Cover FX Even Has Skin Care Covered!

Evening All!

Today I have to share with you one of my favourite products of last year. It surprised me because I didn't think I would get much use out of this little gem as I have other eyeshadow primers (Too Faced, NYX, MAC) that I already swear by, but this particular primer isn't meant to extend shadow wear. 

This is Cover FX EyePrep FX, an anti-aging smoothing primer for the eyes. I was lucky enough to win a Cover FX gift package last year that included this and I actually initially gave it to my mom but then took it back when I found out she never used it!

This isn't like any other eye primer you may have encountered. Let's see why:

First, I was super happy to see that it was an airless pump instead of just a squeeze tube. I love airless pumps, I believe they are the best form of packaging to keep products stable and bacteria free. This dispenses the perfect amount of primer with one pump (I actually only use half a pump because I have a small eye area and it's more than enough for both eyes). 

Now, having used two of Cover FX's primers in the past, both the Clear Prep and Skin Prep, I expected a clear, silicon-y gel consistency but boy was I wrong!

This is actually a super dense and ultra hydrating cream consistency! It is actually completely silicone free and has great ingredients like glycerine, squalene and sesame proteins for moisture. This eye primer/cream works on dark circles, puffiness and fine lines while increasing hydration. It does this using ingredients such as Haloxyl which according to Cover FX, "works to loosen blood fragments underneath the skin around they eye" which is exactly what dark circles are and Eyeliss which helps to treat puffy bags under the eyes. It is meant to smooth the eye area for application of concealer so your fine lines and puffiness are less noticable.

Even though the package may state this is an eye primer, I find myself using this both day and night. It is literally the only product with enough hydration to calm my eczema and keep it from flaking and peeling. When I use this consistently my eczema actually doesn't even return!

Overall, I don't think I'll be without this product again. I'm addicted to the hydration it provides and I love that it has anti-aging benefits as well. If you're someone who has fine lines, dark circles or puffiness and are looking for a great eye cream - this is it. If you're someone who is looking for extra hydration and smoothing to give prolonged concealer & foundation wear around your eyes - this is also it.

Summary


Cover FX Eye Prep FX
$43.00 CAD
Available at: Cover FX & Shoppers Drug Mart & Sephora

Note: If you're going to purchase this I highly recommend getting the Under Eye Treat & Conceal Kit. It includes the primer, concealer and Clean FX Cleansing Mousse for only $23.00 CAD more.

Best of 2010 - Face Primers

Hi ladies! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I know some of you were probably out hitting the malls for some last minute shopping (I know I was!) and I hope you are now on vacation! Christmas is SO close I can't believe it - I hope I'm prepared! haha

As it is so close to the end of the year, I am doing some posts about my favourites of 2010! This post will round up my favourite facial primers - yes I said primer-s, there is more than one! ;)

Honestly, I only really started using primers this year. I have really oily skin and always found that even though primers said they were mattifying, they weren't. I would end up an oily mess by the end of the day or worse they would make me completely break out! So, the above picture is of all the primers I have accumulated this year from left to right: Tarte ReCreate Primer, CoverFX Skin Prep, Fusion Beauty Acne Control Primer, CoverFX Clear Prep, Clinique Pore Minimizer, Hard Candy Sheer Envy. I'm only going to show my favourites on this post! :)

First up is CoverFX Clear Prep. This is not only a foundation primer but an anti-acne treatment as well! Thats honestly what sold me on this product (and the sales girl at Murale said it was amazing!). This has a clear, super smooth texture - much like other silicone primers, but much lighter. It sinks into the skin and doesn't feel like there is anything on your face (bonus for us oily girls!). This also has really helped with my complexion and my skin looks much clearer (with continued use, like any skin care product!) The more I use this, the more I love it! I actually also use this at night as an acne treatment. It keeps me matte and fresh while fighting blemishes and I don't wake up with an oil slick on my face! As a primer this also works great! My foundation glides on much smoother and wears a lot longer than without primer!

Next up is Fusion Beauty Prime Results Acne Control Primer. The best invention of 2010 has got to be these anti-acne primers! This is Fusion Beauty's contender and it is a great one! This primer has a lotion-like texture as opposed to a silicone and sinks into skin very easily and completely. It has a yellow tint to counteract redness (from acne), which really does calm down the face! It contains salicylic acid and other known anti-acne properties and calming ingredients. Depending on the kind of texture I want on my face that particular day, I waver between both of these primers pretty much equally! They are both amazing options for oily or acne-prone skin! (Oh and did I mention both Canadian brands?!)

Last, but CERTAINLY not least is Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector. This is a much smaller tube than other primers on the market and is also a little different than regular primers. I like to think of this as a spot treatment or "spackle" for the face. It fills in pores like NOTHING else! I only use this around my nose and maybe my forehead to camouflage large pores and control shine. Instead of rubbing this onto the skin, you "pat" it on to fill in pores. This makes my face look absolutely flawless and keeps shine at bay all day. I usually use this over top of one of my other primers because they don't do as good of a job of filling in pores. You can use this over makeup as well, like a finishing powder - which I regularly do! If you have medium/large pores this is a must!

These are swatches of my three go-to primers! Left to right: Clinique Pore Minimizer, Fusion Beauty Acne Control Primer and CoverFX Clear Prep. As I hope you can see, the Clinique is more of a "balm" consistency that is a dry finish. The Fusion is a very light lotion and the CoverFX is a clear silicone feel. 

These are the swatches spread onto my hand. Hopefully you can see how the consistency changes. The Clinique ends up being a complete "powder" feel, which I love! The other two soak completely into the skin with no tacky feel so they are lovely for oily skin! Overall, I'm so happy that these companies have come out with primers for acne-prone skin and oily skins! I hope there are more great ones coming up in the next year! What are your favourite primers? Do you use a primer?

Oh, Canada!

Hey everyone! I've been doing a lot of research on Canadian beauty brands lately and have been so excited with what I've found that I decided to do a whole look with ALL Canadian products! (YAY!) Lets get started on my Oh, Canada! look!

Canadian Made

Heres what I used.

1) LashFusion XL by FusionBeauty in Black

2) Annabelle Mineral Foundation in Nearly Nude

3) Annabelle Mineral Blush in Au Natural

4) CoverFX Clear Prep Primer

5) LipFusion in Clear

6) Balmshell Smear Campaign in Blackmail Betty

7) Annabelle Smudgeliners in OhMyGoth! and Armour

8) Annabelle Mineral Pigment Dust in Prism

9) Annabelle Studio Pigments in Matte Black 

10) Quo Optical Illusion Concealer in Sand

Concealer Placement

I started out with applying my CoverFX Clear Prep all over my face. Then used my Quo Optical Illusion Concealer with a concealer brush. I placed it under my eyes, the outter corner of my eyes, nose to mouth folds and the bridge of my nose. All places where I tend to get red! (I look so silly in this picture I can't believe I put it up!)

Set With Powder

Built into the Quo concealer is a little pot of yellow-ish toned powder to set your concealer. I used the little finger pad it came with to gently pat powder over my concealed areas for extra staying power and redness reduction.

Blush Placement

Next, I used my new Balmshell Cheek Smear in Blackmail Betty. I applied three dots to my cheeks and blended in with the built in sponge on the other end. (NOTE: You HAVE to be lightning fast in blending this! I stained by cheeks taking this picture and had to scrub to get it off! The end result is worth it though, its a gorgeous colour!) After the blush I buffed in my Annabelle Mineral foundation with a Kabuki brush. I then added a light layer of Annabelle's Mineral Blush for added glow and a bit of shimmer!

Upper Liner

Next, I moved on to eyes. I applied Annabelle Smudgeliner in OhMyGoth! (black) to my upper lash line and created a small wing at the corner to elongate my eye shape. I didn't use the smudger on the top lash line, I wanted a solid, defined look! I went over that line with my Annabelle Studio Pigment in Matte black to smoke it out a tiny bit and to give it more staying power! (By the way, ignore my terrible nail polish! Not even my Seche Vite could keep my Claire's Mood polish on... haha)

Lower Lash Liner

I then took Annabelle's Smudgeliner in Armour, a GORGEOUS grey/purple-ish (hard to explain but so pretty!) and smudged it into my lower lashes for a little colour and a soft line. After that I took a small shadow brush and dipped it into my Annabelle Mineral Pigment Dust in Prism (iridescent white/pink/purple - it changes colour depending on the light angle) and tapped it onto the inner corner and brow bone.

Finish with Mascara

I then applied two coats of LashFusion XL in Black to give my lashes some volume, curl and length!

Glossy Lips

And polished off my look with a coat of LipFusion in Clear (my favourite gloss ever!)

The Finished Product

So heres my finished Canadian look! (I personally think the blush is too heavy but this was my first time using it and as I said, I stained my cheeks taking that picture!) Other than that I absolutely love this look and I love that it is all from Canadian brands! I really hope to see more Canadian Labels making it big in the beauty world soon!

There are a couple things I would like to find from a Canadian brand that I don't yet have! If you know of any great Canadian eye primers, spot concealers (not undereye) or bronzers please let me know! And let me know your favourites from Canadian brands, I'd love to try new things and hear your opinions!

Thanks so much for reading guys, enjoy! :)

CoverFX Clear Prep ((Review))

Clear Prep

I've never really been one to wear a foundation primer, even though I do wear foundation almost everyday. I think its because I've always been disappointed with the ones I have tried and it discouraged me from trying more. I had a bad experience with Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, Tarte Clean Slate and BareMinerals Prime Time. They all either made my face break out like crazy or felt too heavy on my oily skin! I recently was given a gift card to Murale, and being the product junky I am, didn't know what to buy because I pretty much have it all! The sales lady asked me if I had a primer and in wonderment, I said "nope lets find me one!" I was skeptical of course because of my experiences but she walked straight over to the CoverFX range and picked me out Clear Prep. Not only is this a foundation primer but also an Anti-Acne treatment (YAY!) with 1% Salicylic acid to fight breakouts at the same time! I was still a little worried it would feel heavy on my skin but when she applied it, it was so light and silky I was sold! My mom uses the Cover FX Anti-Aging primer (which I turned her on to) and loves it so I figure this would be worth a shot! Since I have got it home, I love it more and more everyday!

Texture of the Primer

As you can see (I hope! haha) the texture of this primer isn't as thick as other silicone based primers which I really like. It absorbs really nicely and doesn't leave any feeling on your skin so there is no heaviness or stickiness. I find this primer really does help my makeup apply smoother (by filling in pores) and last longer! I even use this when I am not wearing makeup just because of its Anti-Acne properties, and it keeps my skin matte! Which is hard to do because I have really oily skin! I don't think I will ever be without this product now! If you have oily skin or breakout prone skin this would not only be a great primer for you but a great addition to your skin care routine to help prevent future breakouts!

Thanks for reading :)