40 Days and 40 Nights Of Primer Reviews

Primer #19 is from the exclusive luxury line from Shiseido, called Cle De Peau Beaute. I had stopped at the Cle De Peau counter at Saks, and asked the SA if the line had a primer that I might try. She said to me, yes, her line does have a primer, but since it's Cle De Peau, the name of the primer is "Cle De Peau Beaute Smoothing Pre-Makeup Emulsion." She gave me a large box containing a sample tube, and I thanked her. This is the same SA who was so generous as to give me samples from other lines at Saks, too.
On the box, this primer states "SPF 22 Sunscreen" and that sunscreen is titanium dioxide. I was happy to see this since there have been very few primers I've noticed with any SPF at all. The product itself is a beautifully-textured palest pink-white, out of the tube. On the face, there is a definite whitening effect, but it did hide some spots and freckles I have, leaving a nice even finish. It dries quickly and doesn't sink into pores or lines, but it is definitely not the pore-filler, line-filler silicone style of primer. There is no shimmer or glow, but a freshness that is a very nice appearance on its own. But I'm testing primers and that means I am putting a foundation over top. So on with the La Prairie. At first I did not think my foundation was going on easily. Perhaps it was the titanium dioxide, I do not know. I did have to work a bit to blend, maybe just a bit more than usual. A close look in the mirror showed a smooth face with no blotches, no uneven application, and no cracks or creases. My foundation looked good even on my crepey areas and it did not look cakey or thick. Later in the day, I checked again. Looking good! The Cle De Peau primer performed beautifully. The best part is that there was no flaking or dry patches that seem to be the problem with many of the primers I have already reviewed. I could definitely still see the whitening effect, so if that is desirable to you, and you have dry skin that usually flakes by the end of the day, I can recommend this primer without hesitation.
Inside the box, there is a little brochure that describes the product. I see on that brochure that this primer comes in another formula, called "Tendre" which is "for a silky, moisture-rich feeling." I hope to try that formula as well. In the meantime, I have another item to add to my growing "must cave on these things after Lent is over" list! Product rating, 9.

Review by Cavewoman
Disclosure: The product was purchased by the reviewer.
Photo Credit: Gettyimages