Max Factor Miracle Smooth Primer Review

Oh dear, I feel bad that 2/2 Max Factors products I was lucky enough to be selected to trial just haven't worked on my skin.

I'm a little bit more impressed with this than I was with the foundation, but not enough to actually repurchase.

The pump tube it comes in seems to dispense exactly the right amount in one pump to cover my face an neck, so that's handy! The packaging is still pretty dated but slightly nicer than the foundation. I used my fingers to apply this primer and although I found it easy to spread all over my face and it did absorb well it was a lot heavier than any primer I've used before.

My skin felt considerably smoother after application and it helped the miracle smooth foundation apply better and last longer than when I tried the foundation without primer. Having said that, you'd think I'd give it a higher rating, but I just didn't "feel" this primer. It could be partly because I disliked the foundation so much that I felt the primer played a part in that too.

I didn't use the primer with any other foundation as I typically use double wear and Oasis BB cream, neither of which require a primer. Perhaps I would have felt a bit different about this primer if I had something else suitable at home to trial it with but I didn't.

Overall - not bad but not great enough to say I would repurchase.

Sorry Max Factor. Maybe it's my skin type. I just don't know.

This is just so, so good!

I'm new to the whole primer business - probably because I don't wear 'a full face' with foundation often. I'm more of a BB cream girl, so didn't really see the point.

Well, I'm a primer convert now thanks to BR!

The pump bottle does look a little small but don't be put off, a little goes a long way. The pump is very sturdy and distributes a good amount of product in your hand.

The primer is a smooth and even consistency, and really white, I had visions in my head it would go on like clown paint, but it was no effort at all to rub in!

I waited a minute or two and applied the MF foundation I'm also trying (spoiler alert for that review..I'll be using foundation a lot more now!) - my mind was blown. It went on like a dream! And it didn't just improve foundation application - Eyeshadow was much easier to apply, as was my under eye concealer. Both went on smoothly and evenly.

The foundation lasted longer with the primer and it seemed to withstand the weather (we've been really rainy and now really hot - and my foundation isn't running or slip-sliding away!)

Now I don't like shiny skin, but I find ridiculously matte finishes to be unnatural. This leaves you with a happy medium - your skin glows and your foundation doesn't look 'flat'

So for $42 would I buy again? YES! I would even pay more to be honest. It's become a daily staple in my routine, and trust me, I don't let products in to the daily routine easily!

Full disclosure here, i'm a Primer fan..a big one! When the old saying comes up 'Is it a crime not to prime' I automatically yell "hell yes!".

That said i've pretty much used everyone going so i'm abit of a hard taskmaster in this area. So when the opportunity came up to trial this - from a brand i've not really used many products from I was all up for it.

The product is packaged in a neat pump pack which I always prefer to a tube. A couple of pumps pretty much dispenses what you need to do the job. The product is quite thick, but that's not necessarily a negative. The smell is abit unusual. I'm assuming it's fragrance free, I wasn't a fan the first time I used it but then I just got used to it and don't really notice it any more.

When you apply the product it goes on very white initially, but then very quickly it absorbs into your skin leaving it with (wait for it!) a gorgeous luminous glow.

I've used it in conjunction with a Max Factor foundation (i've reviewed this separately) and it sets this up just perfectly. That said I also love wearing it on its own. It completely delivers on its promise of smoothing the skin texture, and it just gives your skin a gorgeous glow. I love it and i'd rate it up there with some more high end primers that i've used.

I was super excited about getting this to trial! It sounded too good to be true.... and it was.

I hate giving bad reviews to things I haven't paid for, but this just didn't work for me at all.

The packaging is actually nicer than the foundation, to be honest! The white, gold and black is somehow a little more modern than the clear glass is. The clear cap annoys me though, as it looks so messy when it gets product on it, and the dispenser seems to leave a small amount each time. The dispenser pump does pump out a good amount of primer each time, which is nice - a single pump is enough.

The primer is a very thick white cream, that looks (and smells) slightly medical - it reminds me of Bepanthen nappy rash cream. It sits on my skin and feels thick and gluggy. While this DOES stop the foundation sinking in quite so much, it actually feels really unnatural, and I found it unpleasant.

I tried the foundation with and without the primer, and tried the primer alone. The primer also oxidises, and I end up feeling oily and breaking out.

I'm so disappointed that this didn't work for me, but I'll find a good home for it - I think my friend was keen to try it out :)

Thanks for the opportunity, anyway!

So excited to try this as I've never used one before I've herd a lot about primer but not used Untill now. After doing my usual routine I put the primer on. A little goes along way, all ways remember that. Allow time for it too dry before you use your foundation. It did make the Foundation go on. A lot nicer. Did it hide my fine lines, no but it did help my foundation not to get set in the lines. I really have become a lover of primer. My makeup stayed on all day till I washed it off and that's what every lady wants.

Wow what a beautiful surface this primer provides for my skin. I applied it in between my moisturiser and my foundation. The product is beautiful, smooth and creamy in consistency. It provides my skin with a smooth finish, and foundation ready! Again (same as the foundation) I love the packaging for this – the added bonus of having a pump, ensuring I don’t use too much product when it’s not needed. One pump was enough to prep my entire face, so this product is sure too last me awhile! Although the product is quite a thick consistency when it comes out of the pump - after rubbing the primer into my skin it feels invisible – I couldn’t even feel the product on my face! My foundation glided on without any problems and has good staying for power most of the day. It feels very moisturising also. The product is a white primer. Again, I’m very surprised with the quality of the max factor products – definitely keen to give other products in their range a go, and will be sure to repurchase this primer.

I trialled the Max Factor Smooth Miracle Primer along with the Miracle Touch Foundation (foundation reviewed separately).

The Smooth Miracle Primer comes in a standard 30ml pump bottle. The pump disperses the product easily and gives the right amount of product. I use a couple of pumps to cover my face.

The primer instantly smooths the skin, making fine lines disappear temporarily and creating a smoother base for the foundation. With the primer, it also feels like the foundation sits more on top of the skin.

The primer is white in the pump bottle but is clear when applied to the face. I leave it for about half a minute to set slightly, the apply foundation. I tested this foundation with and without primer, and I found with primer, the foundation lasted better.

I think it creates a great base for foundation. I do think the packaging could look a little more exciting however.

After using this for a week now I can say I am happy with its performance. The bottle will last me a long time, as a single pump is enough to cover my entire face. I like that it is transparent as you can see how much you've got left to go. I like pump bottles more than pots due to them being more hygienic. The primer is a shiny white cream and smoothes on to the skin easily with your fingers. Once applied my face felt silky smooth and made the application of my foundation a lot more even. I would definitely use this again as it's good value and feels nice on your face, when at the same time it helps you get a good look with your foundation.

I was fortunate enough to receive this primer as a trial, in a duo with the Max Factor Skin Luminizer Foundation. It comes in similar packaging, a plastic bottle with gold trim and a white pump. It is a 30ml bottle and is light and easy to handle.

The pump dispenses an appropriate amount of product, and the primer itself is quite thick, so you don’t need to use much. It has no detectable scent. It absorbs well, leaving a soft waxy sheen on which to apply the foundation. When I first got both products I tried the foundation on half of the back of my hand without the primer, then the other half with the primer. The difference was quite remarkable. It toned the colour of the foundation and set it onto my skin much more smoothly. The product claims to provide smooth and even found application, and it certainly does that. It claims to create a smooth layer between moisturiser and foundation, and it does, as long as the moisturiser isn’t too heavy and has ample time to absorb before the primer is applied (learned from experience!).

Then I tried it on my face. And can see the same results. It helped bring out the glow from the foundation and makes the application of the foundation smooth and simple as it did on my hand. In terms of comparing it to other primers, I have only tried a couple of others – one was about the same as this and the other is inferior. So, I think it’s pretty good.

I have been using it daily under the Max Factor Skin Luminizer Foundation and the combination works well.

It feels a little pricey at $42.99, but it will last for ages because of the small amount required each time, and I like using it with the Max Factor foundation, so I would consider repurchasing them together in the future, especially if there was a deal to get a discount for buying both, as there is at the moment.