Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer - Great for concealing large pores & uneven skin

Having considerably oily skin, it’s quite a battle to get my foundation to stay in place. I discovered Clarins Instant Smooth because a trial sample came along with my Clarins Truly Matte Foundation. At the time, I’d been using Smashbox Photo Finish Primer for about 5 months, which I was reasonably happy with - until my discovery of the Clarins primer transformed how I thought a primer should feel on my skin!

I’ve tried several primers (including Smashbox, Pores No More, and Paula Dorff )many of which left my skin with a slick, almost oily feeling. Although the primers I’d purchased oil free, they all still had that slick feeling due to the silicones in the products. Clarins Primer is silicone free, and has a light creamy texture. One of the most impressive factors of the Clarins Instant Smooth is that it contains Acacia Micro-Pearls that sink into wrinkles and pores, and increase in size as they absorb moisture and oils released by the skin, in turn smoothing the skin’s surface. Upon application, you can actually see that pores and fine lines are minimized - skin looks uniform and smooth and is soft to the touch.

I applied the Clarins Primer after washing & drying my face, applying Proactive Toner, and Biore moisturizer. After allowing the moisturizer to dry for about one minute, I used my finger to apply a light layer of the primer to my T-zone. To ensure maximum oil absorption and pore reduction, I applied a second light coat to the bridge of my nose , bottom of my forehead. I noticed an immediate difference in the tone and texture of my skin. My pores were at least 50% less visible and areas of my skin that are slightly pitted from old acne scars looked smoother and more even-toned. I applied my foundation (at the time I was using Prescriptives Matte Liquid) using a latex sponge, which glided seamlessly over the primer. As a finishing touch I used Coty loose powder to set the foundation. The end result was a virtually poreless, flawless finish.

Now, it was time to see if this primer would withstand the heat of the day, keeping foundation in place, and oil at bay. I’ve yet to find a product that would fight oil for more than 4 hours, and this primer did help me stay oil-free for about three. I was most impressed by the fact that it helped my foundation stay in place ALL day! Using oil-blotting papers is routine for me - usually I blot once every 3 hours and often, my foundation gradually wears off onto the blotting papers. By the end of an 8 hour day I’m normally left with many imperfections and freckles showing and having to re-apply foundation. However, since I’ve been using the Clarins primer, my foundation stays put for at least 8-10 hours. It feels like my foundation really binds to the creamy primer to create a perfect long-lasting finish. I’ll never go back to those greasy feeling silicone primers again!

If I could change one thing, it would be for this primer to absorb more skin oils. Although I've never found a primer or mattifier that will absorb oil for more than 4 hours, this would be a miracle product if the formula was modified for 8+ hours of oil absorbtion.

In any case, this is one of my very favorite beauty products - one I never want to be without!