The Prime of Your Life!

Good morning, Gorgeous! Are you about to put on your makeup for the day? Well stop right there, Missy! Before you apply your first bit of foundation or powder, you better be sure to prime! The use of a face primer is still relatively new in the long history of makeup, but there are already tons of primers to choose from. Since I first heard about primers and started using them a few years ago, I've totally been won over by the smooth finish and staying power many of them provide. Here is a review of some of the popular primers you'll see in stores today:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time is one of the most popular face primers on the market. It costs just $21 for a 1 oz bottle, which also makes it fairly affordable. Prime Time is a silicone based primer (as are the other two primers reviewed below), which helps it go on smoothly. My skin definitely feels very soft when I use it, and it makes applying makeup a breeze. However, I do notice that after several hours I start to see some shine. Prime Time is also supposed to help fight the signs of aging due to the plant extracts, vitamins, and antioxidants it contains, but I can't say that I noticed any real difference, at least not over the course of a few weeks. Overall, I love that this primer isn't tacky at all and makes for a smooth finish, but there is definitely some room for improvement.


Haute Lunch Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Trays

The next primer is Amazing Cosmetics Anti-Aging Face Primer. This primer also promises to fight the signs of aging, but costs a little more than Prime Time. At $34 per 1 oz tube, it's definitely not the cheapest option, but it might be worth the investment for someone who really wants to hide those fine lines. I can't tell if it does anything to reduce wrinkles over the long term, but it does a great job filling in fine lines, helping your makeup look fresh and flawless. This primer goes on a bit heavier than Prime Time, but it's still lightweight overall. It does a slightly better job holding off shine than Prime Time does, but I still start seeing some by the end of the workday. One key thing to keep in mind is that this primer doesn't absorb quite as fast as others, so give it a minute to sink in before applying your makeup. I didn't do that the first time and my powder just ended up smearing more than anything. Still, this is an good primer if given the time to set.


Haute Lunch Rating: 4 out of 5 Trays

Last but not least is my current favorite, Philosophy's Never Let Them See You Shine. This primer was made with oily skinned gals in mind! It's also just $20 per ounce, making it the cheapest of the three primers reviewed here. My absolute favorite thing about this primer is that it keeps shine at bay all day long! I can apply it at 7am and still come home to a fresh looking, grease free face! Although this primer doesn't promise to fight aging, it still does a nice job reducing the appearance of pores. It is definitely a little thinner than other primers, so it takes a tiny bit more to cover your entire face, but that doesn't bother me. While I've seen some mixed reviews for this primer, I can genuinely say it has worked very well for me and I plan to continue using it unless I find something even better!


Haute Lunch Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Trays

Do you currently use primer?  If so, which one do you prefer?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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