Reviews

Just How Important Is a Make-up Primer?

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9 March 2016

By Lauren H

If you’re not a fan of spending an excessive amount of time on your make up, or you’d rather go without spending those extra few pennies, chances are you may not have heard of or tried make-up primer before. If that’s the case, you may be underestimating the importance of such a product.

No matter how much or how little make up you wear, it’s always helpful to apply a base underneath, for an array of different reasons. It can help to keep your make up on for longer, particularly during the winter season, give it a smoother and more finished look, or even just simply hydrate and moisturise your skin. There are tons of products on the market, but today we will be focusing on SmashBox primers – a leading brand. While this brand is a favourite of ours, we will be reviewing others in the future, so keep an eye out. Or, contact us with a brand you’d like us to test out and we can do just that!

SmashBox sell over 15 different types of primer, including oils, luminisers and primer water. The most important thing to consider when choosing a primer that’s suitable for you is your skin type, whether you have dry, oily or normal skin, and what job you want the primer to do, such as colour-correcting or a matte finish and so on. So, it may be useful to pop down to the store and test out a few different types to see which suits you the best. However, we’ve picked out two from the collection to review; SmashBox Photo Finish Primer Oil and Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer. So, what do we think?

Photo Finish Primer Oil

What SmashBox say:

Fall in love with your skin—before you put on makeup—with the first ever primer specially formulated in a lightweight, lustrous oil. This fast-absorbing hero blend of 15 essential and lipid-rich plant oils penetrate instantly to moisturize your face for seamless foundation application with a dewy, youthful finish. In fact, you might think twice before you reach for your makeup.

What B**P say:

When applying, the oil feels slightly greasy and uncomfortable on the skin. However, once you’ve applied your make up on top it gives a smooth, matte look that looks great. However, it does seem to wear off quicker than the typical primer, possibly due to this being an oil-based product. This is unlikely to be a useful primer for anyone with oily skin, but great for anyone who wants a more youthful glow, and doesn’t mind reapplying their make up as the day goes on.

RATING: 3/5

Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer

What SmashBox say:

The key to healthier, younger-looking skin? Hydration, as any studio artist will tell you. The latest addition to our legendary primer family immediately quenches skin and seals in moisture for hours after, thanks to Hydraplex, an extract derived from desert plants.

What B**P say:

This primer is very watery, and so it’s important not to apply too much of it as you can get carried away. This is definitely a good buy for anyone with dry skin, as it does help to hydrate it and feels very light under your make up. This seems to last longer than the Primer Oil, possibly as it is oil-free and lightweight. It simply does as it says, hydrating your skin and giving it a healthier look.

RATING 4/5

So, there’s our opinion, but remember that everyone is different. SmashBox primers are quite expensive, so make sure that you look into it before you try. However, it’s just as important to ensure that you’re applying the right make up for you, no matter which primer you use, or else it just won’t work as well as you’d hoped. If you’re struggling to find a foundation that works for you, you can check out our MAC Vs SmashBox review here, or keep an eye out for future articles. Otherwise, it’s best to keep trying different brands until you find the one that’s best for you.

Good luck!

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