I’ve had The Body Shop Instablur Primer for 2 weeks now, but changing foundations half way through I decided it was best to hold off doing a first impressions until I had tried out with both to see if the performance was any different. This is a much talked about primer, I’ve seen mostly rave reviews, with some that didn’t like this at all, and most of those were at Oily/Combination skin types… like mine. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try something from a brand I normally wouldn’t.
Firstly, before we delve into my first impressions/review – can we take a moment to appreciate the packaging on this?! I love it, I love the logo, and although simple, black and white, it feels classy with a touch of silver behind the logo. Simple, but it makes it feel like a £14 product. It’s a shame this line doesn’t go further – because I’d want it all, just for the packaging.
Instablur is an odd consistency, it’s a half milky transparent silicone gel consistency, but it’s very dry. I normally open a primer tube and dot a it around my head direct from a tube, over my cheeks forehead and chin, because it’s so dry it just doesn’t stick to the skin at all – it actually will just fall off your face. I have to put this onto the back of my hand, pick it up and almost squish it into my skin. It really is quite bizarre.
I’m not normally a fan of any silicone feeling primers that I’ve tried in the past, Benefit’s Porefessional makes my skin feel clogged up. The The Body Shop Instablur Primer fills in my pores slightly and makes my skin feel very smooth to the touch.
With my first foundation Lancome Teint Miracle, this just didn’t work out at all. The combination just didn’t mix well together – and my foundation was completely gone by mid-afternoon. I didn’t buy a new foundation because of the mis-matched primer/foundation situation, but I did need another as nothing in my collection was matching me very well after spending a few days in the sun, I had become more tanned.
I purchased the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (review of that in a few days), and boy did that change things. Both, yes the foundation is better, but also it does last better with this too. I’d tried wearing without this and it doesn’t last as long – and I became oilier quicker. The true test of the two was a hot day in London, spent walking around a lot. I walked 12 miles + an hour of pedalo-ing in Hyde Park, applying my makeup at 8am – I got home at 10pm, and my makeup was still in tact and looking perfect. I didn’t powder at all through the day either having bought a new handbag I forgot to put it in when I swapped over.
I wouldn’t say that it’s truly blurring – it fills up the few larger pores that I have but they are still visible – but maybe for those with bigger pore issues might see a significant difference. I tried applying half of this to my face with it on, and half with nothing – and I couldn’t see anything significant. I am impressed with how long it helps my makeup stay on for, and whilst silicone it isn’t drying – a type I can normally feel on my skin all day which is why Porefessional just doesn’t do it for me.
My only word of warning with this is because it really didn’t sit well or help at all with making my Lancome Foundation last any longer, I’m not sure if it was that foundation or whether it’s luck of the draw as to whether it will help. So if you have a friends you can nab – or manage to sneak a sample in the shop, to test before you buy do, especially as it’s not particularly cheap.
Do you have any recommendations from the Body Shop makeup line? Other than the dupe for MAC Rebel from there I have – this is the only thing I’ve tried and I’m intrigued to discover more!
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Thank you for the review! I’ve thought about trying this one before but wasn’t sure how it would work exactly. xo
I’ve been meaning to try this primer for a while. Would you say it controlled oil better than the Porefessional and did you experience any reactions? I tend to get breakouts with silicone primers 🙁 Jay x
Not had any reactions at all, but apart from lavender my skin isn’t sensitive to anything. Porefessional I’ve only had Tiny samples, so haven’t been able to try it for more than 4-5 days but I’d say personally it controls it better. X
Ahh ok great, I think I’ll have to try this out 🙂 xx
I was sceptical as I haven’t tried much from Body shop at all, but I’m really pleased I have. Foundation staying in place all day is a new thing, and it feels good!
I need to try this out!
I got a sample of this months ago in The Body Shop and I never used it because the consistency was so weird to me. I’ll have to try it, I still have it. My Sephora box came today with my new MUFE Ultra HD foundation and I can’t wait to try it tomorrow morning. I got the Indeed Nanoblur primer and that’s a big NO NO NO. That didn’t work for me, at all.
The texture DOES look very odd… like contact cement glue or something!
I find primers hit and miss depending on the foundation and powder on top too. Sometimes my foundation break down faster with certain primers, it’s weird.
Hmm Body Shop has revamped a lot of their makeup so I am not as familiar with the line – their eye shadows are quite good, some good colours (stay away from the mattes, the’re a bit chalky), and their nail polishes are pretty good too – they even offer some unusual shades.