Il Makiage No Filter Poreless Base Smoothing Primer – my honest review

I was never one for primers. I’ve got oily skin so I dreaded adding something else to my skincare routine. Over time, it got to a point when foundation just never sat right on my skin.

I’ve been using Il Makiage primer for years now. It doesn’t make my oily skin oilier, and keeps make-up on and skin looking smooth all day.

TL;DR (quick summary)

Pros: Great for all types of skin, even oily skin; makes foundation glide on skin; helps foundation look smooth and last for longer; works well over skincare (like SPF);

Cons: Expensive upfront cost (but can last years); unknown brand; bulky bottle

Why should you use the Il Makiage primer?

The primer is great for smoothing out skin as a preparation step before putting on makeup. If you have fine lines, blackheads or large pores, primer will fill them so anything added on top will be smooth. Foundation added on top looks so much better because it’s got a smooth surface to go on.

Primer also helps your makeup last longer.

I have oily skin and thought primer would worsen it because it’s like a gel, so I thought it’d be oily. It really isn’t. After using for a while, I’m happy to say it doesn’t make me want to tear off my makeup at the end of the day! It helps my foundation feel so light; it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing any.

What I look for in a primer (and how Il Makiage compares)

I want a primer to:

• keep my makeup on for longer
• make my makeup look better
• not bring me out in spots
• not make my oily T zone worse
• smooth out/fill in pores

As with all primers, it goes on smooth and feels silky. I’m very particular about what I put on my skin, as it’s sensitive in places but mostly oily.

I didn’t have great light to show you BUT you can see the difference in my pores. The primer fills them and smoothes the skin. Once dry, you can then apply your foundation which looks better and stays on for longer.

I don’t use a primer if I’m not wearing foundation. I tend to wear foundation if I’m going to work, which is a 10hr+ day including several hours in a car. When I get home, the foundation doesn’t have the same coverage as the morning (understandable), but it still gives good coverage.

How and when to apply the Il Makiage primer (step by step)

Apply primer after your skincare and wait for it to dry before applying makeup. If you don’t wait, your foundation is likely going to look cakey and ‘on top’ of your skin instead of smoothed in.

Step by step:

1. Apply your skincare and SPF
2. Wait 5 minutes
3. Apply primer
4. Wait 10 minutes – whilst waiting for it to dry, I do things that aren’t on my skin – such as my eyebrows, lashes, and hair.
5. Apply your foundation and other makeup.

Does the Il Makiage primer work on mature skin?

Yes absolutely. I’m even more invested in using a primer now than I was in my 20s and early 30s. It helps to smooth holes (blackheads) and fine lines so foundation looks better. What’s not to like?

Skin prep is so important when using foundation. If you have skin that’s not been exfoliated in a while, foundation won’t look good and it’ll probably go patchy. I’ve written some tips in my Il Makiage foundation blog, a little way down the page. It includes things like what I use to exfoliate, dermaplaning, cleansing & tretinoin.

How the Il Makiage primer wears throughout the day

I’ve tested it with concealer (Il Makiage F*k I’m Flawless). Working from home, I just want my bags hidden rather than wearing a full face of make-up. I smoothed in the primer to just one side of my face where I plan to put concealer – around/under my eye bag area.

It blends easily and is like a gel. It doesn’t pull skin and goes on like any moisturiser or cream.

The above shows my skin after a full day out and about – including in the rain and sweating! The acne on my skin is coming through, but you can see just how well the foundation, on the whole, has remained in place.

If I don’t use primer, I barely get to work before my skin starts to flake and look patchy.

Price and where to buy the Il Makiage primer

If you want to try it, buy it from Il Makiage for £36. Use code ‘welcome10‘ for 10% off > ilmakiage.com

Primer is an expensive cost upfront, but can last for years if you only use a few times each week.

Other Il Makiage products I’ve reviewed

So far I’ve tried this primer, F*ck I’m Flawless concealer and Woke Up Like This foundation. I’m very impressed with all 3 products and would recommend them.

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• Make up

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