Why have I only just discovered primer?!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Just used some for the first time today, and OMG! It has taken 5 years off me, at least.

Yay!

[Sparklingblue]

I had my make up done by a professional for my 40th and she sang the praises of Benefit. I use the eyeshadow palette and it is fab!

[carrielou2007]

Well, so far I am very impressed with the No 7 one.

Bought it this afternoon and sort of tingles on my skin so hoping that's the serious plumping going on! Used it with No 7 lift and illuminate foundation and have to say I am looking at my skin and it is looking amazing!

I will see how it lasts until my bath before bed and tomorrow will try it with the bb cream (have the No 7 BB cream but prefer the Garnier one) then monday will just try it by itself.

I'm suposed to be wearing foundation when I am working and bb cream when I'm not in my dear-god-40-is-not-that-far-away effort but very often about 3pm I realise I have done neither.

I get my contact lenses from Boots on direct debit so it also gives me 10% any Boots own stuff so with the £5 off voucher and that it was a great bargain!

[CalamityKate]

What is this BB cream of which you speak?

[carrielou2007]

What does it stand for beauty balm/blemish balm something like that but loads of creams now are called bb creams. Garnier is the original one that apparantly caused a massive hype (bit like the No 7 serum that was on a programme and proved/some sort of scientific evidence it really does what it says) and now lots of brands do one. I bought the No 7 one a while ago wiht the last £5 off voucher and it is nice, would be very happy with it if I did not already have the Garnier one which suits me better.

[AgathaFusty]

Inspired by this thread, I bought the No7 primer yesterday and used it last night. This morning I woke up sporting a beautiful rash across my face (took make-up off last night!) which is still there now. Don't think I will be bothering with it again.

[CuttedUpPear]

Alibabaandthe40nappies I don't possess any foundation
I was wondering if primer alone would do it for me? When I said I looked like the surface of the moon, I meant that it emphasis my pores (craters).
I really am not a lots of makeup person, usually go out wearing just eyeliner, mascara and Benefit Porefessional on my pores (which is dead good and I'm not a teenager!)

[redglow]

Just tried sudocream I look like a ghost and it's in my hair.(blush)

[Sparklingbrook]

I think less is more redglow.

[redglow]

Think you are right sparkling still trying to rub it away.

[Sparklingbrook]

Casper redglow

[fitflopqueen]

which No7 primer are you all using, I went today, there was a green one to reduce redness (which I dont need) and one to to reduce shine which felt a bit dry when trying on my hand. (have the £5 voucher)
went to tesco and the BD primer seemed better but was £11, is that the one to get or the facelift one ?

[willybreeder]

I'm going to add into the debate on primers, I'm a make-up artist so hopefully have some answers;
The primers I like that do what they should are L'Oreal studio secret and smashbox. I'm keen to try Barbara daly now. A primer should fill in pores and help do the same with fine lines as well as create a layer so stopping your skin from absorbing foundation, this makes your make-up looks and last better.
Clarins beauty flash is great as a primer but it works for different skin types only as it slightly tightens and gives your skin a glow. I've found this is no good if your skin is more combination/oily and you need help concealing pores.
I've read No7 new primer is good so I want to try it. Their anti shine primer is pretty good for oily skin.
Er, unsure about sudocream but I love it for spots so might be tempted to try it, I imagine it would be work if you wanted a glow but that's about it. Ditto for the chaffing cream.
When you apply primer put it mainly on your t zone and apply gently - no rubbing, then foundation/tinted moisturiser or just blusher/bronzer on top.
Hope that helps!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

fitflop - the new one, Airbrush it is called.

Cutted - I would give it a go, I can see that there will be days where I just use primer and don't bother with foundation, definitely.

Agatha that is a shame :( Hope the spots go quickly!

[southeastastra]

the smashbox one i use makes your skin feel smooth so foundations go on better, that's all really, it's like a silicone base

the barbara daly one (face lift?) is just a cream with fine glitter which reflects light to make you look 'younger' rather than make, make up go on better

[pluckingupcourage]

I also use the smashbox primer. I love it but can't afford to use it every day. Makeup looks amazing and lasts ages (I got it a couple of years back on the recommendation of another MNer and have re-bought it many times over). The whole buzz around the lanacane anti-chafing gel with makeup artists has been that it has nearly the exact same ingredients to smashbox (and is even more similar to the Urban Decay primer). I am going to wait till mine arrives and do one side with my smashbox and the other with lanacane gel.

[CalamityKate]

OK well I've just phoned my local Boots and they've got that No7 Primer in stock, and I've got a £5 voucher burning a hole in my pocket, so I'm off to buy some!

[Walnut8]

interesting info thanks willybreeder and everyone else!
I have dry skin but prone to spots and am sick of makeup sliding off halfway through the day. I've been told that primer should be the answer to my problems but so far have not found one that has worked for me. Have tried the Lanacane and GOSH stuff (both greasy and horrid and did nothing), was told smashbox was almost identical to lanacane so am avoiding that, & the mineral Laura Mercier one was a huge waste of money. The clarins beauty flash balm is great but i can't wear it for more than one day in a row or I get dry patches. What is the L'oreal SS one like? Is it any good for spot prone, combo skin?

[bigkidsdidit]

I've just bought Smashbox from amazon :) can't wait!

[Sparklingbrook]

Right, I have used my £5 voucher and got the No7 Airbrush one. The tube is worryingly small. I will try it tomorrow.

[CalamityKate]

OK, got it.

Results on the back of my hand are encouraging.

Right, so do I:

Wait until its dry before applying foundation

or

Apply foundation when there's still a bit of "slip" to the primer?

[Sparklingbrook]

I have no idea Kate sorry, I am still staring at the smallness of the tube.

[TimeForMeAndDD]

I've been reading about Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel as a primer. The active ingredient in both primers and anti chafing gels is dimethicone, which is the silicone that fills pores and fine lines and prevents foundation from sinking into the skin. Apparently the Monistat gives Smashbox photo finish a run for it's money but is a darned sight cheaper so I've ordered some.

Unfortunately, Sudocrem doesn't contain any of the active ingredients so I can't see that it would be as effective.

[BettyBathroom]

Ok so I put the lanacane on my face this morning. Make up went on with ease - it didn't feel any different to the Base Minerals primer I normally use. Reading all these posts my expectations have now been raised and I want a primer that does a great job at masking the large pores around my nose ,so I have ordered the Loreal Secrets Resurfacing primer in the hope that it does the trick!

I think the Lanacane is a fantastic budget alternative.

[pluckingupcourage]

Yes TimeForMe - Monistat is the US equivalent of the Lanacane anti-chafing gel. I can't link now but on MakeUpAlley both Lanacane and Monistat have interesting reviews.

BettyBathroom - thanks for experimenting, I am very interested to see what will happen when my Lanacane gel arrives ....

[TimeForMeAndDD]

I decided to go for the Monistat because it contains vitamin E and is a bigger tube! I do hope it is as good as Smashbox. I've always wanted to try it but thought it too expensive.