Hey, guys! Welcome back to Talk Fabulous!
The first primer I ever tried was the Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer (find it here). I loved it, but it’s a bit on the pricey side at $25. There’s plenty of cheaper drugstore options that are just as good.
Speaking of cheap options, the least expensive of the bunch is the NYC Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer (find it here). The price on this one is in the $3-$5. It’s not the best primer ever, but it’s not the worst either. The finish is a bit illuminating, so if you have super oily skin, this might not be the best match for you. Despite my oily skin, this does work well for me during the winter months.
Next up is the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer (find it here). This is also in the $3-$5 price range. To be honest, I’m not a fan. This was on clearance at Wal-Greens so I gave it a try. It’s sticky, hard to put on, and doesn’t look great under foundation. It also reacted badly with my skin causing a breakout. Rimmel products usually don’t work well for me, so maybe it’s just the brand. If you have good luck with Rimmel this might be fine, but I just can’t recommend it. There’s better stuff out there.
We all know I’m going to talk about the e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer (find it here), because I love e.l.f.! This is a great primer and one I use on a regular basis. It’s silky, sits nicely on the skin, and makes foundation look awesome. At $6 a pop, this is a great buy. I highly recommend this primer!
Another $6 option is Maybelline’s Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (find it here). This product does just what it says, erases pores. It’s also silky smooth, goes on the skin like a dream, and provides a perfect canvas for foundation. This is one of my favorites and I highly recommend it!
Also from Maybelline is their Face Studio Master Primer collection (find it here). Specifically, I tried the Blur + Redness Control formula. For around $7, this is supposed to correct redness and blur the skin for a nice flawless finish. It’s stickier and more difficult to apply than the Baby Skin primer. Also, I didn’t see any effect from the color corrector. I’ve also tried the color correcting primer from e.l.f., which didn’t seem to do anything either. Maybe the color correctors just aren’t very effective. I’d pass on this one.
The last product for today is the NYX Studio Perfect Primer (find it here). This one is the most expensive drugstore brand at around $10, but it’s fabulous. It goes on silky smooth, feels great on the skin, and looks good under any foundation. Since this is a little pricey, it’s not one I use every day. However, for special events, especially ones that involve flash photography, I would highly recommend this primer. Opt for the clear formula and you won’t be disappointed!
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