M·A·C Prime Focus.

As I have gotten older, I have faced the fact that I need more than just good makeup and skin care.  I need the extra help of primers. I consider primers to be a part of my skin care routine as thy are a very important step in the overall process.  A good primer not only helps to keep makeup in place all day perfectly, it smoothes the skin, protects the skin, even it out and more.  It really makes you skin the perfect canvas on which to apply makeup.

M·A·C has their Prep & Prime line that features just that. Products to prep the skin and prime it for perfect makeup application.  Today, they are adding to it with these new beauties and they are calling it Prime Focus.

We’ve become THE high-performance Prep + Prime player backstage at Fashion Week. To keep up with the demand to achieve an even more awe-inspiring level of Artistry, M·A·C puts the latest must-haves right in the Pros’ hands again this season by taking Prep + Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer SPF 35 global. This major multi-tasker functions as colour-corrector, face primer, and UV protector with light hydrating properties all-in-one. But innovation never idles; so we’re introducing NEW  Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed to glide on skin after for an undetectable and smooth, silky-soft, colourless aura, in the form of a compact cache to freshen up on-the-go. Day or night, runway or real time, these Primers are the start-to-finish every girl needs to get where she’s going in record time, ultimate chic! These are fast times. We’re running with it.

Take a look at the collection!

PREP+PRIME FORTIFIED SKIN ENHANCER SPF 35 - $30.00

• Adjust Light - neutral peach
• Illuminate - Pale lavender
• Neutralize - Pale yellow
• Recharge - Bronzy orange

I have tried Illuminate and Neutralize.  As I am self tanning right now, Neutralize is the shade for me these days.  It evens out my skin making the need for less foundation. It softens my lines and makes my skin just look better.  Illuminate is a more pink/lavender shade that totally brightens a look when used under makeup.  IT was too bright for my tan, but I can see this shade being perfect under foundation in the winter when I am more pale.

PREP+PRIME TRANSPARENT PRESSED FINISHING POWDER - $23.00

This finishing powder adds a beautiful soft focus look to the skin.  I am applying it with the MAC Bufffer Brush 182. It is a kabuki style brush that blends the powder into my skin so there is no white look left behind, only smooth flawless looking skin.

PREP+PRIME TRANSPARENT FINISHING POWDER - $23.00

All of the new Prime Focus products are available at all M·A·C locations, 1.800.588.0070
and maccosmetics.com today. Be sure to use all the right primers before using the MAC Holiday 2011 shades.

SPF Yourself: Fusion Beauty Prime Results Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15.

SPF Yourself is a series of posts featuring products that contain a sunscreen, or SPF, in them. Not only sunscreens, but body lotions, facial moisturizers, eye creams, foundations, tinted moisturizers, bronzers, hair care and more will be featured. Only the best in beauty with SPF!

Have I told you yet that I love using a tinted moisturizer versus a foundation in the summer? Well, only about a hundred times, or what feels like that anyway. I am a huge fan of tinted moisturizers and have been discovering so many new ones this year. I hope you have enjoyed my reviews and have come to find one (or a few) new tinted moisturizers to try.

My latest discovery is from Fusion Beauty, called Prime Results Tinted Moisturizer. Like all of the Fusion Beauty products, this one is formulated to pull double-duty, which it does plus so much more.

Like the name suggests, this is a primer, tinted moisturizer and sunscreen in one. I liken it to the new onslaught of beauty balms, though this was created before these such products hit us here in the states. The formula covers better than an average tinted moisturizer. Most tinted moisturizer cover very lightly and require a little bit of concealer or extra product to cover areas such a freckles, blemishes, and hyperigmentation. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Primer Results covered these problem areas, while not looking or feeling heavy. The overall look I got was a more sheer wash of color, but more on the medium coverage side.

This tinted moisturizer also has a primer that is in the formula, along with the extra moisturizing properties.  You see,  this product incorporates two approaches to skin moisturization: flash-hydration for instant results, and prolonged-hydration for continuous quenching over time. On top of that, it contains the SPF of 15.

Fusion Beauty has done nicely with the shades that seem very forgiving to a lot of skin tones.  It comes in Ivory, Sand, Carmel and Golden Beige.  Sand is the most popular color and would do well for most light-medium skin tones. I am using Golden Beige to blend in with my summer golden faux-glow, but plan on incorporating Sand in the mix when I opt for a tinted moisturizer in the colder months, on the weekend, perhaps.

Prime Time Results Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 can be purchased at Sephora, Nordstrom and HSN for $40.00. It is on the more expensive side in terms of comparing it to other tinted moisturizers alone, but the results speak for themselves, and I wouldn't hesitate on the splurge. 

Calling Urban Decay Makeup Junkies.

If you are an Urban Decay makeup junkie you will want to listen up. Next Saturday, August 20th, Urban Decay is celebrating the holidays a little early this year, and Sephora’s got the scoop first… What exactly does that mean? That means that New Yorkers will have the very first chance at scoring this years star holiday product, the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV.

Eric Jimenez, Worldwide Retail Sales Director & International Make-Up Artist is conducting makeovers and also introducing the highly coveted Book of Shadows Volume IV for an exclusive sneak peek before its holiday 2011 launch. A limited quantity of this ultra-luxe collection palette will be available for purchase ONLY at the Sephora Times Square location (1500 Broadway, NY, NY) store on August 20, 2011, from 1 - 7PM, on a first come first served basis.

You will have the opportunity to sit down for a makeover consultation with Eric and his team of artists, get an inside look at Urban Decay’s newest fall launches, learn a few artist tips and of course, have the chance to pick up the eyeshadow set before anyone else.

Check out what is included in the Book of Shadows Volume IV - $64.00:

• Pull-out drawer showcasing 16 phenomenal shadows (10 of which are brand-new, exclusive to this collection)
• Full-sized version of their new 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion (blackest black)
• Travel-sized Supercurl Curling Mascara
• Travel-sized Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• Mirror
• Smart-phone-ready ‘Get the Look’ tutorials
• Pocket-sized speaker allowing you to get your beauty on to your favorite beats