Updated to include my review of Hourglass primer (and comparing it to Chanel’s Illuminating Base.) And also as a reminder about the value of using a primer.
To prime or not to prime, that is the question.
If you’ve not used a primer, try one and see what you think. Get a makeover and ask that they use one.
If you truly don’t like a primer, return it, if you bought it at a physical store. There are enough primers out there now, that you can find one that you love.
If you are using a primer, I’m guessing you will never go back to without.
Why prime?
What is the purpose of primer?
Primer perfects your look. It makes the surface of your skin silky with less visible imperfections, so you use less foundation. Your products glide over the top, meaning you need less foundation to cover.
What is primer made of?
Usually there is some silicone or one of the ‘cones’ in it to create a smooth surface on the skin.
Some folks even use Monistat gel for an inexpensive alternative.
How does it work?
Most primers are the last step before applying your foundation.
Primer slips over the skin, creating a light barrier, usually with silicone. Foundation glides on easier, goes on smoother, and covers better with less product.
Under a certain age, some primers will stop oil from coming through and messing with your look.
Once a certain age, a primer may act like spackle, one even has that name, gently filling in lines and pores to give a smooth surface for foundation and optically take time off your age.
Is it strictly cosmetic or is it also corrective?
All perform a cosmetic service; some are also corrective.
Color correction
Some primers color correct or add a sheer layer of color. Others are clear. Both Smashbox and Revlon Vital Radiance have multiple colors to correct.
Guerlain Meteorites Perles
Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer; Base Perfection. Great little powder balls that color correct and do other neat things.
Contact Claire at Guerlain at the Palazzo in Las Vegas for all your Guerlain needs. (702) 732-7008. If you’re in town, stop in to visit!
Vital Radiance Smoothing Face Primer, SPF 25, Petal 002, Cool, 1 fl oz
Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer
Some have added ingredients that benefit your skin.
Aromaleigh Easy applicator pump bottle. Very nice product.
The best “canvas” for any type of makeup is a perfect, smooth canvas. This is what we are all seeking, and for many, mineral makeup brings us one step closer.
Lock in hydration while smoothing and retexturizing your skin’s appearance and maximizing your makeup…
With natural oils of Safflower, Grape and Camellia, Vitamins E and A and advanced polymers… our primer combines nature with science to get your skin where you need it to go.
Less is more, just like with mineral makeup. Your primer can be blended with your moisturizer or sunscreen, or used on it’s own. It can even be combined with a small amount of powder to create an easy to apply mineral makeup/primer combination that smooths to a velvety finish. Aromaleigh
Arbonne Virtual Illusion makeup primer
Supposedly acts like a natural botox to improve the surface of your skin.
Create a flawless canvas for makeup application with this advanced primer. A blend of vitamins, skin-perfecting pigments, advanced cushioning and anti-aging ingredients work in harmony to help tone, smooth and minimize the visual appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores. The result is a velvety, matte, radiant finish.
GABA, hyaluronic acid, polypeptides, gamma orizinol, light deflecting pigments, B-glycherritinic acid; horsetail extract, green tea leaf and grape seed extracts
Guerlain
L’Or – has real flecks of gold in it and creates a lovely look.
Again, contact Claire, see above.
La Prairie
I have not tried this white one.
La Prairie for eyes
Shiseido Benefiance Facial Lifting Complex also works to firm.
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF15 with Dermaxyl Complex (Unboxed)
Here are some good ones:
Avon Magix evidently stops oil too; has a fairly heavy consistency; is generally well liked by everyone. Very reasonably priced at $10.
Smashbox – comes in clear (I like the purple better), purple (to correct skin tone, but it works to cool up colors of foundation that are a bit yellow),green (ditto, I haven’t tried this one) and an apricot one that has ingredients to benefit skin (I like the idea of this.) To me they all feel the same, but the clear one seems to do less. Placebo effect, likely!
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer oil free spf 15 $52
I loved this product. It has a slight radiance to it which makes my skin look perfect. This is something I likely will be buying. 132 people reviewed it at Sephora, giving it an average of more than 4.5 stars.
Today I compared it to Chanel’s SHEER ILLUMINATING BASE. Both illuminate; Hourglass seems more slippery. I preferred the look of Hourglass once I had on my foundation and sparkly powder mix. I generally use Chanel’s only up the center of my face as a highlighter.
It is water-resistant and 100% fragrance free, oil free, and paraben free. It does not have an odd smell because of ingredients. I smell nothing.
It neutralizes the skin, creating a smooth, uniform slate for makeup application. Don’t forget the slight radiance which evenly distributes light to soften and camouflage skin imperfections and fine lines. It also protects from oil breakthrough, so your makeup stays looking fresh longer.
It has no
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
The SPF is formulated with naturally-derived titanium dioxide and zinc oxide rather than chemical sun-blocking agents.
These work, but I don’t like them as well
Laura Geller Spackle – Sephora sampled this.
It started out white and got taupe colored when exposed to air. The sample was in a pot. The full size is in a pump which would eliminate exposure to air.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Oil Free
Sephora sampled this also. It was one of the first on the market.
Revlon It’s OK, but I didn’t like it as well. Comes in two formulas.
Revlon Age Defying Instant Firming Face Primer for Normal/Combination Skin (Pack of 2)
Sheer Cover Light weight. Still, it is nice.
Smashbox Highlight and Prime together
You can read my review here. I don’t like the dual delivery system. It doesn’t feed evenly. You have to cover one side to make sure the other feeds. I love the color though. Would be better to have just had the highlight to use as you wish, and add to your primer or not, as you wish. Or have two separate tubes in the set vs. 2 in 1 tube.
How about perfecting your look even more?
There are products you can apply over your makeup that filter out and soften lines, similar to when Doris Day was filmed through a special lens.
Clarins makes a great one!
Use this around your mouth or eyes, wherever you need extra help. Try it out at one of the counters.
La Prairie
Pink colored, quite a heavy consistency. Pricey. No better than some and less than others. Evidently, it comes in gold too. I think it is quite thick.
The eye product tends to roll some, but the look is pretty.
Signature A Wrinkle Filiment
is heavier, similar to La Prairie’s, but apricot colored.
MAC Prep and Prime
Prep and prime is a face primer. I like prep and prime better than Smashbox Photo finish because it doesn’t have that slick feel to it. It’s not all silicone. I recommend it. Miranda
MAC Black eye primer
I also bought MAC’s black eye primer. It makes a huge difference in how the eyeshadow looks. Want a paler, more natural look, use a skin toned primer. Want uber kapow and drama for evening, use black primer! Miranda
Do you use a primer?
Which one(s) do you use or have you tried?
Let me know if I left out any that you particularly love.
Nearly every line has a primer in their arsenal now. I’d like to hear about any good ones!
To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don’t have a representative, just contact me, and I’ll put you in touch.
Karin
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3 comments ↓
I use Smashbox Photo Finish as my primer. I’ve tried a lot of different brands, and I like this one the best by far. Now, that said: I use it under liquid foundation. If I am using mineral foundation, then I actually get better results prepping my skin with only a light moisturizer (I use Mary Kay).
Next time I buy from Aromaleigh, I’m going to get their mineral setting spray as my final step in finishing my makeup look. I believe they also carry a primer that’s essentially the same type as Smashbox’s, for that matter.
BTW, I really recommend their eye color Fox next time you shop there. It’s a super non-boring neutral, high sheen, goes with everything and very flattering. Also, if you like greens, have a look at Cypress. It’s my favorite light green of all time!
I never thought the clear Smashbox did a whole lot. I ended up exchanging it for the Purple one. I generally use a liquid foundation too. I use AL’s primer when I’m using a mineral foundation because I figure that is what they sell so it has to work together. Their primer is a little less thick, if that makes sense.
You can also set your makeup with a dampened sea sponge. That’s what’s I used to do. Also, if you make a sparkly mix of powder, you get the look of having used a finishing spray or the sponge without having to do the step. It takes away just a bit of the matte look. Arbonne says to use their aromatherapy spray to set, not the toner, but I did spritz the toner today just to see (you know me, gotta try it anyway!) I’ll be posting on that today or tomorrow (the aromatherapy line.)
It says Fox is pinky beige, that might be up my alley. There’s another one, name I forgot, that others like, but it disappears into my skintone. A lot of browns are like that on me. Foxglove? now I have to try that one again, LOL! I should have made a note to myself.
I just checked. I didn’t sample cypress, darn! I should have. It looks like my kind of color. Mandarin looks bright and tea looks yellow.
Send me pictures and I’ll post them here.
Nathan Branch talks about primers at his first Vanity Bash.
http://www.nathanbranch.com/2009/11/vanity-bash-fall-2009.html#comments
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