What was the last primer you wore? Share a mini-review!
Sisley Double Tenseur Primer, which is quite expensive and tend to reach for on days where I’m photographing and my skin is drier or more textured than ideal. I’ve been reaching for this because it’s expensive and I want to make sure to make an attempt to actually use it up, LOL!
At the price point, I actually think in order to test its real efficacy (and that it is “worth” the price), one would need to incorporate it into an everyday routine. It’s a lovely primer–smoothing, lightly hydrating, and tacky, so it seems to help everything adhere and stay on better and longer–but I don’t know that it’s reaching levels far beyond a slew of other great primers for 1/5 of the price.
NYX Proof It Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer is an HG product for me. (I never use primer under foundation, just for powder eyeshadow.)
I forgot to leave a mini-review. I’ve been using this product for a couple of years. I used to use Urban Decay, but found that NYX Proof It Waterproof works even better, and it’s so much cheaper. It keeps powder eyeshadow in place all day, which is no small feat considering I have oily hooded eyes.
I do not wear primer every day. When I do, same, Sisley Double Tenseur. Nothing beats it for making your skin look its best. The price is insane. I save this for days when I want it to count. I use only a very small amount. The rave on this product is real, at least for me.
Guerlain Meteorites primer. I wore it yesterday and liked it but didnt think much of it (it’s new). Today I didnt use it and my skin looks duller and drier. Yesterday it was so much better and I think the primer was the culprit!
Lately I haven’t been bothering with primers very much (I usually don’t wear foundation – just Aus. Gold tinted sunscreen or IT CC which claims to contain primer) but when I do use primer, I usually reach for Becca Backlight Priming Filter. I also like the discontinued Estee Edit Radiance Activator which actually does seem to activate a bit of radiance. I wish it was still available but I have a bottle on the go and 2 that aren’t opened yet.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – I still have some left in a 100 pt. sample size. Used it all last week, and I now wish I would have thought to buy a bottle during the Rouge sale! I always forget how much I really love this stuff until I open up and begin using a sample bottle. It fills my pores on my nose, mutes my other even larger pores on the part of cheeks near my nose, and provides a very smooth canvas for my foundation. It plays very nicely with my Fenty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear foundation, too, making it last all day and through the evening.
Amazing primer! Best I have even tried, it works both during the heat of summer and when my skin goes through dry patches.
But I didn’t managed to get a 100 point sample from Sephora in a while… it’s annoying I can get only one per order. 😆 I would spend all my points on it when it’s available.
It’s one of those products which makes me think… why do I even bother to try something else? Just repurchase this again and again.
Veil Mineral is my favourite too! I went for a 30 ml bottle a while ago and use that to refill my old sample size bottle for travel. I love it for my oily skin, especially as it’s not too thick. I do tend to use a sunscreen instead during summer but as we are heading towards polar night, there’s really no need for that until maybe February 🙂
For me the SPF in a primer is just a nice add-on, I always go first with an SPF 50 (might go with 30 if it’s the `darker` months). But I live in California (year long `spring`) and I do spend more than outdoors than most people.
I have a problem with large pores and some texture, so am always looking to address these issues. These days I’m liking Dr. Brandt Pores no More or Urban Decay Optical Illusion. I like Marc Jacobs coconut primer, but it does nothing the pores and texture. I’ve have the Milk Makeup one which is a little tacky for application of my foundation and also like the smoothness of the Tatcha balm primer, but does’nt cover the pores or texture as well as the Dr. Brandt or U.D…
For reference, I’m not using Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, Urban Decay Stay Naked, or Nars Sheer Glow foundations depending on the occasion. Still looking for the HG product for perfect looking skin, but for now this is as close as I’ve gotten……P.S…..Touch In Sol No Pore Blem is not bad either….
I have a problem with large pores and some texture, so am always looking to address these issues. These days I’m liking Dr. Brandt Pores no More or Urban Decay Optical Illusion. I like Marc Jacobs coconut primer, but it does nothing the pores and texture. I’ve have the Milk Makeup one which is a little tacky for application of my foundation and also like the smoothness of the Tatcha balm primer, but does’nt cover the pores or texture as well as the Dr. Brandt or U.D…
For reference, I’m now using Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, Urban Decay Stay Naked, or Nars Sheer Glow foundations depending on the occasion. Still looking for the HG product for perfect looking skin, but for now this is as close as I’ve gotten……P.S…..Touch In Sol No Pore Blem is not bad either….
My go to is Milk Hydro Grip primer and the Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch primer. The Hydro Grip really does help keep makeup in place and it isn’t drying, so it’s nice for oily skin. The Pro Filt’r helps to softly mattify while giving a little hydration, so it goes well with long wear foundations. I also like to use it to mix in with my foundation to create a BB cream. You cannot do that with the Hydro Grip due to the texture, at least it doesn’t work for me.
I really didn’t want to believe the hype about Sisley Double Tenseur. I figured there was no way that it really performed *that* much better than anything else. Sadly, it does, for me. I got a sample of it and spent a couple weeks using it on half my face and Milk HydroGrip on the other half. They both work well, but SDT has a better texture, sinks in better, grips my makeup better, and looks better at the end of the day. I still can’t bring myself to buy it, but I can say with confidence that I personally haven’t tried anything better than it.
Can I ask what’s your skin type? My skin is very oily and uneven and I am willing to pay real money for anything that helps with that!
So easy to answer these questions when you have only one type of product opened at the time. 😆
My primer right now is the Peter Thomas Roth Skin to Die For No- Filter Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector. It’s not worth the claims and the $32 price tag… I mean… it’s just the most plain and basic silicone primer. Yes, the primers `fill-in` the blanks and make the foundation glide smoother. But it’s not lightweight (and silicones aren’t usually), I didn’t noticed any mattifying (and I have combination skin) and it doesn’t improve pores and fine lines that much. I still get quite oily during the day.
I tend to determine which primer I am going to use by the weather that day, the state of my skin and what I am hoping it will accomplish. Lets face it, nothing works as good as the claims. I most often apply different primer’s to different parts of my face but I do use a primer everyday. I am currently trying to use up the Tatcha primer and surprisingly, it has been difficult. I still have about 1/3 left. I seem to go through most Tatcha products pretty fast but the one I want to use up is lingering. It is okay but nothing special and for the price, I expected it to work better. Most recent combination of primers was Revlon Photo Ready in the pink version. I used that around my nose and cheeks, a little on the middle of my forehead and chin. This is a primer that Taylor raves about as a good pore filling primer. I don’t find it particularly effective for me and won’t repurchase when it is gone. I use the Tatcha on the perimeter of my face and NYX Waterproof Proof It on my eye lids, sides of my nose where my glasses sit and along my lower lash line,
Other primers in rotation are Smashbox Photo Ready, (the first primer I ever tried and still works as well as anything on the market), Smashbox Primerizer,
( I find it pretty moisturizing), Becca Under Eye Brightening primer, (I don’t love it either so am trying to use it up. I prefer the NYX), Two Faced Hangover Primer and Marc Jacobs Coconut, (both are hydrating).
I have recently picked up a couple of K-Beauty primers but I am waiting for them to arrive.
Sorry, I meant Photo Finish not Photo Ready for the Smashbox.
Today I finished up a sample tube of First Aid Beauty Pores Be Gone Matte Primer. It does a nice job blurring fine lines and also pores, even large ones on my nose. It is mattifying but not flat. Yesterday I finished a sample of the PMG primer. It also does a nice job of blurring fine lines and pores, but it does not do a better job than other primers that cost less. My current favorite is Catrice 1 Minute Face Protector, which is more of a mousse than a lotion but I don’t find it too heavy. Excellent smoothing and blurring effect at an unbeatable price. Last winter I used Too Faced Hangover and the FAB Coconut primer on my cheeks, chin and forehead where I don’t have too many pores or lines but I don’t think they did anything that a light moisturizer would not have done.
I use just the Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch primer. Although this primer is marketed as being matte, I find it has a little bit of glow to it but not enough to interfere w/anything put on top. I use it on my upper eyelids and eyelids, in various areas on my face, and as a mixer with my Tarte Shape Tape concealer. (It works particularly well in making the Tarte concealer more moist for under my eye; if I don’t add it to the concealer, the concealer flakes on me no matter what cream or moisturizer I apply first. Using the primer mixed into the concealer, I then omit moisturizing under my eyes first.)
On my lower eyelid, I usually use a stickier primer — either NYX or UD ones for glitter type shadows.
I have been using up a sample of Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer that I got in an Ipsy bag and loving it. I’d be going and buying a full sized one if only I didn’t have a bunch of other products I NEED to finish first.
I find it really moisturizing and my foundation (I flip back and forth between powder and liquid) sticks really well to it.
The only primer I have worn for the past couple of years is the Nude by Nature Airbrush primer. It sounds very similar to the one you have described by Sisley – but without the horrendous price tag.
It provides a slighty tacky base and is also quite hydrating to my skin. You can use it as an eyeshadow primer as well. My makeup lasts until evening with it on.
I have fallen in love with MAC Prep n Prime Radiance primer. It makes my skin glow. Shame about the price but definitely worth the splurge.
With the recent cold snap, the first of the fall, I went back to using an old standby, Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer. I’d forgotten how nice this makes my dry skin feel. It is a basic primer, no pore filling, no luminous glow, just a good hydrating primer that does extend the wear time of my foundation.
My skin type is mature and dry, I also live at high altitude so I’d like my daily primer to include sunscreen as well as be somewhat hydrating (or at least not drying).
Milani Prime Protect SPF 30 Face Primer- quite hydrating, smoothes the appearance of fine lines and pores, pale peach tint (so probably not for deep complexions), can cause some foundations to slip around a bit so I tend to use it under foundations that are long-wearing and extremely drying like Estee Lauder Double Wear.
Bonus!
L’oreal UV Perfect SPF 50+ PA Advanced 12 hr UV Protector- not marketed as a primer but it is fabulous for use as a makeup primer! It is a mexoryl containing sunblock so you will not find it in the United States yet. Mexoryl has not been approved for use in the US yet but is an excellent UVB, UVA, and long UVA blocker. This is one of the many products L’Oreal makes specifically for the Asian markets ( I buy mine in India or Singapore). It has a similar light gel texture to many Asian style sunblocks and is very comfortable to apply and wear. It is very smoothing, long-wearing, nondrying, and behaves well under makeup! There is no flashback at all, unlike mineral sunblocks. I have tried wearing this under several foundations and it works just like a high-end primer by prolonging wear and smoothing appearance (Estee Lauder Double Wear, IT Bye Bye Foundation, Cle de Peau Radiant Cream, Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25-Hour, MAC Studio Fix, La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear). The product also comes in several tints so it can be used by all skin tones – Transparent, Even Complexion (pale peach), Instant Fairness (yes, it leaves a slightly pink white cast, this is preferred in Asia), Anti Dullness (pale lavender). There is also an Aqua Essence version that would probably be best for oiliy skin.
I use NIOD Hydration Vaccine as my day moisturizer/primer. It has a lovely soft blurring effect on my middle-aged skin, plus it helps keep the hydration in my skin barrier and minimizes peeling which is really important when you use tretinoin every night. I usually fluff over a little Estee Lauder DoubleWear powder foundation to set it since I find it’s a little sticky.
I’ve given up on liquid foundations; it’s more important to me that I wear a good moisturizer and sunscreen every day, and all the liquid foundations I’ve tried pill up/ball up on top of my skincare or they accumulate on skin that’s going through a tret peel – gross. I’ve tried other primers but nothing locks the moisture in and keeps my skin plump all day like the Hydration Vaccine.
I use Urban Decay Anti-aging Primer Potion as my eye primer.
ELF Primer Putty was the last one I used. I haven’t ever tried the Tatcha primer, so I have no idea how they compare. It feels very nice going on, but the BB cream I wore with it yesterday didn’t really work all that well with it. I am going to keep playing around with it, since some primers work better with some foundations vs. others. Because it is new and different, I want it to work for me!
I always make a cocktail of primers: DermaE x Sunkissed Alba Glow Oil, CeraVe AM Moisturizing Lotion, Milani Soft Focus Glow Enhancer, and Smashbox Primerizer.
They all work beautifully together to moisturize and prep my skin for makeup, and they have a lot of skincare benefits, which I love, but I think the Smashbox Primerizer is hellaciously overpriced for what it is.
My skin is Normal-Dry, so an “all-over” primer isn’t necessary, and my sunscreen & moisturizer tend to be sufficient. However, I do have visible pores on my cheekbones, where some foundations tend to “pool”, so I use a pore-filling primer there.
A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, I picked up a Sephora-brand “targeted pore primer” stick (I can’t figure out if it has a proper name), and it’s been working beautifully. I apply it directly to the areas I need it, and press in with my fingers, after applying skincare/ sunscreen. It also has a “drier” formula, so it isn’t as slippery as those that come in a pot or tube, which makes it more ideal for use over other products.
While I do really like it, I have several other products I want (actually, need) to at least make an effort to get through, so I won’t be repurchasing any time soon, but definitely will in the future.
I’m trying to use these up before buying others: IT Cosmetics No. 50 Anti Aging Veil Primer, IT Cosmetics Feel The Moment Primer Serum, Perricone MD Instant Blur compact from the No Makeup line. The last one was free so I can’t complain too much. It blurs! It’s colorless yet it somehow evens my coloring and my under eye darkness, just a bit but noticeably. It fills in pores and evens texture but the product is kind of confusing. Its blurring effect gets covered by foundation and concealer. I’ve tried patting it on top of makeup (using the sponge in the compact, brushes, fingers) which looks ok but removes some makeup. Maybe it’s just a primer or an on the go product best on its own or with Perricone MD liquidy highlighter or something similarly sheer?
The No. 50 anti aging primer feels nice and I like the appearance of my skin throughout the day. I can’t say the same for Feel The Moment primer/serum. It doesn’t have the ability to fill large pores. It feels nice but that’s about it. It seems better for ppl w fewer concerns about texture and aging skin. I like it during hot weather.
Now I’d love to try the Sisley primer! I was planning to get Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer (when I can find the travel size) just for patting over visible pores, bad skin days, since I’ve heard it can cover potholes in the road as long as it isn’t over worked.
I rarely use primers. I don’t like how they mess up my brushes when applying foundation. In the pat year, I had been using tinted moisturizers, Nars and Laura Mercier. I loved LM’s but bam, she changed the formula.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Priming Moisturizer is my go to but I view it more as a moisturizer. I don’t like heavy make up and have been on the search for something that is not so matte. I ordered a few from the Rouge sale and hope they are okay.
FACE — Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (original). For reference, I have aging, oily skin Excellent. It’s not too heavy on the silicone, a little goes a long way, and it makes my foundation look great and last a long time. No fragrances to irritate skin. It’s kind of spendy, though, at $36, so I get samples or deluxe mini GWPs whenever possible for keeping in my purse or to use for travel. A+
EYE — Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I have deep-set, somewhat hooded eyes with very oily lids. TFSI remains my HG eyeshadow primer. It keeps everything from creasing for 16+ hours, is lightweight, and makes shadows more vivid and blend more easily without affecting their color. A little goes a long way, so a tube lasts a really long time. It doesn’t bother my sensitive eyes. If left sitting for awhile, it can separate, but kneading and shaking the tube mixes it up again. A++
Primer has the main function of gripping your foundation and making it last longer. But it can also have corrective properties – oil, pores, dryness, as well as additive properties – luminosity/glow, sex appeal, washes your dishes.
*OIL*
For oily skin (me), I find a combo of mattifying foundation and primer works best. Sometimes too well in that it dries me out a bit much initially but helps me get to noon without being an oil slick.
Fenty foundation is mattifying and works well with their primer but the whole line leans too yellow for me. I have to mix in benetint to get enough pink and yellow (I have both tones). It’s a bit of futsing.
YSL stick is mattifying and a perfect color match but too drying for me personally with the grippy MILK primer. I’ll have to try this combo next summer, as I only just got the stick and am completely obsessed with it. I use it with a variety of primers which don’t always give me the oil control but I love the color so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
*PORES*
I haven’t found anything better than spackle in the problem areas. Clinique, Benefit, Touch in Sol, Tacha all have variable amounts of spackle-ability. I haven’t tried Dr Brandt. The key for me with my super oily nose and pores is spackle, primer /foundation that’s mattifying, and powder. Throw a tiny bit of highlight on the nasal tip, which reflects light and therefore runs interference for pore-spying eyes. This system often breaks down on me at the 2-4 hour mark, depending on luck and such.
I use tretinoin aciduously to keep my pores clean, which minimizes their appearance. Nothing will shrink my genetically-determined pores so I can, at best, minimize their appearance.
*DRYNESS*
I am blessed with being both oily AND dry (as well as pore-full, weee). I like Too Faced hangover when it’s not too hot or cold and I’m not as much of an oil slick or shedding like a lizard. I don’t get the whole “hangover” aspect but whatever, it’s lightly moisturizing, which I like.
Embryolisse is a MUA favorite and smells like heaven (don’t use if you don’t want to smell heaven, and some people are sensitive to fragrance). It’s heavier than Too Faced and a great moisturizer if you get dry in the winter, like me. You could use it as moisturizer at night. Back when I wasn’t as high-maintenance, I would have used this morning and night and nothing else. NYC Winter = Embryolisse.
I just got Bobbi Brown face base and am looking forward to testing it out over the winter.
I used up a bottle of Guerlain L’Or only because it was expensive. Every time I saw those gold flakes, I would think “it’s expensive, I’m important”. It’s a gimmick and I got it anyway. It was lightly moisturizing. Too Faced does the job better. But no gold flakes.
Idk about Sisley, I’ve never tried it and not super inclined right now. I’m assuming it’s a gimmick. Probably has nice mild fragrance. But no gold flakes. Besides… winter is coming.
*GLOW*
I don’t look to my primer for this, although I think that was the point of the gold flakes. I use glow drops for this purpose. I have tried Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, and Kevin Aucoin. KA separated and is gross now. MJ is good. TF is my favorite but it’s an issue of color matching. MJ drops I have are slightly gold (I reach for it during spring/summer) and the TF are luminous white. I just got the soleil neige version which looks like their skin illuminator Fire Lust, which I love. I’ve even finished up 2 bottles. It’s a great light glowy blush on naked skin. So yeah, prefer drops for glow.
*ON SEX APPEAL*
I’ve had self-esteem issues my whole life until I discovered the Divine (by sheer luck) later in life. I now ask God for His love every day and then I feel His love. This feeling of love with God translates as self-esteem/love. It makes me feel good about myself in my 40s. I can talk to anyone and not feel shame about my looks, age, or anything for that matter. Nothing else can give me that sustainably. Except primer (and 30 other things I place on my face daily), which comes close?
*WASHING DISHES*
Using primer is a marker of someone who is quite a bit more sophisticated about their makeup routine. A good makeup routine will give you sex appeal that approximates God’s love. Therefore, when you use primer, you have sex appeal. When you have sex appeal, you have powers of persuasion. When you have powers of persuasion, you can get someone else to do your dishes. Or buy you a dishwasher.
Don’t wait. Get primer.
Love this post. Especially about washing dishes. LOL
Hiii TropicalCowgirl, I’m so glad you liked it! I hope it doesn’t offend anyone ?I was having fun with the post and felt inspired by everyone chipping in about their primers. I’ve come to love you guys and this community!
I’ve spent years trying to find a way to combat my oil, pores, and dryness to look flawlesss and luminous. Primer seems to be key.
To the person who asked about order of products – I find putting down spackle first then primer then foundation ensures my foundation is even. Otherwise the spackle (Clinique/Benefit) grabs it differently than the primer. But I have no idea if that’s “right”. That’s just what’s working for me right now.
I read a few more comments and kind of wanting to try Sisley primer now, since so many people mentioned it and think it’s worth it.
I also have the Sisley Primer, as I was tricked into buying it.( I say tricked to validate the $$ in my head) I do LIKE it but I’m a little confused to whether or not I can put a pore minimizer on top or underneath it. I’m also unsure to how long to wait before putting foundation/pore min. on top of it. Can anyone help me out with how to use it and get the most out of it? Thanks a bunch
I’ve been trying out the Glossier Priming Moisturizer and so far so good! I have really dry skin and so I need a daytime moisturizer that plays well with my makeup and serums from The Ordinary. I was using the Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream but dimethicone really breaks me out. Thankfully, I’ve been finding the Glossier just as moisturizing and easier on my skin! It doesn’t do anything for my makeup’s longevity, but it does make my foundation go on smoother and minimize texture. I think I’ll grab the full size if Glossier does a Black Friday sale.