A Primer That’s Ready For Primetime — Embryolisse Smooth Radiant Complexion

There are days when, even after cleansing my face, rolling a cooling de-puffing gel under my eyes to eliminate any bags, applying an illuminating eye cream to disguise under eye circles, then massaging a radiance-boosting serum and a number of hydrating moisturizer all over my complexion, I still look about as exhausted as I was a week after childbirth — which, was 12 years ago! See, even when I do manage to get 8 hours of sleep, there’s no guarantee that those will be restful given that my lovely husband is a rather enthusiastic snorer. Sometimes I’ll try rolling him over onto his side so he’s not laying flat on his back (the latter is when the snoring reaches operatic levels), but it never works. On those days when his snoring reaches deafening levels, I awake feeling tired and, now that I’m over 30, my face shows that exhaustion in a rather merciless manner. We’re not just talking dark circles, people! My complexion literally takes on this grayish cast — think Roger from American Dad — and the area under my eyes swells so much, you’d think I was smuggling air bags in there. It’s disheartening to say the least. Fortunately, I’ve found a product that helps to give my face a bit of a boost when it’s down and out: the Embryolisse Smoothing Radiant Complexion ($50 at EmbryolisseUSA.com), a makeup primer that’s designed to reduce the appearance of fatigue and which can also be worn on its own for an I-woke-up-like-this effect.

Now, most run-of-the-mill makeup primers —among them the Smashbbox Photo Finish Primer — rely on one primary ingredient: dimethicone. This skin-conditioning silicone creates a silky barrier between your skin and any foundation, beauty balm, or powder you apply, thereby locking moisture into the skin and preventing any oil secreted by your sebum glands to infiltrate the layer where your foundation is situated (hence preventing your face from looking greasy). The barrier created by  the dimethicone goes both ways so that, just like oil can’t make its way through to effectively ruin your makeup look, any foundation or powder can’t break past that invisible wall and wind up clogging your pores. That said, women who are prone to breakouts often steer clear of silicone-based primer. And, even if your skin doesn’t react adversely to dimethicone (or any other silicone), the primary function of these makeup primers is to create a smooth canvas for your liquid or cream foundation, to fend off any greasiness, and to keep everything in place. They’re not necessarily intended to neutralize redness, soothe any irritation, hydrate the skin, or reduce puffiness.

The latest generation of primers, however, goes way beyond a barrier-creating mission, doing double-duty as skin-loving gels rather than simply serving as canvas-creating wonders. The Embryolisse Smooth Radiant Complexion primer, then, belongs to this new and improved category. The product has a silky gel texture and it glides right onto the skin, creating that smooth and even surface we covet before applying any makeup. It also, in the process, hydrates the skin, reduces puffiness, boosts radiance, and gives the complexion a more supple appearance by temporarily minimizing wrinkle depth and giving droopy skin a bit of a lift. The product’s moisturizing prowess can be attributed to the hyaluronic acid in the formula, a substance that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, binding moisture to the skin and ensuring long-lasting hydration. The oat polysaccharides in the formula, meanwhile, work in tandem with the hyaluronic acid. These chain-like sugars, which are naturally found in the skin, help the skin retain moisture. Together, then, the hyaluronic acid and polysaccharides hydrate the skin and help to give it a plumper appearance, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lupin extract, meanwhile, helps to stimulate collagen production, thereby aiding in preserving the skin’e elasticity, while alfalfa extract boosts circulation and hence reduces eyelid and under-eye puffiness and tackles dark circles. Vitamin E softens the skin and protects it from oxidative stress.  Last but not least, the product contains pearly pigments that blur away imperfections and give the skin a soft-focus finish.

Okay, but what ingredient creates that barrier we need to ensure our makeup lasts all day without settling into fine lines, becoming cake-y, or appearing greasy? Well, first, there’s Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, which functions as an anti-caking agent. Then there’s Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, which is what helps to give the primer a more viscous consistency and what allows it to feel so velvety and smooth on the skin (it also helps to stabilize the water-based formula). No dimethicone is included in the formula, which actually makes it more suitable for all skin types.

I personally love the way my makeup looks when I apply this product as a primer but, as I mentioned before, it even helps to give my skin a pick-me-up before I apply any foundation. Below, you’ll find a photo of me after a long night during which my husband snored incessantly. It’s an admittedly embarrassing photo that should not ever be posted online, but I will swallow my pride just to show you the difference pre- and post-primer. Okay, prepare for this eye sore:

Notice the puffiness under my eyes? The dark circles? That awful ghastly pallor?

Okay, now check out how my skin looks after applying the primer:

Sure, I still need some concealer and any dark spots or blemishes on my face have to be covered up ASAP, but you might notice that my face has more of a luminous finish now, that my pores are less noticeable, and that there’s more vitality to my complexion as a whole. Would I go out in public like this? Um, no, but I would probably walk around my home without feeling like I needed to cover up the mirrors!

Needless to say, on days when I’m actually well-rested, the primer makes it so that I can go without makeup — or, at least, with much less of it!