I love the results I get by using a primer before my concealer/foundation but I pay for it the next day!

My face breaks out like MAD.

I've managed to clear up my skin (intermittent acne), so I'm really wary of anything that will bring it back.

I've tried so many brands - lately MAC, Smashbox (regular and sensitive skin), Hard Candy, Gosh, Benefit, Makeup Forever and Urban Decay.

So, as you can see, I've spent a small fortune on primer, yet I keep getting the same result - great makeup for the evening, awful skin in the morning.

Has anyone found the same issue? Or is this just my annoying skin? No other makeup products really make me breakout.

Has anyone found a primer that is really super gentle?

I recently bought the "Correcting Primer" by purminerals and I really like it a lot.

I have very sensitive skin and thus far my skin has been great, no breakouts or anything.

I am not sure on the cost of it though because I got mine at clearance pricing over the holidays.

bare minerals / bare escentuals has one too that is probably a lot like the purminerals. It is lightweight, so it might work for you. Why don't you go into a department store or an Ulta and ask them if they either have any free samples, or can apply the tester for you, you can do a test run and see what your face is like the next day.

Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but have you tried the Monistat anti-chafing gel as primer? Re: this article. I haven't tried it yet myself, but I've read so many great things about it. Maybe because it's formulated more for comfort, it may help?

^I actually do use the Monistat as weird as that sounds! Unfortunately, around the time I began using it, I started breaking out a bit more than I should. I believe that there were other factors that really contributed to my breakouts, however, I haven't really used the monistat consistently since then so I couldn't tell you for sure.

The upside is, it's only about $6 for a tube so it's worth trying! I still use it occasionally for special occasions and I really do love it!

www.sephora.com . . .

apparently this stuff isnt bad... ive tried some of their other stuff at work and it's decent... for the price of it it might be worth trying

I am also extremely prone to breakouts, and I use the Mary Kay brand primer right now and I am not breaking out at all.

However it's a little on the expensive side for me so I hope to try the Physician's Formula brand soon, which I have heard is good and I love some of their other products.

I have used Monistat and I don't remember it making me break out any more than normal. It's super cheap, so it might be worth a shot?

I use this one
www.sephora.com . . .

It doesn't seem to make me break out any more than normal, although my skin isn't super sensitive. On the page for it, it says it doesn't cause breakouts (though, obviously that may not be trustworthy). Like someone else suggested, go to the store and see if they'll give you a sample of it to try, or if they'll apply it to your face so you can see if you have a bad reaction to it before dishing out a bunch of money on a full size product.

I've used Makeup Primer from these companies, and both have worked for me:

BeautiControl - beauticontrol.com
Arbonne - arbonne.com . . .

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the great replies!

I will be looking into each of them!

For now I am going to try and convince my hubby to run into the drug store and buy some Monistat Anti-Chaffing Cream!

This is what I use - www.victoriassecret.com . . .

I have pretty sensitive skin and haven't had a problem with this.

I've become quite the makeup connoisseur, but I'll be honest, I don't use full face makeup primer. Never really felt the need to? I swear by my eye shadow primer, but have no use for the rest. My mineral powder goes on and sets really well with just moisturizer as as a base. Does your primer really make a world of difference?

I used to have the same exact issue with different types of primers.

This is something that works on my skin, but I am not sure if it would work on yours.
Before I use my primer, I put a **super light layer*** of Neosporin on my face. This always prevents my makeup primer from breaking out my face.

Every night, I wash my face to remove my makeup ( just with water) Then I use those makeup removing wash pads. I feel that an extra step of washing really helps get rid of the makeup. I use a clarisonic brush to go over my skin.

This has helped me get rid of 99% of my pimples. I still sometimes break out after primer, but it is usually because I don't put the Neosporin on my face, or I don't use the Clarisonic at night.

Does your primer really make a world of difference?

It makes enough of a difference that I can avoid reapplying my makeup in the middle of the day. My skin is very 'special' - some if quite oil, some is really dry and if I don't use a primer my makeup will slide off in oil or flake off with dry skin.

Due to the irritability I've experienced with the primer, Ive just been using some light mineral powder unless going out at night - but I would really like some better coverage during the day as well.


Interesting idea with the Neosporin! I'm sure I have some in my first aid kit, so I will give that a try too!

Thanks everyone!

DHC has the best primer! I have not broken out from using it either. If you go to their website they will send you a sample catalog with teh primer.

Po

SaraTheGrouch wrote:

Does your primer really make a world of difference?

For me it does. I have super oily skin and without it, my make up starts to melt off after 30-60 minutes. With it though, it lasts a good 8 hours, even in the heat of the kitchen.

I use www.sephora.com . . . I buy the one that is half that size (30ml) and it is $28 or something like that. The 15ml one lasted me nearly 5 months so this one should last around 10.

It goes on super smooth and makes your skin soft. You can hardly tell you are wearing it. I have terrible acne prone skin. If I don't wash my face for even one night I will break out. This stuff has not made my acne worse at all.

Just a heads up, Monistat apparently has a very similar formula to the Smashbox primer. So if you have had break outs from Smashbox there is a decent chance you will react the same to Monistat too.

A lot of the primers will contain silicone, and a fair bit of it - of those you mentioned, MAC, Smashbox, Benefit, MUFE & Urban Decay all contain it. Not sure about Hard Candy and Gosh but I think they do too. Monistant does (being that's it almost the same stuff as Smashbox!). So it could be the silicone causing breakouts - www.mywomenstuff.com . . .

Perhaps try looking for a silcone free primer to see if that's what you're reacting to? Look for Dimethicone or Methicone in the ingredients list to check. However, bear in mind that the silicone is what makes those primers work the way they do. It creates a sort of barrier over the skin and fills in fine lines so your foundation looks smoother and makes the product glide on. It also makes the product last longer by repelling water and sweat. So by going for silicone free you might find it doesn't work the same as what you're used to.

Korres apparently do a silicone free primer which may be worth trying. I'd suggest having a ready through In My Kit - these are products coming with a personal recommendation from a top makeup artist. inmykit.com . . ..

To save you splashing out so much on full size bottles, it might also be worth telling the sales staff that you have had reactions to primers before and are not prepared to buy a full size bottle unless you've been able to try it out first. If you stand firm they may be able to give you some in a small jar to try out.

Just wanted to chime in and say Monistat anti-chaffing gel = win.

I tried it first due to the appealing price tag and it worked really well!

Of course a girl I went to high school with was working the register when I bought it - but it was worth the momentary embarrassment.

Works almost as well as my fav primer (MAC) but no day-after horror story.

I have had the same problem with primers I ended up ditching "primers" all together, and instead now use a Innoxa skin brightening Serum before applying makeup and find it does the same thing (minus the break-outs). It smoothes my skin and adds a light layer of moisture so my makeup spreads easily and looks better. Plus I get the added benefits of the serum!

I think they have stopped making this particular serum recently though, but I similar products would work the same as they have the same consistancy. just make sure they are oil free and don't clog pores!
Remember that serums go a long way so only a little is needed!