Neutrogena Shine Control Primer Review

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer Review

Hi my beautiful friends,

Hope all of you are prepared for summers.  We are experiencing really weird climate this year! May is almost upon us and we are sneezing and suffering from runny nose in summers, God help! I was walking down in shorts some time back and now I am covered from head to toe.  Gosh, I badly want a consistent weather, either winters/summers/spring/monsoon, anything:/ Anyway, before I start cursing this climate, let me talk about today’s product – Neutrogena’s Shine Control Primer.  I had been using TBS Pore Minimizer/Primer since 1-2 years and wanted to try a decent and affordable primer which could help me get glowing and shine-free skin. I am glad that this Neutrogena works as per my expectations up to a good extent, not completely though. Please read on further to know more about Neutrogena Shine Control Primer.

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

Price:

$13.99 for 1 fl Oz (30 ml), price may vary from store to store.

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

Packaging:

This watery and slightly grainy white primer comes in a sturdy black-grey tube packaging. It has a nice fragrance which is not overpowering. Overall, a quite attractive, hygienic and travel-friendly packaging!

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

My Experience with Neutrogena Shine Control Primer:

I read it has won the Allure award in 2013 for best primer and hence I bought it due to curiosity and to replace my expensive TBS primer as well. Personally, I feel it might replace my TBS primer in summers, but I need to skip it in winters and stick to TBS or another brand’s primer as this Neutrogena primer is mattifying and not much hydrating on skin.  I am glad I tried it in summers when I have frequently greasy skin and it’s the best time to try it out.  However, I don’t think it lives up to its claim of giving 8 hours shine-free skin as I get greasy skin after 5-6 hours which is pretty good, but is lesser than what it claims.

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

The texture of the primer is really lightweight and watery, easily spreads on my skin. It is slightly grainy (not rough though) and easily melts on my skin, but I need to quickly blend it because it leaves a slight white cast on skin which gives the mattifying effect, I think. I am surprised to see that sometimes it just tones down my actual skin tone while sometimes it enhances my natural skin tone and hence I always top it up with face powder accordingly.  I guess it depends upon the quantity of product used up every time which affects my skin tone delivering that cast which looks unnatural!

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

A teeny drop is more than enough to cover the face provided we quickly rub it on the skin or it will leave behind that cast. Anyway, it definitely gives me smooth and even skin apart from toning my pores for a while which is good to follow with makeup though I feel slightly uncomfortable without makeup as it makes me look either one shade lighter or darker than my actual skin tone.  I think it’s only good to be used under the makeup as it gives clean and smooth skin and that cast is almost invisible under the foundation, blush and bronzer! The good thing is that I never observed any issues while using it on my skin for 6-8 hours, it never clogged or settled down into the pores.  Moreover, it slightly blurs out my blemishes and acne apart from smoothing out my skin tone, though I feel it just makes me look snow white 😛 It does not look cakey on my face if used in appropriate proportion; it might accentuate fine lines though! I often observed that while blending it on skin, it exfoliates my dry skin which then peels off while rubbing and hence I need to moisturize my skin very well prior to using this primer.

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

I use my Sephora Mineral Powder Brush for flawless blending which really helps in achieving a natural look, but then I often get dryness around chin and this primer simply accentuates them due to the mattifying nature, hence I believe it is not suitable for my skin in winters and probably it’s a big nay for dry/sensitive skin as well! I think may be it helps in increasing longevity of oil-free makeup, but I notice similar shine-free and clean skin for almost 5-6 hours with my Dr. Dennis Gross Moisturizer and mineral face powder in the same hot/humid climate. Hence, I don’t think this primer is going to help me alone unless I top it with foundation and/or face makeup. Overall, I feel it can only help very oily, oily/combination skin due to its highly mattifying property and preferably light skin tone as dark skin might feel uncomfortable with that white transparent cast unless they follow it with face make up! Moreover, it is not much hydrating which makes it tricky for dry skin gals. Thankfully, it did not affect my acne-prone skin other than accentuating fine lines and dry skin! It works nicely on well moisturized and hydrated skin and personally I would not like to get it again unless I start wearing face makeup!

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

Let’s sum up pros and cons:

Pros of Neutrogena Shine Control Primer:

  • A lightweight primer infused with rice protein complex which soaks excess oil, giving shine-free skin.
  • A lightweight and runny fluid that spreads easily on the face with gentle strokes.
  • A little drop goes a long way and covers the whole face.
  • It blends easily, leaving behind a white cast which gives the matte look I guess.
  • It works well with or without makeup if used in appropriate proportion.
  • It definitely controls oil for a good 5-6 hours apart from refining and toning skin.
  • It slightly blurs out minor skin flaws such as zits and scars giving me smooth and even tone skin.
  • It gives a refined and clean canvas for makeup.
  • It will definitely help very oily/combination skin to achieve smooth and flawless skin prior to application of face makeup.
  • It is also suitable for acne-prone skin as it does not irritate or accentuate my acne-prone skin.
  • It does not clog pores.
  • An affordable deal with hygienic and travel-friendly tube packaging.

Cons of Neutrogena Shine Control Primer:

  • It does not live up to its claim of providing 8-hour shine-free face as I notice that an oily t-zone after 5-6 hours in hot/humid weather.
  • It sometimes accentuates a few dry patches of my skin.
  • Needs to be blend quickly, otherwise leaves a matte white cast which gives an unnatural look.
  • It might accentuate fine lines around the eyes due to its mattifying nature.
  • Skin needs to be adequately moisturized prior to using this primer or it will peel off dry patches creating a mess.
  • May not be suitable for dry/sensitive skin.
  • I feel I get shine-free skin for 5-6 hours post applying moisturizer and mineral powder alone hence it does not serve my purpose unless I start using face makeup.

Well, I thank my luck for getting the Sephora Mineral Powder Brush, which really helps in blending this primer naturally on my skin.  I don’t think I would like to get it again unless I start wearing face makeup very often. Moreover, it slightly accentuates dry patches on my skin, hence I would like to avoid it in winters. I feel for gals who are blessed with flawless and soft skin, it can be really helpful in controlling oil and enhancing longevity of their face make up!

IMBB Rating:

I would give it 3.5/5 over all! Hope this helps!

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7 thoughts on “Neutrogena Shine Control Primer Review

  1. I don’t like whitish cast in face produts Neetu….TBS pore minimizer I have to check out *nababana* well reviewed Neetu *woot*

    1. jomol TBS primer might fail in scorching indian temp.. *scared* its gud for winters knw.. *preen*
      even I feel uncomfortable with white cast knw.. *hifive* *hunterwali*

  2. Aww.. I’m sorry that you’ve been feeling unwell. I hope you feel better soon. *puchhi* It must have been the rain we had last week. *spank*

    This product is definitely not for someone like me who has no experience with primers. *thankyou* for the review.

    1. yeah we all were coughing and sneezing.. bt nw we r feeling much better.. *happydance* really appreciate ur concern rene.. *puchhi*
      oh yeah for beginners this might b a turn off knw.. *nababana*
      I have shared review of this nail paint rene.. its OPI “do you lilac it” “hope it comes up on blog super soon.. *nails* *nails*

  3. your hands neetu…mashaallah…..i am searching a good primer but this one….i am not sure…..great review….thanks..

    1. sumera this is slight bothering just because of that transparent cast but its only for people like me who skip face makeup, I m sure this cast won’t show up under foundation concealer knw.. *haan ji* it helps in oil control and matte look for good extent btw.. *haan ji*

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