Nivea Men’s Post Shave Balm Review

I have officially Jumped on the bandwagon and tried the Nivea Men’s Post Shave Balm in sensitive.  Everyone has been talking about this since NikkieTutorials talked about it in her April Hits Video (Link to NikkeTutorials page). 

I personally first heard about this after watching one of Jaclyn Hill’s videos (link).  Then one day I was wondering through Walgreens and found it on sale!  I unfortunately  can’t remember how much I paid, but it’s on their website for full price of $6.79 (link).  I remember thinking, that is not bad for a primer, especially since it.s 3.3 fluid ounces.  That would last for a while!

This bottle is made of white glass with a thick plastic screw-top lid.  The packaging is not travel friendly because of its size and weight! The bottle is substantial!!

The product it’s self is a milkly white color and has a very runny consistency, I think it feels like a serum.  When you apply it to your face, it has a moisturizing and cooking feeling. The packaging doesn’t have a pump or any way to control the amount of product dispensed. When pouring it into your hand, be careful! It's very easy to accidentally get too much.  I’ve been there!

This does have a manly smell to it. I personally enjoy the smell.  It’s not over powering and as soon as I put my foundation on, I didn’t smell it anymore. Don't worry, you don't walk around smelling like a man all day! 

I used this product with two different types of foundation over a couple weeks.  With my first use of this product, I was impressed.  I liked the way it felt and my skin felt moisturized throughout the day.  I was impressed with the way that my foundation applied and looked throughout the day.  

This made me really excited.  To think that I found a foundation primer that’s so inexpensive!  What a score! But I’m sad to say, that as I continued to wear this product my impression of this product decreased.

With the second application – It all started to go downhill…

The very first thing I started noticing with this product is that it started to not allow me to build up coverage. I would apply foundation and if there were areas that need a little extra love, I would try to add just a bit more foundation or even concealer – This is where I ran in to problems.  If I tried to add more, the product would just pick back up off my skin. The best description of the look I started getting is the look of a sponge paint on a wall! – Yea, that’s the look I had on my face.  Not a good look and definitely frustrating!

Then, this started settling into all fine lines and pores! I have never felt that I have had very obvious pores, but with this product, I did!  It was awful.  It looked like all of the foundation on my checks settled into the pores, fine lines, or in the area around my nose.

The coverage also broke down in weird places on my face. From a distance, it honestly didn’t look too bad.  The closer that you got, the worse it got!  The dark circles under my eyes became fully visible. The smooth look to my face I was originally obtaining now just looks very blotchy!

I also noticed, that it started to break down on my nose and checks.  It almost looked like the foundation cracked. 

The final straw for me and the point when I decided that I couldn't make this work, is when I started noticing my skin breaking out. Since I tend to have fairly clear skin, this was a major deal breaker.

I was even using foundation that I loved and knew worked well with a variety of primers!  It was so frustrating to have the product tease me into thinking that I made this awesome, cheap, drug store find!  Why can't I be like everyone else and be able to love this product!

My final verdict – Don’t waste your time.  Sorry Nivea!  Get yourself an actual primer and one you know works.  I love many primers.  Rimmel and Mary Kay have two of my favorites and for affordable prices.  They are definitely primers that I would recommend and have actually gone back to using the Rimmel Pro Primer Fix & Perfect (link). This is one of my all time favorites and I constantly go back to it. I'm honestly not sure why I stop using it!

Unfortunately, this time, a new product was a miss for me. I'll probably be passing this onto my boyfriend for it to be used as it's actually intended to be used. I know a lot of people are raving about this product and using it as a primer. To know how how it works for you, you'd have to try it for yourself. But, for me, this was a fail!

Until next time ... Xoxo,

Mikal-Anne

Friday Favorites: Nivea In Shower Body Lotion

Good morning Lovelies!! Here's the good news, we made it! It's Friday! TGIF to all of you!

Today's I am going to review one of my new favorite products! The Nivea in Shower Body Lotion for very dry skin has become a stable in my shower.  I struggle with very dry skin.  Some areas of my body are definitely worst than others! I am always in search of a product that can help me manage that dry skin and this in shower lotion has become a staple in my routine.

This is what Nivea says (link to website):

In-Shower Nourishing Body Lotion helps revolutionize the daily skincare routine and transforms body care with a different take on moisturizing.

• Conveniently moisturize your skin in the shower
• Moisturizes instantly with not sticky feel
• Leave skin feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized for 24hr+
• NIVEA In-Shower Body Lotion has received the Good Housekeeping Seal

How it works: The patent pending formula absorbs into wet skin in seconds and provides 24hr+ of moisturization.

1 - Use your normal shower product and rinse off

2 - Apply In-Shower Body Lotion on wet skin while still in shower. Avoid applying to bottom of feet.

3. Rinse body. Thoroughly clean tub/shower with hot water after usage to remove residue and avoid slipping.

4 - Dry yourself, get dressed and go.

How I use it - I follow the directions.  I don't use this every single day.  Mainly because it's an extra step in the morning routine, and I would rather sleep a few more minutes! Ha!  The days that I use this are the days that I shave, exfoliate, and then I use this to moisturize. I think of it as, when I strip my skin by shaving and exfoliating, I need to add a little bit back into it.

I do make sure to step out of the stream of the shower and let it set for just a second.  No super long, but just to make sure I am absorbing as much as I can.  Then it's just rinsing it off and then doing a simple rinse of the shower.  I'm sure this warning is because it could make you're shower slippery.  I haven't experience that, but I have also made sure to rinse the shower first.

I must say, I do notice a difference between when I use this and when I don't.  I also love using this product whenever I exfoliate my feet.  I don't use the in shower lotion when I am in the shower doing my normal routine, but I will sit on the edge of the bath and exfoliate my feet and then apply the in shower lotion.  It is awesome!  Then I just dry off and apply lotion. 

Simple as that!

If you are considering testing out this product, I definitely would suggest it!! For my fellow dry skin girls, check this out! Your skin will thank you!!

Hopefully everyone has a wonderful weekend!  I am excited for the weekend because the Boyfriend and I have a mini trip away for our birthdays!! Yay!!  Both of our birthdays are at the end of the month, but they fall right at the start of softball season.  So! To get some time in together, we’re heading out of town a few weeks early!! I am very excited! 

xoxo,

Mikal-Anne