Product Review: MAC PRIMER

Mac Prep+Prime Face Protect SPF 50
A skin-protecting cream with SPF 50. Applies under makeup to prime the skin for the sun. Featherweight, fast-absorbing, oil-free, invisible. Will not affect the look, texture or long-wear integrity of your makeup. Specially formulated with oil-absorbing powder, helps prevent oil breakthrough. Provides high-level broad spectrum sun protection. Worn daily helps guard the skin against discolouration, premature aging, dryness and other effects of sun exposure. Suitable for all skins.


My Review: This Product does exactly what it claims. Normally around mid-day my face would be shiny and oily. I would have to break out the tissue to blot my skin several times within the day. Now, I rarely use a tissue. I sometimes check my skin with the back of my hand to see if I'm oily......there is no oil..YAY. It does not completely eliminate oil, although it does reduce it a great deal. I would say that I stay oil free for about 4 hours. When I do get oily it's no where near as much as before. My makeup lasts longer and looks fresh for a longer period. I used it on my sister on memorials day, which was hot BTW and she loved it. So much so, she purchased it today. I recommend this product to anyone who has oily skin and want that matte look without using harsh products to achieve it. I did not experience any irritation, it's a light weight product. The total cost was about $26, which I find to be a bit pricey for such a small tube. There is another one without SPF, it's $22 . If you purchase the Primer with SPF you don't need to use a moisturizer with SPF.

The Proof is in the Pudding

Those of you who are familiar with the show America's Next Top Model, may also be familiar with season 3 contestant runner up finalist, Yaya DaCosta. She was the contestant battling acne issues. Yaya definitely fits in my theme of how the condition of your skin is vital to great makeup. I must say it's uplifting for those of us who aren't genetically blessed with great skin to see someone in our position achieve it. Her skin has done a complete turnaround..

Here is a current photo of her skin with little to no Foundation

It's ironic that YAYA is doing skin commercials. I remember Jay Emanuel from ANTM telling her that the model agency's wouldn't hire a model with problematic skin, whether or not she's pretty. It would require too much airbrushing to get the image of clear skin in photos; airbrushing cost a lot of money. Well, who would have thunk it, Go YAYA......now that's inspiration.




And here's a photo of her at an event with makeup. Case in point: Relatively Clear smooth Skin+Makeup=Flawless makeup

Yaya says that she contributes her "transformation" to reduction in stress, drinking plenty of water, cleansing herbal teas and exercising. She wanted to clear the air, she doesn't use any oral medication ( eg; accutane ) as some may have speculated.

The Secret to Flawless Makeup

There have been countless times in the past that I have seen photos of celebrities and Models in magazines, or encountered women on the street with Fabulous makeup! The kind that make you say "Wow, her makeup looks gorgeous. I want that look". The kind that looks like they are glowing, thus you can't stop staring. After much thought, trial and error of my own makeup applications, I realized the secret to flawless makeup is not the makeup at all, it's the condition of the skin. Makeup+ Relatively clear smooth skin= Flawless makeup. There is no amount of makeup that will make problematic skin look "Flawless". Problematic skin with makeup is what I like to call "a made up mess". ( I know from experience, in the past) I believe the purpose of makeup is to cover minor imperfections and enhance our natural beauty. If your skin is not on point, neither will your makeup. I noticed that many magazines and people in general focus more on makeup application than the actual condition of the skin, the canvas. Yes, it's easier to pile on the makeup.....perfecting the skin is the hardest thing to do, yet the most important!