some of the others I’ve tried. The color covers well and doesn’t bleed around the edges, which I can appreciate even more now that I’ve been testing out a few newer brands that do (looking at you, Moxie!). I like the magenta coloring of this one, as it’s bold but not too bright. It does have a very faint blue tint to it because it’s “pearl,” which bothers me sometimes depending on my mood. What can I say, I’m a matte girl! Rating: 4 stars.

3. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in "Vivid Rose" (No. 875) — This is one of my favorite shades. Period. It's a bold, vibrant pink that looks stunning on every skin tone. It's the perfect summer lip color, and I proved that many times over this past summer! I love the Maybelline lipsticks because they typically have a great, long-lasting formula and they're only $5. You can't beat that price when it comes to lipstick! This shade really does last well throughout the day. It does need touchups after meals, but it works as a lip stain, so even at the end of a 12-hour day your lips will still have the color on them. Actually, after I've worn it for a long time sometimes I'll wake up and shower and my lips will still be tinted from it! But it has a slight creamy feel, so it usually feels really good on my lips for all-day wear. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for bold pinks! Rating: 5 stars. 

4. Bare Minerals Moxie in "Live It Up" — Bare Minerals is my go-to makeup brand. I’ve been using its foundation for years and love it. I have had my eye on the Moxie lipstick line for a long time, but for some reason I just never tried it out. But since I’m such a great bargain hunter lately that I happened to find this beautiful red shade in a sale basket at a salon recently. I didn’t spend much time debating because I was in need of a new red lipstick, and for just $10, I couldn’t pass up one of my favorite brands. As soon as I put it on, I knew I made the right decision. The formula is super creamy and has a nice shine to it. The color is the perfect dramatic red, which was exactly what I was looking for. It didn’t last through lunch, but the edges stayed in tact, so my touchup was minimal. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that it does bleed, so a lip liner is definitely necessary. Rating: 4.5 stars.

What lipsticks are you loving right now? What are your favorites from this roundup? Have you tried any of these before? Let me know!

P.S. Lipstick Review Vol. 1, the key to healthy lips and my fall wish list

Lipstick Review Vol. 1

Top row: NYX Matte lipstick in "Pure Red" / Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in "Plum Velour" (No. 850)

Bottom row: Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in "Bordeaux" (No. 124) / NARS Satin Lip Pencil in "Rikugien"

If you know me at all, you're probably thinking: "How did it take THIS LONG for this girl to do a lipstick review?!" I don't really have an answer for why it's taken me so long, but I finally did it! For each review you can expect a general description of each shade, plus a rating out of 5 stars. So here we go with the first of many!

1. NYX Matte lipstick in "Pure Red" — This is actually one of my favorite colors, but (and this is a really big but) one of my least favorite formulas. The red has just a hint of scarlet-orange and is great for my lighter skin tone. I always get a ton of compliments when I wear it, and I like to use it as an alternative for a darker, more "red" red. But color does not equal comfort, and this stuff feels pretty gross on my lips by the end of the day. Maybe it's the matte formula, but it's a bit thick and it always seems to get chunks in it throughout the day — even after I've thoroughly treated my lips. Rating: 2.5 stars.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in "Plum Velour" (No. 850) — Again, I love love love the color of this lipstick. It's the perfect non-intense purple for fall (or year-round, really). The problem, again, is the formula. It's weird because I have two other shades in this same lipstick and they are both great, but this one is super thin and rubs off almost instantly. Seriously, you will not make it through a cup of coffee with this one! It feels like I'm wearing Baby Lips, which is great, but as for long-lasting wear — not your best bet. Rating: 3 stars.

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in "Bordeaux" (No. 124) — Oxblood lipstick is my favorite fall beauty trend. I just love the vampy-but-classy look of a wine-colored lip — there's something about it that just makes you look and feel mysterious, you know? This one is a great shade and a great formula (finally!), but the bad thing with dark colors is that they tend to bleed around the edges of your lips. I use this matching lip pencil to line my lips before applying the color all over, which usually helps. I want to try this lip protector to see if it works any better, because you absolutely need to have clean lines to pull off a dark lip shade. Rating: 4 stars.

4. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in "Rikugien" — This is my fourth NARS lip pencil, but it was part of the free birthday gift at Sephora, so I didn't get to pick out the color. I probably wouldn't have chosen this one on my own, but I actually really liked it for a more natural shade. It's got a bit of a pearly tone to it, and it essentially just accentuates the natural color of your lips. It feels nice and lasts fairly well, but I probably wouldn't pay the retail price of $26 because I think you could easily find a drugstore dupe for much cheaper. Rating: 3.5 stars.

That's it for Volume 1! Let me know if you have any questions about any of these, and if you have suggestions for lipsticks you'd like me to review, send them my way! I have plenty more to write about, but I'm always up for trying new lipsticks ;) 

P.S. The key to healthy lips and my fall wish list