Etos offers a variety of Face Primers from their own brand, each having their own beneficial properties to prime the skin before make-up. A new addition to the range is the Etos Primer Oil. Some of the other primers that were already in their range have been re-packaged like the Etos Pore Filling Primer and the Sensitive Primers. I’m going to review these three Etos Face Primers in today’s post.
Etos Primer Oil
The Etos Primer Oil (€4,99/20 mL) consists of a selection of oils recommended for normal to dry skin. It is supposed to absorb quickly and leave the skin glowing.
This is of course a dupe for the Smashbox Primer Oil, which I also own. I’ve checked both ingredients lists and they are comparable when it comes to the highest listed ingredients. The highest listed ingredients are slightly mixed (e.g. the first ingredient in the Etos primer is the third in Smashbox, while the first in the Smashbox primer is the third listed in Etos) but the biggest difference is that the Smashbox primer has a lot more different oils compared to the Etos Primer Oil.
The most important question is, are they comparable in priming the skin? I think they do! I have dry skin type and I like both primers. The only difference that I notice is that the Etos Primer Oil feels like it takes longer to be absorbed into the skin and also feels like it stays a bit more on the surface, making it feel oilier and less moisturizing compared to the Smashbox primer. This means that the foundation looks shinier with the Etos primer compared to Smashbox. The Smashbox primer also feels a bit more tacky and stays tacky, which I personally prefer in a base. I also think that the Smashbox Primer Oil has more skin beneficial properties but I don’t notice any results since I don’t use these primers on a regular basis.
I like to use this type of primer when I’m using a foundation that is too matte or too dry for my taste. The Etos Primer Oil makes the foundation look less matte and feel more comfortable on my skin. I also think fine lines look much better and foundation doesn’t heap up on those places as much using this primer. I wouldn’t recommend to use this primer on oily skin or if you like a matte finish but if you have a dry skin type and want your foundation to look a bit more dewy, this is a great primer to try out.
Etos Pore Filling primer
The Etos Pore Filling Primer (€4,99/20 mL) consists of a selection of silicones and is supposed to reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines, creating a smooth finish.
This a dupe for the Benefit the POREfessional, which I also own. I’ve checked both ingredients lists and they are comparable when it comes to the highest listed ingredients. The first three ingredients are exactly the same but there are a lot of differences further up the list. The Etos primer has a selection of “cheaper” ingredients like beeswax and talc. The Etos primer is unscented, while the Benefit primer has a more pleasant smell.
Again the most important question is, are they comparable in priming the skin? Yes, I think they do! The Benefit primer feels much softer and smoother compared to the Etos primer but when it comes to blurring pores and fine lines, they basically do the same. I at least can’t see any difference between them on my skin.
I like to use this type of primer only areas where I have enlarged pores and fine lines, like the area around my nose where I have enlarged pores and the fine lines on my forehead. It really blurs out these areas quite well (but doesn’t completely make them disappear though). I wouldn’t recommend this primer if you’re sensitive or don’t like the feeling of silicones. However, if you have problems with enlarged pores and don’t mind the silicone feeling, I would definitely recommend to check out the Etos Pore Filling Primer.
Etos Sensitive Primer
The Etos Sensitive Primer (€4,99/20 mL) consists is a water-based primer and is completely silicone-free. Like the previous primer, it is supposed to reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines, creating a smooth finish.
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a dupe of a more expensive primer, so let me know if you have any ideas! This primer doesn’t really reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines like the brand claims, but it does feel like it makes my skin feel a bit smoother and oil controlled. Even though it’s water based, it feels a bit too drying for my skin so I would only recommend to check the Etos Sensitive Primer if you have sensitive, oily to normal type of skin.
I think these Etos Face Primers are pretty good! They have been cut down in ingredients compared to some of the “original”, more expensive brands formula’s but they still do a comparable job and are much, MUCH more affordable. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on primers, I think that you can definitely find a face primer which has your preference in the Etos range.
The Etos Face Primers are available at the Etos stores.
What kind of face primer do you prefer as a base for your foundation?
*These products were sent to me for review. Please check out my disclosure page for more information.
