Best Face Primer?

I also would like to find a good primer. I've only tried MAC Matte and Smashbox Photo Finish Correcting Primer, neither of which have kept the oiliness at bay. What ones have you tried?

Hourglass has a good primer. 

My favorite HG primer for everyday is Arbonne's Makeup Primer!  It works great with my skin and makes my makeup look flawless and last SOOOO long.  PM me if you want details, as you have to order through a consultant.  It isn't available in stores.

 

When I do my stage makeup for work, lately I have been using Benefit's the POREfessional.  It makes my face VERY matte and controls the oil, but I haven't tried it for everyday since it seems a little drying on my normal/combination skin.  But, if you have super oily skin, that may be exactly what you're looking for!  So definitely give it a try.  http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/the-porefessional

Or you can order from their website.

I've actually tried Arbonne's primer (an acquaintance who is also a consultant tried it on me). I like the feel of it. Didn't get to use it long-term, though.

Personally, my two favourites are Laura Mercier's oil-free primer and Smashbox Photofinish Light. That said, I think if you want to really keep the oilies at bay, you may want to look into a mattifying moisturizer.

I never got the hype and wasn't convinced either, until I tried Smashbox photo finish light. It really smooths me out and keeps down the shine on my nose once powdered.

You can't order from Arbonne's website unless you are registered as a client.  That is done through Arbonne Consultants.  I would be happy to pass on the info if anyone wanted to try the Arbonne Primer.  I personally use it everyday and think it's great! 

I also have had wonderful results with Benefit's POREfessional primer, I just think it's a little drying on me for everyday use.  But definitely great for Summer and when I'm on stage.  It holds up great against heat and oily/sweaty skin!  My skin runs normal/combination.  If someone has naturally oily skin, the Benefit primer would probably work perfectly.  I can't judge the Arbonne Primer on oily skin, since I don't have that skin type.  But lots of people use it and love it.  It's their #1 Seller.

Edited by PixieDancer - 7/7/12 at 4:36pm

I love MUFE HD primer. I've tried the white and green one. That works well also MAC prep & prime brightening serum 

I find that gel base primers just make my foundation slide off my face by the end of the day.  I'm a big fan of make up for ever hd primer and hourglass's mineral veil primer.  I also like lancome's visionnaire as a primer but it is so dang expensive!  

Edited by Busttamuv3 - 7/14/12 at 3:25pm

MUFE HD primer is silicone-based (second ingredient is dimethicone). So is Hourglass Mineral Veil (first ingredient is cyclopentasiloxane). So I find it odd that you don't like silicone-based primers; yet your two favourites are silicone-based.

I've found a primer that works at the moment are,illamasqua matt primer and Smashbox Light . I have an oily T zone :)

I am a primer lover. They help make my makeup last by keeping my oil production down (nothing can stop it), and to smooth out imperfections and disguise my giant pores. IMO MAC Matte cream is more of a quick fix for photo shoots and not something that will hold up for everyday use. My faves for oil control MAC Face Protect SPF 50, Smashbox Photofinish Light, Peter Thomas Roth Anti Shine Gel (use in T-Zone only). Urban Decay's De-Slick in a Tube works ok as well however its not a fav because I find that I need to apply a more slippery primer over it otherwise a smooth foundation application can be difficult. I have also heard great things about Dr. Brandt's Pores No More. I visit Sephora occasionally to get primer samples to test before I buy.
 

I completely adore the Korres Face Primer.  I previously tried MAC Prep+Prime, Smashbox Photo Finish (various formulas), Benefit The POREfessional.......the Korres primer tops all of them in my book!  I have combination/oily skin and it truly keeps my makeup looking fabulous all day (no touch-ups).  The formula does not contain silicone and I think it really sets it apart.  It's also very lightweight, absorbs quickly, and has a very faint fragrance.

I bought Lancome's La Base Pro on a whim - it's your basic run-of-the-mill silicone based primer - and I've used it quite a lot with good results. Once it runs out I might try Smashbox or MUFE.

Cover X primer

ive been using the Urban Decay skin brightning primer.... so far so good!!

Laura Mercier norman foundation primer. I have dry skin and it really works well

I am really liking the Smashbox Photofinish with Dermoxy complex (its the pink one).  It goes on colorless.  It has the advantage of SB Photofinish in that it helps smooth out pores and help make up last but it has the added benefit of SPF.  You have to let it set & not use too much or it slips too much, but it is the best primer with SPF so far I have tried.  That being said, I have not tried the new MAC BB Cream, I am hoping it can replace SB as my HG since it has better SPF/coverage.

 

I like the Boscia primer too almost as much as SB, and it is much less expensive price per ounce, but it has no SPF.  This is an issue for me as the primer goes between my moisturizer and before my foundation unless I can skip one of those and I don't want any "dilution" of my SPF either way.

I received a sample of Benefit's Porefessional and it works wonders! My face is oily year round and even more oilier during the summer months.  I use Porefessional and Urban Decay's De-Slick mist together and my face stays matte longer (I have to blot less) and my make-up stays in place.

Mary Kay has an awesome Foundation Primer with SPF 15 to protect against UVA/UVB rays. Helps diminish appearance of pores and keeps makeup fresh all day. I'm down in sunny FL and use it faithfully. PM me if you'd like a sample and i'll mail It out to you.

Think Pink

I currently use the Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer.  It helps keeps oil at bay and it reduces the size of pores.  Absolutely love it!

Nurturing Force Blot Out primer. The name is actually a lot longer than that :-) Best primer for oil control ever. It's a moisturizer & primer in one for oily skin that's silicone free, fragrance free, can be used with or without makeup, under foundation and/or on top of foundation, and mattifies on contact. I can't stress enough how spectacular this product is. I'm especially loving it this summer. It's about $25 for half an ounce & lasts forever. A little bit truly goes a long way. I had never heard of it up until a few months ago. I found a blog post made by a professional makeup artist who claimed it was the best ever, which got me hunting it down. I then found another post from a different makeup artist who said it was terrible, but as I discovered she just didn't know how to use it properly, or to the product's best advantage. I'm thinking maybe it was a person with not as much experience as some other MUAs.

I just posted about it here >> http://www.specktra.net/t/175758/oil-controlling-products-made-without-silicone-dimethicone << a few minutes ago. It's a very long post but I wanted to provide as much detail as possible. Best primer I have ever tried in my life, and is actually quite versatile. It can even be used to keep eyeshadow from creasing on ultra oily lids. I've tried a lot of primers. A LOT. Unfortunately, cosmetics companies here in North America have all jumped on the silicone bandwagon. I hate the stuff. Not only does it cause my makeup to slide around my face, it does jack for oil control & makes my skin break out. It took me a very long time - about 3 1/2 years - to find a silicone free primer & foundations which work like a dream on my skin & don't cause breakouts or nasty clogged pores leading to blackheads. It immediately sinks into the skin & disappears, creating a great base for any type of foundation to grab on to. I'm stocking up on this stuff & keeping extras stored in a zip lock bag in my fridge. I'll cry like a baby if they ever stop making it. I'm hoping that it becomes very much in demand so that it never disappears.

I've been using Smashbox Photo Finish for awhile now and I'm not too happy with it anymore.. I have very oily skin in my T-Zone, and it helps control that great, however it does not help with getting my foundation to LAST.

I'm nearing the end of my tube, so I will be making the trip to Sephora this week to try out some of the recs on this page 

 

Anyone have suggestions on primer's they have used that have made their foundation last long?

I have somewhat sensitive skin, but I use a variety of primers. From Lancome La Base, CoverFX, to ELF Mineral Primer. I triedthe Loreal one inthe jar, Magic Perfecting Base, and I got tiny red bumps all over. I thought I was gonna die.
Obviously, everyone's skin is different, but out of about 7 primers I currently have, this is the only one that did this.w
Maybe it was too much sun and saltwater, but I really think it was the primer.
My favorite is my elf to be honest. I use my others because they were so expensive and I don't want to waste.

I'll have to try this...I have a serious problem with both!

i use MAC's matte gel! been using it since december and I haven't noticed any breakouts from it. it also improves the longevity of my foundation and keeps my oil slick in check

MAC Matte or MAC prep+prime powder (it's a powder primer/setting powder in one.).

I've tried the hourglass on.  Put my makeup on at 10pm to go out, danced all night, sweated my butt off, and my make up looked the same when I came in at 6am.  It just broke me out so I had to stop using it.  I need to stay away from silicones...