I've been looking for words to describe how this has become my favorite primer, considering the fact that Boots discontinued the No 7 Beautifully Matte Primer. This is now the next best thing in my kit right behind my devotion the L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara (you know that has my heart).

Some of the most popular questions in my inbox are recommendations for affordable products; and a few of them ask precisely about concealers and foundations. The L.A HD concealers happen to be one of my favorite products and definitely a staple in my kit.

According to +NikkieTutorials this is the best primer she has ever used and of course it's been trending since she mentioned it on her YouTube channel. I finally decided to give in to the pressure and even the videos I watched did not prepare me.

I opted to buy mine on my last trip to Dubai-- I should have just checked high end pharmacies here in Nigeria-- that would have saved me the wait. I purchased a bottle for 27AED (about 1,500NGN). For that price it's definitely value for money as it comes in 100 ml bottle.

The balm comes in an opaque and sturdy white bottle which I like a lot and the content also has the same opaque consistency. It has a hint of a manly scent which disappears after a couple of seconds. A few questions have been raised on how healthy the balm is as a primer, it contains high amount of glycerine which allows other products to stick to the face and last a lot longer.

To use simply pour out some on your palm and apply directly on to the skin, gently massaging it till it dries into the skin--while rubbing into the skin the balm gets sticky before it dries.

Verdict

As a primer, this is not amazing for the tropics aka Nigerian weather. If you are thinking of purchasing, I recommend you combine with other matifying primers. I guess this it's safe to say this is one of the products that did not meet my expectations.

The Nivea post shave balm is available for sale at H-Medix for N2,300.

You're welcome!!!

Stay Pretty!!!

I'm interrupting my web silence to bring you this quick and amazing news on my favorite brush-set till date!!! I purchased this set online a couple of months ago and I knew I definitely had to share with you guys.

Its way past midnight but I can't get my eyes to close and my mind has been bugging with this blog post that I've been putting off doing--maybe because it has more than one brand listed--don't want nobody thinking I'm doing a brand comparison.

While I'm still trying to deal with my jet lag, I figured I might as well put up this post I've had in my drafts for a bit. If you follow me on instagram and snapchat; you'll know I've been out of Nigeria for a couple of days.

I promised you guys a bunch of reviews and I'm keeping my word judiciously. Here's a review of the newest brand in the market proudly owned by a Nigerian and one I'm so glad to call my friend-- Funke Tonye-Preghafi of Gifty's Daughter Makeup Boutique.

Ta-da!!! This is officially my first review post for 2016!!! I'm a sucker for trying out new brands especially ones that dark skinned beauty bloggers rave about and +Sonia Kashuk Beauty is definitely one of them; I sometimes stalk their website just imagining ways I could lay my hands on their products especially when +Jackie Aina raves about their eyeshadow palettes.

Hey Pretties,

I have a good excuse this time,  I promise.

You know all those reasons I keep giving for not posting on YouTube; well I ran out of them and finally pushed and shoved myself to make something happen, and I did.

I try to post pictures of products before doing the swatches of them, but I couldn't help it with my last Zaron swatch. I was really excited to try out them out and I've been in love ever since. If you missed my post on the swatches, click here. 

I'm terribly loving my new swatch techniques so much so that I 're-did' the swatches from Kayge Lipsticks which has been in my drafts for a while. I figure doing these swatches will require dedicating some time as I have to work a full face makeup to rock them.

I can't remember ever being excited to do product swatches!!! It's one of my most dreaded routines especially when I have to do them on myself for picture sake. However, I just got the hang of taking my pictures with my new camera (Tashia) and I decided to try out lipstick swatches and I love the outcome. 

I've been thinking of how to write a long love letter to apologize for being absent these past few weeks, but words fail me. I've been poking my fingers in a few upcoming projects I can't wait to share it all with you guys in due time. Meanwhile, I'm going to share pictures and videos of my last vacation with you soon--- I pledged I was going to do that since that's one of the reasons I've been away.

I know I'm not the only one whose makeup antenna beeps when they hear the word SALE!!! When I hear the word, I go into the adrenaline high and my brain goes into overdrive. 

Holler! Holler!! Holler!!! I've had this phrase playing in my head on repeat for at least 30 minutes when all I was doing was watching my favorite Telenovellas. I even did I little side step with extra wiggle. 

I just want to shout from the rooftops---I finally nabbed myself some Anastasia Beverly Hills products. I know I've carried last but I was really bidding my time - - - especially as a recovering makeupholic (not sure about the recovering though). 

My backlog of reviews and hauls is disturbing; I always seem to either leave the products or camera in the office---so today I simultaneously took pictures of all the new hauls I have minus a few. 

Cute Packaging, right??

I'm back with another first impressions and review post, this time a proudly Nigerian brand and one I have reviewed before. I was so impressed when I was told that the brand worked on a couple of suggestions I made in that post which obviously made me want to try the new products. Check out my earlier review here.