So, initially this post was supposed to be a first impressions post. But because I'm so bad at blogging lately, I've actually used this product long enough to do a full review on it! Oh man...Anyway, this product has a SUPER LONG name, so instead of always typing Prime Time BB Primer-Cream Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 every time, we're just going to stick with "BB primer"! This came out a while back (as usual I am tardy to the party) and I had wanted it then but I have a lot of primers. Recently I just used up a couple and finally took the plunge (I've been on a bareMinerals kick lately) and finally purchased it. I also picked up the Bare Skin foundation, the brush that accompanies the Bare Skin, and the Ready Touch Up Veil along with this primer, but those are separate posts! The foundation used in these blog photos will be the Bare Skin foundation.This product retails for $26 (I work at Ulta, so I purchased mine for a bit less) and it should be available at any BM retailer (Ulta, Sephora, etc) as well as online. When it was originally released, it came in two shade options but now there are four (Fair, Light, Medium, and Tan) and I have the Light. It contains 1 fl. oz. of product (30 mL), which is a standard size for a face primer. It comes in the same type of pump packaging that the original Prime Time comes in, but I wish that it came in a squeeze tube!
FTC Disclaimer: I purchased this product myself. I am not affiliated with Bare Escentuals nor is this a sponsored post. I am not receiving any compensation for this post and all opinions and thoughts are entirely my own.
According to bareMinerals' website:
Perfect, protect and prime—at the same time. With a hint of skin-perfecting coverage, this multi-tasking BB primer-cream immediately diminishes the appearance of discoloration, uneven skin tone and imperfections while providing broad spectrum SPF 30 protection and defense against environmental stressors. Plus the silky, smooth formula combats flaky dryness, excess oil and the appearance of pores to perfectly prep skin for a flawless foundation application."
Ingredients
Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 2.6% and Zinc oxide 6.2%. Inactive ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Silica, Tocopherol, Magnesium Silicate, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Stearyl Triethoxysilane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Retinoate, Cyclodextrin. May Contain : Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, 77492, 77499).
You need to clear your mind of the preconceived notion of a bb cream. This is not going to be similar to an Asian bb cream in the slightest. This isn't even going to be close to a Western style tinted moisturizer type bb cream. This is a foundation primer that has a teeny tiny bit of a tint. It's going to slightly reduce things like discoloration and redness and even out your skin tone by a small amount. It is not going to be like applying a tinted moisturizer. It doesn't really have too much coverage on its own. It's a silicone based foundation primer that does all of the same things as a primer typically does (smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, fills in pores, helps foundation adhere and blend out evenly on the skin, and helps the staying power of your base product) with a tiny bit of a tint.
If you have pretty decent skin, you could just smooth this on and you might be set to go. If you're like me, in the midrange as far as skin issues and discoloration go, this primer will help even you out, allowing you to use a bit less foundation, while still prepping your skin for your base. Once applied, this primer has that typical velvety, silky silicone feeling to it. I allow the product to sit for a minute or two before I apply my base product over it.
I've used this under all sorts of products; Bare Skin, Ready, and the original and matte loose powder foundations from BM, several bb creams (both Maybelline, Flower, and NYX), powder compacts like the Laura Geller, and liquid foundations ranging from higher priced (Naked from Urban Decay and NARS Sheer Glow) to drugstore (the new Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless and the Revlon Photo Ready Airbrush Effect) and it works just like any other primer. BUT it DOES add a little extra in the coverage department. Nothing much, nothing super noticeable to outsiders maybe, But I notice!
Bare skin.
Face with primer on.
As you can tell, it doesn't do much but it does add a little something!
Full face of makeup!
Overall, I really do enjoy this product. For someone like me, who has oily-combination skin and a decent amount of discoloration and redness to cover up, this primer does help. As far as its priming properties, it works the same as every other primer I've tried and enjoyed. It lengthens the wear-time of my foundation and allows my foundations and bb creams to blend onto my skin a lot more smoothly. I don't think this is a must-have product though. And I'm not sure how well it would really help if you have a large amount of skin issues to help subdue. But I do like it and I will be repurchasing this primer!
Extras!
Some notable ingredients in here would be Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice root; the molecole licochalcone can help control oil production and sooth acne-prone skin), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (two different stable and non-irritating vitamin c derivatives), Retinyl Retinoate (a vitamin a derivative that is milder on the skin and also reported to be more resilient to sunlight), Cyclodextrin (works as stabilizing host for other chemicals such as retinols that releases them over a period of time), and, finally, Tocopherol, which is vitamin e!
