I have to admit that I've kind of found myself over primer, but recently I've been finding some new formulas that have been getting it done. I've tried a lot in the past that didn't really do much for my skin, so I have a few favorites that I tend to stick to. In the past I've found that a lot of primers are not what I'm personally looking for. Heavy silicone primers meant to fill pores tend to feel heavy and make my makeup slide around and most mattifying, long wear primers tend to make my skin feel dry and tight. When I read the description of the Stila One Step Prime Face Primer*, I was intrigued and I really wanted to try it out because it sounded right up my alley.

How did it go? Keep reading for more!

This oil-free, all-in-one lightweight serum primes, preps, conditions, and smooths skin. It’s formulated with Stila’s Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex™, a proprietary blend of 15 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The crystal clear base is infused with 50 percent water for a lighter, more refreshing feel than most silicone-based primers.

The thing that really drew me in about the Stila One Step Prime was that it seemed to fit what I personally feel like I need in a primer. I want a primer that's going to prep my skin for makeup in a lightweight layer that's going to keep my skin looking healthy and hydrated throughout the day without breaking up my makeup. I also liked the idea of added skin care benefits in my makeup routine, in a product that doesn't contain pigments that could ultimately clog my pores like a BB cream. 

This product is packaged in a pump, which is always a good thing, and I find that it easily dispenses just the right amount of product to cover my face without overwhelming it and has no fragrance. I use about a pea sized amount and smooth it in with my fingers. Initially upon application, this feels like a very light moisturizing lotion, but as you rub it into the skin it gets a little bit  more tacky to the touch. Once on the skin, this leaves skin feeling hydrated without any heaviness or feeling of residue left behind on the skin, which I think could make it suitable for a variety of skin types. 

I've used this primer with several different foundation formulas, from more sheer, lightweight formulas to more matte formulas with heavier coverage, and I've found that it consistently lives up to what it claims. Initially upon application of the primer, I can't really see any visible difference in the skin, but once I start putting foundation on I find that it applies really smoothly, evenly, and quickly. I also find that this helps to keep more matte foundations from gathering and catching on drier parts of the skin, making everything look a little more smooth and healthy. Though this doesn't claim to increase wear time, what I think it does is to keep your makeup looking good for longer because it creates an even, smooth base. 

Overall, two thumbs up! I definitely found that this lived up to all of its claims and did exactly what I personally wanted it to do, giving me a hydrated, prepped, smooth canvas for makeup application. I think this is a great option for people like myself with a combination/normal skin type who want something to help give a more even application of their makeup without adding a heavy primer. Personally, I'm definitely going to keep using it and I have really high hopes that this is going to help with my personal winter skin woes, because that's when I really need help smoothing out the surface of my skin for makeup application. 

The Stila One Step Prime Face Primer* is available now at Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart  Beauty Boutique locations in Canada and retails for $47CAD. 

Thanks for reading!