The one with the Illamasqua dupe…
Back in 2016 I headed to Selfridges to find a new foundation. I not only found a foundation, but a primer base and a concealer.
And everything has stayed the same. Kind of. I still use Double Wear from Estee Lauder as a foundation (the lighter version in summer so my freckles can show). But I don’t use a concealer (I just use a little extra foundation) – after all with nearly forty something skin, less is more. And the primer base….
The trouble was the price. Sure I didn’t use a lot, but Hydra Veil is around £34 a time. And much as it provides a great base for my foundation, and stops it drying my skin out further, it just proved too pricey to maintain.
And then a make up artist I know, Patrick, posted about Nyx’s new primer on his Instagram. Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer looks like a Hydra Veil dupe. Did I dare to dream?
At £15 I was willing to give it a go.
It’s well packaged, though comes without the outer box – but personally, I’m far more interested int eh product itself. The primer itself looks the same, the texture is a soft jelly, and much the same, you don’t need a lot. Sure, there’s no little spoon to stir it, but if you’re like me and your make up bag lives in your handbag, there’ll be more than enough on the inner lid (seriously you just need a finger tip full) to put on your face.
It sinks in much the same too, leaving a gentle tackiness on the skin, and my foundation goes on just as well.
I’ve been trying it consistently over the last week or so, testing it through training sessions, all day, and into the night. The verdict is….
It’s fabulous. It’s a bargain and does exactly what I need it to do, for less than half the price. My foundation doesn’t go patchy over the dry bits on my face – an issue I’ve had whilst avoiding forking out for Hydra Veil. My foundation lasts all day, and I’m even finding I don’t need to top up under eye make up later in the day (unless I’m really tired), because it keeps going.
Nyx, you clever little buggers.
I bought and paid for this product myself, but it’s so damn good I needed to shout about it. Just leave some for me on the shelf, yeah?