40 Days and 40 Nights of Primers

What Happens if it Actually Works?
photo from Wikimedia.com
review: From Cavewoman

Mary's post under the Smashbox review had me thinking. Of all the primers I've tested and tried and purchased, there is only one that came from a drugstore or discount store! So now I am on a mission to check the racks at these stores to find reasonably priced primers. And so, for Mary, today's review is the Smoothing Face Primer from the new drugstore/discount store line called Vital Radiance, which is a Revlon company. The Vital Radiance products are priced higher than just about every other drugstore/discount store brand, and are creating lots of buzz, not for the products but for the prices. This primer is an ounce tube for around $14. Vital Radiance is a line that is targeted to women over 30, from what I've read. If you think of Ultima II, you'll get the idea of what the Vital Radiance line is all about.

Vital Radiance Smoothing Face Primer comes in two shades, one warm and one cool. I'll review the latter, which is called 02 Petal Cool. This product is oil free and has a warmish pink color and an SPF of 25, a mechanical block of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These ingredients tend to increase the opacity of the product, but Vital Radiance is a thinner consistency than most of the other primers I've tested, and there is none of the white cast that is usually associated with these ingredients.

This product smooths on thinly and evenly, and is almost more of a tinted moisturizer than the silicone-based type of primer that I've already reviewed. It gives the face a lovely fresh glow, and actually could be worn on its own for just that effect, or perhaps just with powder over top. It does not fill in lines or pores as well as the other products have, but still there is a softening effect that is very pleasing. And due to the texture, there is no drying effect, no flaking, and no thick or overly-layered appearance with foundation applied over top. I can see why this formula would be targeted to the over 30 age group, since it's much more moisturizing than the other primers I've tried. I did not even need an extra moisturizer underneath VR. For extreme correcting of surface irregularities, deep lines, or filling in those crater-size pores, pass this one up. But if you're sallow or need a boost of glow, you're going to like Vital Radiance. I can't say my makeup lasted any longer with Vital Radiance than without it, but I like the effect. We're in the middle of Winter here in Ohio, and with Vital Radiance under my La Prairie foundation, I look like I just took a nice walk in the sunshine through our snow-covered park. I assure you that is not the case, but the effect could fool a personal trainer!
Well done, Revlon!
Rating: 7.