iBeautyTips

Banila Co Prime Primer Matte

Missha M BB Boomer

I’m currently on the lookout for moisturizing primer. Ever since I’m switching to so called non-greasy sunscreen, blending makeup have been a horrible experience. Not that makeup won’t blend, I just think the finish of my Clarins UV SPF40 feels too dry on my cheeks so a lot of pulling have to be involved

So I’m searching for something that can make my skin satin smooth for foundation/TM/BB cream application without creating extra oil or shine. Then I accidentally stumbled across this product while searching for a BRTC toner.

BRTC Wrinkle Smoother Balm

No info on this product on the net though, except from its official website If I’m not wrong, BRTC states that this product is to be used before BB creams, it’s supposed to diminish wrinkles and pores. You know I love me some BRTC I’m absolutely crazy for their BB Cream now. I haven’t updated, but apart from BRTC Perfect Soothing BB cream that I’ve reviewed here, I have BRTC Protect Multiplex BB,  BRTC Jasmin Water BB, and samples of BRTC Gold Caviar BB, BRTC Perfect Recover BB at my hands.I’m definitely loving what I’ve tried.

Should I try this product? It claims to contain some yummy ingredients like Vitamin E (antioxidant), Bisabolol (anti irritant), and Adenosine. It’s expensive though. KRW45,000 for the miniscule 15gram amount.

Shiseido Sheer Enhancer Base in Opalescent White

From Sephora:
This versatile, sheer fluid control base gives skin a brilliant inner glow and a natural yet intense effect. Naturally defines contours as it minimizes dullness for a flawless complexion. 3-D Powder and Full Saturated Color Powder give skin brilliance and dimension. SPF 15 protects skin from damaging UV-rays.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/dry skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

My Skin Tone:
Some said I have very fair, Casper-ish complexion. Frankly speaking, that’s what you see in my FOTDs, but I personally think I look (much) darker in person than in those photos. Still, yes, I’m quite fair.

Bottomline: my skintone range is lighter than MAC NC/NW15 to NC/NW20.

I have neutral cool undertone.

Packaging:
See through glass bottle with blackened purple plastic, the signature color of Shiseido The Makeup. I have to say the packaging is not practical in the least. The opening of the bottle is not exactly big, and the texture of the product is not exactly runny. It’s pretty fine when the bottle is still new, but towards the end, I imagine you’ll have a bit of difficulty getting the last drop out.

I store mine upside down. So much for elegance

Color Selection:
2 colors available: Opalescent White for a lustrous, refined, sophisticated look. Golden Bronze for a warm, sun-kissed glow.

Mine is the Opalescent White.

Texture:
Lotion, but not runny. Not thick either though. For me, it doesn’t have enough slip.

Texture seems to be similar to Paul & Joe Moisturizing Primer, maybe with less slip.

Coverage:
It’s a base, so it’s not supposed to give plenty coverage. But since it’s brightening, I think it will help enhancing some dullness or brown spots.

Blendability:
For me, poor. I hate the texture since it doesn’t have much slip. I’m confused as of why some ladies in MUA think this is easily blendable. I guess they have oilier skin than mine? This kind of texture is easy to be spread on my T-zone, but it will have problem on my cheeks: pores, fine hairs….it’s a bit hard to spread this product evenly.

Finish:
Radiant, but not over the top at all. Gives right amount of glow to make a difference under foundation.

Oil Control:
I don’t know how this performs on very oily skin, but I know it’s slightly drying on dry areas. Works well on my slightly oily T-zone though. It’s okay for normal skins too.

My General Review:
This is one of the base that I’ve tried, during my younger days….when I strive to find a perfect primer

So, is this perfect brightening primer? Frustratingly no. But it wonderfully fulfills most of it’s promises, making it more frustrating to have to let go of this primer

First, let’s review the pros. It claims to give brilliance. Radiance. Inner glow. It did just that! Wearing this under foundation gives a difference. It’s subtle enough to be wear all over the face, but it’s prominent enough so that even my boyfriend commented on my how good complexion is when I wore this base. It’s healthy radiance, not oily kind of glow. Really pretty.

I love to wear powder foundation on top of this; mostly MAC Studio Perfect SPF15/PA+. MAC Studio Perfect is quite creamy for a powder, so it glides well, and I don’t have to set it with powder. Quick, easy, and pretty.

SPF15 is a welcome addition too. It won’t provide enough protection by its own, since you will only apply very small amount (while sunscreen needs to be applied in glob), but at least applying makeup with sunscreen prevents the sunscreen underneath from being diluted. I’ve also taken photos of me with this base, and it doesn’t give white cast.

Now to the ugly part. Texture, texture, texture. Sigh.

First, it will balls up if you use a lot. Since base makeup is not supposed to be used thickly, I won’t blame Shiseido for this.

Secondly, it doesn’t spread as easily as I would like. Fine, so I can use tools like Foundation Brush or makeup sponges. But honesly, it makes me a little lazy to apply this daily.

Thirdly, this is the killer. I don’t understand why there are no other ladies that complain about this: this base just wouldn’t absorb. I give it a couple of minutes, and it just sit there. If I try to apply foundation afterwards, the base would be shifted, giving cakey, messy look.

The only way to use this is to let the base stay on my face long enough (like an hour), until my natural oil blend it into my skin. It worked when I was a college student, when I can just whip out powder compact at school and start powdering my face, nothing else on top. But no way it will work now…What about my eyeshadows, blush, brow powder, that has to go after powder?

So in the end I swapped this away, even though I really like the end result. Judging from my experience, is this base made for oilier skin? Maybe. If you can get a sample, try this. It is wonderful, if it works for you.

Price:
I don’t remember the exact price. It’s around IDR300,000 though. Sephora retails this at USD32.

Availability:
Easily accessible in department stores that carry Shiseido The Makeup line, like SOGO, Metro or Debenhams.

Ingredients:
I’ve thrown the box away, so I can’t type it right now. Find none in Google too. If you can help me, I’ll be happy

Anyway, if I remember it right…I think it uses Titanium Dioxide as the UV filter.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. Everything about it is *love*, other than the texture/blendability. Ultimately, I can’t use this though But it may work for you, since the rating in MUA is also rather high.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Shu Uemura UV Underbase DF SPF17/PA++

From www.shuuemura-usa.com:
A weightless mousse makeup base that helps to even out skintone and texture, reduce redness and minimize the appearance of pores. Use before makeup application to prepare the face for flawless makeup.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/dry skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

My Skin Tone:
Some said I have very fair, Casper-ish complexion. Frankly speaking, that’s what you see in my FOTDs, but I personally think I look (much) darker in person than in those photos. Still, yes, I’m quite fair.

Bottomline: my skintone range is lighter than MAC NC/NW15 to NC/NW20.

I have neutral cool undertone.

Packaging:
Standard to a mousse product, it’s a metal pump bottle.

Color Selection:
I bought this years ago, and at the time it’s only available in Beige. I see that currently you can choose between Pink and Beige?

Texture:
Light mousse that turns into liquid in contact with skin.

Coverage:
It’s a base, so it’s not supposed to give a lot of coverage. This base evens out skintone, so you can wear it alone. Not by much though.

If you combine it with foundation on top, it will enhance the coverage of the foundation.

Blendability:
Being mousse, it’s very lightweight and easily blendable. It’s better to apply it with fingers though. Sponge will soak a lot of product.

You can apply this with fingers, wait until it’s absorbed, and if you want, do a once-over with a sponge to ensure smooth finish. But fingers alone work well.

Finish:
Semi-matte.

Oil Control:
When my skin is more to combo, I tested this outdoor on my tropical weather; it was very humid and this didn’t control oil well. I think this product is moisturizing. But! Makeup stays. The oil seeps through but didn’t make the makeup slide or oxidize. In fact the oil blends well with the makeup, resulting in very glowy, neat, polished look.

Of course, I can use this when my skin is on the drier side too.

My General Review:
I think Shu was the first to introduce mousse makeup, this base was created long time ago LOL.

I bought this  after a makeover at Shu Uemura Plaza Senayan. The MA uses this base, followed by Water Perfect Water-In Fluid Foundation, and set with Velvet Perfect Adjusting Powdery Foundation. At that time my skin is combination, and these products make my skin oilier faster. Maybe because both this base and the Water Perfect Fluid is moisturizing. But like I said above, makeup didn’t slide even when my skin is already oily.

But to my disappointment, it doesn’t work as well with my other foundations. Expect no smoothening action with this base. No super smooth, slick surface for foundation to glide on. No pore minimizing stunt either.

What it does is even out my skin tone slightly. Sheerer than tinted moisturizer though. If you top it with foundation, it visibly improves the coverage of the foundation. Makeup stays fresh longer too, as it minimizes oxidation. All without you feeling it, since the this mousse product is really light.

Mine is beige, but it sinks to my skin as if it’s transparent.

The problem is, upon application, the mousse will turn liquid. While this aids in application (as it’s easy to blend with fingers), it has the potential to dilute your sunscreen’s protection. Anything put on top of sunscreen has that potential, but cream-to-powder things, for example, has lesser chance.

At least this does contain SPF though, to minimize the dilution problem. American version is only SPF10, but ones sold in Asian has SPF17. Are there any difference in the ingredient list? I don’t know….since everything is written in Japanese.

Now….when your tube is new, it will dispense mousse. But toward the end, be prepared. It will squirt liquid. Applies liquid too, of course. So when your tube is new, it’s fairly easy to squirt proper amount of mousse, but toward the end of the bottle, I can’t control it anymore. I always ended up with much too much product on my hands I hope Shu can make better formulation, so I don’t have to waste so much. It’s fairly expensive your know!

Read the application section below to make sure you use your bottle the right way. I see many ladies in MUA complains on the bottle oozes out mousse after application, but it’s not suppose to happen if you follow the method below.

Last thing, it’s ingredients. It does contain Witch Hazel extract, which is a potential irritant. It doesn’t irritate my skin though, maybe because I carefully balance this product with other non-irritating products. Or because it doesn’t contain enough Witch Hazel to irritate the skin.

Application:
1. Shake the bottle.
2. Turn the bottle upside down, and dispense the mousse. Be careful not to squirt too much. Do not dispense the product while the bottle is sitting upright! It’s downright messy.
3. Tap the bottle to a hard surface. This is important, otherwise the mousse will keep on oozing out.

Price:
I don’t remember the retail price exactly, but I believe I bought this at around IDR400,000. It’s sold at USD32 for 60grams.

Availability:
Easily accessible at all Shu Uemura boutiques.

Ingredients:
This is the ingredient list for the American SPF10 version. I can’t guarantee that it’s the same with the Asian SPF17 version.

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 4.9% , Titanium Dioxide 1.9%

Cosmetic Ingredients: Water , Synthetic fluorphlogopite , Sea Water , Calcium Carbonate , Butane , Butylene Glycol , Propane , Isobutane , Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate , Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract , HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer , PEG-10 Dimethicone , Steareth-10 , Cetearyl Alcohol , Caprylyl Glycol , Polysorbate 60 , Polysorbate 20 , Cetyl Alcohol , Methicone , Hydrogenated Egg oil , Propylene Glycol , Tocopheryl Acetate , Pentane , C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphates , Ethane , Hexylene Glycol , Silica , Aluminum Hydroxide , Chlorphenesin , Phenoxyethanol , Methylparaben , Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde , Butylphenyl Methylpropional , Citronellol , Fragrance

May Contain: Iron Oxides.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. It may not making foundation application any easier, but it still have base properties, like keeping the makeup fresher longer.

Ladies with decent skin may even use this on its own. Recommended if you’re looking for lightweight product to even out your skintone.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

MAC Prep+Prime Skin

From www.maccosmetics.com:
An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/dry skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

My Skin Tone:
Some said I have very fair, Casper-ish complexion. Frankly speaking, that’s what you see in my FOTDs, but I personally think I look (much) darker in person than in those photos. Still, yes, I’m quite fair.

Bottomline: my skintone range is lighter than MAC NC/NW15 to NC/NW20.

I have neutral cool undertone.

Packaging:
Opaque black plastic pump. The pump is covered with a matching black plastic cap too. Hygienic, easy to transfer with. The packaging ensures the light and sensitive air ingredients in the product to be intact longer.

Color Selection:
Only transparent color is available. For all skin tones, of course.

Texture:
Silicony cream. It’s not runny, but it’s not thick. Medium in consistency.

Coverage:
It’s transparent, so it doesn’t cover a lot. But I feel it evens out my skin tone a bit, maybe because it gives a bit of soft-focus look, due to the silicones?

Blendability:
Being a slick silicone-based cream, it’s good!

Finish:
Semi-matte. It contains tiny micro shimmers that aid in giving you soft glow-from-within finish.

Oil Control:
I don’t think it tames oil. I get the usual amount of oil when I blot at around noon.

My General Review:
As a primer, this product somewhat disappoints.

First of all, the texture feels very nice on the hands/fingers. Try to test it on the back of your hands, and feel the smoothness. Yet it’s not enough to make foundation glides better than usual. I don’t feel my foundation application is particularly easier/smoother on top of this. FYI, I prefer ultra silicone-y slick finish from a primer (like Pure Luxe Eraser). It doesn’t alter the finish of my foundation either, it doesn’t make them smoother or pores more refined whatsoever.

And there’s the glow, when you apply it. Pretty, like you have healthy skin. No shimmers visible. But underneath foundation, it’s all gone No extra glow! Just your foundation’s usual finish.

It doesn’t excel much in the oil control category, but what worse is it can’t prevent oxidation. Previously, my skin tends to oxidize real badly. And this primer didn’t help. Maybe it’ll be okay now though, since I got the oxidation problem under control in most circumstances now.

Yes, I said ‘now’ because I used this primer some time ago, when I didn’t have the ability to decipher the ingredient list. I took a look at it again a few days back, and my jaw literally drop. My, it’s such a well formulated product it can pass as a moisturizer! A handful of antioxidants, too bad it doesn’t contain cell-communicating ingredients like peptides.

Reading the ingredient list makes me want to give this product another try. Maybe. I’ll report back to you if that ever happen.

What Else You Need To Know:
At that time I may not understand about ingredients, but instinctively I like to mix this with a foundation to create my custom tinted moisturizer. It provides more matte finish compared if you mix a moisturizer and foundation. Also, the primer texture makes it divine to apply.

Application:
I use this after sunscreen, before foundation/TM/bb cream. Or, if I’m mixing it with foundation, I usually just apply it on top of sunscreen, without any primer underneath.

Price:
US for 30ml. Didn’t remember the price in Indonesia, sorry.

Availability:
In Jakarta, you can get it at MAC counters in SOGO department store.

Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Sucrose, Isopentyldiol, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Gellidiela Acerosa (Algae) Extract, Morus Bombycis (Mulberry) Root Extract, Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Myristate, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Saccharide Isomerate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Alumina, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polyethylene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sialyllactose, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol

Prep & Prime Skin may contain:
Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Bismuth Oxychloride

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. I’m a sucker for great ingredient list; they should help make your skin healthier. On the other hand, as far as I concern, it’s not much of a great primer, but I like to mix this with my foundation to create a custom tinted moisturizer.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Skinfood Red Ginseng Firming Base

From The Box:
This makeup base contains Red Ginseng to moisture skin texture. This is very light and fluid with tightening effect that smoothes out wrinkles and tones down signs of tiredness. It has a very natural finish.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/dry skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

My Skin Tone:
Some said I have very fair, Casper-ish complexion. Frankly speaking, that’s what you see in my FOTDs, but I personally think I look (much) darker in person than in those photos. Still, yes, I’m quite fair.

Bottomline: my skintone range is lighter than MAC NC/NW15 to NC/NW20.

I have neutral cool undertone.

Packaging:
Weird plastic bottle with pump. Weird because the pump doesn’t have a pipe! So I stored mine upside down.

Color Selection:
Only 1 color is available, and it’s very, very pale with pink undertone.

Texture:
It’s creamy out of the pump but once it comes in contact with skin it becomes rather fluid.

Coverage:
Totally adjustable. From sheer to medium; you can build it as you like.

Blendability:
No problem. It spreads well, but it dries down quite quickly so beware.

Finish:
Semi-matte. The pink undertone brightens my skin well. It’s has glow, but not overly so at all.

Oil Control/Lasting Power:
It seems to be pretty good on my t-zone. It doesn’t feel oily or heavy. Instead, it seems to bring down a bit of the oilies. A surprising feature, since I was thinking that this product is something marketed toward more mature skin (with its ‘firming’ claims etc).

My General Review:
I bought this just out of curiosity, because Skinfood has pretty packaging and their BB creams are not bad at all on my skin. And this product surpasses my so-so expectation!

At first I used this on its own. It comes out in a liquid-cream consistency, but melts into a liquid when it comes into contact with skin. I can build it up to cover my red post acne marks beautifully. The pink tone brightens my skin, gives me a satin glow too. Plus, it glides on smoothly on top of my pores, making it tighter. Perfect! The only thing is the color match. It’s sooo pale, it can look unnatural even on my fair skin! My younger brother gave me thumbs down on my makeup one day, because it’s unnaturally pale and pink.

So I tried to use it underneath a BB cream. I don’t know why but my mind said that this will pair beautifully with Skinfood Gingko Green BB cream. And yep, it does! It improves the BB cream in every way. It neutralizes the slight yellow tone on Gingko BB. The pore tightening effect also comes intact, making the Gingko BB looks better than ever. Ginseng base also imparts slight glow to the Gingko BB, giving the illusion of healthy skin. Yum. For all that effect, I only need a thin layer of Ginseng base.

Unfortunately, as a base, for me it doesn’t increase ease of BB cream/foundation blendability. On my hands when I tested it, I know that it smooths out my skin to some degree, but I prefer my base/primer to give extremely slippery silicone-y finish, and this one doesn’t.

Oh well, but I’ll accept that because my BB still glides on top of this (albeit not as nice as when I use super silicon-y primers). The end result is still great And I know for fact that some people doesn’t prefer slipper silicone-y finish

What Else You Need To Know:
I don’t know anything about the anti wrinkle and firming claim. I know for a fact though, that wrinkles can’t be cured totally with a topical product. Firming too, no topical ingredient can really firm your skin permanently.

So for me, personally, I’d dismiss those claims.

Application:
This seems to dry pretty fast on your face, so do it one section at a time, and you’ll be fine

Price:
Not too expensive, typical Skinfood product. I believe I got it at around IDR200,000 (~USD20)?

Availability:
It may still be available in local Skinfood stores, but last time I checked it already missing from the Singaporean web. Is it discontinued already?

Ingredients:
No full ingredient list, unfortunately Even if it’s there in the label, I wouldn’t have been able to read it since everything apart from the description is in Korean

I hope it doesn’t contain alcohol and such But I know for sure it contains fragrance though! It smells slightly like herbal.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. Brightens, gives pretty glow, and works very well on my huge pores. But color may be too pale for some people, and I prefer highly silicone-y primers.

BTW if you have uber pale, pink toned skin (like around NW5-10), I believe this will make a great foundation for you

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

MUFE HD Microperfecting Primer

From www.sephora.com:
A lightweight, oil-free complexion corrector that enhances the skin’s texture and primes the skin for makeup application.

HD Microperfecting Primer deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a glowing effect. Creates a protective layer on the skin allowing foundation to glide on easily and last longer.

The Sephora-exclusive primer comes in six color-correcting shades and one transparent shade.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/dry skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

My Skin Tone:
Some said I have very fair, Casper-ish complexion. Frankly speaking, that’s what you see in my FOTDs, but I personally think I look (much) darker in person than in those photos. Still, yes, I’m quite fair.

Bottomline: my skintone range is lighter than MAC NC/NW15 to NC/NW20.

I have neutral cool undertone.

Packaging:
Tall dove plastic with pump. Hygienic and easy to travel with.

Color Selection:
Currently 7 colors are available. 1 neutral, transparent primer and 6 for color correcting purposes.

Texture:
Almost creamy. Although silicone is high up on the list, this is not a very silicone-y in feel. Instead, this feels almost like a moisturizer.

Coverage:
Since it’s a primer, it doesn’t really offer a coverage.

Blendability:
The creamy, not-so-silicone-y texture makes it not the best to blend.

Finish:
I wear the Mauve one, and it brightens my face. I always wear sunscreen underneath, so finish will always be glowy.

Oil Control:
So-so. I don’t feel any oil control properties. It’s not drying on my skin either

My General Review:
I was interested in this product because Fuz used to love it a lot. I have always on the lookout for great primer, and I do believe in MUFE’s complexion products, so this one seems like a natural option.

But when I first touched it, I was kinda disappointed. You know, I always expect primer to be very silicone-y in texture,  and gives extra slippery, uber-smooth siliconized finish. This one does not. Instead, it feels more like a thicker moisturizer; not exactly greasy but not the smoothest.

The finish it gives also is not super smooth to the touch. So blending foundation/TM/BB Cream on top still requires some effort; but still better than without using any primer underneath. It also fills pores fairly well. In terms of texture and smoothness, really, you can find better ones out there.

But what impress me most is the  fact that this actually brightens my face well. It’s the first mauve primer to do its job on me: to take away sallowness in my fair Asian skin. And yes, that extra brightness seems to last throughout the day. Thumbs up on this feature! As for helping out with my foundation’s staying power, I can’t really say. My foundations/TM/BB creams usually stays for the whole day, because my face is not that oily to begin with, and I always touch up with SPF powder during the day.

All in all, despite the texture, I think due to the impressive color correcting feat, I can always go back to this primer.

What Else You Need To Know:
Fuz has ever since discovered an even better mauve skin brightener: Kevin Beautymaker Aqua Color Controller. Unfortunately, Alcohol is pretty high up in the list on that one, so up until now I haven’t dare to try it out myself

Here’s the ingredient list for Kevin Beautymaker Aqua Color Controller in Mauve:

Aqua, Annuus (sunflower) Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cyclo Methicone, C 12-15 Alky Benzoate, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf extract, Dimethicone, Silica, Peg/pgg-10/30 Oleyl Ether Dimethicone, Jojoba Ester, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Luffa Cylindrica Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk Protein, Sodium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin (pearl) Protein, Prunus Armeniaca (apricot) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (red Win) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methyl Paraben, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Apha-arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Propyl Paraben, Tocopherol, Lilium Candidum Bulk Extract.

Application:
I usually rub  it in with my fingers after my sunscreen.

Price:
Last time I checked, it was IDR315,000 for 30ml. US at Sephora. It sounds like a lot, but I think primers will be used sparingly at most cases. As such, the bottle will really last.

Availability:
MUFE is easily available in Indonesia. You can find it in department stores like SOGO, Metro or Debenhams. They also have boutiques in Dharmawangsa and Plaza Indonesia.

Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Glyceryl Caprylate, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteth-10, Laureth-4, Ethylglycerin, Panthenol, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 60, Parfum (Fragrance), Argania Spinosa Extract (Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract), C12-14 Pareth-12, Hydrolyzed Algin, Dodecene, Sorbitan Isostearate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Tromethamine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool. [??? CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)].

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5. Texture is not as silicone-y smooth as I prefer it, but at least it still smooths out skin and fills in pores. Most of all, color correcting effect of it is apparent.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Information stated on the packaging/website:

The sheer pearl feel hydrating primer absorbs sebum to impact matte finishing soft skin.

My say:

It is official. This is my new fave primer!

Although I do prefer the Tea Tree Clear Base’s subtle tinted shade which aids in making my scars look a little brighter and less visible, sadly it has no oil control for me, it is a must to follow up with oil control loose powder or compact.

Whereas, this primer not only absorbs excess sebum, it gives an instant smooth and matte finish look upon application, and when I say instant, it is really instant!

The whitish gel goes on clear on skin and transforms into a thin layer of powder, no more yucky sticky feeling. And despite the instant matte finish, my skin does not feel tight or dry, so the hydrating claim is also true, no?

It would be a Perfect 10 if this primer incorporated a tinted shade like the Tea Tree Clear Base, then it would be like a 2-in-1, primer+foundation. Oh Skinfood staff, are you hearing your customer’s voices?

So, there, did you see how torn am I between these two? I am proclaiming this primer as the winner because it really delivers every single claim as stated. I am especially impressed with how instantly it produces the matte finish, even my other pricer brands like biotherm and such, could not do so.

In regards to the mentioned “sheer pearl”, do not be concern over this, it will not make you a disco ball. In fact, the so called “pearl” is barely there, I can hardly see it, unless under super bright lighting then will I see a glimpse of it, and still that is extremely subtle, yes, it is really so sheer, LOL.

Comes in a tube of 45ml. Worth getting it, if it works for an oil slick like me, it will, for you. I highly recommend it.

I have already stocked up 2 spares, yup, I have 3 tubes now,

Tagged: Cacaopack, Skin Food, Skinfood

Information stated on the packaging/website:


This makeup base contains Ginger to moisture skin texture and natural Tea Tree for superior anti-bacteria properties and natural powder for excess sebum control. Helps skin stay blemish-free. Controls oil, minimizes pores. A soft matte and velvety finish.


My say:


My fave primer of the year!


This comes in a tinted pale beige colour. If you are blessed with blemish-free face, then all you need is this primer to smooth out your face, put on your loose powder and lipstick, and you are all set for a casual and naked make up look.


Although this is tinted, do not expect it to provide heavy coverage as a liquid foundation does, it is after all a primer – which is a light texture layer to smooth out our face like a canvas base and acts as a barrier between our skin and foundation.


The “tint” gives a subtle skin colour coverage similar to a tinted moisturizer – it aims to even out skin tone and minimize pores, not concealing


My acne scars are a little less visible with this, in comparison to a clear primer. There is a difference.


Oil control is so so, on its own. It does not absorb excess sebum for me, but well, I am an oil slick to begin with, and I usually follow up with powder which has oil control anyway.


Scent-wise, not sure is it my nose, but somehow this does not have the same level of tea tree scent compare to the rest of tea tree products I have tried. Neither can I tell of any ginger scent in in too, I can’t define the scent.


I have quite a few bottles/tubes of primer and yet I keep finding myself reaching for this, does this say something?


Comes in a bottle of 30ml.


***While many have raved about Tea Tree working wonders, there are some people having allergy to it, so if you are not sure which category you belong to, please do a patch test, to be safe.

Tagged: Cacaopack, Skin Food, Skinfood