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My experience with primers has left me rather indifferent to them and it's been a long time since I used a proper primer on a daily basis as memories of unsightly flakiness that Clinique Pore Minimizer tended to cause were just too painful and Garnier's Perfect Blur performance was very mediocre on me. However, you may have noticed that I included this primer in pretty much every favourites post recently. It was for good reason. I've been trialling this gem for a month now and I'm nothing but impressed.
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Texture: It's a thick lotion which has a strange sort of a "glue-ish" texture that seems like it should be sticky, but it isn't at all. The application is a breeze and it just glides on the skin, leaving behind a nice light and even coat of primer that doesn't flake. The finish of it is matte, but not in a drying way and I'm especially happy about it not emphasising dry patches. The skin feels smooth and dry to the touch, but the primer doesn't disguise pores, though it doesn't promise to do that. It feels super light on the skin, I pretty much don't even feel it, so it kind of reminds me of a thicker version of L'Occitane's Angelica Ultra Matte fluid.
Does it actually work?: It promises to prolong the staying power of foundation and it definitely does. I notice a massive difference at the end of the day and even Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum lasts surprisingly well. There is a lot more foundation on the cotton pad when I'm taking my makeup off at the end of the day as opposed to when I don't use this primer. My skin is normal, but I can get a slightly oilier T-zone especially in the summer and I think this primer helps keep oil at bay quite well. It has SPF 20, which is nice as far as I'm concerned, since it means I have an additional layer of sun protection and a completely clear, light-feeling SPF for winter months.
It also works wonderfully as an as an eyeshadow base and keeps the makeup fresh longer.
Scent: This might sound strange, but it smells like a pool, so chlorine, though only if I put my nose to it.
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Packaging: The primer is stored in a nice heavy glass bottle with a pump. The dispenser is very good and easily pumps out the desired amount. The only thing that is out of place is the plastic cap, which for some unknown reason looks already heavily used and it did even right after I removed the plastic slip around it.
Strangely this has no ingredients on the bottle. There is no peel off label or anything, which I'm not sure that a company is allowed to do. Basically, this is supposed to be the primer part of the Facefinity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 foundation. I'm positive that it's a silicone primer, but it doesn't feel like one meaning there is no thick slippery coat of silicones on your skin (as at Garnier's Perfect Blur for example) and it's as if the skin can breathe. It doesn't clog my pores at all.
Price and availability: I got mine in Müller for 12.99€.
What can I say, I am very pleasantly surprised. It's a lovely primer that leaves a nice smooth finish, feels super lightweight, makes the application of foundation easier and it actually does what it promises - prolongs the wear of foundation and makeup. This is one of my favourite discoveries of late and I have to say I really missed it when I loaned it to someone for a few days. I've been using it almost everyday since I got it as it also prolongs the staying power of my tinted sunscreen. It truly is a drugstore gem.
Have a great day!