Starting off with primer, probably one of the most infamous primers is the Nivea Men Post-Shave Balm. The beauty world went crazy over this when NikkieTutorials first introduced it to us, and naturally I had to jump on the bandwagon. I just use a tiny drop of this, and its gel like consistency works into the skin smoothly, hydrating and preparing the skin for foundation. My foundation definitely lasts a little longer when I've used this and foundation goes on and sits on the skin so nicely with this underneath. You do smell like a man for a little bit but its not too bad! So the question is..... is the Nivea Men Post-Shave Balm worth the hype? The answer is a big fat YES!
Next up is foundation, and I think the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation has been a cult favourite for a hot minute. I have a love/hate relationship with this product, my main peeve being that it is the complete opposite of what its name leads you to believe. For me, it is very full coverage and quite matte and drying, which is nothing like the lightweight and radiant product that the name suggests. Some of my friends who love this agree with me, but I was just a little disappointed that it wasn't what I expected. I have the shade 'Siberia' which is the lightest shade because I'm pale af, and I find this is a little yellow in undertone and after a bit of research, they all seem to be quite yellow toned which makes it look a bit weird on me as I am a bit more pinky toned. I do tend to mix this foundation with something more pink to neutralise it and that usually does the trick. Sometimes I use this foundation and I love it, it looks flawless, has a beautiful finish and wears really nicely. However, other times I use it and it clings to dry patches, looks cakey and patchy, won't blend and no other products blend nicely on top of it. I think it all depends on what mood my skin is in, how I prep my face and what other products I use with it. So, is NARS Sheer Glow worth the hype? For me, I think it's very overrated but I know so many people who really love this so I think it is definitely down to the individual, I definitely recommend getting a sample of this so you can try before you buy.
Now onto concealer, the L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer is becoming increasingly popular in the beauty community. It's been predominantly used for contouring, hence why mine is in the shade Toast which is evidently a lot darker than my complexion. The formula of this is fabulous, it's high coverage, blends seamlessly and sets nicely so it doesn't slip and slide throughout the day. You have a good few minutes to blend but once its blended it doesn't feel too tacky and sets nicely to a satin finish. I've heard it compared to the NARS radiant creamy concealer which I haven't actually tried so I can't comment, but I've heard great things about it. This comes in at only £5 which is an absolute bargain, especially since the NARS one is about £22. So, is the L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer worth the hype? It's a definite yes from me!
Next up, we have the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder which has been a favourite of mine ever since I started wearing makeup. This powder does it all, sets your makeup and locks it in place all day as well as blurring pores and imperfections and giving your foundation a helping hand in making your skin look flawless without looking like your caked in makeup. This powder works all of this magic without adding any extra coverage so if full coverage isn't really your thing, then this won't add coverage where its unwanted. I have gone through probably about 6 of these which doesn't sound like a lot but this does last an awful long time, you do get a lot of product in the pan and you don't need to cake on a huge amount every time. This is an absolute steal for £3.99 and this is 100% worth the hype.
Onto Bronzer, the Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna has been a staple in the beauty lover's makeup bag for as long as I can remember. The hype seems to have died down a little bit now, but a few years ago this was all anyone ever talked about, and rightly so. If you're pale and looking for a high end bronzer that'll suit your skin and make you look like a bronzed goddess, then this is the one for you. It has very finely milled gold glitter in it which adds a beautiful golden glow to the skin, and bronzes up the skin as well as sculpting and defining, meaning theres no need for a contour with this! It blends onto the skin beautifully and you do get a good sized product, mine has lasted me about 2 years which is very good going, I have just hit pan and there is still plenty of product left. The only thing that would stop me repurchasing it is the pretty hefty price tag, I paid £27 for this when I got this but it has now gone up to £28 which means its not the most budget friendly product, but it deserves all of the hype that it gets!
For blush, I picked out the Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso which stood out to me as a very well recognised and loved product for beauty lovers all over the world. This beautiful peachy glow is something most makeup-overs dream about, it suits pretty much every skin tone and looks so natural and pretty on the cheeks, I just can't speak highly enough of it. It finishes off any makeup look beautifully and I use it almost on the daily. If you can get your hands on this then I would definitely recommend you grab it, I think it is definitely worthy of its hype.
Now for highlight! Highlight is my absolute favourite makeup product, so naturally as soon as I see people raving about a highlight I have to get it without asking any questions, hence why I am featuring four in this post!
First up is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle which is one of MAC's best sellers. This used to be one of my absolute favourites but it just doesn't float my boat any more. I feel like it lacks pigment and can be a little chunky for my liking. I think since I've really delved into the world of highlighters I have found so many more amazing products that I can't help but compare it to, so it no longer seems like the best thing, there are so many more affordable products that put this one to shame, and although this used to be a firm favourite of mine, I can't help but say that this is no longer worth the hype.
Next up we have TheBalm Mary Loumanizer which is again, loved by many including me. This is the perfect light golden colour that works a dream on pale skin and adds a beautiful radiant glow without a chunk of glitter in sight. It's buttery and intensely pigmented formula glides onto the skin and blends like a dream. This pigmentation is absolutely insane so you do have to use a light hand if you're not all about the mega intense highlight, a little goes a very long way! This has definitely lived up to its hype!
Onto the kits, first up to bat is the Sleek Solstice Palette which is a fairly new addition to my collection. Good quality drugstore highlights are few and far between, so when the beauty community discovered this gem, it was shouted from the rooftops and it soon sold out pretty quickly. I managed to get my hands on it in boots, there were 2 left so I grabbed two, one for me and one for my friend who was also dying to get in on the action. This palette contains 4 beautiful shades, 3 powders and one cream. I'm not a huge fan of the cream because I find its a little dark for my skin, but as you can see the other 3 powders are to die for! The formula is a little more chunky and less buttery than Mary Lou, but the insane pigmentation is definitely evident and it blends onto the skin beautifully, catching the light and being very noticeable and making the skin look almost wet (but in the good way). These also double up as amazing eyeshadows, and anything multi-use is definitely a must if you're travelling or on a budget. At £9.99, this is definitely a much cheaper alternative to the product I'm moving onto next. Another product that is definitely worth the hype!
Last but not least, I've picked out the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam as being a much coveted product. The world went crazy for these when they were launched and I think they are out of stock almost everywhere in the UK. This again has 4 shades, these ones are considerably larger than the pans in the sleek palette. These have a beautifully buttery formula, and they really do pack a punch. They really do give you a beautiful glow and blend seamlessly to ensure you get the perfect application every time. These also double up as fabulous eyeshadows so again, they're perfect for travelling. The only downside to this palette is that two of the shades are quite dark so I only really get use out of two of them which feels like a bit of a waste, but I plan to use them as either eyeshadows or blushes once I'm feeling a little braver! If you can manage to get hold of this and don't mind paying the slightly ridiculous price tag of £39.99, you'll see that this does in fact live up to its hype!
If you're still reading at this point, a big pat on the back for you because this was an unintentionally long and ramble post! Which hyped up face products have you tried, and were they worth the hype or not? Let me know your thoughts!
Emily xx
