I love a good primer and over the years I have come across quite a few that will always be in my stash for as long as they are available, but that doesn't mean I want to stop trying new ones. For me a primer needs to give that perfect base, hydrate as well as to ensure your makeup stays on for as long as possible throughout the day, I am long since over the notion that you can wear a foundation or a mascara for 24 to 48 hours as much as your deodorant should last that long - we all know it doesn't!
From Essence I have been using the Hydrating + Perfecting Primer SPF20* (£3.79) which is described as being a soft, satin-textured primer that enhances the longevity and durability of your favourite makeup. It has a built-in SPF20 which protects the skin from harmful UV rays while Essence's Vitamin Complex moisturises and nourishes the skin.
Housed inside a transparent glass bottle, this primer has a pearlesque sheen to it when first used and if you have used products such as Primerizer from Smashbox Cosmetics, it is a really similar texture in that it is quite runny and this is where the issue begins for the Primer and its pipette dropper. Essence claim that the pipette dropper is used to give a more accurate and precise application, though personally it isn't the best made applicator I have ever used and it always picks up far too much product, so to stop the waste, I tend to instead drop it onto my beauty blender and apply that way.
There are silicones within this primer, so depending on your preference it might not be for you, but it doesn't feel like a silicone primer, it doesn't leave your skin feeling as though there has been an extra greasy film applied. When applied with the beauty blender, it does apply really well, it doesn't quite mask the pores as much as it claims it will, but it does sit nicely on the skin, it doesn't irritate and when it comes to applying foundation or a BB cream, it doesn't split or change how your product looks, instead what it does do is what you would expect of a primer, it gives that base that allows for a much smoother application and when it comes to the longevity of your makeup, I have to admit I didn't find it blew me away, but it isn't the worst primer I have worked with either.
For a product that is under £4, it definitely is worth buying to try. Whilst I wasn't wowed by it, I have nothing bad to say about it either, it does the job it is meant to do, the only annoyance is the pipette which just doesn't work, a pump style applicator would have been better and easier to work with or a slight thickening up of the primer itself.
The Essence Hydrating + Perfecting Primer SPF20 is cruelty and paraben-free as well as being Vegan-friendly.
*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.