The Cosmetic Crucible

It has been roughly seven years since I began my journey with makeup, yet not once had I purchased a primer. I recently decided that it was time to bite the bullet and purchase one. After spending some time doing research I stumbled upon No Poreblem, a pore-minimizing primer. I was pleased to discover that the product retails for about $18, and contains a little over 1 fl. oz. of product. The product claims to blur large pores, even complexion, and fill wrinkles. It can be worn under makeup or alone. It is lightly scented, however the smell is light and fresh. This is a silicone primer so it is slippery and non-greasy. My main concern was whether or not I would see any difference at all between my bare skin and my skin with the primer. I did in fact see a difference, which in all honesty I did not expect. I applied the primer to the edge of my nose and alongside my cheekbone, where I have the most prominent pores. Not only did it minimize them, but it also reduced any shine in that...

I recently picked up the Sephora Pro Editorial Palette. This palette is advertised as a "deluxe eyeshadow palette with 28 editorial color story shades." Each pressed pigment pan contains 0.04 oz of product, and has an assortment of matte, satin, shimmer, and chrome finishes. I decided to put the palette to the test and evaluate how it performed over the course of six hours. Below is a picture of the palette, with white hearts signifying the colors I used in the look.  I noticed that the application and blending of the shadows performed exceptionally well. While there was a significant amount of fallout, that is to be expected with pressed pigment. The payoff of the pigment is above-average, and they stayed put for the remainder of the six hours without any major fading (made evident in the before and after photos). Even without a primer, the colors were vibrant and resisted creasing. It should also be noted that I experienced zero staining. Overall, this palette was a ...