40 Days and 40 Nights of Primer Reviews

When is a primer not a primer?
Primer #28.

When is a Primer not a Primer? I'm asking this question today because I found out something very interesting last night at the counters of two of the most successful cosmetic companies in the world. Our Annieytown and I ventured out to check for primers at Lancome and Estee Lauder. Both of these companies take prime real-estate spaces in any store where they are sold. I asked SA's at each of the counters if I could try their primers. At Lancome, my favorite SA told me that Lancome does not make a primer, but only recommends a good moisturizer as all I'd need under my foundation. At Estee Lauder, again, no primer. But my Lauder SA said that the company suggests using their Idealist Skin Refinisher as a primer. That surprised me because I had thought of Idealist as a treatment product. But, in the name of research, I dug out my bottle of Idealist to see if indeed this product works well as a primer.

First of all, I'll say that the list of ingredients includes just about everything you can imagine in a face-care product. Silicones and peptides, extracts of grains, fruits, and herbs, not to mention caffeine, cholesterol, mica and titanum dioxide (although this product does not offer any SPF.) So, can the contains-all-things Idealist also do-all-things? Let me tell you what I found in my testing.

Idealist is a beautifully smooth thick liquid product that has a milky appearance but smooths out to be perfectly clear on the skin. It felt wonderful, soft, and silky. But then it stung a bit, nothing serious, just a teeny tingle is more like it. It smelled very fresh and clean, and dried quickly to a glowing finish. I liked what I saw. Before I applied my foundation I checked for lines and pores. There seemed to be a bit of a filling effect but nothing nearly as thick as my Smashbox. But Idealist felt comfortable and I proceeded to apply La Prairie Concealer Foundation over top. It took a bit more foundation to cover my face than with most of the other primers I've tested. That was a surprise to me. My foundation did go on easily with no 'gripping' --but it did seem to take just a bit longer to get a smooth, even application.
I waited. The tingly effect remained even after I had applied foundation over the Idealist. I don't have sensitive skin so it did not worry me.
Idealist as a treatment worked ok on me in the past, but I had stopped using it when Lauder introduced Perfectionist CP+ in their skincare line. (My love of that product is legendary! I've raved about it so much that I even got tired of raving about it.) But Idealist as a primer is first-rate and a wonderful surprise! I think that the touch of mica gave my complexion a pretty glow under my La Prairie. My skin felt comfortable and looked luminous but not oily or greasy. My pores and lines were softened, and there was no foundation sinking, cracking, or wearing unevenly. Idealist gave my face a freshness and even -- dare I say -- a youthfulness, which had me wondering about plumping properties or ingredients in the formula. Could this be the treatment qualities at work? Can a treatment be a primer or vice versa? Yes it can! I'm thrilled to discover Idealist as a primer. I'm happy to see the treatment results too.
Product rating, 9.

Photo from fashionroadkill.cjb.net
Review by cavewoman
Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer.