I’ve never been one for primers – it’s just something else to add to my face, which as an oily-skin person, I try to limit.
After trying (and liking) their foundation, I read about the primer and decided to give it a go. It’s pretty costly, but after reading the 194k reviews, I thought it must be good.
TL;DR (summary)
★★★★☆The cons are mostly brand-related, not the product itself
Pros: smooths pores; extends foundation wear; lightweight feel; good for oily skin; large bottle that lasts a while.
Cons: high price for a relatively unknown brand; some customers have been caught out with the subscription; unpleasant, aggressive social ad retargeting.
My article contains::
- Why use a primer? (benefits, skin prep)
- How does the Il Makiage primer work?
- What I look for in a primer
- When & how to apply primer
- Wear test – all day, and dark circles
- Price and where to buy
- Is the Il Makiage primer non-comedogenic?
- Il Makiage primer discounts
- Other Il Makiage products worth mentioning
Why use a primer? (benefits, skin prep)
I used to think primers were a bit of a gimmick, but they do have a purpose; one that I’m appreciating as I’m getting older.
A good primer smooths pores and fine lines, helps foundation last longer, and makes skin look more even.
For oily skin it can keep shine at bay, and for mature skin it helps soften texture. Of course, skin prep is still key – clean, moisturised skin always makes foundation sit better.
For mature skin. I’m nearly 40, so fine lines are appearing around my eyes. Primer sinks into them, allowing my foundation to sit on top (instead of sinking into the lines themselves!). The primer also helps with large pores, as it smooths them out.
Benefits of a primer:
- Helps makeup last longer
- Reduces shine (for oily skin) or adds glow (for dry skin)
- Smooths texture (pores, fine lines, acne marks)
- Creates a better surface for foundation
If I know I want my makeup to last extra long (longer day at work for example) then I’ll use a primer.
I use primer when on days when I’m not wearing foundation to fix the above. Even if I’m wearing only mascara and blusher, I still want to go out feeling like no one can see my nose holes! (I never thought I’d write a sentence like that.)
When I use primer, it looks like this:
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.
How does the Il Makiage primer work?
Description from Il Makiage:
Our silky, weightless bestselling primer blurs pores, fine lines & wrinkles, instantly smooths skin & maximizes foundation wear time. The lightweight texture & silky formula creates a soft, long-lasting photoshopped effect. You’re welcome, overflowing social calendar.
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. When I use my FaceHalo make-up pad to remove the makeup, I can see the foundation coming off.
What I look for in a primer
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
A primer needs to keep my makeup in place all day without fading or sliding. It should make my makeup look smoother and more polished while being gentle enough not to cause breakouts. It also needs to keep my oily T-zone under control and blur out my pores for a nice, even finish. Just something that works quietly in the background to make everything look better. I hate buying and putting more products on my skin, so it needs to be worth it for me do to this.
I use the Il Makiage primer when I’m wearing foundation and want my makeup to last. This includes an evening out and a full day at work. In particular, when I’m at work, I don’t want to re-do my makeup in the toilet during my lunch break because the primer hasn’t worked, and either my makeup is non-existent, or the primer has made my foundation cakey.
When & how to apply primer
I use a primer once I’ve moisturised and applied SFP in my morning skincare. I usually wait 10 minutes before applying primer then wait again 10 minutes before applying makeup.
I’ve found if I don’t wait this long, foundation doesn’t sit right and looks cakey after an hour.
I use a pea-sized amount for my whole face. I use my fingers which I warm up a little before applying. I like to do this just because… there’s no advantage! Although being warm when applied might help it soak in quicker/more even?
Wear test – all day, and dark circles
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. Primer to me, is a definite ‘extra’ and one that isn’t always needed.
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.
I’ve taken photos during the day, to see the difference in how it stayed. I finished eye makeup whilst waiting for it to dry/sink in as this takes 5-10mins
During the day you can see both sides look covered but there’s definitely more brightening on the primer side. It smoothes on so much easier with the primer and seems to mix/glide well over my skin.
By the end of the day, the concealer had (mostly) remained in place when used with the primer. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve never been a primer fan (because I try to limit products on my face), but it really does help makeup stay on longer.
Although the concealer has faded, it’s faded evenly and hasn’t crusted around the sides of my eye which sometimes happens. My eye bags cause me a lot of anguish, so I’m glad to have found this to help cover my darkness for as long as possible.
Price and where to buy
It’s £42 (25ml), available from IlMakiage.com. Use code ‘welcome10’ for 10% off your first order. It’s free del over £50.
It’s pretty costly upfront especially for a brand I hadn’t heard of a few years ago. There are 203k reviews on their website, which helped me decide to go with them. Primer lasts for ages (9 months for me) so spread out, the cost doesn’t seem so bad.
Is the Il Makiage primer non-comedogenic?
I checked the ingredients so you don’t have to! Find out what I discovered and why it matters for acne-prone skin: is the Il Makiage primer non-comedogenic?
Il Makiage primer discounts
If you want to try it, buy it from Il Makiage for £42 (plus £4 postage unless you fill your boots and spend over £50, then it’s free).
Use code welcome10 for 10% off > ilmakiage.com
Other Il Makiage products worth mentioning
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.
LAST EDITED: January 2022 | CATEGORY: Make up
Hi, I’m Rachael — a blogger, digital product creator, and optimisation enthusiast. I write about beauty, tech tips, and simple ways to make life easier, sharing honest reviews and practical advice. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me running, reading thrillers, or experimenting with new skincare.
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