Prime Time

In the final installment of my prime time series, here's a look at Benefit's the POREfessional ($28), a recently-released balm that's supposed to minimize the appearance of pores. But for all intents and purposes, it's a primer. Unlike the brand's That Gal ($28), which is luminescent and pink, this primer is matte and beige in color.

Right away, I was concerned about the chemically floral notes I got from the creamy gel. Also, getting used to that slippery feel silicone-based primers possess, is always a challenge. However, within seconds, the scent dissipated, and the oil-free product dried almost instantly into something smooth and translucent. As a test, I applied the POREfessional to just one side of my face in the morning. At the end of the day, I asked colleagues which side looked better. While it was unanimous that the primed side looked more even and fresh, it did wear a bit dry by end of day. Find out more when you keep reading.

You've undoubtedly heard that Preparation H under the eyes acts as a depuffer, but have you heard the old wives' tale about using Monistat on the face as a makeup primer? You read it right.

Throughout my Prime Time series, I've experimented with primers of all sorts, and since I've been hearing so much about how wonderfully this lady bits product doubles as a primer, I had to give it a try. The brand's Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel ($8) is meant to be used for delicate areas like the bikini area, underarms, and inner thighs to provide protection and relief from irritation, and not for yeast infections (in case you were wondering). To find out if this unusual method does indeed work, just keep reading.

When it comes to primers, a few standards ring true. The majority are going to have that clear, slippery-to-the-touch feel, and essentially, they're going to do the same thing: create an even surface on the skin. What it all comes down to is personal preference. Do you want matte or satin finish, or something that's silicone- or scent-free? How about the price tag?

Maybelline's silicone-based Instant Age Rewind Primer pretty much has you covered on the basics, and at $9 a tube, it will appeal to your pocketbook. While a little more dense (but not oily) than other primers I've tried, it's also a lot more spreadable, and even has the tiniest bit of pink coloration to help give a subtle glow. My foundation and concealer glided right over it quite nicely. Find out more when you keep reading.

As mentioned before throughout the Prime Time series, most primers possess that telltale gel-like, slippery feel. And while it's rare to find a primer that's creamy, CoverGirl & Olay's Simply Ageless Serum Primer ($14) stands out from the rest for that very reason.

Touted as an antiaging moisturizer and foundation primer, this dual-branded prepper is perfect for those who love multitasking products. Its texture and look is similar to a white facial sunscreen, with a bit more of a satiny, rich feel. Because of this, the Serum Primer doesn't sit atop of the skin like many other primers, but soaks in. A little amount will also go a long way, taking some of the sting out of a $14 price tag. To find out the rest of the review, just keep reading.

After sampling several primers for our Prime Time series, I had become used to that slightly gel-like, greasy-feeling-at-first, somewhat off-putting texture that many of them have. Not so with L'Oréal's Studio Secrets Professional Secret Magic Perfecting Base ($13), which feels similar to a creamy balm.

The pink base fades into a colorless finish after application. While it doesn't look like much product is contained within the pot, it's so thick that a little goes a long way. You can definitely overapply, resulting in a weighty finish, so be sure to first rub just a small amount of primer on the tips of the fingers to warm it up pre-application. To see the rest of the review, just keep reading.

So far, in my Prime Time series, I haven't met a primer I didn't like. Today, let's look at Bare Escentuals' BareVitamins Prime Time Foundation Primer ($21).

Prime Time is your standard evens-out-the-skin kind of formula, but what makes it different from the rest is that it's free from silicone, oil, or fragrance. Designed to be worn under Bare Escentals' ever-popular mineral foundation, I used it under liquid foundation and concealer, and had no problems with texture or pilling. Find out how it worked when you read more.

Remember when it was mascara madness a few months ago? Well now, it's "prime time" here at Bella. Over the next few weeks, I'll be reviewing lots of new primers.

The majority of these premakeup products contain silicone to make them glide over the skin smoothly, but not Purple Lab NYC's Pearlesque Show Primer ($30). Yet did that missing ingredient hinder its performance? Find out when you read more.