Splurge Or Save: Makeup Primers

Welcome to our newest feature: Splurge or Save. All of us have certain items that we love, regardless of the cost. A certain brand of moisturizer. That uber-expensive mascara. On the other hand, we all have other items that we just don’t care to spend one penny more on than we have to. Splurge or Save will highlight different categories of items and give you our recommendation for brands that you might want to spend a bit more on and others that can save you a few dollars.

Makeup primers go on the skin after your moisturizer and before your foundation. They allow foundation to go on more smoothly, minimize fine lines, hold down shine and help keep makeup fresh and in place all day. I think they’re the best thing to happen to makeup since… perhaps ever.

What makes primers work is dimethicone, a silicone-based polymer that is often used as a lubricant and conditioning agent.  No matter what brand of primer you use, odds are dimethicone is in the mix.

There are many brands of makeup primers available, so no matter what your budget, you can find one that works for you. Here are my three picks:

Splurge

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer – $36 for 1 oz. at Sephora
For me, this is the grande dame of makeup primers and the first I ever used. Although it’s pricey,  one ounce will last you a while.  It does what it says. It’s noteworthy that Smashbox cosmetics  grew out of a professional photo studio, so they are considered professional-grade.

 

 

Save A Little

BareEscentuals BareVitamins Prime Time – $22 for 1 oz. at Sephora
I am a huge fan of BareEscenutals’ entire line (especially the foundation), so this mineral-based primer was a natural try for me. I find it to be just as good as the Smashbox, but quite a bit less expensive.

 

 

Save A Lot

Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Gel – $6.79 for 1.5 oz at Drugstore.com
I know what you’re thinking – yeast infection medicine?! On my face?! Well, no. While it’s made by the company that brings you yeast infection treatments, this Monistat product is made especially to help reduce chafing. As such, it contains dimethicone. And is under $10 for over an ounce. Seriously, ladies, if you closed your eyes , you’d never know the difference between this and the Smashbox stuff.

 

After using all three off and on, I’ve settled on the Monistat. For this item, the splurge is not worth it to
me. I’d rather spend the extra money on a great lip gloss.

Of course, you may not.

Feature photo

Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel – Because no one is too fat for a dress

I wear dresses because I feel too fat for shorts.

There.  I said it.

It’s not my keen fashion sense or my desire to dress up every single day.  It’s my overly ripe, pear shaped hips.  And ass.  And thighs.

I live in Florida and there is no freaking way I can endure 100+ temperatures in jeans.  No matter how fat my thighs are.  That leaves me with skirts and dresses.  Or nudity (which I hear is frowned upon in the Sunshine State).

Because dresses – especially this season’s maxi dresses – are my go to outfit for camouflaging thunder thighs, I am always amazed by women who tell me that they don’t think they can wear dresses because they are too heavy.

That’s like a super model telling you she doesn’t wear a bikini because she’s thin.

Why, oh why, were all of my female friends dismissing my oh so flattering fashion advice?

Oh.  Right.

Chafing.

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