Living Proof Prime Style Extender

Primers have become big business for the cosmetics industry over the last two years, with a boom in popularity and the high street market tackling the popular trend, so it was only a matter of time before a primer for your hair was invented.  A primer is essentially the glue that holds everything together - first helping to keep make up in place and now hair products and styles.  When I first heard about the Living Proof Prime Style Extender, I was initially skeptical but nonetheless intrigued.  

Living Proof claims that this will lock in your style for longer, that it's weightless, weather proofing and time saving.  When I first started using this product I wasn't sure what it was actually doing but as time went on I found that my hair was lasting better between washes, that I didn't have to apply so much heat to my hair, as it usually remained quite straight and that my hair didn't feel at all weighed down by the extra product in its routine.  The big test came when I curled my hair.  I, like many of you no doubt, struggle to keep my curls in place all day.  It seems the bigger the curling iron I use, the harder it is for them not to drop.  Using this and then spraying my hair with a curling product, I've found that my hair lasted a lot longer than it would have without.  

The product itself is a creamy gel, which can be used from root to tip and has a fresh, fruity scent - not dissimilar to Kerastase Ciment Thermique.  I use about a walnuts sized blob, warm in the palms of my hands before running through my hair and adding any other products I need and blow drying.  This is a product that needs to be used on wet hair, to help lock in those products and give you the longevity you require. 

At £17.00, it's an expensive extra to add to your hair care routine and by no means a necessity, but if you find that your hair needs to be washed every other day or your sick of your styles not lasting, I would say it's worth getting a sample and trying it for yourself. 

Have you tried any of the Living Proof range?

Benefit's The POREfessional

I love a product that claims to pro-long the length of time make up stays on your face.  After all the effort us girls put in, in the morning to look acceptable, a long wearing primer is a blessing.  I used to use MAC's Prep and Prime everyday and loved the silky smooth texture and how it kept my make up in place, but I have large pores on my cheeks and so when Benefit first launched The POREfessional, I wanted to give it a go.  I love Benefit cosmetics and I find myself using at least one or more of their products everyday. There's been a lot of hit and miss reviews on this product, but so far for me, it's been a hit. 

 Just like my MAC favourite, this primer is silky on the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and ready for my base.  It is a browny colour when you first squeeze it out of the bottle, which was daunting to begin with but it sinks into the skin clear.  I tend to use a pea size amount, which is more than enough to cover my face generously.  It does help with my pores, it doesn't completely eradicate them, but then again the product doesn't claim to do so.  

As for make up staying power, I definitely see a difference when I use this primer.  My foundation is less likely to oxidise or become patchy when I have this layer between my skin and base.  It hasn't broken me out and the formula isn't at all oily which makes it a great product for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin. Although the tube looks small, you get 30ml of product which is the standard amount for foundations.  I've been using the product since January and I've got about one or two applications left.  At £23.50, this is an expensive primer but for me it works.  

Have you tried Benefit's The POREfessional or do you have an alternative that you love?