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Shiseido Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21

What it is:A pre-makeup essential that helps hide imperfections and improves the wear of foundation, while offering UV protection.What it does:Take the first step toward a beautifully natural-looking, flawless complexion. This formula helps fill fine lines while counteracting dullness, redness, and unevenness to leave skin smooth, refined, bright, and even.
Average Rating:
4.175 out of 5
4.2
 out of 
5
Open Ratings Snapshot
57 reviews
5 stars
33
4 stars
13
3 stars
4
2 stars
2
1 star
5
Questions & Answers:
3 Questions | 17 Answers
Sort by reviews for Shiseido Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
Review 1 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
Wequila
Location:Columbus, OH
Skin Type:Normal
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Hazel
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Smooth, soft and flawless
-04.15.13
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing
very good product, instantly absorbed by skin and leaves a soft feeling. Good coverage for a skin with minor flaws. Correct skin tone amazingly! my T-zone is darker and redder than my cheeks, it balances my skin tone naturally!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
jrieds
Location:New York, NY
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Love the Feel, Love the Look
-04.06.13
Quick Take: lightweight
I love how weightless the formula feels on my face, and felt that it really helped keep my makeup intact (and reduce the appearance of pores).
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
vikitori
Location:Sedona, AZ
Age:45-54
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Best Primer I've Ever Used
-03.02.13
This primer works in multiple ways for me. The tint, although, very subtle, evens out the reddish areas of my face. After applying foundation, blush and small touches of highlighter, I'm set for hours. Even after long work days that transition into an evening out my makeup still looks fresh and even. A little of the product goes a long way. I took the sample size with me to Paris in January. Despite all the moisture it didn't didn't disappoint. I was a long time fan of Smash Box and have tried lots of the other brands of primer. I don't think I'll be changing products again. I've found my keeper.
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 4 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
sisley09
Age:35-44
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
It's ok...
-02.28.13
It is just ok... I didn't like the greasiness much.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
Mak3upL0v3r
Location:Oakland, CA
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Best Primer Yet!
-12.31.12
This primer helps so much! I apply it, with my hands on my entire face. It's very sheer and light-weight. Afterwards, I use Shiseido Hyrdo-liquid O40. My foundation feels so smooth, and the primer definitely helps even out my skintone! I only use a small dab, works great! Definitely recommended! I've told my sisters bout it, and they are buying one as well!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
Mak3upL0v3r
Location:Oakland, CA
Skin Type:Dry
Skin Tone:Olive
Eye Color:Brown
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Best primer ever
-12.16.12
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing
I absolutely love love love this! I usually apply with my fingers, all over my face, a light sheer coat. After I let it dry, and put my Shiseido Hydro-Liquid O40 on, the foundation goes on so SMOOTHLY and blends so easily into my skin. Also, this helps my foundation last long too! I also use this under my eyes, before I put concealer on it! Great to hide dark circles.
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
k8tl1
Location:Brooklyn Park, MN
Age:25-34
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
My favorite new primer!
-12.07.12
I had already owned a favorite primer, but I received this as a sample and decided to try it out. I fell in love with it instantly. I don't wear a lot of make-up so I LOVE that it doesn't feel oily and helps to cover up any redness. Therefore, I end up putting on less make-up on so I bought the full size and it is now my favorite new primer!!!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
slghorn
Location:Goose Creek, SC
Age:35-44
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Double duty !
-12.01.12
Not only can I wear this product alone for light coverage, but as someone with oily skin I can also use it to help my makeup stay on longer.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 9 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
DangerSquirrel
Location:Pittsburgh, PA
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Green
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Wonderful!
-11.22.12
Quick Take: lightweight, fast-absorbing, smooth
Received a sample of this and fell in love! Goes on super smooth and leaves my skin feeling baby soft. I'm extremely pale with significant acne and red scarring - oddly enough, this makes my skin super pink but helps my foundation go on better and stick. So if this looks pink on your skin, don't be alarmed! No weird smells or anything. I use a cream and powder foundation, both stay on all day and apply evenly when I use this.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 10 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
siljun
Location:Seattle, WA
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Light
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Really nice primer
-11.21.12
Quick Take: lightweight, evens out skintone
I don't usually like applying primer before foundation, but I really like this primer. It can brighten your complexion, conceal pores and even out skin tone. I will re-purchase after this one.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 11 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
TKLJ
Location:Chicago, IL
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Hazel
Age:25-34
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
-11.11.12
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing, nongreasy
I started using primer mostly to try and counteract redness and to make my foundation apply more evenly. I feel like I have pretty realistic expectations about primer—I don't think it's a miracle product, especially for my skin—but I thought this Shiseido primer fit my needs and wants pretty well.
This primer does have a light tint. Luckily, my skin is very pale with yellow undertones, so I thought the color matched pretty well, although I'm not sure how it would look or blend into darker skintones. It seems to even out my skintone a bit. I don't have a lot of blemishes or blemish scars, but because I'm so pale, every red mark is magnified tenfold. I usually wear full-coverage foundation, but on a few days when my skin has been at its absolute best, I've worn only this primer. I've also started wearing it on my décolletage to even out the tone.
Now I can't really say or tell if this primer "improves the wear of foundation," but my foundation seems to go on pretty smoothly. I don't think it helps my foundation stay on my skin any better, as my foundation does that well enough on its own, or that it minimizes pore appearance, but I'm satisfied with this primer as a whole.
The only thing I now dislike about this product is, strangely, the SPF factor. At first, the (relatively) high SPF attracted me to the primer, but I find that makes me appear ghostlike. In the future, I would look for a primer with less SPF, and let the SPF in my foundation and moisturizer carry my sun protection.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 12 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
KristinaB21
Location:El Paso, TX
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Blue
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Sample Love
-10.23.12
Quick Take: lightweight, evens out skintone, fast-absorbing
I revieved this as a sample promotion and was shocked at how much I loved this product. I have tried tons of primers and this is the one I have finally stuck to. Its not greasy and it actually makes a difference in how my foundation goes on.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 13 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
sawkrateez
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Brown
Age:35-44
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Very nice... first time using a primer
-09.15.12
Quick Take: makeup stays put
I should start by saying that I've never used a primer and am just now getting into all of the techniques and products used by people really into makeup.
I used this on my eyes first. Liked that a lot since my shadow always creases and practically disappears by day's end.
Today I tried it on my face and it is quite impressive. No clue as to whether this is just the fabulousness that comes from using a primer or if this brand has something over the others. No clue.
I will likely invest in a primer specifically for my eyelids next. But, this was a great freebie !
-3points
0out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 14 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
winetime
Location:College Park, MD
Age:over 54
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Great concealer
-07.29.12
This is a great concealer. It goes on your skin smoothly & is not oily. I let it sit for a minute before applying my tinted moisturizer.
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 15 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
etoilier
Location:Columbus, OH
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
perfection!
-07.19.12
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing
Besides BareMinerals/Sephora brand primers, this is the only higher end primer I've tried but I ACTUALLY SEE A DIFFERENCE. Baremineral/Sephora brands are just as good as Rimmerl's Primers or Loreals Magic Souffle Base - but this stuff is noticeably better enough to warrant the extra $.
Color corrects without adding flakes (pigmented primers tend to do that I find). The color is a mild peach/pink that would work with any skin tone. No scent (sensitive skin approved). Smooth and dries quickly and nicely.
+6points
6out of 6found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
bossfan48
Location:Spring Hill, FL
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Light
Eye Color:Blue
Age:over 54
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Best primer out there
-06.29.12
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing
I have tried so many primers and now I never have to try another one again. This one is perfect. Can be used as a light foundation, keeps my face from getting oily, evens out skintone, and to top it all off, works as a sunscreen!
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 17 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
bananabarnhart
Location:Rapid City, SD
Eye Color:Brown
Skin Tone:Medium
Age:25-34
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Best Primer on market
-01.31.12
Quick Take: lightweight, fast-absorbing, long-lasting
I've tried many primers, but this is the best one. Its moisturizing, but absorbs well. My friends always comment on how my makeup never budges. Its my favorite product! A little bit goes a long way!
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
Review 18 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
audmac69
Location:SC
Eye Color:Hazel
Skin Tone:Fair
Age:35-44
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
True to its product description!
-12.06.11
Quick Take: lightweight, fast-absorbing, evens out skintone
Needed to add spf to my routine since I'd changed from spf foundation to non spf one, so since I didn't want to change moisturizers I decided to look for primer with spf. Came across this here on sephora site, reviews looked good so ordered it. Very happy with it! Subtle tint helps mask acne scars, foundation lasts all day, no breakouts. Would repurchase!
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 19 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
marianm
Location:Anchorage, AK
Eye Color:Green
Skin Tone:Fair
Age:45-54
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
smooth and lightweight
-12.05.11
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing
I've tried quite a few primers and this is my favorite by far. Some feel greasy and 'siliconey,' while others are too lightweight to do anything. This evens out skintone and texture as promised, but still feels light. I often wear this alone when I don't want to look made up. The 4 stars are because it's not cheap, and while you don't need to use a lot, this tube isn't very big and won't last long.
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Review 20 for Refining Makeup Primer SPF 21
daniakhouli
Location:Huntington Beach, CA
Eye Color:Brown
Skin Tone:Fair
Age:18-24
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Not what I was expecting but not terrible either..
-10.10.11
Quick Take: evens out skintone, lightweight, fast-absorbing
After watching the video in which this was applied to the model I expected it to be a smooth perfecter that had a very light tint to it, but after using it a few times I found it different.
The tint is pretty medium to it but blends in to skin and no longer appears like a different tone. Plus it's covered up by the foundation so it no longer really matters - just wait for it to settle in and dry well.
Many complained that it was too thick or hard to spread. The best way to remedy that is to make sure your face is FRESHLY moisturized. I usually dab on the Shiseido emulsion then immediately follow it with the primer and it goes on so easily - with just a little dime size filling my whole face.
It does smooth the face out, but not some silky like finish, just soft. It does reduce the amount of foundation that would seep into pores but not greatly. I can't really explain what it does for fine lines and wrinkles. But overall it's a pretty good primer. Doesn't irritate skin or cause breakouts either.
+6points
6out of 6found this review helpful.
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