Review: L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you probably know that I'm a huge proponent of base coat on your nails! It's super important to put it first to prepare your nails for the polish and keep them protected. Your face is not that different, it's also important to put a "base coat" of sorts on your face--primer!

Via

Not gonna lie, until the past year I did not use a primer. I'm not even sure I really knew they existed... lol. However, living in Florida, the summers get REALLY hot, and I realized that being outside for any amount of time (i.e. walking from the office to my car), my makeup would just MELT OFF! That's when A Mommy in the Making (the wonderful friend that she is:) suggested I use a primer. So I picked up Hard Candy's Sheer Envy Illuminating Primer and used it 'til I couldn't squeeze anything out of the bottle any more!

Last month, in my Ulta haul, I picked up L'Oreal's Magic Lumi Primer. Now, I know I've said this is a review, but I am kinda gonna do a little comparing to the Hard Candy one, too. But first, one pump of this primer and I'm good to go. It comes out almost like Elmer's glue (which I think is interesting, because it makes me think I'm using glue so that all the makeup sticks to my face;) It kinda smells like glue, too. Not a lot, but there's enough of a scent that it makes me think, hmm.. As you can see in the pic, it is a little shimmery for the illumination.

It goes on very smoothly and doesn't leave any stickiness or greasiness behind on my face (which is good, because from feeling it on my fingers, I was afraid there would be a sticky residue). All the rest of my makeup goes on as usual!

And my makeup stays on!! From sun and heat, to sweating from working out, to rainy days, my makeup ALWAYS stays on. This stuff is actually pretty powerful! And I'm really enjoying using it (it's been about a month now)

So, at $12.99 (.68 fl oz) from Ulta, how does it compare to the $8 (1.3 oz) one from Hard Candy? The Hard Candy comes out a little more waxy than liquidy and is squeezed from a bottle vice pumped out. I think the Hard Candy one actually feels lighter too (not sticky). I think both worked pretty comparably, so in the future, I'd probably go back to Hard Candy just 'cause it's more product for the money:)

What do you think? What's your favorite primer? Have you tried either of these?

One more haul--ULTA!

Okay! One more big shopping trip to share with you all! Then it's time to use all this amazing stuff and tell you how fabulous (or not;) it all is!! (you are all guaranteed reviews for AT LEAST the next month! hahahah:)

Tonight I went to Ulta, and as soon as I walked in they had their whole display of Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 Palettes. Now, for anyone who has been following my blog for any length of time, you know I'm definitely all about the more inexpensive makeup brands. A lot of my makeup is e.l.f., Wet 'n Wild, Hard Candy, etc. I figure if I'm gonna buy a lot, I don't want to go broke.

But.

There it was.

In all its splendor.

And everyone has said such great things about it...

And now I own it.

So, not wanting to let all you lovelies down, I knew I needed to *invest* in some other products to rate, review, and compare. And around the store I went. I picked up:

Illuminating primer!

Which one will make my lashes fuller?

These both have the little round applicator

 Then this product caught my eye! I have never seen, heard, or have any knowledge of it, but it looks amazing! (if it works)

Spray foundation?! Airbrush-"like"?

Now, I had also purchased a small $10 NYX palette that had similar colors to the Naked 2 (I wanted to compare). But after leaving the store I realized the palette *in* the box (Jazz Night) was NOT the one advertised *on* the box (Champagne and Caviar). So, when I went to return it, I somehow ended up buying this in its place:

 

So yes, now I will be reviewing both of them. My first ever real "expensive" eyeshadow. I'm excited and kinda nervous!:) 

And that's about all the shopping I should be doing for a while! Many, many reviews and comparisons to come!!