One of the most indispensable things in my makeup kit, my vanity table, and my mother’s bathroom ( where I’m currently camping out to apply makeup since my room’s not yet set up ) is a makeup primer. Makeup, including mineral makeup, need a smooth base ( the face ) to glide on to have a flawless and beautiful coverage and finish. Primers sort of “fill in” imperfections, making them look not too obvious, as well as make pores look smaller. Best of all, they help makeup stay longer on the skin.

Well, that’s why I can never live without makeup primers.

A few months before I have been one of those who have been constantly bugging Jen of Camellia Rose for her popular makeup primers, because she has been busy with her newfound love, motherhood. The demand has been quite high that people are even willing to wait for their turn to try the Camelia Rose makeup primer - and that includes me. I figured that if there were alot of people seeking to try her primer, it must be that good ! Well, is it really?

Reviewing her primer’s fairly easy. To start, it’s not as thick as another mineral makeup brand’s primer that I’ve been using, but it’s not watery too - so the consistency is just find - no chance of “balling” up because of product being too “thick” and no chance of not doing its job because it’s not watery at all. I tried the V2 formula, and it smelled like herbs as I applied it on my skin. It glided effortlessly to my skin like normal moisturizer, only thicker and non-absorbent ( primers are supposed to settle on the skin, not get absorbed, so this is a good thing ), and I applied mineral makeup as always.

Results? Now, first things first, how can you actually determine if a makeup primer is great, or not? It’s quite interesting to learn that the end result of your look after your whole application, plus how it holds up, can tell you if your makeup primer works great with your skin, or not.

Well, let’s just say that for the past few weeks, I totally love the way I look when I wear full coverage makeup when I go out, my pores and imperfections not so noticeable, and my foundation still very intact by the time I get home, even if I had to blot every now and then, given my impossibly oily skin.

I’m sticking with Camellia Rose Skin Smoothing Primer. It’s very affordable ( @ $18.95 a jumbo tube, this could last forever! ) , I love the texture, and it works for me. I end this review, praising it as a GREAT primer for mineral makeup ( and maybe, for non-mineral makeup too! ). It’s heaven-sent for those who don’t have perfect skin.