I could complain about the summer heat (again) but instead I'm going to try to move this conversation into a new direction and complain about summer sweat. Fun times!

As an oily skinned girl the summer heat and humidity are really doing a number on my foundation. Not so much in terms of longevity, but with the matte finish. For the life of me I haven't found one that'll really do the trick and unfortunately my current favorite (Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-hr Full Coverage Foundation) is not available in a shade that matches me. I'm using up last summer's 'tan' foundation (Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation) but as I'm not completely satisfied with its finish by the end of the day I've been on the hunt for a new foundation - or a new primer to make my foundation look nicer, longer.

To that end I've tortured my local Sephora ladies and have tried out a couple high end primers - as well as a couple drugstore. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised to hear that I liked the drug store ones better, but I wanted to leave you all with a few words about the ones that I've tested:

HIGH END


Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($52 / 1oz) - Apparently some people have issues with this primer 'peeling' around the edges of the face (it's reacting to the moisturizer) but for me it just didn't do anything. I didn't feel like my foundation went on any smoother, looked any better, and it definitely didn't stay more matte throughout the day. Even my coworker who doesn't notice these things said I looked shinier in the face, especially around the nose.



Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer ($33 / 1oz) - This primer might have felt nicer on the face (it's a slightly tinted lotion) but it also didn't do a lot in the mattifying department. I'm not sure it means much for me to say that it did better than the Hourglass sample because it still didn't do what I wanted - maintain the matte finish of my foundation.





DRUGSTORE

Black Radiance Complexion Perfection-Shine Control Primer ($5.99 / .84oz) - Recommended by Nouveau Cheap, this is probably the first primer I've ever purchased that I felt actually made a difference. When I use this in the morning my foundation still looks pretty decent by the end of the day (even if I've walked around a little outside). Nouveau Cheap does a great in-depth review with a look at the ingredients for this product, but for the most part I'd say that while my skin doesn't look smoother with this primer, I can at least squeak by with less shine.



L'oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base ($10.99 / .17 oz) - I picked this one up on a recommendation from From Head to Toe's Jen and I have to say it's not bad. I wouldn't say it controls oil quite as well at the Black Radiance primer but it does a little and with this product my skin texture improves quite a bit. I woudn't say it feels sillicone-y, but a little bit glides across the skin, smoothing pores and bumps from acne. I think in the fall/winter I'll like this even more.

I hate to say it, but there's really almost no way to be completely shine free in the heat. Try and do what you can with an oil control moisturizer like Murad's Oil-Control Mattifier (SPF 15) or a primer like MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone. After that use blotting papers or single ply tissue to remove excess oil and lightly dust on a blot powder (my favorite is MAC's Blot Powder) to finish.

Beauty Secret: Feeling brave and don't have blotting papers on hand? Toilet seat covers from the restroom work just as well!