Serious case of shiny-face is always an issue for me, all year-round and especially in the summer. Lately, I've been relying on Philosophy Total Matteness Pore Eraser (30 mL for $42 at Shoppers' Drug Mart, Sephora, and Hudson's Bay) to keep my personal oil slick in check.
"Now you see them now you don't. Watch pores pull a disappearing act." The Philosophy Total Matteness works exactly in the way it suggests. It smooths over pores, creates a matte finish, and lasts ~4 hours on a hot day. However, there's very comparable products at lower price points. I like Philosophy Total Matteness because it's liquid. It feels a bit lighter than a thicker lotion or silicone (i.e., Bioderma Pore Refiner, Rimmel Stay Matte, Make Up For Ever HD Primer, the Body Shop Instablur). My only issue with this is that I'm having a hard time finding a foundation that smooths over Total Matteness without picking up dry patches on my nose - so the Total Matteness Pore Eraser works best on days when I don't want to wear any base makeup.
Overall, a good product with very comparable dupes. I'd pick a primer/pore refiner based on how heavy you want something to feel. If anything, the Philosophy Total Matteness is more lightweight and less-heavy duty, so if that suits your skincare needs definitely check this one out!
Do you prefer a lighter or heavier primer/base/pore-refiner?
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