Face help please

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I had a thread a while back, asking for product recs for something to put on under foundation, so maybe a primer or something.

On the back of that, I bought a sample size pot of Benefit's Porefessional, which I like a lot. However, is there something else I should try before I commit to splashing out on the Porefessional? The cost of the Benefit one (about £20?) is the absolute maximum I could spend.

I think it depends what you want it to do. I find porefessional good at providing a smooth silky matte base for putting foundation on top of, or smoothing out the skin enough that I don't need to bother with foundation. Plus it seems to make my nose/t-zone less oily so make up stays on better.

However, I find it can be very flat and it offers no illumination to my skin so I use an illuminating primer/highlighter on my cheeks as well with it. Though if you're not into 'illumination' or use an illuminating foundation this shouldn't be a problem.

I also use Estée Lauder illuminating primer. They also do a matte version which I haven't tried. EL are quite good at giving samples so I'm sure they'd let you try both.

I want both matteness & Illumination on my skin but as a best all rounder, I think I prefer porefessional. It's the best overall primer I've used.

Have also tried Chanel and Smashbox primers - neither of which I'd bother to use again.

Boots No 7 primers are meant to me good, especially the airbrush one, though I haven't tried any yet.

Thank you. I've got both Highbeam and a Clinique highlighter thingie, so that isn't a problem.

I just want something to smooth me out a bit and to keep my foundation on better.

Will go and have a mooch at Estee L btw. I tend not to like No 7 stuff much - it's too highly fragranced for me, amongst other things.

If you've got highlighters and it's smoothing out that you want with a good base to keep your make-up on then porefessional is the best one that I've come across so far that does this.

Cheers. :)

Back again - has anybody tried that new Garnier Blur thing?