The Primer Challenge

SO, while flipping back and forth between Bare Minerals and Youngblood foundations, I recently noticed that my powder coverage was on the move.  I’ve had a lot of success with mineral powder foundations and for the longest time, I loved the Bare Minerals, and was recently introduced to the Youngblood as a compact to carry while I was on the go.  I felt like my foundation needed touching up while I was out – after a few hours of wear, I was dusty dry across my cheeks, creased around my eyes, and shiny on my forehead.  Really, I think foundation should stay where you put it.  That’s why it’s called foundation, right?

So I went to the streets to find out why my coverage was slipping and the resounding answer was primer.  What is this magic sauce that keeps my powder on my face?  Is it necessary? Word on the street is yes – primer is necessary to keeping that powder right where you want it.  I know this is true for eyeshadow primer!

So I tried some.  I got a tester of the Smashbox Photo Finish and a little sample of MAC’s Prep and Prime.  I was also recommended the Bare Escentuals Prime Time and Clear Prep FX, however I didn’t see any samples of those little goodies so I’m testing Smashbox against MAC.

(Via Amazon – $36 for 1oz.)

VERSUS

MAC Prep ‘n’ Prime
(Via MAC – $23 for 1 oz.)

I tried the Mac first, because the container wasn’t airtight.  The Rep for MAC said to use just a dab, because if you use too much you’ll pick up a lot of powder, apparently.  I smoothed a little dab of this gunk over my face and noticed that after doing so, I had a matte even look.  My face was also… sort of shiny sparkly.  Interesting!

I waited a moment and then went for the Bare Minerals powder which at first, didn’t seem like it was going on at all, but after doing half my face I realized that it had gone on smoother and lighter than normal.  I didn’t have huge dusty patches.  I didn’t have powder clinging around my nose ring.  My complexion in the mirror looked amazing.

3 hours in, I noticed creasing around my smile lines and my eyes.  Crap.  I patted it down a little bit and it evened out, but I noticed that some of the smooth finish was gone.  It didn’t look nearly as matte and perfect as it did when I’d left the house.

Drat!

So I tried Smashbox’s Photo Finish.  When I first put it on and applied powder I noticed that I wasn’t NEARLY as powdery looking as with the MAC.  I heard that if you used too much of the Prep and Prime, you could come out cakey – and I was having that same problem with MAC every time I tried it; but on first application, the Smashbox looked great.

I still noticed creasing in my smile lines about 5 hours in (I must be a super smile-y person – not a bad thing) but it was hardly noticeable compared to the MAC primer.  Not only that, but when I blotted, less of my foundation came off and it still looked great.  Even my eye make up seemed to be staying put.

So currently it’s Smashbox – 1; MAC – 0.  I’m sold on the Photo Finish!  It is a little more expensive, but a little dot (less than pea-sized) is more than enough since my skin is combo and the MAC didn’t last through lunch.

Have you jumped on the primer bandwagon? What do you use? Recommendations??