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Dara Avatar

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer. Available at Walmart but I consider it a ”drugstore” product. It really does help my makeup last longer. My foundation doesn’t fade & my concealer stays put. I especially love how my makeup just glides on, especially my concealer.

cici Avatar

i like the hard candy primer this its the one i currently use but for some reason it makes my skin extra shinne i have comb skin so in oily in times and some times im no any better suggestion?

braveviet Avatar

This made my skin oily and caused break-out because of Silicone, I tried L’oreal studio secret primer too, but not really pleased with.

Kat Avatar

Another vote for this one! But the one in the jar works better than the liquidy ones with the pump. Although the anti-redness one helps a little.

Jade Avatar

The only primer I own so far is Hardy Candy Sheer Envy Primer. I’ve been using it for about 6 months or so, on and off. I’ve noticed that I sometimes breakout when I use it, then again it might be me not removing my makeup properly. I wish I could afford a Clarisonic right now, haha.

Ana medina Avatar

I heard this from one of the blogs and have been using it for 2 years already don’t crack up but it works just as great as the primers “Monestat chaffing cream” $6 and it works great and last a long!!!!!!!! Time, give it a try hope you love it as much as I do and saves you tones on $$$$$$

Marian Johnson Avatar

That was the exact one I was going to list, as well. You get a LOT for so little 😀 It works just as well as my Smashbox primer, too.

Bonnie Avatar

I’ve used it before for a face primer and it DOES work! My mother uses it all the time- I’ve switched to L’Oreal’s Studio Secrets one since I like the thicker texture, but the Monistat one is great. I used to use Givenchy’s Mister Mat all the time, and the Monistat chaffing cream worked exactly the same. 🙂

Cindy Avatar

After reading your post, I went to CVS to buy the Monistat. THANK YOU. The stuff is just as good as any other primer out there. It works like a dream. Love.

Jessica Avatar

Does the monestat cream really work?? I’m kind of skeptical but i’m willing to try it since it seems to have a lot of good reviews 🙂

Jonika Avatar

The monistat anti-chaffing gel really does work wonders as a face primer!It’s super affordable and lasts you a long time because you only need a tiny bit.

captainmorgan Avatar

THIS STUFF IS AMAZING. It freaked me out at first, but the ingredients in the Chaffing gel are almost the same as Urban Decay’s primer Potion. I only use it on my eyes because it seems to make my face a tad on the oily side so I only use it in the winter time. But it is DEFINITELY worth it. If you don’t believe, try it. I was a non believer. I can say that I converted to the other side.

Courtney Y Avatar

it’s not marketed as a primer, but is found at a drugstore is my holy grail product. Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel. Hands down the best primer! i can’t do my makeup without it!

babette Avatar

Oily skin always needs blotting so I use Monistat with Maybelline Dream Matte. Works great! Heard Mary Kay Oil Mattifier works good too.

Niki Avatar

This is a drugstore product per se, but Claudia Stevens Facial Prep Foundation Base (sold exclusively at Sally Beauty for only $6.00 USD) is the best dupe I have found to Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer to date.

sarah jane Avatar

L’oreal in the jar and Avon’s magix. Though I hate it that I like the avon one because every time I find a product of theirs that I actually like, they discontinue it!!

Kandra Avatar

I really like Hard Candy Sheer Envy primer. It’s only $7 at my Wal-Mart. It keeps the oilies away and gives a very smooth, almost poreless look to my skin.

shelly Avatar

Another vote for Hard Candy Sheer Envy. Good dupe for Smashbox Photofinish Light, and excellent value for money ($8 for a 1.6 oz tube).

Mariella Avatar

I don’t have any drugstore primers. I have 3 or 4 primers (Clarins, Lise Watier, MAC, Smashbox and Pur Minerals) but the “ugly truth” is that I often don’t even bother…it seems that, after all the steps, we end up with 5 or 6 layers of “stuff” on our skins and I often wonder how healthy that can be…

beth maiorana Avatar

I totally agree with you !! I could conceivably end up with 5 or so layers of different things and somehow, it seems wrong … (no one ever seems to count SPF, for example- that’s a biggie with me and is a “data hog” on my FACE). Still trying to figure it all out …

Adrienne Avatar

Have you ever tried using a BB Cream? They’ve been a trend in Asia for a while and recently a lot of big names in the states have caught on. I don’t use one because I need full coverage, but I know a lot of coworkers and clients who love them because they simplify the process… They vary depending on brand, but they are usually moisturizing, priming/perfecting, and sheer to semi sheer coverage all in one product, many have an SPF as well! If you don’t need a lot of coverage, you might really like them!!

LM Avatar

haven’t tried any (oh wait a horrible revlon one ages ago, I think they pulled it) but notice no one is mentioning covergirl or maybelline– bad luck? no one tried it?

Paola Avatar

i like loreal’s primer in jar, rimmel’s primer is good and i know it’s not drugstore (i guess if your lucky you can find at target) but ELF mineral primer $6 is awesome 🙂 i like to switch up and use a new primer every day so i switch between them all the time

Adrienne Avatar

They actually carry many Rimmel products at most of my drugstores in Philadelphia 🙂 Maybe it depends on region.
THanks for the ELF recommendation, I continue to be impressed with their products, and looove their prices lol!!

Kate Avatar

If you live in Canada, I highly suggest trying out GOSH’s Velvet Touch Foundation Primer! It comes in three different colours, but they all pretty much do the same. They have an anti-aging/wrinkle one, an unscented one, and one that smells like apricots. I absolutely love them, and find they make such a difference in the way my makeup looks.

Maggie Avatar

I haven’t been able to find a drugstore primer that’s silicone-free, unfortunately! Silicone and its fellows make my skin very, very angry, so no ‘cone-based primer for me. If anybody knows of a ‘cone-free drugstore primer I’d love to know about it!

Minna Avatar

I like Gosh velvet too..I would get HC or Monistant,but dont live in US,I have Smashbox photo light though(online order),not sure if it really helps..foundation slides off and or cakes around my nose:(.Anything to try high or low? I have tried many,believe me:).Mary Kay US only?

ariana Avatar

monistat anti chafing gel-makeup glides over it, although doesnt help with oilies, so to prevent my makeup from slipping and sliding, i like milk of magnesia before moisturizer and then the primer…ive also tried rimmel fix n perfect-meh if i have flakies, when my makeup first goes on, its noticeable, but then as it sets, i dont notice it anymore (maybe b/c of my natural oils?)…revlon’s beyond natural smoothing primer feels like it grabs onto my foundation, but its silicone-y so i only use it when i go out on the town…i checked for pore clogging ingredients on all the above, due to my sensitive, acne prone skin and i can use them all!

Adelita Avatar

I forget to mention Milk of Magnesia. I use this as a mattifyer, not a primer (I still have to use primer afterward). Because even though MoM does a great job to keep oil at the bay, it did nothing to “camouflage” the appearance of my gigantic pores nor provide a smooth canvas for foundation application.

Emma Avatar

I like GOSH velvet touch primer – I got the regular one and the apricot one (I don’t think there’s any difference though) I have oily/combo skin and I usually look for mattifying primers but this was an impulse but and it’s worked out great 🙂 It’s not making me break out (like Laura Mercier oil-free did) and my foundation has definately been lasting longer – although now I really want to try the Hard Candy one too.

Christina Avatar

My favorite is definitely the ELF primer, though you don’t get much at all for the cost. Has anyone found anything similar? I’ve also tried Rimmel, but either I grabbed the wrong color or something, because it turns me so orange… I don’t like the way it makes my face feel, either.

Laura L Avatar

I really love L’Oreal’s Studio Secrets in the jar. But I have to say – at least for me – it’s only love if I’m having a good skin day. If I have acne, it doesn’t sit well and application stinks. But over clearer skin it looks beautiful!

Harley Avatar

Boots No. 7 Anti-redness primer is great to calm redness in my cheeks. Its only $10 and can be found at Target. They also have a matte primer and one for sallow skin.

Holta78 Avatar

The only drugstore face primer I use is L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base – it rivals the most expensive ones from dept. stores (and I have a huge stash of just about everything that hits the market). It keeps my T-zone matte and fresh for 10+ hours. Not to mention it provides the smoothest finish for a great makeup application. I buy multiple jars when I find it at a discount for fear of it being discontinued. Now that’s love!

Pinkpixie007 Avatar

Milk of Magnesia! Weird but it lasts through everything including a hot night at the club dancing the night away (that was impossible with every other product). If you do not have oily skin (combination at the least) I would not recommend it though. Also if you do use, rub in in really well with you fingers to blend the white or it could change how your foundation color looks.

Hannah Avatar

I have tried only one primer before and it is the one in the jar by L’Oreal. Amazing product! Evens out my entire face so no pores or fine lines can make my face look like I am wearing makeup. Makes makeup flawless looking and has a thick creamy feel. One thing I like is it doesn’t make my makeup last to long. And I also find it to be expensive (11 bucks!) For a small container. Even though I really like it I will not be purchasing it again. Any one else feel the same way?

Monica Avatar

it won’t be in cosmetics because it isn’t an actual primer…it’s a chaffing gel that people just use AS a primer.

it might be in women’s health or something along those lines.

Ashley C Avatar

BH COSMETICS – most amazing primer I have ever tried!!!! I have oily skin and this stuff seriously is amazing! Doesn’t make me break out neither! It’s like $10 online and it’s lasts! So worth it!!

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