Beauty

My skin’s favorite makeup primer

MAC-Prep+Prime-Skin-Base

MAC-Prep+Prime-Skin-Base

Ahh.. makeup primers. For the longest time the only primers that worked with my skin were those silicone-heavy, mattifying formulas that kept my oily skin at bay.

Now that my skin is less oily and more on the dry side, I can’t get away with using some of my past favorites like Benefit’s Porefessional or Smashbox Photofinish. MAC Prep + Prime Skin still contains silicones, but it doesn’t come with that powdery, slimy texture. It actually feels and looks more like a smoothing serum/moisturizer on my skin. Compared to other heavy primers I’ve used, this feels very lightweight, it’s odorless and does not accentuate dry patches on my skin.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin works great at prepping the skin for foundation and creating smooth and velvety base. Even though my skin is still a bit dry irritated from the Retin-A use, I can still get just a little oily around my T-zone and this is the only primer that fits the needs of both my oily and dry bits. As far as its effectiveness on improving the longevity of makeup, it definitely does help it last a bit longer since it helps with both minor oiliness and dryness.

I would say that this works best with normal/combo and dry skin types. I definitely do not see myself using this back in my “oily” days, as I don’t think it would be mattifying enough. Also, If you happen to have large pores, you’d probably not get along with MAC Prep + Prime Skin- it definitely lacks some of those “blurring” properties that Benefit’s Porefessional or Smashbox Photofinish have. This does, however, work great with my skin at the moment and it’s pretty much the only primer that hasn’t irritated my skin, or make it look really dry and patchy after applying foundation. I’ve also been loving MAC’s Strobe Cream as a primer lately as well- it seriously works amazing with dry skin.

Do you guys have any other primer recommendations that would suit dry and sensitive skin?

MAC-Prep+Prime-primer

25 Comments

  • Reply
    Dagmara Klich
    August 14, 2015 at 8:02 am

    I also dislike the heavy silicon primers, one of my favourite is the Spackle by Laura Geller :) x

    Mummy’s Beauty Corner

  • Reply
    Emma Louise
    August 14, 2015 at 8:03 am

    I have tried this primer and it made me break out so bad :( x

    Emma | Emmys Beauty Cave

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      August 14, 2015 at 8:36 am

      Oh no, that sucks! :( I actually did read a few reviews that said the same thing, I’m glad it didn’t brake me out. I know that some MAC products, including foundations tend to cause breakouts in some people, it’s one of the reasons why I was very hesitant to start using their face products.

  • Reply
    Jessie
    August 14, 2015 at 8:09 am

    I haven’t had the best of luck with primers, can never find one that works well for my skin!

    Jessie | Taylor Mayed

  • Reply
    Mhairi-Anne|Busy Girl Edit
    August 14, 2015 at 8:19 am

    I have oily skin and I really love MAC primers! I used one for an event a couple of months ago, got a bit carried away and stayed out all night, and everything was still in place the next morning haha. So fab :)

    Mhairi-Anne|The Busy Girl Edit x

  • Reply
    Rosie von Waldherr
    August 14, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    I’ve used this before and loved it! Not really sure why I never repurchased it, probably just wanted to try out new things… I have very dry skin and have been liking the Porefessional, but I also only use it on my t-zone and not the most dry places on my skin..

    xoRosie
    Rosie’s Life

  • Reply
    Hannah
    August 14, 2015 at 1:06 pm

    I just discovered Too Faced Hangover Primer! It’s so cooling and feels like a lotion…we had a Too Faced Event at Ulta so that’s what they tried on me before they put the Born This Way Foundation, and it was AMAZING! Perfect for dry skin, it has coconut water to hydrate you! Of course I bought it and I love it so much more than my usual MUFE HD foundation!

    Hannah
    Floraful

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      August 17, 2015 at 4:44 pm

      I’ve heard so much about that primer from Too Faced, love the fact that it feels cooling on the skin. I’m definitely a fan of lotion-like primers. I have to give it a try!

  • Reply
    Maddy
    August 14, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    Love the look of this, and it sounds perfect for my skin!

    Maddy, xo // UNSTITCHEDD

  • Reply
    Lisa @ Midwest Glam
    August 14, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    This is my go-to primer, but I agree it doesn’t help much with pores at all! I really want to try that Smashbox primer. Maybe I’ll see if I can get a sample.

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      August 17, 2015 at 4:45 pm

      Glad I’m not the only that noticed that! Definitely try a sample if you can get your hands on it, Smashbox primers are pretty awesome, they worked especially nicely when my skin was very oily.

  • Reply
    Blizzard Girl
    August 14, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    I love that Mac brush:) It’s my foundation application so flawless!

    xoxo
    http://blizzard-girl.blogspot.com/2015/08/travel-destination-london.html

  • Reply
    Perla Sanchez A
    August 15, 2015 at 11:41 am

    This sounds like a good primer for my skin type!

    http://perlasancheza.blogspot.com/

  • Reply
    Justyna F
    August 15, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    Nie mam zielonego pojęcia o primerach… / I don’t know the first thing about primers…:/

  • Reply
    Nereyda Gonzalez
    August 15, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    I have larger pores on my nose so this probably wouldn’t be for me, but I hear such great things about it.

  • Reply
    Krystal // The Krystal Diaries
    August 15, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    I actually love Ulta’s line of primers. They work the best on my oily skin.

  • Reply
    Alina
    August 16, 2015 at 4:03 am

    I love MAC Strobe Cream but I’m yet to try anything like this. I’m super intrigued now and I’d love to test it out. My MAC list just keeps on growing these days x

    Beauty with charm

  • Reply
    taylor bates
    August 16, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    I can’t believe that I’ve actually never tried this- it sounds like it ticks all my boxes!! x

    Taylor | taylored-beauty.blogspot.co.uk

  • Reply
    Nell
    August 19, 2015 at 4:37 am

    Paula, i actually have question about the MAC brush on the pic. How does it (or any duo-fiber) work? What is it good for? I have bought one, but i honestly can’t get my head around what to use it for. For foundation it is streaky, for powder – spiky…or is MAC different and i just have bad experience with this particular one?

    • Reply
      Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
      August 19, 2015 at 7:04 am

      It’s not just you Nell, I actually was talked into buying that brush when I was buying a foundation once, but I found it useless when it comes to foundation application. I now use it to apply my highlighter. It’s really the only thing I use it for, since it’s not dense enough for foundation application. Sigma F80 flat-top kabuki is great for foundation application, it’s one of my favorite brushes ;)

  • Reply
    Dasha
    August 19, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    Sounds very interesting! I would try it, though i think benefit’s one is better for my skin type

    coffeetalkwithdasha.blogspot.com

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