Product Review: Skindinavia Makeup Primer Spray

  I don't know about you, but in my city today it was 99% humidity and around 90 degrees. I work in a restaurant kitchen where it is at least TEN DEGREES hotter than it is outside. Add to that the fact that I have to run around like a chicken with my head cut off and I end the day sweaty and disgusting (tmi, maybe, but this is important to the rest of the post). Most of the time, I just skip make up because no matter what primer I use (and I have tried A. Lot.) or how often I blot my face during the day, my makeup runs and I look like a not-at-all hot mess. So my choices are looking like I'm dead (without makeup) or like someone dumped water and oil on my face. 

And in steps the Skindinavia makeup primer spray. Cue angels singing. This product is a miracle worker, and I am being 100000% honest right now. The one on the left is the makeup primer spray and the one on the right is Skindinavia Makeup Primer Spray Oil Control, which is best for oily skin. The original one is tested for sensitive skin, so it works best on either sensitive or normal skin. It is paraben-free and hypoallergenic, and silicone-free (which is wonderful news for your pores, especially because once you try this, you'll want to use it every day). 

The best part about the Skindinavia primer is that it is a SPRAY. I am really lazy when it comes to putting on my makeup, and slathering on a bunch of different products at night and in the morning is not my idea of fun. Plus, I'm usually a late riser and I have to rush to wherever I'm going, so I don't have time to evenly apply most primers, then wait for it to dry enough to be able to apply my makeup on top.

I find that waiting about a minute, or until the spray is dry to the touch on your skin, works best, but I have even done it hastily and applied makeup while it was still slightly tacky. It didn't last quite as long that way, but it still didn't make me look like a monster. Plus, spraying it on literally takes less than 15 seconds, so there really is no excuse not to apply it.

It has no scent, which is great because recently I've become very sensitive to scents and they tend to give me headaches. After it dries, it doesn't leave your skin sticky like a lot of primers that I've tried. I don't need to blot my face every ten minutes, and I don't have to worry about constantly checking the mirror to make sure that my makeup is still where it is supposed to be on my face.

Plus, the cost is a huge perk. A 4oz bottle is only $35, while an 8 oz. bottle is only $49. If you think that's steep (which, I'll admit, normally I would think so too), just remember that after you buy this, you will absolutely not have to spend so much money on blotting sheets, makeup (because you have to constantly re-apply), or testing other primers. Believe me, it really is worth it to be able to wear your makeup even in the heat of summer without having to worry about how you look ten minutes later.

This product is available at skindinavia.com and was sent to me for review, but all opinions in this post are 100% my own.

Father's Day Gift Ideas: FragranceNet.com

Father's Day is in two weeks! If your dad is anything like mine, he is impossible to shop for. Most of the time, I skate by without really getting him anything because there's nothing that seems perfect out there. If my dad sees something that he likes (such as a lawnmower, tool set, etc. all the usual Father's Day gift ideas) he usually buys it without hesitation, so I can't just get something he's been eyeing. Also, he has basically everything within my price range that he could possibly want so, that leaves very few options.

One thing that I never really think of gifting to people is cologne/perfume. It is just really hard to find a fragrance that someone will actually want to wear, especially if you're like me and you don't live near a perfume store where you can smell the fragrances before you buy it. But FragranceNet makes it super easy to pick out a cologne that dad would probably like! 

"Go for Polo Blue Sport men's perfume if you are looking for an exquisite masculine fragrance that can be used on any occasion and one that all your friends will envy. Recommended for casual use and launched in 2012, Polo Blue Sport perfume was composed by the house of Ralph Lauren and features woodsy notes of sandalwood, fern, and oakmoss, and for extra freshness, they're accented by hints of mandarin orange and sage." 

This is the description for Ralph Lauren's Polo Blue Sport for Men that comes from FragranceNet.com, and the feature that changed my mind about gifting fragrance. Instead of just guessing who would like it from the notes about the ingredients (do oakmoss and fern have a special scent? If they do, I have no idea what it is), it gives you a good guess about who would prefer it ("an exquisite masculine fragrance... recommended for casual use.")

Another awesome thing is the price. This bottle has an MSRP value of $59. However, FragranceNet sells it for only $45.19, or $36.15 if you use a coupon available on their site! The coupon is super easy to get, all you have to do is put in your e-mail and you will receive a 20% off coupon. That is an incredibly good deal! But the next one has an even better deal attached. 

Dolce & Gabbana "The One: Sport" For Men. FragranceNet's description says: 

"This boldly unique fragrance for men was launched by world famous design house Dolce & Gabbana in 2012. Warm and spicy yet woody and aquatic, The One Sport for men is a casual, sporty fragrance that he will want to wear every day. Designed for the active, modern gladiator, this fragrance opens with top notes of rosemary that combine with heart notes of Sequoia wood and dark base notes of musk and patchouli for a go-everywhere scent that captivates and invigorates."

Since this cologne is described as a "casual, sporty fragrance... designed for the active, modern gladiator," I figured that it would be a good choice for my dad. Once again, if I was looking on another site that said "top notes of rosemary... heart notes of Sequoia wood and dark base notes of musk and patchouli" only, I would have just given up, because I have no idea how any of those things smell alone. 

The bottle is so sleek and cool. And again, the price for this is killer. Originally, the MSRP for "Dolce &Gabbana: The One Sport" is $78, which is crazy. I know that it is designer and everything, but still. That is the other reason that I don't usually gift cologne/perfume because it is way too expensive for something that I will never use. However, FragranceNet sells it for $46.19, which is already super reasonable. But like I said, they also have a coupon that you can use, which will bring your price down to $36.95. Which is less than half the price of the retail value. Which is insane. 

Since Father's Day is a little while away, I have not gifted either of them to my dad. I did spray some on a tester sheet for my dad to smell, and success! He liked both of them. 

So don't be afraid of gifting cologne if you use FragranceNet. The description makes choosing a cologne pretty easy, and the pricing is so reasonable. Also, they offer free shipping under $59, so you will totally have enough left over to buy one for yourself! Even if you don't want to buy cologne, then you can always get a gift set, which they have tons of, or even just decide to buy something for yourself! They have so many different brands which is awesome. 

(This was sent to me for review).