Pore blurring primers. Highly controversial in the beauty community because do they work or are they just a marketing gimmick to sell an unrealistic claim? Well, it depends on the primer. I’ve said this in the past and I’ll say it again, I think it’s hard to shell out tons of money on primer because it goes under your makeup. That being said, I’ve never tried a primer that I can’t live without. If you’re like me, here’s a super affordable primer I can get behind.
The Ordinary High Adherence Silicone Primer is a velvety-matte, pore filling primer. It subtly blurs the skin without feeling greasy or heavy. It’s great for oily skin and those looking for a flawless complexion. Primer goes under makeup and brands set crazy high and unrealistic expectations for primers. You’re better off saving your money and this primer is perfect.
The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer Review
This primer uses adaptive silicones to act as a matte, hydrating, blurring primer.
This primer is a silicone, pore filling variety with a slick matte finish that helps grip to makeup, making it last longer. While this primer contains adaptive silicones, I don’t think the texture feels super silicone-y. It has a matte dry down that feels light and slick on the skin. It feels velvety smooth and it’s super breathable. The Ordinary calls this a lightweight hydrator but I wouldn’t describe it as hydrating, it’s more of a velvety matte slip.
So, the silicone texture is light and your skin can breathe.
How effective is this primer?
This definitely made my face look smoother. Blurring pores and imperfections subtly, nothing dramatic or filter-like. But soft and flattering on the skin.
I think there’s an unrealistically high expectation for pore filling primers because so many brands photoshop their ads and photos. Primer is not going to change the quality of your skin. If you have large pores, acne scars, or texture a pore-filling, silicone primer isn’t going to make that disappear.
It’s fair to say this primer could be suitable for all skin types because it is non-greasy. It’s great for oily skin. But, it can feel a tad dry so some with dry skin may want to layer a moisturizer or oil under it. Since this has a matte finish I wouldn’t say this is the most dewy friendly makeup primer. But, this also helps it to make your makeup last because a matte finish always lasts longer than something dewy or satin.
This primer gets pretty good reviews. But, like most primers, there are highs and lows. This is going to work better for some people than others. The consistency of this primer, lightweight wear, and favorability for oily skin are some common highs mentioned in reviews. Of the not so great reviews, it’s that this primer did not work or that it did not layer well with foundation.
Of The Ordinary’s two primers, this one is definitely my favorite. It’s velvety and lightweight on the skin. Plus, who will ever turn down some light and realistic pore filling and blurring? This is a good option for matte makeup looks. While their High-Spreadability Fluid Primer is for dewy looks.
This primer uses adaptive silicones to act as a matte, hydrating, blurring primer.
The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer Pros:
- Very affordable formulation. Some primers cost tons and it seems silly spending so much for something that goes under your makeup.
- The velvety, matte texture is a nice feature for oily skin.
- This is a silicone primer, it lightly blurs the skin and fills pores. It’s a realistic blurring look. Don’t expect this to look like an Instagram filter.
- Oil and alcohol-free formula. This is also vegan and cruelty-free.
- You can wear this alone on no makeup days for matte, blurred skin.
- Helps makeup to adhere and to extend the wear time of your makeup. This has a matte finish and matte always tends to be more long-wearing than dewy or satin finishes.
- This product does what it promises. Blurs the skin and helps your makeup to last. I don’t think it sets unrealistic expectations like some primers.
- The squeeze top bottle is easy to use and operate.
- You get a generous amount of product, especially given that you only need a small amount. This primer should last you a while.
The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer Cons:
- It may not be the best option for those with super dry skin as this has a matte, velvety texture.
- Some reviewers said this primer did nothing for their skin.
- This formulation contains silicone.
- Some reviews said this made their skin oily. Keep the skincare you wear under it light.
- Apply a thin layer as it may pill if you apply too much. A little goes a long way.
- This primer will not be the prettiest product in your collection.
- The Ordinary markets this product as a hydrating primer. As someone with dry skin, I don’t agree with this and if I used it alone, my skin would feel dry. This is the one claim I think this product doesn’t deliver on. But there may be some hydrating qualities for those with oily skin.
How to use
Use this in the AM, after water-based serums and creams. It should be the last step in your routine regardless if you wear makeup or not. It should go: serums, creams, SPF then primer and makeup.
Since it’s a makeup product it does not have any conflicts!
Where to buy it
This High-Adherence Silicone Primer is available at:
Final Thoughts
For the price, this high-adherence silicone primer definitely delivers and exceeds expectations. The velvety matte texture, light blurring, and the way it adheres to the skin for longer makeup wear time. If you’re a primer skeptic like myself, this is a good one to try because it’s so affordable and the numerous favorable reviews speak for themselves.
There is only so much a blurring primer can do for your skin and a lot of that depends on the state of your skin. There’s nothing wrong with textured skin and visible pores. That is real skin! If you want light blurring, I’d say try this product, you don’t have much to lose.
This primer uses adaptive silicones to act as a matte, hydrating, blurring primer.