Skin type: Oily skin.
Hi Lovelies,
I have an oily skin and my constant attempt is to hold a matt polish on my face. Thankfully, it is not ‘too’ oily, but there is a standard quest to keep my T-Zone oil free. I use matte pressed powders and prefer applying BB creams which are suitable for oily skin. I have always used Nivea Daily Essentials Primer and just to try a different kind of primer, I purchased Revlon Photoready Prime + Anti Shine – Clear. Scroll down for more information about the product.
Revlon offers umpteen products under ‘Photoready’ range – from BB creams to foundation, highlighters to primers and concealers. I tested this primer in the store and I really liked its translucency and the matte effect. As it is a lucid, it is suitable for all skin tones. There are a couple of other primers available under the brand, but personally, I liked the packaging, quality and presentation so much, I picked up this product without thinking much. So, did I make a right decision? Well, read on to know more.
Price: £9.99
Product Description:
This multi-use balm can be worn alone, under or over makeup to prime and smooth skin and to eliminate shine. It erases the look of pores and imperfections for a perfected look.
My Experience with Revlon PhotoReady Prime + Anti-Shine Balm – Clear:
Revlon Photoready Prime + Anti Shine Balm is neatly packaged in a black plastic box and to make the product visible, there is a half transparent flip-shield displaying the product. A small off-white soft sponge is placed below the balm for quick touch-ups. Revlon has not promoted the product suitable for oily skin but, since it is marketed as a mattifying balm, it is certainly suitable for combination and oily skin.
However, it would work for normal skin too. The consistency of the balm is extremely thin and has a super-soft smooth texture. The lightweight and soft formula is easy to apply over the face before a foundation/BB cream to emboss you with a feel of charm and grace.
The primer can be worn with or without makeup. It acts as a perfect base before you plunge your brushes and sponges into layers of makeup. It gives an ideal lucent finish which provides an even skin tone. The feel of this primer is entirely different; it is neither like a regular primer-moisturiser which might confer an oily surface nor a primer powder which might not work with a liquid foundation. One good advantage is, it is extremely clear and transparent (seen in the swatch image), so it easily blends with any kind of product – powders, liquid concealer or BB creams. You can also use it as a touch-up over makeup to eliminate shine.
The primer gets easily absorbed into the skin and creates an extremely thin layer to flush out the skin. Yes, it attempts its best to minimise the appearance of the pores, fine lines and wrinkles to give a clear finish but, doesn’t succeed much. I felt that it is not long lasting as it slips away. It does control the shine and it works better if used in combination with other matte products.
There are a number of primers in the market; they are good but, this make a perfect travel accessory as it has an added sponge to it. You just need to sweep through, rather than digging out your makeup brushes or using your fingers to even it out. Having said that, many of you would not be happy with the size of the sponge! Why? Many of you would find it little irritating as the sponge is small and you need to dig into the primer many times for a single application.
Another flip side is the sponge turns quite greasy when used frequently. As a result of this, please wash the sponge regularly with warm water. The balm especially slips away around the eye area so, you can apply an eye primer instead. It is a simple product which does a good job but, not a long lasting one! It gives you a nice dewy and refreshing base and I suggest you to not wear it alone; it might look a little raw as it has a tendency to wither away after a few hours.
Pros of Revlon PhotoReady Prime + Anti-Shine Balm – Clear:
- Neatly packaged.
- Comes with a nice soft sponge.
- Suitable for all skin tones.
- Suitable for combination and oily skin.
- Minimises the pores.
- Acts as a wonderful base for makeup.
- Evens out the skin.
Cons of Revlon PhotoReady Prime + Anti-Shine Balm – Clear:
- Since it is packaged in a nice plastic box with a flip top, a mirror would have been favourable.
- The sponge is petite.
- Slips away in a few hours.
- Works well only when used in conjunction with mattifying products.
IMBB Rating: 3.5/5
Will I Recommend/Repurchase Revlon PhotoReady Prime + Anti-Shine Balm – Clear?
Oily skin folks can try this once as it is quite mattifying and would fetch good results when used with other mattifying products. I would like to try a different primer next time.
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