It’s primer – beauty bloggers all over the internet are using the Nivea Men After Shave Balm for sensitive skin as a make up primer! Isn’t that the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard? I mean, how did someone even come up with the idea to try it out as a primer?
Whatever the origin story of this beauty fad might be, it definitely is getting some attention! One of my favourite beauty bloggers just posted on her instagram account (@iluvsarahii) saying that she loved it as a bargain beauty fix. With all this talk, I just had to try it out for myself!
Okay, so here are the details: I bought this stuff and it ended up costing me around 8 dollars, which actually isn’t bad at all, considering that the primer I’m using right now, the Smashbox Photo Finish primer, costs around 40-50 bucks easy! Also, for 8-10 bucks, you get 100ml of product (vs. the 30ml of Smashbox primer at 40-50 bucks). Here’s a size comparison:
All in all- if it works, your girl will definitely be saving a lot more money.
To test it out, I decided to wear it for a whole day, which for me starts around 7:10a.m. and ends around 5p.m. My skin is usually dry in the morning, but I do tend to get a lot oilier as the day progresses and I usually end up heading home pretty shiny, regardless of the kind of primer I use. What I look for in a primer is usually how well it keeps my make up in place for the day (but some added qualities are a bonus!)
Here are my pro’s and con’s:
PRO’S
- It is so cheap – seriously, it’s pretty much irresistible and unheard of! For most of us, dropping 50+ bucks for a primer might do some major damage, well at least for me it does, cause you know, the student struggle!
- It works! I don’t know about it filling in pores or keeping me matte all day, but using the after shave balm did extend the life of the make up I was wearing (well, in comparison to me not using any kind of primer at all).
- You get a lot of product, seriously, it could last you at least a year!
CONS
- It’s consistency might throw you off- it is a bit on the watery side! Here’s a picture:
To apply it, I used a make up sponge (I usually get these at the dollar store) and just layered it on until I felt like it was a good enough amount, you definitely don’t want to just dab it onto your face like it was men’s after shave … (LOL the irony)
- The smell can be a turn off also – just like any other products that are specifically made for men, this balm also smells like it was made specifically for men. But hey, the smell does go away once you apply your foundation, so it really isn’t that bad. Seriously though, it smells like a group of bros.
- It feels a little odd on your face at first, like a hand cream that hasn’t quite absorbed into your skin just yet. Maybe even a little sticky at first? Again, this feeling does go away once you apply foundation though!
- It’s success is inconsistent- there are SO many people who have tried this beauty bargain and absolutely loved it, but there are also a ton of people who swear that it doesn’t work for them too! It could depend on your skin type, how much product you’ve put on, or the kind of make up you use, but results vary, so don’t just drop your precious primers just yet!
Overall Score: 2.5 / 5
From my own experience of it, using this after shave balm wasn’t a complete bust, but it wasn’t a complete success either. Although I loved the price and that it helped my make up stay on for the most part, its smell, consistency, and effectiveness can be deal breakers if you want to just rely on this product as your go-to primer. I’d say its worth a try though, maybe pick it up when it’s on sale to minimize the financial commitment.
I’ll keep using it here and there to see how it holds up after more frequent use and let you know how it’s going! Until then lovelies!
P.S. Wishing you all the best of luck on your final exams/essays/assignments <3
Image Sources:
http://intl.target.com/p/nivea-for-men-sensitive-post-shave-balm-3-3-oz/…
http://giphy.com/gifs/confused-jersey-shore-pauly-d-RoqUltNfOhQ2Y
http://www.whiskeyriff.com/2016/01/11/10-struggles-only-people-with-blon…
http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/articles/worst-handshakes-give-your-girlf…