Before I bought Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Oil Free), I can almost confirm and very sure that I will like it. Yeap! Even before I bought it no thanks to all the raving review online. I am so sure that I even dream of it. When I FINALLY bought it (at a really cheap price) I couldn’t wait any longer and used it immediately the next day. Heck! My world came crashing down over me.
You might not expect this coming right? Behold cause this review ain’t going to be a pleasant one.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Oil Free) is said to have oil controlling ingredients to ensure long wear and flawless application. Foundation Primer is meant to be used after sunblock and before foundation. Besides keeping makeup fresh and stay longer all day long it also create a layer that acts as a protection to outside elements from penetrating into the skin.
A reader recently requested for a point form review. Nah here you go :). The summary of Foundation Primer (Oil Free).
- Specifically created for oily, sensitive and acne-prone skin types; oil free
- Contains high water content and addresses surface dehydration around active blemishes
- Oil controlling ingredients ensure long-wear and flawless application
- Vitamins A, C, and E act as antioxidants & protect the skin from harmful, aging effects of the environment
- Cooling Foundation Primer in the refrigerator is refreshing for the skin and reduces puffiness
- Non-comedogenic
The one I bought is not the full size but it’s the deluxe travel size which is more pocket-friendly. If only all other brands are selling their deluxe sizes. It would be great for someone who get tired of using the same thing again and again *points at self*
Either size… both comes with a screw top cap. I don’t have problem with this type of packaging as the primer is quite solid so it doesn’t overflow when I unscrew the cap off. I kind of like this shiny tube because it’s so small, cute and travel-friendly as well.
Here is the dollop of Foundation Primer and swatch on my hand.
Honestly and seriously. I really have no idea why everyone love this Foundation Primer so much. Thus the rave and hype. For oversea user I can understand. For Malaysia’s humid hot weather it’s not helping at all. I have oily skin to begin with. Getting the oil free version seems like the sane thing to do but noooo. My face is still as oily as ever. This have no oil control at all as opposed to what was claimed by Laura Mercier. Because of this my foundation especially on my nose area slipped off. So the long-wear and flawless application claim also doesn’t work on me. It took me so many try and it’s still the same.
The scent is a yuck! It’s awful! It smells plastic-ky which is similar to the rubbery plastic smell that you get from Barbie Doll. Thank goodness the scent went off after the primer sets on the face. Otherwise I’d be throwing up. I wonder why is it so smelly?
Laura Mercier application advice is to first create an even surface then massage a liberal amount of primer all over the face for a few minutes. Massaging the skin is stimulating and healthy for the skin. I’ve tried this method but no use. I’ve read that the recommended amount to use is just a pea size. Today I used a pea size for the whole of my face which is not enough and kinda dry but dry is always good for oily skin like mine. I was crossing my fingers and toes that this pea size amount will work wonders but it’s still the same except that the oil control was slightly better.
Here is the description and ingredient list for those that are interested.
Click to enlarge!
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Oil Free) is the one product from Laura Mercier that I was excited to try and purchase but gives me a major let down. I was expecting a lot from this after reading all the positive review from other blogs but was so disappointed that this doesn’t work for my skin. Read the fine print “my skin”. You may have oily skin and this may still works for you but unfortunately not on my skin. I suppose ladies with normal or dry skin would prefer this over anything else as it could have work much better on their skin type.
When I pick this up at the counter the BA took a look at me and asked me why would I want to get this. She said I need Secret Finish and not this. Now I understand why. I told her because it’s only RM38! And thank God it’s only RM38 that I paid.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Oil Free) is available at Fashion Avenue Pavilion (Flagship Store), One Utama (New Wing), The Garden, Bangsar Village II and Sunway Pyramid.
Price: RM85 for 30ml, RM159 for 50ml
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought the product on my own.
Comments (18)
Love that your review is so honest! There are tons of things that others rave about but unfortunately, don’t work for me. 🙂
I have to. It’s not working for me. I have other better primer than this. Those rave you and I read about…it just don’t work. Normal or dry skin skin would love this.
I feel the same with you. I do like this primer. It works great for me, but I probably have another 3564634242 primers that work equally well. This is just not one of those holy grail.
Exactly. But at least it works great for you :). On me it’s just like a normal primer. I wished it’s better since it’s Laura Mercier. Sigh.
I always enjoy reading yr blog as you’re always so honest abt what works and what doesnt work for u… (I have very oily skin too!)
I tried the sample tube of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 given by a friend and it offered almost no coverage for me even though it was tinted. And it felt oily…
I only used it during my pregnancy as my face was dry due to hormonal changes at that time and it did stay.
After that, when it returned to the initial oily stage, i stashed it aside… huhuhu 🙁
Thank you Carrie. Tinted Moisturizer doesn’t give coverage actually. It felt oily because of the SPF content eventhough it’s just SPF20. Did you put anything else on before that? If you have skin care before that, it’s going to be oily. If skin care + sunblock also will be oily.
Oh… I see… Thanks for the info, Fiona…
I used my normal toner and moisturizer before that…
Thought the “tinted” would give coverage… Ended up, used anthr layer or BB cream on top…
Toner is okay. But Tinted Moisturizer is already a moisturizer dear hehe. Tinted means just a hint of color. It doesn’t cover much. And also BB cream is already oily. No wonder it’s oily dear
Haha! THANK GOODNESS you only paid RM38 for it based on your review. 🙂 did you try the Secret Finish? 🙂
Haha yes. No regret, just disappointed. I have not try Secret Finish. They don’t have sample 🙁 I’m quite scared that all the oil would be staying in between the layer and my skin for too long thus breakout. I wonder how would it be.
Mhmm, I’m no beauty expert, but that seems possible to happen. But I think since the BA recommended it to you, it’s worth to give it a try, that is when they have samples or they have a good deal on their deluxe sample 😉
Yeah, can’t help thinking that. There’s no sample for me to sample it. I wanted to try Secret Finish on a freshly done makeup which is from home. It’s priced at RM90+ for a small tube. Not expensive but I wouldn’t want to spend if it doesn’t work for me.
Ohhh! Crossing fingers and toes that Laura Mercier will see this post and send you a tube for a review! Haha 🙂
LOL. It’s okay. I’d prefer to pay my own :). I have a feeling I’ll buy one.
its oily? it dint give u the velvet feeling on the skin ma~?
my skin sometimes oily too, i cant use some thick texture product ><
but fiona dear recently I have tried a primer that i think it is quite good, the Loreal BaseMagique Transforming Smoothing Primer. very silky feeling and not oily , work wonderful to smooth my lines hehe
and it is 0 smell = no smell at all 😀
No…it’s not oily. And it doesn’t give me the velvety finishing. This is not thick. You can see from the swatch picture 🙂
I’ve read about L’Oreal one. I do plan to buy that soon 🙂
Hello Fiona! I was just googling about Laura Mercier and happened to stumble upon this piece.
Anyway, I started using LM’s foundation primer (hydrating) coz i have pretty dry skin and contrary to your experience with the primer, I absolutely love it! My sis tried it too and she likes it a lot. My make up stays on a lot longer and my face is really hydrated. I was previously using MAC primers and when I switched to this, wow i really noticed the difference! and also, it’s cheaper as compared to MAC and Laneige primers (the only ones i’ve tried), they’re about RM110-130 for 30ml. All in all, I really like this product. Just wanted to share my experience. Luckily u got this at a really cheap price!
Hi Janice. Ahhh lucky you. It could be that the hydrating version is better than oil-free. A handful of people told me that oil-free version is just like every other normal primer. What I really hate is the plasticky scent. I can’t take bad scented products hehe