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November Lip Challenge – Week 4 & December Mini Lip Challenge — Week 1

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Life has been crazy busy with the end of my school semester, various work obligations, the holidays and of course, my personal life.  Because I have fallen behind on sharing the progress of my lip challenges, I have decided to combine the last week of my November Lip Challenge with the first week of my December Mini Lip Challenge (I participated in #7lippies7days on instagram).  Get ready for a serious lip diary!

Monday, November 23, 2015

I woke up this morning and knew I needed to wear something bright.  I remembered picking up Mac Pickled Plum recently and decided to put it on.  I always think that’s a silly name for this color.  Colors with “plum” in the name should be purple shades, not pink.  I also tried out my new T3 Single Pass Flat Iron, thoughts?

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Last year, I was discussing my love of red lipstick with a friend of mine.  She told me her holy grail is Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Dragon Girl (she also told me that this is the red Taylor Swift swears by).  The combination of red lipstick and Taylor Swift was too much for me to avoid.  Later that day, I went to Sephora and picked it up.  For some reason this color has never looked the same on me twice, and often looks extremely pink.  Luckily I love it either way.  FYI, this is by far the reddest this color has ever looked on me.

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Saturday, November 28, 2015

I haven’t left my house in days, but needed to run some errands. I wasn’t interested in putting on any makeup, but at the last minute decided to apply some lipstick.  I was really excited to receive some Nars Velvet Matte lip pencils from Sephora for my birthday, but always forget about them.  I decided today was the perfect day to put on Cruella!

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Monday, November 30, 2015

i can’t believe today is the last day of November.  I have decided to participate in an additional lip challenge this week, the #7lippies7days ,so I am double counting this picture.  The first prompt for the 7 Lippies challenge is “nude”.  I actually don’t have any nudes, and this is the closest I get: Nars Rikugien Satin Lip Pencil.  Rikugien was the second part of the Sephora birthday gift and I actually like it much more than I thought I would!

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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Today’s #7lippies7days prompt was “orange”.  While I love the color orange, I do not love wearing orange makeup.  After scouring my lip drawer I came across “Barbecue” from Mac’s Toledo collection and thought it was the perfect choice.  I don’t know why this collection wasn’t more popular, I love a lot of the colors. 

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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Today’s prompt, “pink”, was a no brainer for me.  I have been looking for an excuse to pull out Mac’s Girl About Town lipstick and lipglass.  I have a serious soft spot for bright pinks, and although it may not be the most seasonably appropriate color, it is truly one of my favorites. 

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

I love berry lips so I was thrilled with today’s “berry/purple” prompt.  I went back and forth between a few colors before landing on Too Faced Melted Berry.  This was one of my first liquid lipsticks and I think the color is gorgeous.  I had a bit of a feathering issue today, which had never happened before, but I still love how it looked!

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Friday, December 4, 2015

As you can imagine, I couldn’t wait for today’s prompt: “red”.  Obviously, red lipsticks are my true love and I had a tough choice on my hands.  Luckily, I had just received a new one the day before, and I couldn’t wait to try it out: Mary Kay’s True Dimensions Lipstick in Firecracker.  This is the first time I have worn any Mary Kay lipsticks.  I loved the color, it was a great shade and not one I have.  The finish is pretty shiny, which I like, but because of it’s soft texture, it does spread a little bit.  The best part about this lipstick is just how moisturizing it is.  I love lipsticks that also make my lips feel great. 

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Saturday, December 5, 2015

I had been thinking about this prompt all week “gloss”.  I really don’t like to wear glosses on their own, plus I knew I had some holiday infused festivities planned for today, so I didn’t know what to wear.  In the end I decided to layer Mac Tenor Voice lipstick and lipglass.  I know I say this a  lot, but this really is one of my favorite colors.  Anytime I want a real standout lip, this is what I go with.  Additionally, it is a perfect holiday red!  I sort of broke the rules, but oh well, I’m a rebel.

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This completes the November Lip Challenge and transitions me into my December Mini Lip Challenge where I will wear different shades each day for the first few weeks of the month!  Follow my challenge on my Instagram page @Jessicasgoneviral.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2015 — Part 1

~ Jessica's Gone Viral ~ 1 Comment

I am a total sucker for holiday lists. As soon as they start popping up all over my social media accounts, I excitedly click through them discovering items that I never knew I couldn’t live without. This year I am creating my own list for all of the beauty loving, techie, fashionistas in your life! These are my very favorite products that make me happy and make me, “me!” I am starting off with my favorite beauty and skincare products, stay tuned for part two!

For the makeup enthusiast in your life

I haven’t been wearing makeup that long (roughly a year and a half), but in that time I have researched, tested and reviewed countless brushes, palettes and products. Below are a list of my very favorite products that any makeup lover would love to add to their collection.

  • Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush. I am absolutely obsessed with this brush. If I could take only one face brush to a deserted island I would quickly pack this one away. It smooths out my cc creams and foundations with such ease and smoothness. I haven’t found another brush that remotely rivals this one!

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  • French Kisses Melted — $25 Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Too Faced Melted Lipsticks. The colors! The shine! The length of wear! I love them. Too Faced has released this set 4 of minis which is the perfect way to try them out.

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  • Butter London RSVP Set — $29. Nail polish is my first love, and Butter London has always been one of my favorite brands. This spring they released a new 10x Shine formula and it is fantastic. Polish stays shockingly shiny (and stays put) for days and days. This set includes minis of 4 classic shades.

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  • Urban Decay Naked Palettes — $29 – $54. I love the UD Naked collection. I have every full size palette, basic palette, even Naked on The Run. My personal favorite is Naked 2, but everyone has a strong affinity to a specific palette based on their skin tones and preferences. If you aren’t sure which one to grab, go for the original. It’s a classic!

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  • Sigma Basic Eyes Kit — $77. I know many people rave about Mac brushes, but personally, I prefer Sigma. I have slowly acquired most of their eye brushes, and this set includes all of my faves. This set includes 7 brushes that will help you achieve all of your favorite eye looks!

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  • Benjabelle Daisy Brush Tree — $19.99. This is one of those items that you don’t know you need until you have one, and can’t believe you lived so long without it! Cleaning your brushes is one of the downfalls of loving makeup so much and it is important to dry your brushes upside down so that you can make them last. This stand fits brushes of various shapes and sizes and removes wasting time trying to find ways to keep your brushes upside down!

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For the hair/skincare enthusiast

  • Clarisonic — $99+. When people ask me about improving the skin, the first thing I ask is if they have a Clarisonic brush. For me, it was the most essential part of my skincare routine. Not only does it get my face incredibly clean, it also exfoliates! There are always promotions for these brushes during the holidays, so snatch one up!

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  • Aztec Clay Mask — $9. This is a little set that I have started putting together for gifts. It is no secret that I love face masks, but my absolute favorite is the Aztec clay mask. I mix a little with some Braggs apple cider vinegar and wait for the pulsating to begin. When I take it off, my skin is the softer than it has ever been. For the holidays I would purchase the duo and put a pretty bow on it!

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  • The Face Shop Living Nature Face Masks (Set of 15) — $16. With the increased awareness of Korean Skincare routines, paper face masks have become extremely popular. I have tried multiple brands and my favorite remains The Face Shop. Each mask is soaked in natural essences, smell incredible and soak nicely into my skin. One of my complaints with face masks is how they slip around, so I use a mask cover ($3.50)to keep it in place!

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  • Boar Bristle Brush — $12. Boar bristle brushes are an essential component of my weekly hair routine. They help diminish my natural frizz while also massaging my scalp (to reduce dryness). Everyone should have one!

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  • Silk Pilowcases — $10 each. For years I heard about the benefits of sleeping on silk pillowcases. They reduce wrinkles and keep your blowouts from getting out of control while you sleep! This summer I finally purchased some and my hair has never looked better!

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This completes my beauty and skin care gift giving guide! Stay tuned for my favorite gifts for all the fashionistas in your life.

November Lip Challenge – Week 3

~ Jessica's Gone Viral ~ 7 Comments

This week I completed the third week of my November Lip Challenge (if you missed week one and two of the challenge, just click here and here)! As hard as it’s getting to choose new colors each day, it’s shocking how many favorites I haven’t worn yet!

Monday, November 16, 2015

I woke up this morning exhausted, freezing and with no lippie inspiration. At the last minute I decided to put on one of my favorite summer collaborations. I put on Mac’s Steam Heat lipstick with Hot/Cold lipglass from this summer’s Wash and Dry Collection. Each time I wear these colors I remember that I love the packaging more than the actual lip color.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

 Dallas had crazy weather in the middle of the night so I have been up since 3:45 this morning waiting out tornado warnings and never got back to sleep. While not my most overall polished look, I do feel like a walking Christmas tree between my green plaid cape and my red lips! Today I opted for another Mac LE: Charlotte from the Giambattista Valli collection. When this color was released this summer, I thought the shade of red was way too dark, but now that Fall is (finally) here, this may be my very favorite red right now.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

 It is not uncommon for my friends to invite me lipstick shopping when they are looking for a new color. Usually, these trips end with me purchasing a new color. That’s how I ended up with this beauty. While shopping for the perfect “brick red” for her, I randomly tried on Lancôme Rouge in Love 383N Midnight Crush knowing I don’t have “any” similar shades! I thought it was a pretty color but was especially impressed with how it felt on. Today was the first time I wore it. It’s not a “wow” for me (I just really love bold colors) but it feels amazing and lasted all day!

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Friday, November 20, 2015

 I was busy working on loads of end of semester papers, presentations and projects yesterday so I never left my house, let alone put on any lipstick (this also explains why I look part vampire today). I am back today, and decided that I was not in the mood for my Friday wardrobe (my terrible school spirit shirt) so being the rebel I am I wore real clothes and opted for Tarte’s Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Tulip. Not my fave, but it works!

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That completes the third week of my November Lip Challenge. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I could easily continue this challenge into next month. Follow my challenge daily on my Instagram: @Jessicasgoneviral and share your own looks with the hashtag: #NovemberLipChallenge

November Lip Challenge — Week 2

~ Jessica's Gone Viral ~ 10 Comments

November Lip Challenge — Week 2

I can’t believe I have already completed the second week of my November Lip Challenge (if you missed week one of the challenge, just click here)!  I will admit it is getting harder for me to pick out my daily lip look.  I am definitely taking more time picking out my outfits so I can make sure I have an unused color to coordinate with.  This week I used a variety of bolds and neutrals, a few I forgot I even had!!

Monday, November 9, 2015

This summer I was browsing in Nordstrom’s beauty department and a salesperson from Smashbox offered to give me a makeover.  I was killing time so decided to let her.  I’m not a huge fan of their products (aside from their primers) but loved the lip stain she used on me, Beet  It.  I love this color on me, and am always surprised by just how much I love it.  It has fantastic staying power but tends to feather on me, even if I use a reverse liner. 

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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

I was really in the mood for a soft look this morning so I didn’t think twice about my lip choice!  I combined Mac’s Creme de la Femme lipstick with Nymphette lipglass.  I discovered this look last year when I had my makeup done before the Jay Z and Beyoncé On The Run tour and it has remained part of my regular rotation ever since.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

I love wearing bold lips with black dresses.  I realized that I haven’t really worn any berry lip colors this fall so I decided to pull one out.  In February, Make Up For Ever released a limited edition lip set to coincide with the release of the 50 Shades of Grey movie.  The set included a lip liner, lip stain, clear gloss and berry colored gloss.  For this look I used the liner, stain and clear gloss.  FYI, this product has a funny “taste” to it.  I don’t typically taste my lip products but it is kind of hard to miss sometimes!

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Earlier this year I became fixated on finding the right “neutral pink.”  I spent way more time than I am proud to admit looking at various swatches and adding them to my wish list.  Quickly I moved on to another color obsession but when Mac announced their Some Enchanted Eve holiday collection, I instantly recognized Please Me from my wish list.  I obviously picked it up and realized I needed a lip liner to go with it so I also grabbed Rosy Rim.  I still don’t think this is the right color for me, but it’ll do until I find it!

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Friday, November 13, 2015

I don’t know how I made it ten days into this challenge without wearing my favorite lip color: Too Faced Melted Ruby.  Those of you who read my very first blog know that this is where my love of makeup started.  I love this color and I have a soft spot for it.  It wears beautifully as long as I wear a lip primer and reverse liner!

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That completes the second week of my November Lip Challenge.  My container of used products is filling up and there are some I will definitely miss during the next few weeks.  Follow my challenge daily on my Instagram: @Jessicasgoneviral and share your own looks with the hashtag: #NovemberLipChallenge

Helluva Heel

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I have always had a soft spot for super high heels. Unfortunately, bad feet and terrible balance make wearing heels a bad idea but that doesn’t stop me from wearing unsensible shoes most weekends. In order to survive a big night out, I have developed a routine (shocking I know) to prepare both my shoes and my feet!

Prepare your shoes

 I have been cursed with a wide foot, which makes most heels feel incredibly tight and uncomfortable. When I know I am going to have a long night on my feet ahead of me I prep my shoes by stretching them out a bit. To do so, I put on some thick socks and wear the shoes for about thirty minutes. Typically I do this before I’m really getting ready because I like to see if there are any red spots on my feet so I can prep my feet for the tightest spots. You can walk around in your socks and heels or just kick back and watch a show (which is what I like to do do)!

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Prepare your feet

 About a year ago I was reading somewhere that applying liquid bandage to your feet will prevent blisters when you wear new shoes. I kind of laughed it off but decided to try it out, and it really does work. 30 minutes before I leave, I spread the concoction on the back bone of my foot, the bones along the front sides of each foot, across the back of my toes and then at the knuckle of my toes. If I notice a red spot after stretching my shoes, I apply an extra coat to that spot. I apply a final coat right before I put my shoes on for the night.

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These simple tricks have helped me go one year blister free!  Follow my Instagram @Jessicasgoneviral for additional tips and tricks!

November Lip Challenge — Week 1

~ Jessica's Gone Viral ~ 7 Comments

November Lipstick Challenge — Week 1

I have a confession to make: I am a lippie addict.  I am not partial to one type of lip product over another, I love them all.  Crayons, sticks, glosses, mattes, liquids, it doesn’t matter; when I see them, I lose all of my self control and begin imagining how they will be the perfect “finishing touch” to some ensemble.  While looking into my over flowing lipstick drawer I decided that I was going to challenge myself to wear a different lip product every weekday this month.  To help me keep track, I am taking a photo each day and placing the used lippie in a separate container so that I am not tempted to use it again!
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Monday, November 2, 2015

I wanted to start the challenge off with a bold lip so I opted for Laura Gellar’s Love me Dew Moisturizing Lip Crayon in Cranberry Glaze.  I bought this lip crayon on a whim when Ulta was offering 5x points for any Laura Gellar product.  Because I have a soft spot for reds, I quickly picked this up.  I love this product, it goes on easily and has amazing staying power!  I have not tried any of her other products, but this is a frequent favorite of mine. 

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Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Today I wore one of my all time favorite colors, Lipstick Queen Hot Rose Sinner.  Hot Rose Sinner is an opaque, mostly matte shade, with just a hint of a sheen. This is the only Lipstick Queen product I own, and the color is perfect with my fair complexion.  It is bright without being over the top and I can wear it with almost anything. 

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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

I am always on the lookout for a light pink shade that actually shows up on me.  Today I wore Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony.  To be honest, I don’t love this one.  As much as I love Tarte products, their lip products really don’t show well on me.  I have yet to find a color that looks good on me.  One attribute of their lipsticks that I do love is how moisturizing they are.  They feel great, I just wished they looked great as they feel!

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Today was not a fantastic day for me, I felt (and looked) terrible.  It turns out I was suffering a “nasty” throat infection.  As a way of cheering myself up a bit I decided to put on Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never.  I love Nars and especially love their lip pencils (both matte and satin finishes).  In addition to applying easily and wearing well, they always give my lips a plump and defined look.  As much as I love this color, I often forget I have it.  I’m loving that this challenge is encouraging me to wear colors I don’t typically reach for!

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Friday, November 6, 2015

On Friday’s I have to wear my school’s spirit shirt.  Personally, I am not a fan of softball inspired tees so I always try to dress the look up a bit with a bold (usually red) lip.  This week I wore a classic red: Mac Ruby Woo.  Apparently, my look was inspired by the Starbucks Siren on my coffee cup!

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That complete’s the first week of my November Lip Challenge.  My bucket is already filling up with lippies I am going to miss for the rest of the month!  Follow my challenge daily on my Instagram: @Jessicasgoneviral and share your own looks with the hashtag: #NovemberLipChallenge. 

Monday Mask: Dermal Cucumber Collagen Essence Mask

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About a month ago I became obsessed with Korean skin care.  I constantly read about different products, their functions and how frequently to use them.  My poor friends were inundated with text messages about various essences and face masks all the time.  

I LOVE face masks and fortunately for me, face masks are an integral part of Korean skin care.  Numerous online sources suggest using a sheet mask once a week.  I had never tried a sheet mask before but found a set of 16 Dermal Korea Collagen Essence Full Face Facial Mask Sheets on Amazon.  Each mask has a different function, aiming to improve your skin in various ways.

Thursdays have always been a “mask day for me” so after a particularly stressful Thursday I decided to try out the Dermal Cucumber Collagen Essence Mask.  This mask aims to provide your skin convergence, nourishment and soothing. 

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Review

Each time I do a mask, I begin by exfoliating my face.  On this night I used Philosophy’s Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash. I let my face air dry and attempted to figure out how to use this mask.  Once dry I opened the package and found a white material, folded and soaking wet.  I was shocked at how wet the mask was (in retrospect, I shouldn’t have been surprised, it was soaking up the assorted liquids).  After I removed it from it’s packaging, I attempted to unfold it.  For some reason I struggled to get it completely unwrapped and was confused as to why there were so many extra flaps and tabs (around eyes, nose and mouth).  

Finally I got it apart and placed it on my face.  The mask was really cold and repeatedly slipped out of place.  I decided that the best way to keep it in place was to take the time to lay down and relax for 20  minutes.  This helped!  

I have learned that there is no way to not look creepy when wearing a sheet mask
I have learned that there is no way to not look creepy when wearing a sheet mask

I expected to know when to remove the mask.  While it did dry a bit, it never fully dried.  After 20 minutes was up the mask came off and my face was still covered in the magical concoction.  I decided to massage the excess product into my face to receive the complete benefits of the mask.  

FINAL THOUGHTS

Once the mask was off, I realized that I should have completed the rest of my skin care routine before applying the mask.  Next time, I will use my serums, toners and moisturizers prior to applying a sheet mask.  I really enjoyed this mask.  Not only was it nourishing it forced me to lay back and relax (two things I rarely do).

For extra beauty ramblings follow my Instagram @jessicasgoneviral

Sample Size Show and Tell – Murad Invisiblur

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Life has been a little crazy the last two weeks so I haven’t been quite as “viral” as I usually am!  Today I am starting a new feature called Sample Size Show and Tell.  I have been doing a ton of online shopping recently and received an abundance of samples.  Confession time: I am terrible about using samples.  I am so attached to the items that I use, that I have a hard time branching out and trying samples. I thought that featuring them on here would help me kill two birds with one stone.  My first show and tell is for Murad’s Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

The Product

0.17 FL. OZ. / 5 ML
0.17 FL. OZ. / 5 ML

Murad’s Invisiblur is targeted as a single step makeup/skincare treatment that will blur facial imperfections while also leaving your skin with a matte, velvety texture.  They also recommend using this product as a mattifying facial primer.

The Invisiblur container has a pump which allows you to distribute small amounts of the product directly onto your hand.  The clear gel-like consistency applies easily and evenly over your face, and a little bit goes a long way!

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Final Thoughts

I used this product solely as a primer.  I am always on the lookout for a good mattifying primer during my shiny summer months and this product was a good option.  It does not have a strong scent, which I like, and I loved how smooth my face felt.  It really did a great job minimizing my shine throughout the day.  While I liked the product, I don’t think I would purchase the full size which retails for $65.00.  I did not feel that it did anything over and above the other mattifying primers I use, Julep Blank Canvas and Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12 Hour Perfecting.