Last month, I got bitten by the shopping bug and went a tad overboard at Mecca Cosmetica :P. I can’t remember what got into me that day. I guess I just needed a bit of retail therapy and I found it at Mecca. It’s a monthly pilgrimage to my version of Mecca. Hee hee!
Anyway, one of the items I bought was Hourglass’ Veil Mineral Primer. I have a couple of lipsticks from Hourglass and they’re beautiful. I’ve been meaning to try out more products from Hourglass as I’ve read very positive reviews of the brand. The Veil Mineral Primer comes highly recommended by a slew of beauty bloggers, editors and YouTubers so quite naturally, it’s something I too have to give a go.
The Veil Mineral Primer comes in 2 sizes, 10ml and 30ml. I only bought the 10ml to try because I didn’t want to splurge on an items that may or may not work for me. Plus, if it does work well, it’s a great travel-sized item to have in my makeup bag.
Description:
A clean, satin-finish mineral primer formulated with SPF 15, Veil Mineral Primer restores moisture to dehydrated skin while providing protection from the sun and minimizing shine. It helps minimise the appearance of large pores and fine lines, and preps skin for makeup application while extending its durability. Naturally-derived Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide protects skin from UVA/UVB rays. Oil Free, Fragrance Free, Paraben Free, Water Resistant.
The primer comes in a white, frosted matte glass bottle and a pump dispenser. Two big plusses for me as the frosted bottle makes it look quite luxurious (well, with that price, it has better also look good!) and the pump makes it very easy to dispense the sufficient amount of primer on the skin. It’s a light, white cream that is velvety smooth to touch. It contains a high amount of silicone hence the slippery, velvety texture. Having said that, it’s not as smooth as Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer. My skin can take quite a lot of silicone without experiencing any breakouts so I have no issues with the silicone, but I thought I’d let you know in case silicone isn’t something you like in your beauty products.
Now, it’s been a long time since I’ve used the Smashbox primer or any primer with that amount of silicone in it so I’m afraid I can’t make a comparison between the two. However, I have used Face of Australia’s Face Base Primer and Napoleon Perdis’ Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer and I have to say, the Veil Mineral Primer outperforms these two primers by a mile.
Foundation and BB cream apply very well over this primer. I only need very little at a time (think half the size of a pea). It works like spackle on holes and base makeup just glides over the skin giving it a beautiful finish without any drag marks on my nasolabial lines.
My combination skin is normal on the cheeks, chin and sometimes the forehead but the area that oils up the quickest and the most is my nose. It’s rare that foundations and BB creams last past an hour on my nose without greasing up. Even with other primers on, the most oil control they can do is for the oil to only appear after 2-3 hours. That’s how oily my nose gets.
Which is why it blows my mind when I found out that when I had the Veil Mineral Primer under my foundation or BB cream, my base makeup lasted at least FOUR whole hours before any hint of oiliness started to show on my nose! I don’t remember the last time this happened to me. I’m so chuffed at how well this primer works for me. Holy Grail status? Without a doubt.
Will I repurchase this primer once it’s finished? Most definitely. That $25 “testing fee” was money well spent indeed. 🙂
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 comes in two sizes – 10ml (AU$25.00) and 30ml (AU$79.00) and is available at Mecca Cosmetica stores nationwide.
What I like about it: Fights oil on my T-zone like a ninja (4 hours strong!), keeps my makeup looking flawless all day long.
What I do not like about it: Nothing
Have you tried the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer before? Did it work for you as well as it did for me? If not, what’s your favourite primer?
I had a big event on the other week so I bit the bullet and bought the 10ml at Mecca the other week after reading reviews and testing it on my hand. Like you, I was blown away – it was the first primer that I’ve used that showed instant results and kept my oily skin under control. So I’m very happy to read that your thoughts were the same as mine 🙂
Yay so glad it works so well for you too! I didn’t want to splurge on such an expensive product and since I don’t need to use this every day, I couldn’t justify the full-sized bottle purchase. Luckily they have a travel-sized version and while it’s not exactly cheap for a 10ml, I don’t need a lot of it each time so it works just right.
I have tried this one and their anti-aging version that’s even more expensive, lol. I actually prefer the Veil Primer that you purchased. It’s incredibly hydrating even with my dry skin. I haven’t been wearing primer lately since it’s summer here and I’ve switched to BB cream and don’t really need it. But I purchased some foundation recently to review, and I put it on without primer and, yikes, I need some primer. Gotta save up for the Hourglass!
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Good to know Allison! You will get it cheaper in the US compared to Australia. I’ll be leaving for a tropical country soon and this will really come in handy 🙂
There’s no logic with brands these days. $25 for 10ml shouldn’t 30ml be $75? So many brands are tricking people to buy bigger size when actually you save more from smaller sizes!!
ponikuta recently posted..Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream
Ding ding ding!! When I saw the price for the full-sized, it didn’t make sense at all. How can it be more expensive per ml when at the very least, it should be the same price and priced at $75!
I have this primer and absolutely love it! Bought it when they had a value pack at Mecca (last year?) where $99 got me the primer, a lip gloss and a mascara (all full size). Love your comment on your monthly mecca trip 🙂
Hahaha it’s our pilgrimage to our own version of Mecca, no? 😉
PS: Dammit I missed that value pack!
I’m with Ponikuta… I had the exact same thoughts too… seems like it’s cheaper to buy 3x10ml?
Daphne recently posted..Review: Marina Mandarin
Beats the heck out of me Daphne. When I wrote the review and checked the prices, I was like ehhhhh? Doesn’t make sense!
Tine I have a question:
Is cheaper to buy three bottles of 10ml (AU$25.00) instead of one bottle of 30ml (AU$79.00)?
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I know Efrain and I have no idea either. When I wrote the review and checked the prices, I did a double take because hello, bigger sized bottle more expensive per ml?!
I agree with Val, I had a giggle about the price difference between the two sizes. Though the waste of packaging would be something to think about, I myself would definitely buy the 10ml first off the bat! I’ve seen some glowing reviews of this but my skin is a bit so-so with silicones- perhaps I might try it for special occasions/extra long days rather than everyday?
Great review Tine, lots to consider 🙂
emmabovary recently posted..Fresh New Goodies from essence
I’m definitely saving this for special occasions and extra long days because I don’t think it’s necessary to have primer on daily unless you need impeccable makeup all day or if you have oily skin (not just the T-zone). Usual days, just a teeny bit on the T-zone and you’re done! 🙂
Wow! You got this! I was SO VERY tempted to buy the latest Hourglass 28 primer, the one with the oils. But checked the ingredients list and stopped myself, as I saw that it was still a primarily silicone primer.
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I’ve not tried the 28 Primer so I can’t compare but this one, I have to say, is good despite the silicone. I don’t usually like primers with a lot of silicone in them and whilst this one has quite a lot, it’s not as much as Smashbox’s. Still, this won’t work for those who can’t take silicone on their skin.
I think part of the reason I am just not immediately excited about a primer is because I have dry skin. Nothing to be proud of, because I get fine lines at this age. T_T Though factually, that means makeup lasts longer on me than on people with normal/oily/combination skin. I do 12 hours work days with minimal BB cream and loose powder to set, yet I don’t find the need to blot and touch up. I think the oily/combination side is better though! haha, better to need a primer, to have to blot, than have fine lines!!!
Jyoan recently posted..My First Yankee Candle – Sparkling Pine
Haha I know what you mean. I don’t need primers on normal days but evenings, I do because for some weird reason, my nose tends to oil up even more then.
Ahh the battle between dry skin and oily skin! Can’t win ’em all 😛
Gosh I had a play around this brand at Mecca last night. Have you tried the tinted moisturiser? Looks stunning.
Ling recently posted..Review: La Clinica Helixer Serum
Aww why you gotta tell me that? Now I have to go check it out! 😛