Primer Review | Vanity Claire

After Claire’s brilliant post yesterday (about the dark side of Instagram), it feels a bit wrong to be diving in with a beauty product review. Because, you know, the issues I have with primer are definitely up there in terms of importance. While I’m throwing myself willy nilly back into beauty blogging, I do recommend you give her post a read and let us know what you think.

So.

As usual, I’ve managed to get caught up in the hype of Maybelline’s ‘Baby’ range. I’m not sure what it is about this bandwagon, but ever since the Baby Lips fiasco (which, lets be honest, was just Vaseline in nicer packaging), we’ve all been keen to see what Maybelline would bring out next. When the Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer (HOW MANY WORDS) popped up on beauty blogs and in stores, I was like “yes, get on my face”. I hurled myself to Boots as soon as I possibly could and bought it. What a mistake.

I worry that Claire and I are becoming a bit too free with our bad reviews (check out our From Bag to Bin post as an example), but the fact is we like to complain and if something isn’t right, we will most definitely share it with you. And probably use quite a few adjectives in the process.

I am just not impressed with this primer at all. AT ALL I TELL YOU. As a serial primer user, I’ve used a lot of different products over the years. From high street to high end, I’m casually working my way through what’s on the market to find the best primer out there. Unfortunately, Maybelline’s offering is way, way, way down my list.

Maybelline has described it as a “lightweight primer” for “smooth, poreless looking skin”. Personally, I like to use primers for both keeping makeup on my face for longer and reducing the size of my ~~face caverns~~ pores. So, the fact that Maybelline haven’t mentioned much about it making makeup last rang a few warning bells in my tiny head. While I agree that pores are a terrible problem that many of us struggle to deal with, I don’t really see the point of a primer that doesn’t help makeup length in any way. And unfortunately, the Baby Skin Primer doesn’t do anything for helping my foundation last. I still find myself powdering my shiny bits throughout the day and lasting wise, things still look a bit on the worrying side by the time I get home from work.

Another one of my problems with the Baby Skin Primer is the way it feels. I put a picture up on our Instagram the other day and mentioned that I found it quite greasy. With oily skin, I really hate anything that feels remotely greasy on my skin so I wasn’t massively keen on how it felt initially. Also, the gel is quite stiff, which is a bit odd when you squeeze it from the tube. After our blogger pal Imogen mentioned it felt ‘silicone-y’, I realise that is exactly what it’s like (partly because it does actually contain silicone) – it doesn’t feel nice and fresh like other primers, but rather like you’re smearing solid petrol on your face.

So…apart from it being like petrol and generally rubbish, what are the good points? Fair play to Maybelline, it does help to reduce the size of my pores. As that is supposed to be the main aim of the product, it does do quite well and it gives a nice ‘blur’ effect to my features. However, I’ve found that other primers do the job better (Seventeen’s Flawless Poreless Primer for example) and there’s no way by the Queen’s pantaloons that I would go out just wearing Baby Skin. For that, I would rather use the magical Skin Perfect Primer by Dermalogica and rest assured that my face looks mega.

This may even be the most damning review I’ve written to date (although Barry M’s TRAGIC AND WRONG Eyebrow Pen might come close), but I will finish with this: it is not a dupe for Benefit’s Porefessional. It’s not a dupe for anything, apart from maybe the tears of an Orangutan.

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Good day to you dear friends!

I have a confession. I may or may not be addicted to primers. When lurking about in my room getting ready this morning, I had a think about all of the different primers I’ve used in my ridiculously long time being useless at putting makeup on. In the interest of science (probably), I thought I’d share my list with you:

MAC Prep + Prime
Seventeen Photo Flawless
Benefit POREfessional (review here)
Bourjois Bronzing Primer (review here)
Bourjois Happy Light Primer
Seventeen Flawless Poreless Primer (read Claire’s review here)
Rimmel Fix and Protect
Nivea Express Hydration (review here)

I feel like I’m forgetting a couple, but these are the ones that I remember being either impressed with or not so much. The first primer I ever used was by MAC, and whilst I was impressed with it, there are some amazing “drugstore” alternatives around. Enough rambling however, let’s get down to this Dermalogica review!

First and foremost let’s just say it is incredible.

Claire and I were sent a few products from the genuinely marvellous people at Beauty900 and this little sample was thankfully a part of our goodies. It came with the Daytime Radiance set, however I feel that it deserves a review all on its own. It is that special.

What:
This fabulous product is the Skinperfect Primer. It’s a tinted primer that is also SPF 30, meaning those nasty UV rays get a well deserved punch in the face. It’s part of the AGE Smart range, which makes me feel about 1000 years old – but then again, wrinkles are definitely not something to take lightly. A gal’s got to prepare.

The product promises to smooth fine lines, brighten and prime and prep your skin for makeup application for a flawless finish. As any good primer should, methinks. What interested me most was the ‘brightening’ promise. I’ve noticed that I look quite dull and sallow of late, which is probably something to do with too much wine and not enough sleep. I’ve never had that naturally ‘glowy’ complexion either, so I basically looked to this product as the holy grail that would turn me from the Elephant Man to Mila Kunis.

How:
Something to do with silicones, pearl powder, natural earth minerals and possibly Harry Potter’s wand.

Where:
Head over to Beauty900 to pick this excellent primer up, they actually have some fabulous tips about different skin problems and how you can combat them too – so definitely worth a visit chaps!

My verdict:
Buy this now before your face realises the neglect you are giving it and calls Social Services.

Let me paint you a beautiful picture. I’ve used the Skinperfect Primer the last few days at work. Usually my face gets shiny and disco ball-like by about lunchtime and I have nip to the powder room and er, powder my face. I’ve literally not had to do that once when wearing the Dermalogica primer, which is pretty unheard of for my oily skin. It’s also great for making my makeup last and I’ve had no issues on that front. In terms of prepping my skin for makeup application, I’ve not noticed that it’s not too different to other good primers – it does the job well.

HOWEVER, their promise of radiance is hugely and definitely fulfilled. My face has never looked so excellent without makeup on. The slight tint smooths any discolouration and somehow, it just makes me look bright and glowy. I was almost tempted to go out without foundation but then realised that was lunatic talk.

All in all, top marks Dermalogica. You are excellent.

It does smell a bit like tree though.

Has anyone else used this primer? What do you think?

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer Review: Don’t Believe the Hype

Dermalogica | Skinperfect Primer Review

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