Why you should always read the instructions: Nanoblur Update

So just a quick update: I finally got around to using nanoblur by Indeed Laboratories (that I hauled in this post) as a primer and I hated it. Immensely. Don't get me wrong, it really does what it says in minimizing the look or pores and wrinkles almost instantly, that part I do like. But the texture does feel a bit heavy on the skin, and should have forseen this being an issue when applying foundation on top.

left to right with flash: nanoblur, Bourjois flower perfection, nanoblur blended, flower perfection blended, flower perfection on top of nanoblur 

same, just in sunlight

(Please excuse the phone quality pictures)

So in the photos, I included what a swipe nanoblur looks like blended and unblended, as well as my usual go-to foundation at the moment: Bourjois flower perfection in light beige (53). The last swatch is what it looks like when you apply your foundation on top of the nanoblur. Literally looks like something akin to latex paint on your face. It made my foundation so thick and just sit on top and not blend whatsoever, just smeared everything. I was so horrified, I washed everything off. But, of course, I had to make sure it wasn't just the way I applied everything, so I tried it again, but with a lot less foundation. And I still got the same effect, just not to the same extent of course, cause, less foundation. But hoo boy, this was not pleasing. 

I wanted this to work so badly, especially cause I love the effect that it gives on the skin, if only I could have coverage too... 

Now, here's where I should apologise to Indeed Laboratories because I did not read the instructions properly at all. I read correctly that this product is not make up, but I thought I saw that you should apply this product before your makeup, i.e. like I wanted as a primer. Just heard what I wanted to hear, hey?

So I guess this post was just to warn people to read the instructions not to use this as a primer like I did, but apply it after your makeup for a nice polishing. Which, for the record, I did do, after I reread the tube. And while it still gives the effect of smoothing out wrinkles and minimizing pores, it is not as much so as with bare skin. The texture also feels a bit sticky after applying over foundation too.

It should be noted, though, that I did try using this as a primer again, and merely put on some mineral powder foundation on top, and that seemed to work a treat. Minimized wrinkle, minimized pores and lovely coverage too? Well, I guess I found what I wanted. So little tip there to anyone that wanted to use nanoblur as a primer too, a finely milled powder foundation will give a nicer effect than liquid. 

In the end, this product does deliver, make sure to read how to use this, and enjoy a lovely smooth, wrinkle free, tiny-pored face!

Skincare baby haul

I just couldn't help myself. I went to pick up my contact lenses today and thought, while I'm here, might as well pop into Priceline to pick up a dye set to refresh my hair. Turns out, I was a day too early for my hair dye (20% is starting tomorrow for Solfine), but I was just in luck to browse the 40% all skincare and my eyes zoned in on a few products.

The first thing I came across was the ever-popular nanoblur by Indeed Laboratories. I have not really looked into this much, but the claim is that it's so amazing, one is sold every nine seconds in the UK. Which, fair deuce, if something gets enough hype, yeah, it's going to sell. So I thought I would give in and give it a go. I may be young, but I love smooth skin and would do an immense amount to achieve it. In the same section, I was considering the eye cream by the same company, but decided I needed to finish my current one (okay, two) first. So my eyes trailed over to hydraluron. I can't quite remember whether it was a video or a blog, but I remember someone saying that they applied this under their makeup and it worked wonderfully as a moisturizing primer. Due to it being winter, I'm getting a bit of case of the dehydrated oilies on my T-zone, so I'm hoping that this product will give it a bit of pep. And finally, as I was wondering around the aisles, wondering what else I could possibly add that I also didn't need, I saw a single shelf of La Roche-Posay products. I've heard this brand mentioned a number of times, but again, have not really looked into their products; I didn't even know that I could purchase them from Priceline. So I picked up the one that I've heard of most about: Effaclar Duo. I thought that this was a product pretty much just to help sensitive skin, which intrigued me, but as I read the packaging of the product, I had to have it, considering "corrective and unclogging anti-imperfection care" and all. 

So far, my first impression of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo is that it smells... herbally. I have not tested this on my face as of yet, but the product is an almost-clear gel that feels very smooth when blended into your skin (at least on my hand). I've got high hopes for this product, corrective, anti-clogging AND anti-imperfection? This baby better live up to its hype. Especially considering on the back, this product is for "skin with severe imperfections". Tear. 

Okay, biggest claim out there, "look up to 10 years younger in 40 seconds" given by nanoblur by Indeed Laboratories. With that, you would assume there are some silicones in there, and, I checked, yes, there are. So who knows whether this is just superficial and won't do a whole lot in the long run. But if that's the case, it would probably at least smooth out your face a bit, maybe acting as a primer...

...Which is why I purchased hydraluron, also by Indeed Laboratories. This one is a "moisture booster with the purest hyaluronic acid" which basically translates to increasing the hydration in your skin as hyaluronic acid can hols up to 1000 times its weight in water. It seems a bit of a pain to have to do a couple layers of moisturizer in the morning, though I love the finish it usually gives me; hopefully this product will knock out a couple steps and keep my face fresh all day long. We'll see.

But for the time-being, I thought I would include a little demo of using nanoblur. I just had to test it out as soon as I got home. A little tip that I learned from a Benefit sales assistant, was when trying some product that is to smooth out your skin, apply it on the (wrinkly) skin between your thumb and forefinger. Most people are unlikely to have wrinkle around their wrist or the top of their hand, which is where swatches are generally done, so this is an effective way of actually testing out the smoothing claims of the product.
 

Before. No Product.

Little dab of nanoblur

Blended in. After.

Soooo, I am quite pleased with this texture. So smooth, so easy to absorb, and just based on the hand test, it seems to work pretty okay as you can see in the pictures. The name is very telling, it quite looks like it blurred the lines and wrinkles. Can't wait to test this out on my face, just curious as to whether this will have a long-term effect.

And that's my little skincare haul for the day! I should probably stop spending. Coming up soon.