Hmm, I pondered as I smoothed a thin layer of Garnier 5 Second Blur all over my face. What does this pale pink, perfecting primer remind me of?
From the colour to the texture to the finish, turns out this is a dead-ringer for Clarins’ wonder primer, Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch.
Both feel like a whipped mousse that melts into the skin, leaving you with a velvety soft and smooth finish that acts as a great base for makeup.
These products work by leaving a lightweight, silicone veil over the surface of the skin, filling in and smoothing out fine lines and pores. There are also light reflectors in the mix, which give that flattering, soft focus finish. But there’s one crucial difference – the Clarins product will set you back €27 for 15ml, while Garnier’s newbie is €19.99 for 30ml.
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You apply it, like all primers, over your moisturiser and under your makeup (if you’re wearing it – and you can pat a little on top, too, for extra perfecting power). I’ve been wearing it all week under my BB cream and, while it doesn’t make a huge impact on my forehead lines, it does work well at smoothing out the pores around my nose. It also minimises redness and makes my skin look more even textured and toned.
There’s some mattifying action going on, making it a particularly good pick for oily gals, but I think all skin types should get along with this just fine.
Is it an absolute essential? Not if your skin doesn't need the help, or if you don't use a primer and can't face another step in your morning routine. But if your skin texture needs a bit of help, you want to distract from any pores or wrinkles or you just want a soft, velvety base for your makeup, then yes, this one's for you. And if you’re a fan of Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch, then this is definitely worth a whirl.
Look for it now in Boots, and rolled out in chemists and groceries nationwide from June 1st. Will you be giving it a try, or maybe you already have?
