Primers seem like the Emperors new clothes to me

[ClareBaldingsHair]

I have tried Laura mercier, Clarins beauty flash balm, benefit porefessional and none of them seem to DO anything!!! Well the porefessional does for a few minutes but it's really not worth the effort

I thought they might make me look glowing or dewy or less pore-y or less wrinkly but I honestly can see no difference. I tried Clarins beauty flash balm on only half my face and can still see no difference! Am I doing something wrong or are these products just not for me? I'm loathed to try others and end up spending more on products that do no visible good.

(I am 40 with oily, acne prone, pitted pore skin, and use ELDW foundation applied by hand with some Clinique dramatically different gel to loosen it a little)

I use Smashbox photofinish primer, and it gives me a matt base on which to apply my foundation (Smashbox Liquid Halo),which goes on a lot more smoothly.

I wouldn't consider Clarins beauty flash balm to be a primer - it's meant to improve the appearance of your complexion by sort of firming it. I used to use it a lot, but I don't think it makes a lot of difference. You do have to apply it carefully - not rubbing it in, more like applying it lightly and it drying or setting on your skin.

I think your primer should help you look a little less wrinkly as your foundation shouldn't collect in the wrinkles. Are you happy with the coverage your foundation gives you?

(I am 50, with dry skin, wrinkling nicely on my forehead, and neck).

I use armani primer on the rare occasion I have to put on heavy foundation. Gives a much smother finish and doesn't flake.

Another Smashbox fan here - it basically provides a base for your base, giving it something to "stick to", and should give longevity. I also wouldn't class BFB as a primer, it's a brightening product, and as far as I'm aware the Benefit one's supposed to act as a sort of "polyfilla" for your pores as opposed to a primer proper. Without primer my makeup tends to fade as the day goes on, and my skin gets oilier - with the primer it's still good 12 hours after application.

I agree on the whole that primers don't really do much. I do use a little sample size of the porefessional to fill in the pores on my nose/t-zone (and it does work very effectively and last for a few hours). However, I'm not sure i'd go out and spend the full price buying a proper tube when this runs out (although I'm also not all that bothered about pores - I've got bigger, acne-shaped fish to fry!)

I dont rate the Clarins beauty flash balm - I've got a couple of sample sizes - I currently use them on my 'décolletage' because I think they made me break out on my face, and they make the skin kind of shiny.

Haven't tried any others, but i agree that primers really seem like another great opportunity for the beauty industry to try and get us to fork out more money!

Best primer I've ever used? Loose face powder.

Dust it on before foundation. It's brilliant.

I love my Laura Mercier primer. Makes my skin look lovely and dewy and foundation last longer (34, oily skin, large pores). However, it took me a while to find the right one.

Space NK are great for recommending the right products. I trust their advisors implicitly.

I've never used a primer. Had it used on me by SA/MA.

Can't say I wouldn't rule out using it.

Apparently this www.boots.com/en/Lanacane-Anti-Chafing-Gel-30g_51067/ is amazing as a primer!

Lanacane used sparingly or the W7 prime magic are dupes for the Smashbox which I used to love. Prefer the W7 slightly more.

You put foundation on top of primer - it doesn't do anthing on its own

i use a shu uemura base and it does stop make up dripping off in the summer and makes a more even colour for base. it's the beige mousse one, make up lasts for ever with it.

used to like smashbox but it's a little thick on me after using the other one. think it's great in summer

I use Elemis flash balm (pricey) I find it makes a big difference to my pores.

Without it my foundation sinks into them and my pores become more noticeable which in turn makes me look like I'm wearing foundation.

With it my pores disappear under foundation. My skin looks great and because I have finally found the perfect shade of foundation I don't look like I'm wearing any. I just look like I have good skin.

Pre Elemis I had a Rimmel one that worked ok but not as much. Maybe you just have good skin OP so you don't get a noticeable difference.

Thanks all. My skin is definitely not good Pumpkinette! I would love my pores to disappear, that is the sort of magic I am hoping for! Do elemis have a counter? I'll ask for a sample if so.

My foundation goes on and stays on well so I don't feel I need a base for it, I just want smoother looking skin. Will the lanacane do that or does it just make a good base? I don't mind a punt on it as its cheap

And yes I know I'm lumping together filler, primer and illuminator, I'm just cross with them all! I dont want to spend time putting these things on unless they really earn their keep. I mean imagine if you had serum, moisturiser, spf, primer, illuminator, filler AND foundation. 7 things!!

I have hugh pores on my nose and use loreal studio secrets its like pollyfiller for the holes, really makes them disappear.

I found using Smashbox primer made a massive difference as to how long my winter foundation lasts - basically looks as even and good in the afternoon as it did when I applied in the morning. I don't use it in the summer with a lighter base.

Hourglass Veil primer is meant to be very good although pricey! Haven't tried it myself but have heard good things!

I love Sephora primer, it's basically just silicone - makes foundation more slippy and covering. And good for defrizzing hair too.

I've used clarins bfb on and off for years and like you I can't tell that there is much difference when I've used that or another primer or not.

However whenever I do use it one of my colleagues says "you've got bfb on haven't you?" She's always right.

I bought the lanacane anti chaff wotsit and it does NOTHING, other than matt the skin by about 1%.

I agree with you op and I would add to that list: bb cream, cc cream, exfoliating toner, acid toner, alkahiline toner and serum.

I think companies have realised they can't keep putting up their prices for moisturiser and foundation as there's a limit to what most of us will pay, so instead they're inventing new products to fleece us.

Floisme - I basically agree with you that the beauty industry has been rubbing its hands gleefully while it invents a whole host of new products we never knew we needed... BB and CC creams being the prime examples.

That said, it does seem from reading people's comments on here (and to a certain extent from my own experiences) that every now and then you do stumble across one of these products that for whatever reason does actually serve a purpose and make a difference... So I guess trying things out does no harm!

For me personally I do find primers an unnecessary extra - apart from the Porefessional which I mentioned above and which I use only on my t-zone. I also rarely use a full face of foundation but it sounds like lots of people using primers are finding great results when it's used under their foundation...

The only kind of primers that work for me are the non-silicone ones, and they don't fill holes they just make me look better (more awake). Hard to find though, my favourite is Korres but they discontinued it, boo. Silicone ones make me break out baaaadly.

SoMuchForSubtlety silicone ones break me out really badly too, had to learn the hard way that silicone was the culprit as its in so many primers. I haven't found the perfect one yet either, if it exists..

Lanacane. Brilliant.

I use Bourjois 'Happy Light' primer and really like it. It's a siliconey one and also gives a lovely glow under my foundation, makes me look much healthier and awake, and has a real impact on foundation settling into fine lines too.

I use it OR sunscreen though, can't be doing with a million products under my foundation. I'm a serum cynic, think that's just a total con.