L’OREAL STUDIO SECRETS PROFESSIONAL MAGIC PERFECTING BASE

Trying to get a flawless look from skin that’s bumpy, wrinkled, and/or slightly scarred is one of my biggest challenges. In my search for a solution, I discovered PRIMERS!

As I’m always looking at both drugstore brand products as well as professional grade items, I came across this gem from L’Oreal at the pharmacy. It’s called Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base. It takes a lot of cajunas to include the word “magic” in any beauty product but after using it once you’ll see why they can get away with it. This product helps prepare the face by smoothing out imperfections creating a  polished and refined look to the skin.

I’ve used this on a few photo and video shoots and for a wedding. Each time I used it people commented on how great the girls looked before I had even begun to apply the makeup. That’s how well it works to even out the skin.

The product itself has a silky yet matte feel to it - somewhere between a gel and a cream, like a whipped gel. It’s pink in color but goes on colorless. When applying the base, I first make sure the skin is properly cleansed and moisturized. Then, using my fingers or a concealer brush, I glide it around the eyes and onto the eyelid to help smooth out wrinkles and/or bumps. I also make sure to cover areas where pores tend to be more visible such as the nose and the forehead and on any other imperfections. 

After applying the base I continue to build the rest of the look as usual, always being careful to stipple rather than brush on makeup to avoid wiping off any of the base.

Once I realized the power of this product I researched and found that the majority of professional makeup lines such as Makeup Forever and MAC Cosmetics each carry different kinds of primers. I plan to review those in the future. In the meantime, I very much recommend this product. Just a few weeks ago I used it for a video shoot on an actor who had fairly deep pimple scars. Immediately after applying it to her face she wanted to know where to buy it and even commented that it was indeed “magic”.

To check out L’Oreal’s instructional videos for their Studio Secrets line, go to the one titled: The Perfect Skin Texture.

Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base retails for around $12.99.

FREE STYLIN’

Recently I helped provide ten days of free hair styling to the general public at Proctor & Gamble’s Pop Up store in Midtown, Manhattan. Styling up to eleven clients a day, I learned a lot about quickly manipulating and controlling various hair textures through product.

As we were only allowed to use Proctor & Gamble Pantene products, I figured it would be a good idea to share what I discovered about these particular products and using product in general.

A lot of clients I worked on had very fine, delicate hair and were looking for volume. For these clients I used ceramic round brushes, a Denman paddle brush, and sometimes a 1” curling iron. I found that layering Pantene’s Fine Volume Mousse over a little of Pantene’s Fine Heat Protection Spray managed to give the hair enough lightweight substance to support a voluminous blow dry. When using the curling iron, the Classic Touchable Hairspray did a great job providing a light brushable hold with some shine.

For those looking to smooth their hair out, Pantene’s Curly Anti Frizz Straightening Creme did a decent job. It definitely relaxed the curl while giving it some shine and blow drying the hair straight with any brush was easier. To diffuse curly hair, I applied it to the hair before twisting curls into place and it rendered smooth, shiny and defined curls. It only performed okay when using it as a finishing cream to smooth out fly aways and give a little extra shine.

The stand out product, however, was Pantene’s Relaxed and Natural Daily Oil Cream. Every stylist working the event commented on how much they liked it. I worked a pea size between both hands and then blotted my palms on dry hair. It gave a lot of shine and definition to curls and waves on dry, frizzy hair. I even used a very tiny bit on the ends of dry, fine hair and it did a fantastic job at making hair look shiny and hydrated without looking greasy. I did notice, that applying too much to fine hair could create a greasy look if not careful.

Is Pantene the best product line I’ve ever used? No. It was, however, pleasantly surprising. If my luggage gets lost on my way to shoot, I know that I’ll be able to walk into a drugstore and get the job done with the these products. I’ll probably be adding the Classic Hairspray and the Relaxed & Natural Daily Oil Cream to my kit.

EYE STUDIO COLOR PLUSH SILK EYE SHADOW

Lately I’ve been using drug store cosmetics and have been incredibly impressed with the quality I’ve come across.

One of my favorites is Maybelline’s Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eye Shadow. The colors are highly pigmented and the palette’s are both strong and fashionable with a silky feel and reflective/sometimes glittery quality. After doing a little research on Maybelline’s website, I discovered that they can be used both wet and dry. Using them wet almost completely eliminates shadow fall out under the eye and the colors are easily blended. My eyes are very sensitive to eye makeup and I haven’t experience any irritation from wearing the shadows. Another plus is that the shadows last all day and don’t crease.

One of the best things about these consumer grade products is that they’re designed to be easy to use and there’s educational videos and support online to help people learn how to use them. There’s also a photo on the back of the container demonstrating a look using all 4 colors.

The only downside is that the colors aren’t available individually and it’s not clear if this line is available for a limited time.

The palettes run between $6 and $9.99, depending on where they’re purchased. I saw them today at Duane Reade for $9.99. You don’t get a lot of eye shadow for your money but as the colors are highly pigmented, they do go a long way. The big advantage is getting an array of colors in one palette.

Stay tuned as I’ll be reviewing more of my favorite drug store cosmetics.