Rose Garden Melody - Coming Attraction at Rouge Bunny Rouge for Fall 2016

Rouge Bunny Rouge has enticing Enchanted Garden news for you. Today their Autumn Beauty Look, Rose Garden Melody, launches and presents the two latest novelties, Skin Perfector and an Eye Shadow Palette called Caliche, for the new season.

Celebrating 10 years in the service of beauty, Rouge Bunny Rouge's Neo-Victorian Festival honors what customers love most about the company: individuality, excellent quality, and extraordinary results achieved with great ease.

The new looks, euphony of lace, summer night symphony, rose garden melody, and rebel princess, were designed to be expressions of modern beauty. Rose Garden Melody presents the lush abundance of pinks from the softest pearlescent cream-rose to sheer hot pink to dusty mauve and anything in between that creates the flattering harmony of Rouge Bunny Rouge's Autumn Beauty Look. There is a short video that presents the collection.

Skin Perfector looks like a must-have to me. I think I have one on the way. Weightless and velvety-soft, this lightly tinted primer dramatically enhances the appearance of your complexion with innovative particles called Diamond Core Powder. The formula transforms invisible UV light into blue and green light, an effect natural to young and healthy skin. Discoloration, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and imperfections nearly disappear.

Its delicate, rosy tint further flatters one's skin tone, making the skin look more radiant and fresh without any visible coverage. It is packed with antioxidents and plant-derived actives, and the combined ingredients contribute to protecting the skin.

The new Eye Shadow Palette Caliche is a nuanced harmony of muted silky purples (rosy ecru, dusky and earthy aubergine, rosewood, and mauve). This fall, you can step up your eye shadow game with this new Eye Shadow Palette color quartet. With encapsulated hyaluronic acid and argan oil added to the formula, the texture is even more silky and luxurious, while deeply hydrating to the skin. Argan oil nourishes and regenerates, too.

Rouge Bunny Rouge is quintessentially British. The company's makeup and skin care embody efficient and ground-breaking formulas, active ingredients, rich and complex colors, and unmatched signature textures with a lightweight second-skin feel. Rouge Bunny Rouge is constantly scouring the latest state-of-the-art solutions from the best international manufacturers. Rouge Bunny Rouge is also renowned (for good reason) for its fantastic world of storytelling. Elements of magic, whimsy, and mystery are playfully reflected in the names of their products, endearingly romantic or charming and mischievous.

As a counterbalance to massively trend-driven or conceptual, ritual-based cosmetics, Rouge Bunny Rouge stands for quality and effortless results - beauty that is quick and easy to achieve, with no complicated techniques that must be mastered. How perfect for modern, busy women!

Caliche will be available in the U.S. in October (you can purchase online or from Beautyhabit) and in Rouge Bunny Rouge's international and German Web Boutique at the end of this week. Check out the company's Web site.

Photos courtesy of Rouge Bunny Rouge

Guerlain Météorites Perles Les Ors Light-Diffusing Primer from the Terra Ora Collection for Summer 2013

Guerlain's new primer, the sheer, luxurious, limited-edition Météorites Perles Les Ors Primer ($71), uses a combination of three different gold pearls to reveal a brighter complexion. White pearls illuminate the skin, while pink and yellow pearls add a golden glow and a subtle shimmer. The lightweight gel texture makes this primer perfect for setting makeup in warmer weather, but you can use it on its own to enhance the skins’ natural radiance and make your skin look dewy.

I wasn't going to purchase it. I have the Météorites Perles primer that combines pink-toned pearls, and it's lovely. Did I need another? I guess the answer is yes. After reading Eileen's description of its effect on her face, I caved. My readers are superb enablers.

This is an elegant primer. Unlike some, it wasn't designed to correct your skin tone or make you sparkle. I like to think of Guerlain as "adult makeup," and this primer fits neatly into that category. It will enliven your skin; add a barely-there golden tint to your skin (I mean barely there or extremely sheer); and extend the wear time of your foundation.

The direct sunshine took all the gold out of the cap. It looks almost silver in the photo above, but it's gold, matching the theme of the collection.

It's very hard to take swatch photos of a product so sheer, but I tried anyhow. My photos were taken in full, mid-day sun. I applied an unblended drop to the top of my arm, using the pump-top applicator. I like the pump top because it allows me to dispense only what I need and no more. I also applied a second pump below and spread it lightly with my fingers to show you the color and glow. I did not blend it in entirely; otherwise I think there would have been little left to see.

The golden shade should be apparent. When I saw it in the store, my first thought was that it would make a fabulous accompaniment to the Tom Ford summer collection. Naturally, it complements Guerlain's collection as well. You can see that it adds a slightly peach golden glow to my skin. However, when blended fully and covered with foundation, the shade is hard to detect. I prefer to wear it with Giorgio Armani's Maestro Fusion Makeup, which provides coverage, but is sheer compared to many other foundations.

Somehow, the clear serum and pearls in the bottle combine to provide this summer-toned glow. I have no idea how they mix. Guerlain's magic?

When you apply this classy primer, it will leave your face feeling damp for a minute or two, so I'd recommend you wait before you apply your foundation, BB cream, blush, or whatever. If you don't need or wear other products, blend the primer well and leave your face alone for a minute to allow it to dry. Once it dries on me, I see only a slightly dewy, golden look to my skin. The appearance is very subtle.

Météorites Perles Les Ors Light-Diffusing Primer is not a liquid highlighter. You could wear it under one, though, to give the highlighter a better last. It has Guerlain's beautiful, signature violet scent, which I love. I've noticed that the fragrance dissipates very quickly, so those who dislike fragranced makeup might like it.

I'll quote Eileen in finishing here. "I like Guerlain's primers, so I did not hesitate to buy Météorites Perles Light Diffusing Primer Les Ors. It is gorgeous and can actually be worn alone. It gives a beautiful unifying glow to the skin and helps defeat areas of redness. Marcus [everyone's favorite Guerlain makeup artist] ollowed it with LdP in 02, but I don't need any foundation right now."

Does your skin need a boost? Give it a try. Guerlain’s Terra Ora Collection is available at select locations of Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, and Bergdorf Goodman - and of course at the Guerlain Boutiques. I purchased my Météorites Perles Les Ors Light-Diffusing Primer at Bloomingdale's.

Photo at top courtesy of Guerlain; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

The Friday Forum - November 16

It's hard for me to believe it's 10:00 am already, and I'm just starting to write the Friday Forum. I stayed home today, and spent the first part of my morning lugging recycling out to the bins for pick-up. Then I spent about an hour on work communications - even though I'm not officially working. Charlie and I spent a little time cuddling, and suddenly, it's 10:00.

The sun is shining, so I expect to be able to capture photos of the new Chantecaille eye trio and post them in a few hours. I've had the trio for days, but haven't had a sunny opportunity to take swatch photos.

Yesterday's New York Times Thursday Style sections, which I'm still reading, caught my eye the moment I saw the Sotheby's advertisement for its sale of the Magnificent Jewels from the Collection of Estée Lauder and Evelyn H. Lauder, being sold to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The 6.54 carat, flawless oval pink diamond, flanked by white diamonds, is breathtaking. The photo in the paper is exquisite. This photo cut from the online photos at Sotheby's doesn't capture its life.

Here is part of the description of the sale...

This December Sotheby’s is honored to offer exceptional diamonds and signed jewels from the collections of Estée Lauder and Evelyn H. Lauder, sold to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization founded and championed by Evelyn Lauder. Highlighting the Lauder jewels are two particularly special diamonds: a beautiful Fancy Intense Pink diamond ring of 6.54 carats and a heart-shaped Fancy Intense Yellow diamond of 47.14 carats, set in a diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels for Estée Lauder, and once owned by the Duchess of Windsor. The collections also feature a spectacular D color diamond of 22.16 carats by Graff and a very fine selection of wearable evening and daytime jewelry, all reflecting the classic style and refined taste of the women who wore them.

The Magnificent Jewels sale also includes a compelling array of white and fancy colored diamonds, precious gemstones, period designs and jewels signed by esteemed European and American jewelers of the past and present. Leading the selection of magnificent diamonds from private collections are the 52.73 carat Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond ring and the 33.84 carat D color diamond ring. Jewels crafted by Suzanne Belperron, Mauboussin, and Fouquet highlight the vintage jewels on offer, and designs by Nirav Modi and Michele della Valle will appeal to collectors seeking more contemporary styles.

I must remember to buy lottery tickets before I take Charlie for his annual physical. A big lottery win will be the only way I would ever be able to buy a diamond estimated at between $4M and $5M.

Also in the Thursday Styles section was an article on primers. Written, I believe, for the woman who isn't familiar with the many face, eye, and nail, and hair primers, the piece by Shivani Vora quoted Polly Blitzer as saying that primers are one of the fastest growing categories in beauty. You can read the article here. The pros and cons of primers for the face were addressed.

I never apply eye makeup without a primer, but I have to admit I seldom use face primers. I like to try them, but generally find them an added layer I don't need. I already use a face serum, moisturizer with sunscreen, possibly an additional sunscreen product, and then foundation and concealer before I apply blush, bronzer, and/or finishing powder. I think a primer is unnecessary for anyone who has good skin. Fortunately, at least one expert quoted agrees with me. Pfew! Validated.

Do you use any kind of primer? Forget nail primers. Doesn't everyone use them? Do you use an eye or face primer? Which ones? I've been using the Edward Bess Illuminating Eye Shadow Base. I'm still smitten with it.

Let's talk about your week of beauty - primers or not. It's time for the Friday Forum, our open chat. I love this part of our week. Have you selected your favorite holiday collection - and purchased a few new treasures? What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

Don't forget this week's giveaway contest for Bobbi Brown's 24K Shimmer Brick. The deadline for entries is tomorrow, Saturday, November 17, at midnight. It's a beauty. You should enter.

Photo at top by Best Things in Beauty; diamond ring photo courtesy of Sotheby's

M·A·C Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer

I'm always game for trying a new eye primer, so when I saw recently that M·A·C had introduced Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer ($30), I wanted to try it. I'm glad I purchased it!

Called an instant eye prep, "this quick fix reduces the look of puffy eyes and under-eye shadows while imparting a bright natural radiance to the entire eye area." The company says it perfectly primes the eye for makeup. M·A·C says that if you use it regularly, you will see those instant benefits become more permanent. Sounds great, right?

I haven't used it long enough to tell you whether it reduces puffiness or permanently reduces shadows - that's a tall order. It does have caffeine in it, which is a diuretic and will help reduce puffiness, but the effects are transient. What I can tell you is that it has a host of great ingredients, and I love the effect it provides.

The pump dispenser is very convenient, and it's easy to use. Unlike other pumps, this one is fairly easy to control, so you can dispense only what you need, without wasting product. The texture is a lightweight cream that blends like a dream. It has a slight pink tint when you look at it in a tiny drop in your palm, but that blends into a neutral, almost transparent white shade in the palm (should you decide to blend it there, which you would do only out of curiosity). On my skin, it disappears - except for the beautiful radiance it leaves behind.

I've used it under my eyes, on my lids, and up to my brows. It is easy on the skin, meaning I don't feel it at all. It is a lovely base for my normal primer, corrector, concealer, or a shadow. It adheres to the skin well and prevents creasing of cream products applied over it. It also provides a great base for powder products. That's what we expect from great primers.

The ingredient list is a who's who of skin care, including dimethicone, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate, algae extract, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, chamomile, peptides, and many other beneficial ingredients. It is very moisturizing without leaving any kind of oil slick on the lids - which is impressive. It does have the humectant butylene glycol in it. Butylene glycol does irritate some skin, particularly around the eyes, but my sensitive skin has been unaffected.

The radiance it provides is the most exciting feature of Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer. It adds a glow, which is amazing since it disappears into the skin. I am excited about my new primer. I also purchased the new Prep + Prime Highlighter. I'll tell you about it soon.

You can find Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer at M·A·C's Web site or M·A·C counters everywhere. Have you tried it?

Photo courtesy of M·A·C

Guerlain Midnight Star Skin Primer for Holiday 2010

Introduced for the holidays, Guerlain's Midnight Star Skin Primer ($73) has star power. I have to admit up front that it's ridiculously expensive for 10 applications. That said, I love it! This new primer from luxury line Guerlain has a lot going for it, beyond its "pretty face."

Guerlain calls it the perfect royal ally for evenings out. Midnight Star helps to dispel signs of fatigue and stress built up during the day. Use one mini-capsule after a long day to revive your complexion and refresh your look - a skin-care primer for the busy holiday season when you want to look your best.

The 10 capsules are housed in the darling bee-decorated plastic magic wand shown above. This is a primer most of us will use in the early evening before we go to a special event. From that perspective, you may not need more than 10 capsules for the holiday season. If you live a life like mine, you'll have a few capsules left over for the New Year. If you're always on the go, save the capsules for the days when you feel dead-tired, and your skin needs an instant radiance boost. Heaven forbid you party too hard and don't get enough sleep, but if that's the case, you will love the effects of Midnight Star.

The primer is a pearly gel. Apply it to bare skin before your moisturizer. It's a serum/primer, not a hydrator. It feels great on the skin - very smooth and light in weight. Midnight Star adds no color to the skin, just a pearlized glow that will look like you, only better - alive, awake, fresh, and ready to greet the world.

The serum is an antioxidant complex with extracts of natural substances that raise the level of oxygen in the skin. It also has an active ingredient, pronoctine, to shield the skin from toxins that include pollution, cigarette smoke, and the like. Guerlain says the treatment has detoxifying effects, just in case your skin is seriously partied out. So much the better!

Midnight Star has a pleasant scent; it's not nearly as fragranced as Guerlain's skin care (fortunately). I don't mind the scent at all, and it fades after 10-15 minutes. I can't use Guerlain's regular skin-care products. The fragrance of Orchidee Imperiale, for example, is just too strong for me. That really disappoints me because I appreciate the luxury of Guerlain.

I've seen Midnight Star listed as a great gift on department store Web sites. I'm a bit conflicted about the idea of recommending it for purchase as a gift. On the one hand, it's a beautiful item, but on the other, it may deliver a message: "Your skin needs help!" I think Midnight Star is better purchased for your own use.

You can find it at Neiman Marcus, where I purchased mine, Saks, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and all Guerlain counters. It's part of Les Ors Holiday 2010 Collection.

Have you tried it? What do you think?

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Holistic Skin Care

Weekend Rant: Product Returns

If you read Best Things in Beauty regularly, you know that I've been testing primers for months. I've found great ones and others that left me wondering, "What on earth were they thinking?"

One primer I reviewed recently came from a luxury-priced line, and it did nothing - absolutely nothing - to prime, prepare, or enhance my skin. Yet the company representative (who knows I love the makeup from her company) testified to its effectiveness in adding a glow. Hope springs eternal, so I forked over my charge card and purchased it.

Later, as I shared with you, I found that the product was worthless. It had no desirable effects - nada. Kim (a beauty pro) asked in the comments if I'd lost my mind. In a word, sweetie, yes. I was in the mood to try primers, and I assumed that a company that could make fabulous makeup could also introduce products to enhance our makeup.

Fast forward. This past week, I had a session with an esthetician who works exclusively for the same company. Here's how the conversation went.

Me: I tried the blah-de-blah primer, and...
Her (cutting me off): That primer won't do anything for your skin. Why did you buy it?
Me: The rep told me it would be fabulous for me.
Her: Which rep? Did you buy it at [insert store name]? Was her name [insert SA name]?
Me: Yep.
Her: Take it back. We do have a primer you might like, but that's not it.

And so I did. I really don't like to return things. I feel that if I make the wrong decision, it's really my fault. I'm supposed to be hype-resistant. For the most part, I am. This time, I was misled by the company's incredibly fabulous makeup, a lure it turned out. I'll be smarter next time.

Why am I writing out this rant? It's really not OK to buy products just to try them and then return them. You will earn a bad reputation at a store if you do that too often. If you like beauty products, you want to have a good relationship with the many talented (and honest) people who work in the industry. They deserve that! I've made some lasting friendships at stores, and I know how hard my friends work to please us.

If you are interested in a new product, ask the sales associate or company representative for a tester or sample. If they don't have a pre-packaged one, they will usually make one for you (at a good store). Had I been able to get one, I would not have purchased the primer. The Golden Rule has to apply here. Do unto stores as you would have them do unto you! However, if a sales or company representative misleads you, you have a right to return an item that doesn't match his or her praise. Maybe the rep can explain to you how you might use it more effectively. Maybe not. Have that discussion. It's only fair.

What about you? How do you feel about returning beauty products?

Photo courtesy of MJC

Guerlain Météorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer

I've been testing primers of all types. Given my love for Guerlain makeup, I had high hopes or Météorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer ($68). It's described as a smoothing liquid makeup base for an ethereal complexion. When I purchased it, with those pretty pink spheres suspended in liquid, I had visions of luminous skin.

The sales rep promised I would love it - that it would make my skin glow. What follows in italics is the marketing blurb.

For skin that seems lit from within, apply Guerlain Météorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer to clean, moisturized skin as an essential first step in any makeup routine. In one step, this extraordinary primer perfects the complexion and can be used before makeup or on its own.

This gel formula is the first makeup base with pearls of light; it contains an exclusive, color-control base to camouflage blemishes and discoloration and pearlescent extracts to capture and reflect light, blurring the appearance of fine lines without adding shine.

To quote Liz Crenshaw, consumer reporter for our local NBC station, "But...does it really do that?" In my opinion, nope. I like to write about the best things in beauty. I test many products I don't tell you about - simply because there's nothing remarkable about them. Occasionally, I will write about a product that should be great, but isn't - at least on my skin. This primer falls into that category. It disappointed me.

I noticed no increase in luminosity, no improvement in my skin tone or camouflage of areas of hyperpigmentation, no blurring of fine lines, and no special makeup priming qualities. Nothing! For $68, I expected it to fulfill at least one of the promises. Maybe there's something in those little pink spheres - if I could smash them up, would the primer have some effect?

Here's my recommendation. Don't buy it unless you have sampled it and know it will have some effect on your skin. We're all different, and there must be someone who will love Météorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer. I'm just not sure who that will be.

You can purchase it - or better sample it - at Sephora, Saks, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer

LORAC says that all eyes will be on you when you use Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer ($20). I think that depends on the eye shadow you use, but I will tell you that this eye shadow primer works!

This gentle, lightweight, oil-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free formula keeps your eye shadow "picture-perfect from daytime to prime time." Prime time is any time I leave the house! Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw to be used behind the scenes on photo shoots and the red carpet, this nice eye shadow primer glides on easily for crease-resistant, silky-smooth color that lasts.

As you may remember, I've been on a mission to test primers of all types. I received this LORAC primer with the Little Black Palette. LORAC says to apply this primer with your finger(s), which makes application fast and easy. It takes only a tiny dab of product to cover the lid from lash line to brow. No fussing required to apply this one quickly.

How does it work? Courtesy of LORAC, here's how and why.

• BentoneGel adds silkiness to your eyelids
• NetTrioctanoin is emollient and moisturizing
• White Beeswax is a conditioning agent
• TimironSilk Red helps provide a silky glow
• TalcBC provides a powdery after-feel and finish and serves as an anti-caking agent
• Micropoly520 is a film former and line filler
• Anti-crease formula, correction of imperfections and discoloration, and easy to spread and apply

I found almost all of this to be true. It's pink-nude in color, but when applied it adds just a hint of coverage to the eyelid area. I have some redness above my crease, and this primer blurs it, but doesn't completely cover it. The finish is semi-transparent. So, if I want to have a totally even base, I just apply a flesh-toned shadow over it.

It does feel silky and emollient. I like that. Even more impressive, though, is its effectiveness at increasing the longevity of my eye shadow. I first tried it with various powder shadows (expensive and inexpensive), and it performed like a champ. Then I tried it with my favorite Dior cream shadow and got the same results. Then I got evil and decided to test it with the NARS cream shadows, the ultimate test in my book. They are slippery on my eyelids, and without a primer, the color migrates to the crease. LORAC's primer passed the NARS test! The cream shadows stayed in place all day.

For its effectiveness, ease of use, and silky feel, LORAC's Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer gets a definite thumbs up!

You can purchase LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer at LORAC's Web site and Sephora. I think you'll like it.

Photo courtesy of LORAC

LORAC Little Black Palette

I run hot and cold on Sephora. Lately, it's been hot. I have found a lot of intriguing items, and I've been happy with them when they arrived. One of the latest was this fabulously useful Little Black Palette from LORAC ($32, said to be worth $72).

The set includes four baked eye shadow "neutral" shades that will work for everyone and an eye primer.

Here's the scoop from LORAC.

Everyone needs a Little Black Palette! Create long-lasting, hot looks for days, evenings, and after-hours in the city with this must-have palette. Shine in rich golds and bronzes with four color-coordinated, mineral-infused, silky-smooth, shimmering Baked Eye Shadows and a mini Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer, all packed in a must-have sleek black case. Buy a little perfection with LORAC's Little Black Palette - it's the must-have accessory for every season!

For those of you who are watching what you put on your face, the set is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and dyes, phthalates, GMOs, and triclosan.

I love every color shadow in the set - there are no throwaways here - and the primer is effective. I'm going to tell you about the primer in a separate post.

Check out this cost-effective set at Sephora or LORAC.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

NARS Smude Proof Eyeshadow Base

I have been testing primers. Next up on my test list was NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24). It really works!

For years, I have been buying the luscious cream eye shadows offered by NARS. The colors in the pan are irresistible. And for years, I have had NARS cream shadows creep on my eyelids, ending up in the crease - even when I was wearing my favorite primer. As a rule, I don't have trouble with cream shadows.

I finally got frustrated enough to write to Ask the Artist on the NARS Web site and explained my situation. A very nice rep wrote back and suggested I try applying powder shadow beneath the cream shadow. I was surprised, so I responded and verified that she had said powder first, cream second. I don't know how you feel about that, but I didn't think it was worth the trouble, given that you can find a powder eye shadow in just about every color shade on earth. Why would I need to follow with cream?

So, I hadn't been wearing my collection of NARS cream shadows. Very recently, NARS introduced this primer for eyelids. Here's where my mind went: If NARS developed it, surely they tested it with their own cream shadows. I ordered it right away.

I'm happy to report that I'm now wearing my NARS cream eye shadows! The NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base keeps them on. Happy me! I won't tell you it keeps them on 16 hours, but I'll take 8-10 any day. Naturally, I've tested the product with powder shadows of all types, and it holds them all very well.

This smudge-proof eyeshadow base uses a unique polymer and mineral powder blend to get a firm grip on color for long-lasting wear. Fortified with a special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract, it dries on contact and keeps the delicate eyelid smooth and ready for eyeshadow application. It has a white color that blends into "nothingness" on the lids, so if you want to brighten or lighten (for example to cover redness), you will need to use a base color.

I'm sold. Love this primer! So did my sensitive eyelids. There were no screams of "get this stuff off here" as has happened with many eyelid products.

You can purchase the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base at Sephora. I don't see it at the NARS Web site yet - not sure why.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

NARS Skin Smoothing Face Prep

I've been testing primers lately. During the last week, I told you about two, L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base for the face and Guerlain's Ombre Éclat Eye Primer. Today, we move on to the latest face primer from NARS, Skin Smoothing Face Prep ($30).

The NARS Skin Smoothing Face Prep is a targeted primer for "problem areas" of the face, designed to minimize the appearance of fine lines and pores with just one application. NARS says that Skin Smoothing Face Prep prepares the skin for a flawless makeup application, but additionally is ideal for trouble spots (fine lines, large pores, rough spots, and other imperfections). The formula creates a smoother and more even canvas on which to "paint" your makeup. It creates a matte finish that leaves skin feeling comfortable, not dry or caked.

Here's the company's research. After a two-week test:

• 85% felt that it minimized the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles;
• 88% felt that product smoothed out the surface of their skin; and
  
• 75% felt that after using the product, their makeup finish was improved.

I can agree with all of those findings and marketing claims. Many of the newest primers do lightly coat the skin in a way that minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. They provide a surface your foundation can "rest on," allowing an even application and preventing the foundation from sinking into any wrinkles you may have. I can also tell you that this primer does create a matte finish, but not so matte that it takes any illuminating effects out of my foundation. In that sense, it's better for me (with my dry, dull skin) than the top-notch L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base.

Skin Smoothing Face Prep contains a "film former" (microcrystalline waxes) and anti-caking agents (coated titanium dioxide and dimethicone powders) that together create a temporary barrier for a smoother skin surface. There's also vitamin E, an antioxidant that's good for your skin, and silica, a mineral that absorbs oil.

As I mentioned when I told you about the L'Oreal primer, there are far too many women whose foundation slides off mid-morning or who break through with shine in their T-zone within a hour of two of leaving the house. If you are one of these women, have combination or oily skin, want to minimize some imperfections with a primer, or just like a matte skin finish, you should check out the NARS Skin Smoothing Face Prep. It's fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.

I purchased mine from Sephora.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

Here's a bargain-priced makeup primer that delivers on its promises! Want your foundation to stick around, despite your skin's tendencies to lose it after a few hours? What to maintain a matte, almost air-brushed look? You need this.

L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base ($10.99 at Target, $12.99 regular price) promises instant smoothing results for perfect skin texture - instantly and all day. The silky, lightweight formula glides onto the skin and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Use it before your foundation, and your skin will have a unified, matte, and flawless finish. You may even find your favorite foundation suddenly has a new soft-focus finish!

Magic Perfecting Base boasts a high elastomer content, which gives the primer its unique, cushiony texture. The unique, creamy formula smoothes on fairly easily to disguise fine lines, wrinkles, and pores, while a combination of soft, light powders gives the skin a matte look and silky finish. A little bit of product from this little pot goes a long way. It's pretty easy to apply with fingers or a foundation brush. I use my fingers.

It works. For me, that's not necessarily good. It works a bit too well, delivering a matte finish that's not my personal best look. It takes the "luminous" out of my luminous foundation (I just need a little glow, please!). It does hold my foundation longer than it would last without a primer. I'm an odd case, though.

There are far too many women whose foundation slides off mid-morning, who break through with shine in their T-zone within a hour of two of leaving the house, and who will adore this primer. It was made for you! If you have combination or oily skin or just like a matte skin finish, you need to check out this primer. The formula is 100% oil- and fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and non-acnegenic.

You can find Magic Perfecting Base at mass market stores and drugstores - wherever you find L'Oreal Paris products. I bought mine at CVS.

Photo courtesy of L'Oreal

Guerlain Ombre Éclat Eye Primer

Guerlain's Ombre Éclat Eye Primer ($35) is prominently featured with the newest color collection. Billed as a primer and treatment in one multifunctional product, this base has been specifically designed to "fix" makeup for a perfect hold. It is also marketed as a treatment having smoothing and moisturizing agents to protect the delicate eyelid area against the harmful effects of aging and the environment.

Creative Director Olivier Échaudemaison advises, “Apply to the eyelid before makeup using a brush or your fingertips. This soft, radiant beige base is perfect for all skin tones and can therefore be used on its own, as an eyeshadow, or to brighten and revitalize the eyes." Well, maybe.

I like this product, and there will be some women for whom it's perfect - in shade and performance. Unfortunately, it's not perfect for me. It's too dark. I'm accustomed to a primer that is just as light as I am, and my primer must serve to brighten my eye area. In fact, my favorite primer can be used without shadow on top for a nice, natural look. It removes any redness from my crease area and leaves my eyelids looking concealed, bright, and uniform.

This product feels great. It has a creamy texture and good slip (there are waxes in its formula). I have been applying it with my Bobbi Brown Touch-up Brush. Once I get an even amount applied - and that isn't 100% easy because of the color issue - it provides an effective base for my eye makeup. The issue for me is the color. It's quite transparent when applied, and the beige shade doesn't add anything to my skin tone. It almost disappears. It's there, but it doesn't perk up my eyelids, and it doesn't even out my skin tone.

Naturally, its packaging and case have all the markings of a luxury product. I love Guerlain cosmetics for their elegance. It just turned out that this one wasn't made with my name on it. My advice to you: you must try it before you buy. Give the tester a workout in the store (if you trust the store's testers). If the color suits you, and you like the way your lids are primed after you have applied it, this could be a keeper for you. There are going to be lots of women for whom it's perfect.

You can purchase Guerlain's Ombre Éclat Eye Primer at department stores and Sephora. I got mine at Saks during Friends & Family.

Photo courtesy of Guerlain

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray

Benefit Cosmetics has a new stay-put eye shadow and concealer power-primer. Stay Don't Stray ($24) is intended for 360° use around the eyes.

Concealers don't crease, eye shadows stay vibrant and true...you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!

I was a little baffled by the concept because I expect my primer to serve as a concealer. The ones I use are perfect for the skin tone around my eyes, and they serve multiple purposes: concealer, brightener, and primer. Then I talked to a couple of friends who said that their concealers don't stay put. My friends don't suffer from the level of dryness that I do. Now I get it.

Stay Don't Stray comes in one shade advertised as a neutral nude shade that is universally flattering. Used as a primer, I believe that's true. However, if you expect it to do double duty, as I do, working as both primer and concealer, test if for your skin tone before you buy. It's light enough that I can skip the concealer when I use it.

It holds my eye shadow in place like Gorilla Glue. Can't ask anything more from a primer! To apply, dot under your eyes, pat to blend, and then do the same over your eyes, from the lash line to the brow. If you want a finishing touch under your eyes, apply your concealer, foundation, or even powder over it. You will be ready to go.

The lightweight formula blends seamlessly into skin and subtly brightens the eye area to minimize the appearance of fine lines. It is said to be hydrating and anti-aging because it contains sodium hyaluronate (to lock in moisture) and vitamins C and E.

You can find Stay Don't Stray at Benefit Cosmetics and Sephora. Sephora did have some "regular" and deluxe samples available. I'm not sure if you can still choose them; if you can, I would recommend trying it. I think you will like Stay Don't Stray!

Photo courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics