De-Slick Complexion Primer

10 Reviews

1. 

   mildLeopard9

   Reply

   I did my best to make this work and followed the instructions, but the result has always been disappointing. When it doesn’t leave white marks (I know, I don’t rub, but pat) it mattifies so “well” that it looks very unnatural, even with a dust of powder on top. I wish I could wear this alone since I’m a make-up minimalist, and I have another product that mattifies to a natural look but only lasts 5 hours. So I had high hopes for this one. Plus, the product thickens in the tube if not used every day even with the cap on. So I will definitely not repurchase.

2. 

   tautCardinal4

   Reply

   I used to love this, but I’m not really sure what happened half way.

   When I first used it, it did magic. I did as instructed, which was to pat in the primer and not smear it or pull it, and it filled in any fine lines under my eyes, smoothened out everything, and my makeup looked fantastic on top and I used it pretty much every weekend when I wore makeup out. It made my makeup last well and I still looked fresh, only breaking down after maybe 6-8 hours of wear or under extreme heat and humidity.

   But maybe my skin changed (I don’t think so, it’s still oily as ever) or the product got old, but it seemed to clump badly now, gets stuck in the pump, and my makeup (which hasn’t changed – I’m still using the same products) seems to get very patchy on top of it. Maybe I was unlucky and got a bit of a bad batch. I can’t seem to do anything to make it work. My concealer and foundation just gets really patchy and painfully obvious, which isn’t a problem with any of my other primers.

   A bit of a shame, I’ve got more than half the bottle left and I don’t plan to use it. It’s also quite expensive and for something that has stopped working for me, unfortunately I’ll be turning to cheaper alternatives.

   If anyone knows what’s going on and why it’s acting weird, do let me know. I want to like it again, but it just isn’t doing the thing it should do anymore.

   Update: I’ve started mixing this primer with the Australis mattifying primer and it no longer causes patchiness. I haven’t tried this primer on its own again since the issue, but mixing with another primer seems to work.

3. 

   bubblySardines1

   Reply

   This is a product of trial and error, but it’s honestly worth it.

   My skin has always been incredibly oily. The only time I remember it not being oily was when I was on Accutane. I live in a city, which is currently very humid. By the time I’ve left my house and made the one hour commute to work, I am a greaseball. For years I’ve just been applying powder, sometimes up to several times an hour, which as you can imagine doesn’t look good after a while. By the end of the day, I was always a cake face.

   I read the Marmite reviews and knew what to expect when I bought this. However, I really did mess it up for several days and ended up tossing it aside in frustration. When I first applied it, I used far too much – the trick is to build up, but I’ll get onto my new application method in a minute. When I put foundation on top, it would cling to the primer and flake. It looked awful.

   I dug deeper and read some more reviews. One lady on here had written that she rubbed it in her hands and patted it in with her palms. I’m so thankful she wrote that because it really works!

   I also want to point out that this primer does NOT work with every foundation. The foundation I was using initially (Bourjois City Radiance, for the curious) did not like this primer. I’ve now switched, oddly enough, to the Bourjois Healthy Mix which works like a charm. Definitely test it with more than one foundation.

   So my method of application is this:

   1. Moisturise with an oil-free moisturiser. I use the Clean & Clear Dual Action. This helps reduce dry patches and flakes that the primer could cling to.

   2. Dispense a pea size amount of product onto your palms and rub together quickly and lightly – the trick is to do it fast so it doesn’t dry on your hands. Pat your palms onto your face. I usually do my cheeks first, then repeat for my forehead.

   3. Now I go in again! This time in the really oily parts (aka my T-zone). I put the tiniest bit on my fingertip and pat it on in concentrated areas. Don’t try to do it all at once – work across the face in stages.

   4. I apply my foundation with a beauty blender. Again, work in stages across the face. This is the key to this product!

   5. Powder, rest of makeup, then I set with the De-Slick Setting Spray.

   (If you are really oily, it is so important to do step 3. One time, I didn’t add more primer to my really oily areas and I got oily. The next day I went in heavier and it worked.)

   The first time I did this method correctly, I got to work and realised with a sinking heart that I left my powder at home. When I got to the bathroom and saw my non-oily, beautifully matte face, I could’ve cried with happiness. I lasted the whole day with no powder, got home, and my face still looked perfect.

   I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it is so hard to use. However I do believe that with a little effort, this product WILL work on everyone. This is an absolute miracle product that has achieved what no other primer has for me. I will continue to buy this for as long as Urban Decay make it – which I hope is a while, because I’d be heartbroken if they stopped. It’s an incredible primer, and a must-have for oily girls.

4. 

   needyCrackers2

   Reply

   I love this stuff. It kept my nose intact for 6 hours which is amazing. Indeed it’s hard to blend!!! I started to mix it with my hourglass mineral veil and it blends like a dream and I keep my nose on at the 8 hour mark. This is amazing =)

5. 

   goofyPudding1

   Reply

   I’ve waited ages to do this review because I wanted to learn to love it, but for the life of me…
   This is difficult to apply, you have to pat it in- and quickly or it smears and balls up. Then you have to find a way of getting your foundation on over it without that also balling up and going patchy, there doesn’t seem to be any one fool proof way of doing this, even if you do manage it, using the same method another day isn’t guaranteed to work.
   On the days it went ok it didn’t even keep me matte for very long, few hours max- disappointing.
   On the days it went badly I have honestly never seen anything so awful, it made my foundation oxidise, cling in patches and it really emphasised my pores.
   On the plus side the packaging is lovely!

   *Tip: the nose seems to be the worst area for this so be very sparing/ careful, also be sure to blend the edges to avoid a white line forming.

6. 

   sugaryCheetah2

   Reply

   I am reviewing the Urban Decay De-Slick Complexion Primer (the skin coloured goo) in the glass tube. This will be a long review as this is a love-hate product that is particularly tricky to use.

   MY SKIN BACKGROUND:

   I’ll start by saying I am an absolute oily mess. I swear one of my ancestors must have been a slug or a toad or something. I get oily within one hour of applying makeup, and after commuting to work for 45mins in the car I arrive with my makeup sliding off of my face. By the end of the day my foundation has separated because of the oils and I’ve got a thick sheen all over, despite blotting about 15 times. No other product of any description combats this. All other mattifying primers/sprays on the market are a complete gimmick/false advertising and do not work on me.

   But this does, when applied correctly.

   So. Unless you are SUPER OILY, don’t use this. It is extremely drying. But as you can imagine, that’s exactly what I needed. So despite the difficulties with this product (which I note in detail below), this does do what it’s meant to do. I did originally give it 5 lippies as it is the only product in the market that keeps back the oil, but the difficulty levels with applying this knock it back down. It’s far too difficult and I end up having to re do it a few times, so it runs out quickly.

   THE DRAWBACKS:

   1. This is EXTREMELY easy to get wrong. It’s a very difficult product to apply. You will need a few practices before going out with it on. Your first few goes will likely see you walking around with patches and white streaks.
   I find that I need to re do this most times when I first put it on. This makes it run out fast.
   2. I find that this sometimes actually makes pores look a little worse.
   3. It is difficult to apply foundation on top and you must work VERY QUICKLY. Once you’ve put a product somewhere on your face, it’s staying there. There’s no real way to slide stuff around on top as you can with other generic primers which give you a smooth base to work on. It will make foundation clump in white flakey messes in areas where there is too much product.
   4. Really wet products or damp beauty blenders do struggle a little when applied over this, as the base is purely drying, which can result in patchiness.

   SO HOW THE HELL DO YOU USE IT?:

   1. DO. NOT. RUB. IN. It will not work.
   2. Apply 1-2 pumps on your hands and rub into your palms so that there is an even amount across both hands. You probably do not need more than this amount. I know it’s tempting to add another pump!!!
   3. PAT onto your face, working very very, very quickly, with the flat of your fingers and open palms. Concentrate on your oily areas and move to cover all over for a more even finish. Alternatively, apply with a damp beauty blender in the same way.
   4. Do your eye makeup etc next, so that this primer has a chance to set and dry. It won’t work otherwise. Give it time.
   5. Apply foundation very quickly – I use a damp beauty blender.
   6. Setting and finishing sprays/powders can cause this product to act up somewhat (some can cause foundation to separate on top or go cakey) so give different products a go and see what works best for you. I usually use a waterproof spray as I work outside a lot… I’m honestly not sure how this primer will hold up to being rained on without this, as it is such a drying product. (I’m using Skindinavia Bridal Spray) I spray upwards into the air and allow it to fall onto my face rather than spraying directly on, this has helped me avoid these issues. I’m not using any powder at the moment.

   When I get the application right, I find that it really does clamp my foundation in place and this is truly the only product I can use that keeps foundation from separating or caking on me. It truly does keep my face matte for hours which is a major deal for me as my face is extremely, horrifically, oily. The drying aspect of this primer also caused the blemishes I had before I started using it to heal a lot quicker than normal too.

   This primer has been life saver for me as my oily skin has caused me so many issues. I always wondered how SAs in makeup stalls last the entire day with beautiful matte faces that don’t slide or slip at all. I think this may be the secret for oily girls who want to achieve that look.

   HOWEVER

   I just really do give up with this as a daily product to wear as it’s far too difficult to apply, and I don’t have time in the morning to constantly re do my makeup when it invariably goes wrong. I’m tackling my oily skin in other ways and staying away from mattifying products.

   I hope that this review helps people who are unsure and I’ve given the most honest review I can.

7. 

   crushedCrane6

   Reply

   I really like this for when I’m crazy oily, plus at the moment I’m using a moisturiser/spf that leaves me very shiny and exacerbates the size of my pores (but it doesn’t break me out so I continue to use it). This definitely mattifies better than any other product I’ve tried, but if I use too much it feels tight and ‘can’ cake on drier bits. I also think you have to be quick applying this to get a smooth finish. As a side note, I don’t use silicones in any of my other skin care products to avoid any pilling/ unnecessary clumping.

8. 

   amusedOwl7

   Reply

   Very weird product.. As everyone knows you have to pat this into the skin, not rub! Well I tried this method and found that it left a horrible white cast on my t zone where I applied it. And then when I put my foundation on it stuck and clumped up all over my nose and looked disgusting.. So I tryed applying the primer with a damp beauty blender and I noticed it didn’t leave any white cast.. Then applied my foundation and it looked absolutely fine. It is a very time consuming product and can be a mission. Once you suss out how to apply it though it is great for keeping oils at bay!

9. 

   sugaryPepper0

   Reply

   I love this stuff. I’ve tried a lot of primers for my oily skin and this is the only one that keeps the oil at bay. Although it is pricey, I would definitely repurchase.

10. 

    innocentOil6

    Reply

    I absolutely love it, I have super oily skin and the town where I live has a super hot and humid climate. With this primer my makeup lasts long enough to get me through the day and doesn’t make me all shiny.