Anyway, my first encounter was with The Balm Face Primer which I do not buy because I could not afford a 30ml tube that cost RM99. Siao ah!! How many month can I only use? I intend to use everyday one! I want to look nice everyday lor, not just on few occasions. Enough rambling. Oh, my first face primer was Elite Paris Fantastic Face Primer (I want to write a review on this gem but I lost the photo due to memory card faulty) which I bought at Watsons.
So, what basically a face primer?
They said:
1) It helps your make - up to last longer
2) Even out your skin color (I am not sure where I get this fact, been reading too much beauty blogs these days)
3) Makes your pores invincible
4) Makes your face look super matte (hmmm..)
Thats what they say lar. But, it is true depending on your "environment" lar. If you are always outside, of course it's going to be ruined a bit la. Cannot la stay 8 hours, me think lar.
Now, I want you to meet, my second face primer (first bottle, not the first face primer ever bought)...
Tada!!! Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Recover Primer.
I found this on SALE when I was cuci-ing mata at SaSa Plaza Merdeka. 50% off. Of course must buy one!! Actually I was browsing at the same outlet a month before. Gago-ing testing that The Balm Face Primer and the sales associate introduce me to this primer.
"This one is better than Time Balm, because The Balm is solely for cosmetic usage. This helps to ubat your face".
And it's RM10 cheaper.
*makes mental calculation and decide not to buy since I have my Elite Paris Fantastic Face Primer at that time*
So I quickly bid my goodbye and went home.
Fate or not, I soon found it on SALE. So, begins my journey of using this primer that sales associate raved so much about.
Let's meet the bottle and the box, shall we :)
Claims : Preservative - free Pore Primer, High Adhesiveness and Long Lasting.
Preservative - no add, pigment - no add, alcohol - add and oil - no add pore primer makes skin surface moist and increase adhesiveness when applied with the help of Hydraulic Acid. The ingredient Art Skin Film naturally covers fine wrinkles and spread evenly over skin, covering pores naturally. Sebum control leaves matte finish preventing oiliness in T-Zone and nose area maintaining a long lasting make up.
Directions : Apply a small amount evenly before using make up
Ingredients : Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Dimenthicone, Glycerin Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fomes Officinalls (Mushroom) Extract, Sodium Acrylate / Sodium Acryloyldimethyl, Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Citrus, Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus, Aurantinum Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil.
Content : 30ml
Moving on! The bottle. It comes with a pump. So, the application is clean. Super like it since I can control how much I want to use (which I end up using 2 pumps per usage, so not economical for me because my face is the size of a plate, the big plate, not small one).
Oh, before we move on to the texture, here's the back of the bottle. Just in case you are wondering...
Basically its a repetition from the box. If you are the kind of throwing the box once you open it, so it's necessary to have it on the bottle itself. To remind you of the ingredients and directions? Beats me!
TEXTURE
No apology for my "old" hand. The texture is GEL based, which is good for someone with oily skin (this my opinion only hor, do don't marah me ah). It spreads nicely and evenly.
SMELLS
As you can read for yourself, the ingredients are over populated with "lime", "lemon", "citrus" so the smells kinda lingers on you once you applied it to your face. But it's not overpowering so, I am OK with it. Not COOL, but OK as in bearable.
This is how my hand looks when the gel is applied and spread evenly to the back of my hand. Suddenly the back of my hand look fairer. Like magic!!! The gel has dissolve onto my skin. Smells like lemon now. Hehehe
Lastly, the end result! I usually apply the primer after I dab my trusty Oriyen Pearl Cream onto my super besar face. After that, I will slap a pinch (yes, a pinch) of ZA BB Cream and conceal whatever I want to conceal with my favorite Can Make Concealer 03 (another review for another day). But for the purpose of this post, I just apply a two-way cake from ZA (no.23).
See, how matte is the back of my hand.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS FACE PRIMER
Well, honestly this is not my go to primer if I want a lasting finish. Yes, it does work in a "cooler" environment (say, you are staying in the office and only go out for lunch). Sometimes, there's a patch on my face and nose, even worst if I am using a concealer. But, it works wonder without the BB Cream and concealer. So, I am using it sans BB Cream and concealer if I want my face to look matte and "au naturale".
It does stays up to 8 hours. Yes, it is that good! I kid you not!
As for the "no oiliness" claim. I am proud to say, yes live up to the claim provided the weather is "gloomy". For now, I am only using this if I know I am only staying in the office and not handling things outside. If I were to do my work, outside, I'll just use another primer (way cheaper than this, retail price, not SALE price) that, I will review, which I don't know when. Erkkss.
Since I love applying concealer way too much, I have skipped and stop using this primer on a daily basis. But this is still a worthy buy, to me at least and I am going to use it til the last pump. *so determined*
WHAT I HATE ABOUT THIS FACE PRIMER
Patchy face. Sometimes my face looks "dark" for no reason. It does not happen with other primer yet. Or maybe my skin is "aging" at that time and coincidentally I am using the primer? Hmm...*wonders*
WILL I REPURCHASE
No. Why you asked? The retail price is RM89.90. I am just lucky to buy this at 50% discount.
But, if any of you are interested to buy this gem, just drop by at SaSa tHe Spring or Plaza Merdeka.
