Primer Pragmatics: Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

It's always a bit difficult to review a cult classic without hurting anyone's feelings, you know? In case you've never heard this story, Laura Mercier released her original Foundation Primer in 1995 as an industry's first, and has since added four more varieties to the range: the Mineral, Radiance, Hydrating and Oil-Free primers. If you're further interested in the story of how this product came about and Laura Mercier as a person, there's a really good interview with her on Into The Gloss that you can read here (click!).

Anyway, my second review in the Primer Pragmatics series is going to focus on the original version of her Foundation Primer ($32 for 1.75 oz.). The Foundation Primer is a vitamin-infused, water-based product that is supposed to create smooth canvas for base application while shielding the skin from the elements. If like me, your adventure with make-up primers started with the likes of Smashbox Photo Finish, you'd be very much surprised by the texture and feel of the Laura Mercier primer. As far as I can tell, there are absolutely no silicones in the formula; instead, it feels like a lightweight, watery gel on the skin without the siliconey slip that I was very much expecting to experience. It's a good thing though - Smashbox never worked for me, making me a shiny mess in a matter of two hours, and my skin felt like it might suffocate any minute.

I find that due to the thin consistency, I only need a very small amount to cover my entire face. The primer sinks in fairly quickly, leaving a soft satin finish behind; not completely dry/matte like the Murad Skin Perfecting Primer Matte Finish discussed previously but not dewy either, just very skin-like. Although it's not silicone-based, it still somehow manages to fill in and conceal any textural issues on the skin, like dry patches, enlarged pores, fine lines thus providing a blank canvas for the foundation.

In terms of prolonging the actual wear of the foundation, I find that it gives me an extra two to three hours of shine-free skin but it's not the most mattifying product under the sun, nor it is meant to be. It also seems to stop the foundation from breaking down on my more dehydrated areas. I really enjoy wearing it under lighter coverage, more dewy foundations (like Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum) as I find the finish smoother and more long-lasting. If you'd like to see how it works on my skin, I've used it in my last Valentine's Day post.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised by the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, so much so that I would really like to try the Oil-Free version now, especially that it's also supposed to relieve surface dehydration around active breakouts while matiffying the skin at the same time. Have you tried any of the Laura Mercier primers? Which one is your favorite?