#makeup prep

YouTube: Makeup Prep with Poppy

Hi everyone,

A few blog posts ago I mentioned using a M.A.C eye primer with one of my eyeshadow palettes and a few people had questions about it and how it comes to other primers so I decided why don’t we have a chat.

Quick side note I love getting blog requests whether it’s a brand or product suggestion so please feel free to reply a suggestion, obviously living in London some of the international brands I have access to can be limited but I’ll be happy to try and get my hands on anything.

Anyway on to today’s product, M.A.C Prep & Prime Eye Primer, £17.00. This primer works as a base to help make your eyeshadow long lasting and not crease during the day. I’ve tried so many primers from both drugstore and highend brands and this is a product I was constantly recommended. This product comes out quiet thick so it’s definitely a little goes a long way so while the product does look small you definitely get your money’s worth. The Prep & Prime makes your lid feel a little tacky which I personally really like because it makes your eyeshadow really stick to your lid and keep the colour pigmented on your lid.

The longest I’ve used this primer is around 13hours and it honestly stopped my eyeshadow from creasing during the day which I was really surprised about, it also helped keep the colour pigment on your eyelid without it fading. If like me you like to do quiet strong detailed eye looks this primer will keep your eyes looking flawless all day long. Recently I’ve been trying some new M.A.C products which normally isn’t a brand I’d use but this primer is such a great base it’s made me want to try out some products again and grab some old lipsticks out of my collection.

Lots of love

On the top left: Wet n' Wild MegaClear mascara. I've been using Wet n' Wild mascaras as primers for years. I just use one coat under my normal mascara, and then I apply one to two coats of my regular mascara. This clear one also functions as a lash serum, but without those horrible side effects. Plus, Wet n' Wild mascaras are clean, meaning they contain no parabens, no phthalates, no talc, no mineral oil, or paraffin. This one doesn't contain a fragrance. Plus, it's great for my no makeup days.

L'Oreal Voluminous Noir Balm mascara. If you're looking for a clean mascara that's doesn't contain fragrance, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, paraffin, talc, fragrance, and other stuff, get this one. I use one coat, and I still get dramatic length, definition, and volume. It's easy to remove. I used to use two coats, and got even more dramatic effect, but one is just as good. With my clear mascara/primer/serum, I don't need a second coat. I just discovered this one. The wand isn't so small that you can't see it, but the wand isn't SUV sized, either. The wand is just right, and easy to hold. The formula is clean, vegan, and is more of a balm than a thick, goopy mess, and it doesn't hit you with a fragrance. It's allergy season here in Michigan, and my eyes are more sensitive as a result. Plus, fragrances are very irritating to me.

I curl my lashes with Cover Girl makeup masters eyelash curler. I keep coming back to this one. It's comfortable to hold, and it's comfortable to use. It doesn't pinch my lids. If I can't find this, I'll buy a Revlon curler, because Revlon eyelash curlers are comfortable to hold and use, and don't pinch my lids.

I start with my eye makeup, so Incase I make a mistake, I can easily remove it with a Q-tip that I cover in Vaseline.

Top left, and second to the bottom: Maybelline Master Prime in blur and pore minimize. I recently came back to this one, and I love it. My skin loves it. Another customer at Kroger's recommended this. The formula is clean and vegan, and my skin feels soft, isn't oily, and my skin looks smooth. Plus, there's no irritating ingredients, which means my skin won't react. Plus, it's a dupe of the Smashbox primer, you know the one that started primers, but Maybelline Master Primer is only a fraction of the cost

That redness in my cheeks isn't blush! It's my skin being sensitive. Yes, my skin is oily, breakout prone, and sensitive on top of this. Yes, my skin was slightly irritated. You can see also the redness from when I had a huge zit on the left side of my cheek that's since dried out, and shrunk in size.

Wet n' Wild Megalast Incognito concealer in Medium Neutral. I use this every day. I have dark circles, and this stuff covers them up without caking, or irritating my eyes. It blends really well, too. I don't have a weird cast and my dark circles don't crack through. It doesn't cake, either. It stays put. It's a reasonably priced dupe of the Nars concealer, but the applicator is much bigger. It doesn't look like you get a lot in there, but a little goes a long way.

Almay Clear Complexion foundation in buff. My skin, is oily, breakout prone and sensitive, so this makeup covers my skin really well. The shades run on the dark side, so you need to go down a shade. Your skin tone will adjust. In the two months I've been using this, my skin has improved. My skin rarely breaks out, my skin isn't as oily, and it's made my skin even better when I take it off. There's no fragrance, and the formula is clean, meaning that there's no talc (a famous ingredient in makeup and other products for oily skin), fragrance- which irritates my sensitive skin for some reason, I do have to be careful, parabens, phthalates, paraffin, mineral oil, and other stuff that can be irritating to skin. It does contain salicylic acid, which is great for breakouts. The amount is 1%, which is just enough to treat breakouts.

As you can see in both photos, Almay Clear Complexion has made a difference. The photo on the left is from when I started using it. The photo on the right is two months later, and you can see how much my skin has improved.

Top right: Coty Airspun Loose Powder, Talc Free Formula in Translucent Extra Coverage. I've been using this is high school, and it's getting harder to find. If I can't find this, then I'll use Cover Girl Clean Invisible Loose Powder in Translucent Light. I do like to buy the Coty Airspun Loose Powder whenever I find it. It does contain fragrance, yet it doesn't irritate my skin. They used to make one for sensitive skin, but it's been discontinued. The fragrance isn't strong, but it reminds me of my Nana and my grandma. My mom got me hooked on this stuff in high school, and it's been my main go to ever since. It's talc-free, mineral oil free, parabens free, BHT free (it's a carcinogen, so be careful with this one, if you see it as a listed ingredient, please put it back on the shelf, there's safer and cleaner alternatives) , and it's water based. If you have dry skin, this really won't dry it out, and for sensitive skin, it's great because it's not too irritating, even though it does contain fragrance, but it nothing that's too strong.

Bottom photo: Cover Girl Clean Invisible pressed powder in buff beige. I keep this on my purse, and I use it to touch up. I've been using Cover Girl Pressed Powders ever since high school, and they really keep my oily skin at bay. The new and improved original clean ones contain no talc, parabens, fragrance, phthalates, mineral oil, or fragrance. My skin just isn't irritated when I use it.

I use a clear or tinted lip balm ever day. I use a different one every day.

#TipTuesday we have three things I recommend doing before applying your own makeup at home 😉

• • • • •

1) WASH YOUR FACE

Removes any dirt and/or oil from your skin so it doesn't get trapped underneath the makeup. You always want a clean canvas to work on because the makeup will sit smoother, plus it will decrease the chances of having a breakout.

2) WASH YOUR HANDS

Removes any residue or particles so your makeup collection doesn't get contaminated with food, pet hair, etc. Makeup has an expiration date, and we don't want to make it spoil any faster.

3) WASH YOUR SPONGE

Hi guys,

This month a lot of brands seem to be happy to dish out all the samples at their counters because I’m back with another sample review! This time I was at the NYX counter in Boots and I didn’t realise but they had a promotion that if you spent £20 you got a little gift bag of samples! Personally I love when brands do this because it’s the best way to test out products without the price tag!

Usually I to go NYX to get my pencil eye liners because they are just as pigmented as the high end ones but way more affordable, so I didn’t even have face base products on the brain. But when I got home I saw a few face base products and one product that really caught my eye was the Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer!

Now I can honestly say I have never used a jelly based primer but here we are! This primer is designed to soften and smooth your skin. Unlike other primers this formula is a ultra-hydrating, water-based formula that absorbs into the skin to reduce the appearance of pores, dryness and texture for a fresh glow look. What I love about this primer is that it also gives your skin a bit of a tacky finish so your makeup sticks to it flawlessly. Though this isn't one of the primers claims I love how my makeup sits on this primer and honestly looks flawless every time I've used it. I used this sample for a few weeks before it ran out because a little goes a long way and now I need a full size asap. Though annoyingly it is out of stock everywhere at the moment so if you know where to get it let me know!

As always all products mentioned are linked above.

Lot's of love,

Pro Tip: Lotus Blossom Thirst Relief Milky Essence works well as a primer to smooth and hydrate skin for a flawless makeup application.