L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer

Having oily skin, it is a constant battle to find make-up that will stay in place all day. I already use a pretty heavy duty foundation (Revlon colourstay), but wanted to find a primer that would really help lock my make-up in place all day. I actually bought this one on a complete whim as L'Oreal was 3 for 2 in Boots so I thought I'd try one of their primers, but I'm so glad I picked this up!

 

 

The packaging isn't the most eye-catching, and the round pot makes it slightly awkward to get the product out with your fingers when you're running low, but honestly that is the only bad thing I can say about this product.

 

It has quite an odd consistency to it - it's thick but also easily blendable. It is white in colour,  but sinks into the skin without leaving any white residue on the face. You only need a tiny amount, so a pot of this will last an absolute age.

 

I have been using this for around 2 months now, and I can honestly say it is probably the best primer I have tried. I am a big fan of Benefit's "The POREfessional" but after trying this, I think I have a new favourite. It creates an amazingly smooth base for make-up application, and I have definitely noticed that my make-up looks better for longer when I apply this than when I don't - I would say I probably get another couple of hours out of my make-up when this is applied.

 

I would definitely recommend this - it's not cheap but in my opinion it's worth every penny! This is available from Boots and Superdrug and is priced at £14.29



Nivea Express Hydration Primer

I had been wanting to try this for an absolute age but couldn't seem to find it anywhere, so when I saw it a few weeks ago I snapped it up immediately! I had heard so many good things about this, and as someone who suffers from dry skin, a moisturising primer could only be a good thing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nivea claims that this:

"Provides and even and smooth base for effective make-up application and helps your make up stay put.

Absorbs instantly thanks to its light texture.

Uses an effective hydrator for long-lasting moisturisation and soft feeling skin."

 

It is also "enriched with vitamins and natural lotus extract".

 

I really love the glass jar it comes in - it looks so much more expensive than it is! This primer is actually a really strange consistency. It's almost gel-like, which I wasn't expecting at all, I thought it would be just like a moisturiser.

 

The light consistency sinks into the skin really quickly, as long as you don't apply too much! If you apply too much your skin will feel greasy and it will take an absolute age for it to sink in enough for you to apply your foundation.

 

This makes your skin really smooth, without that horrible feeling you can get with the silicone primers. It makes pores appear smaller, and it definitely hydrates the skin! As I said, my skin can get quite dry so with this I no longer have to use a primer AND a moisturiser, just this.

 

I would recommend this 100%. I don't think you can get anything like this on the high-street, meaning it's unique, and it genuinely does work! I have the normal/combination skin formula, but you can get one which is specifically tailored to very dry/sensitive skin. Although I do have dry skin in parts, I felt that the normal/combo formula would suit my skin better.

 

This is £4.99 and available from Superdrug.

 



Collection Primed and Ready

I have had this to write about for literally the longest time - in fact, I'm now onto my third tube of this stuff so I thought it was definitely about time I reviewed it on my blog!

 

Primed and Ready is a new-ish release from Collection (formerly Collection 2000), and it is essentially just a base for your make up. I was never a fan of primers, and didn't see their use, but after using one everyday for the past few months I can't apply make up without one! A good primer should make your foundation apply smoothly and give you a flawless finish.

 

 

 

 

The packaging of this is quite simple - it's a matte black tube with bright pink writing. I personally quite like it, but obviously not everyone will!

 

As you can see, the actual primer is clear and quite thick in consistency. I can't for the life of me find an ingredients list for this, but it definitely feels like a silicone based primer. It makes your skin feel smooth and soft, but I know some people aren't too keen on the silicone based primers so if that's you then steer clear of this!

 

Collection claim that this "preps the skin, provding a beautiful base for easier make-up application and ensures your make-up remains intact throughout the day". I have to say, it does make your skin soft and smooth, and it conceals pores quite well so it does make an excellent base for your make up. The only thing I'm not 100% sold on is the fact that it keeps your make up in place all day, but in all honesty, I have yet to find a primer that is amazing at this.

 

I have seen quite a few people say that this reminds them of the POREfessional by Benefit. I have tried both of these, and although they are similar, the Benefit primer just edges this one, although to be fair, I would have expected that from the price difference between the two.

 

The only thing I will say about this is use it sparingly! If you use a small amount it works perfectly - use too much and it just won't blend into your skin and it just sort of clumps together (not nice in the slightest!).

 

Overall I really like this primer. It's the best high street primer I have tried, and if you're looking for something similar to the porefessional but don't want to fork out the massive price tag then this may just be for you.

 

This is £5.99 for 18ml and is available from Boots and Superdrug.

xx

Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer

Hello everyone,

I have only recently started using a primer underneath my foundation - I never thought I needed one. But then I started reading beauty blogs and saw many reviews about primers and thought I would try one out. I used 17's Primer (review here) but when that ran out I thought I would try a different one. After reading a few reviews, I decided on Revlon's Photoready Primer.

Revlon describe the primer as "a lightweight primer which smooths and softens skin to create the perfect canvas. Reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines".

(Excuse the chipped nail polish and gross thumb haha!)

The packaging of this is lovely. It's a very sturdy glass bottle with a black pump and a clear plastic lid. The pump is really good quaility and makes it easy to dispense the right amount of product. You can use the primer alone or under foundation. With the hot weather we've been having in the UK recently, I have been wearing it alone and I can honestly say I can see a clear difference in my skin. visibly reduces pores, and even though it doesn't claim to even skin tone, I saw a difference in my skin - I normally have red patches on my cheeks, and this primer made my skin look even. I can't comment on the effect it has on fine lines since I am only 18 and don't have any yet!

Unblended

Blended

The texture of this is almost like a moisturiser, a white cream which blends into skin easily. However, it sinks into the skin almost immediately and doesn't leave your skin feeling or looking greasy. The pictures above don't really do the product justice as it does reduce pore size dramatically and makes the skin feel very soft.

This creates a really good base for your foundation too. As it smooths the skin, foundation looks almost flawless when applied over this. Also, I found that with this primer, my foundation still looked good at the end of the day, whereas normally my foundation does need to be touched up in the late afternoon.

I would really recommend this primer to anyone looking to try a new one. It is quite pricy for a 'drugstore' primer, I think, but it is worth it. The bottle is massive as well (27ml) and you only need 1-2 pumps for the whole face so it will last you for ages.

Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer is available for £11.99 from Boots and Superdrug.

Have any of you tried this?

xx

17 Photo Flawless Skin Primer

Hello everyone!

I never used to think I needed a primer, but since I have begun using one, I can not apply foundation without it. A good primer gives a soft, smooth base for your foundation and makes it look better on the skin. Here is 17's version of a skin primer:

This claims to 'prolong foundation wear' and 'minimize pores'. I can't say I've seen my pores reduce dramatically, but then again I do not have very large pores, so someone else may see a vast difference. It does however prolong the longevity of my foundation, and creates a lovely smooth base for me to apply it on to.



As you can see, it is a clear gel-like liquid, which absorbs straight into the skin. You can not see much difference in the size of my pores in the pictures, but to me, I don't need that on my face. It does however, make my skin feel almost velvety, and my foundation looks a lot better applied over this.

In terms of living up to the claims - if you need a primer that will minimize your pores, then like I have said, this is not for you. It does prolong foundation wear, with this my foundation lasts me all day, whereas without it I find myself needing to touch-up. I wouldn't say this is the best primer I have ever used, but it is not the worst. I originally bought it because it was quite cheap, but you only get a relatively small tube, which is the downside. Also, because of the design of the tube, it does get quite a lot of air in it, which causes the primer to fly out of the nozzle at times, hence losing some product. The lid is weighted though, which means it is easy to stand up on a dressing table.

Overall, I don't think I would repurchase this. It's good to act as a base and it's good for prolonging foundation wear, but the badly designed tube puts me off, and overall I prefer Revlon's primer (the name of that escapes me at the minute!) and so I will probably buy that one. I do want to try the "POREfessional" from Benefit, but I can't justify spending £21.00 on something which I don't know I will like - I may have to look out for a sample somwhere. For the money, I think 17's version is quite good, but I would prefer to have one which lived up to it's claims. If you had bought this looking for minimized pores, you would have been disappointed.

RRP £4.99 from Boots.

Has anyone tried this? Which primers do you recommend?

xx