Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Redness Correcting Primer Review

Hello gorgeous gals,

Today’s review is on primer from Make Up for Ever – from their Step 1 range. The range has about 10 options to choose from. A few of them have already been reviewed on IMBB. This review is on the Green one which is meant for redness correction. Let’s find out more about it.

What it is: A makeup primer that assists with balancing the skin’s texture and tone for smoother, more even, and longer-lasting makeup wear.

What it does: Prep skin for your makeup routine with Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primers, and address your skin concerns with this innovative makeup primer. Perfect for balancing skin and achieving an ideal makeup result, it’s lightweight and creamy, leaving a more evenly-toned appearance, and increases foundation’s hold. This primer for all skintones leaves makeup looking fresh for hours while it hydrates, firms, and smooths the look of the skin.

What else you need to know: Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer is available in 10 formulas to target every texture and tone concern:

Texture:
• Mattifying Primer reduces shine for oily skin.
• Smoothing Primer evens the skin’s texture.
• Hydrating Primer preps normal skin and restores balance.
• Nourishing Primer moisturizes and comforts.
• Redness Correcting Primer neutralizes.

Tone:
• Radiant Primer Blue adds radiance to light skin.
• Radiant Primer Pink adds radiance to light to medium skin.
• Radiant Primer Yellow adds radiance to light to medium skin.
• Radiant Primer Peach adds radiance to medium to tan skin.
• Radiant Primer Caramel adds radiance to dark skin.
If you’re not sure where to start, try the Smoothing and Hydrating Primers.
“Like painters, who need a perfectly smooth, even-colored, and flawless canvas, makeup artists require even-toned and smooth skin for an optimal and professional makeup result.”—DanySanz, MAKE UP FOR EVER Founder and Creative Director. MAKE UP FOR EVER’S exclusive Equalizer Technology features Acti Tensor 3D, Hyaluronic Acid, and Regeactive, which help to hydrate, firm, and smooth the skin to create the perfect makeup canvas.

Suggested Usage:
-Before applying makeup to skin, dab a quarter size amount with fingertips or sponge in a downward motion.
-Customize your results by mixing texture and tone formulas.
-Combine redness correcting or radiant primers before mattifying or smoothing, or you hydrating or smoothing primers can be combined before redness correcting or radiant primers.
-Finish with your favorite foundation.

Price: $37 for 30ml
Ingredients:

My Experience with Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Redness Correcting Primer:

The primer comes packaged in a small tube with an extremely thin nozzle which really helps control the amount of product being dispensed out. It’s got a screw-on cap. A flip top would have been nice too. But packaging is functional, no leakage, no mess – so no complaints. It comes packed in a black cardboard box with all details like ingredients mentioned on top.

When I bought this product, my friend’s first comment to me was – do you even have red patches? Yeah – with all the “colour-correction” products being hyped and pushed by Sephora, she thought I was totally getting into the hype of it. But unfortunately for me, that was not the case. I recently noticed that I seem to have developed slight pink/red patches on my cheeks – initially I was not sure if it was an aftermath of exposure to sun or signs of ageing. Now, with a month or more since might last vacation and me having gotten rid of most of my tan, these patches have lingered on. A medium coverage foundation does cover it up adequately. However, since I like going with light coverage on normal days, I thought of giving this primer a try.

I tried this in the store. Post application, I wasn’t very sure about it. You know how store lights are. Anyways, I asked hubby, he said the side with this on looked better. So, I guess I rolled with it.

The product has a very thin consistency and is green in colour. Once applied, it pretty much melts into the skin with no discernible product on top. If you look at the ingredient list – with water and silicones as base – this is not surprising. Post application, the pinkness of the skin reduces substantially.The days the redness is a little darker, I find that this does not take away the redness completely. So, what I do on such days is that I apply this on the patch but do not blend it in all the way. The slight layering gives a bit more coverage. However, if you want to really build it up, that’s not going to happen. The product does not really allow you to create layers and add to the coverage. If your red patches are fairly dark and obvious – even through the foundation, then this will not suffice. If you plan to use it for spot correction of reddish blemishes – like the ones left behind by acne – again, this will not work. Basically, you have to remember that this is a primer and not really a concealer/corrector. Basically, it’s not as pigmented as a concealer/corrector. So, if your concern is red pigmentation due to rosacea, acne blemishes, birth mark, etc – this is not going to work.

So, what does this really work on – it works on slight pinkish/reddish patches on your skin, which could anyways be covered up by using a bit of concealer (not necessarily a green concealer/corrector). Anything darker on your skin, you would need an actual green concealer/corrector.

Also, I find another cause for concern with this product. Generally, the light red patches on the cheeks could be caused due to dehydration of the skin. They started for me while I was on vacation and not following my skin care routine, plus there was exposure to sun. In such scenarios, I use a hydration mask for a couple of days in a row and get good result. Considering that this product is supposed to work on such patches, the fact that it has alcohol listed as an ingredient – seems counter productive. It will just accentuate the dryness of the skin. To sum this up for you:

Pros of Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Redness Correcting Primer:

• Excellent packaging.
• Works decently well on slight pink/red discolouration of skin – due to dehydration or exposure to sun.
• Easy to apply – blends in seamlessly.

Cons of Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Redness Correcting Primer:

• Will not work to correct actual redness of the skin – not enough pigmentation.
• Considering the main con, the price point is beyond funny.

IMBB Rating: 2/5

This product will work on correction of redness, just about as much as any normal BB cream does, to correct the dark under eye circles of person over 35+years. No, I do not recommend this. I don’t think it makes sense to use this for slight redness – which could be easily covered with a layer of concealer. Yes, this product is definitely much lighter than any concealer I have encountered. However, I feel it is too much money spent for too little effectiveness. Also, if the redness of the skin cannot be managed by a concealer, recommend you pick up an actual green corrector/concealer. I will not be repurchasing this.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Mattifying Primer
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer
Make Up For Ever Hydrating Primer Step 1 Skin Equalizer
Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Radiant Primer in Pink
Make Up For Ever Step1 Skin Equalizer – Radiant Primer Yellow
Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows 1 – 9 Artist Shadow Palette
Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Make-Up – 32 Alabaster Beige
Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush No 100, 106, 140, 154