Does This Work? L’Oréal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

Deputy Editor Angie Romero reviews this primer.

What it is: L’Oréal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base face primer

The Claim: This silky, lightweight formula glides onto the skin and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines.

My Results: I’ve used tons of primers—from the more expensive ones to cheaper drugstore stuff—and I’ve never had one quite like this. The mousse-y texture just glides easily onto my entire face (and a little goes a long way!) so my skin feels instantly hydrated, prepped, and ready for my usual make-up routine. It doesn’t leave a weird, shiny texture like other primers; it just absorbs completely into a nice, matte finish. The fact that it is oil- and fragrance-free is important because I have combination skin that can get oily in the t-zone. I also like that it doesn’t have a strong smell. The silky smooth finish has a lot to do with the fact that it has a high elastomer content (elastomers are rubbery materials composed of long, elastic molecules, or polymers). At $13 a pop, it’s my kind of primer!

Rating (out of 5 stars): 5