Recently I purchased Fyrinnae’s Velvet-Gel Silica primer for the second time. It contains NO silicones.
The Website Claims:
With about 50-60% micro-silica spheres, this primer creates a smooth finish, blurring fine lines and pores
Stops excess oil
Allows any type of foundation to be applied more easily
The Ingredients are:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Silica (silicon dioxide), Purified Water, Acrylates/C-10 Alkyl Acrylates(this makes it into a gel – very,very small amount), Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Sodium Benzoate
Price:
$7 for 1 fl.oz
Does it live up to its claims?
This primer has a tall list of claims, and in my eyes, it lives up to every single one of them. It doesn’t break me out. It’s colorless. You only need the tiniest amount to cover your entire face. It helps my skin look flawless. You can use it without foundation or with foundation. It keeps the oilies at bay.
Me wearing the Fyrinnae Velvet-Gel Silica Face Primer with Too Faced Amazing Face liquid foundation in Vanilla Creme on t-zone blended out
Would I purchase again?
Yes, this is my second time purchasing this primer. It’s been reformulated slightly since the first time, and I think it’s better than ever. Before it came in a jar, and these days I detest jars. Now it comes in an awesome squeeze tube. It’s an AMAZING buy for the price. Seriously, $7 for 1 oz? It’s a steal. My other two favorite primers are $30 for 1 oz and $11 for 1 oz. So this is less expensive, fewer ingredients (fewer things to be allergic to), good quality product and a good container. I whole heartedly recommend this primer. It’s another winner from Fyrinnae.
Product purchased by me. All opinions are my own.
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Hello Cotton
I LOVE this primer. I have tried so many different ones (GOSH Velvet Touch, E.L.F Studio, Illamasqua Satin, Illamasqua Matte, Smashbox Photofinish, MAC Matte, Body Shop Matte It…..to name a few) and the fyrinnae one is:
a) Cheaper…by a large margin!
b) Tonnes better than any other primer I have tried.
I love the fact that it works for powder, liquid and creme foundations because I change mine up quite regularly and its nice not having to buy three different products.
LisaOrestea recently shared..Review- Sleek The Primer Palette
Me too! It works nicely with mineral makeup or liquid foundation.
Wow, sounds like a really good product! Thanks for this
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You’re welcome Aya!
yep, I love this stuff. I’ll be ordering a new tube now that summer is on it’s way back. Yay humidity
I love that it comes in a tube instead of a jar now.
Awesome review. I’ve always wondered this, but could you use it near your eyes as a primer under pixie epoxy?
The primer I bought doesn’t work at all with pixie epoxy, so I was considering on buying it.
I’ve never used it on my eyelids.
I’ve used it under the eye area, but mostly I just use it on my face.
Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Sobe Botanicals Primed & Proper, Concrete Minerals Primer, MAC Paint Pots and Stila Smudge Pots tend to work well with Pixie Epoxy.
ahh. reply fail.
No worries!
Maybe check out this entry I wrote on PE and see if it helps?
http://phyrra.net/2010/05/fyrinnae-pixie-epoxy-holy-grail-product.html
I did read your entry (and it was fantastic) prior to buying the epoxy. I think I’ll try your way.
I’ve never considered applying pixie epoxy over eye shadow, out of fear that I’d like, totally smudge it or something. But thank youu. <3
Brian has done some fantastic things with Pixie Epoxy and layering. I usually do it if I want to add sparkle to an accent point.
http://cosmeticviking.blogspot.com/
I hope you can make it work!
You don’t have to apply it over eye shadow either, I just do that sometimes, depending on how I want things to look.
Oh? That’s odd. I have concrete minerals primer, and it works fantastically on its own, but whenever I put pixie epoxy over it, it loses its tack.
I wonder if I’m just doing it wrong.
I haven’t used the CM primer in a long time but I remembered it working.
Here’s what I typically do:
1. Apply Too Faced Shadow Insurance
2. apply some eye shadow
3. Apply a thin layer of Pixie Epoxy and wait a few seconds (I do 1 eye at a time when I use PE) I use my finger to smooth out the layer.
4. brush the color on the Pixie Epoxy
I use Concrete’s primer exclusively and haven’t had any problems with Pixie Epoxy… I believe the trick is not using too much of either product or you’re going to have major issues. I apply a thin layer of primer and let it set for a minute or so. I then dot the flat end of the doe foot PE wand onto my (clean) finger. That’s all the amount of PE that you need – you may be able to even get by with less – and then I spread that evenly over my primer. I let that get tacky for 30 seconds or so and pat on my shadow.
I hope this helps you some!
Lena recently shared..pretty-serious- Muuuscleee spaasmmmmsss ahhh
Oooh. I think the problem I had was not waiting long enough for the primer to dry. What a silly mistake I’ve made.
I’m always unsure of silica in face products. It makes me itch a bit. I’m not allergic, I just find it uncomfortable.
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I haven’t tried it since the revamp but I know the original was awesome so I need to get some more of this!
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It’s definitely awesome.
I’ve worn just the primer on its own a few times and it keeps my oilies at bay.
In the pic – is it primer only or primer with foundation on top?
Oh, I sure do hope I’ll be able to try some of Fyrinnae’s products!
Hi Ana
It’s this look here:
http://phyrra.net/2011/02/shrieking-beansidhes-nightshade.html
I’m wearing Too Faced Amazing Face Liquid Foundation in Vanilla Creme – only applied on t-zone and blended out.
Thanks
!
Went to have a look at the primer on their page and noticed the lip colours they do arent on there anymore!
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I believe they’re just temporarily pulled and will be back at some point.
Lena recently shared..pretty-serious- Muuuscleee spaasmmmmsss ahhh
Yep, you’re right! They’ll be back.
They’ll be back soon, they’re just not available currently.
I’m trying to look at your skin, but your hair is just too cute like that!
Parched recently shared..Nectar – Fair Folk Pigments
Aww thanks!
That’s it…I’m going to order some. Your skin looks amazing. I really like your eye make-up also. Thanks for the review.
Aww thanks Terra!
Thanks for the review. I’ve been thinking about buying this product.
P.S. The orange lipstick looks KILLER on you.
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Thanks Skulda!
Ooh! I’ve been wondering about this stuff! Thanks for the review, now I’ve got a good excuse to place another order with Fyrinnae and if a couple of eye shadows happen to fall into my cart, oh well!
You’re welcome! It’s fantastic!
I’m debating trying this – but I’ve become SUPER wary of primers after trying several (Too Faced, Smashbox) and winding up with an army of itty-bitty whiteheads and an oil slick across my T-zone and chin by the end of the day. I have gone through half a package of blotting papers in one go after using those primers.
Have you ever had that happen to you with other primers? Because I *love* the look they give, and I desperately need the help in aiming for that ‘flawless’ look (having never left the pizza-face stage). I wonder if it’s the dimethicone in the others that does it. Any idea?
I haven’t had that itty-bitty whitehead issue, so I’m not really sure.
This is something I definitely need to look into. I don’t usually wear primers, but as the weather starts warming up, I like using an oil-control one. Thanks for the awesome review!
You’re welcome Crystal!
Since you are on the subject of Fyrinnae, I was wondering if I might make a request. I have had Fyrinnae lip lustres on my “to try” list for quite some time. I was wondering if you might do an FOTD at some point based around either My Toi or Candy Decadence. I think that would be quite nice!
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I could do one with Candy Decadence! I haven’t worn it for a while.
I’ve been curious about this primer for a while now. I think once I’m finished with my current one I’ll give it a go.
Speaking of which, has anyone been able to get on their site lately? I’ve been wanting to place an order for the past few days but it won’t work for me, argh.
It’s back up now, but they do take it down to tweak it.
Thanks for the review, Phyrra! I’ve been interested in trying this primer since I found out about Fyrinnae but now that it’s winter my skin is prone to dry patches.
The website seems to work for me but I haven’t seen the lip lustres in months. Does anyone know if they’ve been discontinued?
Oh, my mistake! It says on Fyrinnae’s front page that lip lustres will be returning soon. Huzzah!
They’re temporarily unavailable, but they’ll be back.
I love this primer though i still get oily after a few hours. My skin has always been uber oily no matter what i do skincare wise. It frustrating because my lids are uber oily too. No matter what eye primer and or base i use my shadow creases. I have good days where it doesn’t crease, but i replicate what I did and then it creases the next time. =(
Aww, that’s unfortunate. I have a slightly oily t-zone, which can be annoying, and super oily lids.
Oooh, I really would like to try this! I don’t have very oily skin, but occasionally I feel like I could do with a little bit of help. I think for the price I may as well try this one over any others! And you know, I’ve never bought anything crappy from Fyrinnae so that helps!
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Everything from Fyrinnae has been fantastic in my experience, too
This stuff is absolutely brilliant!
I have two primers, the other one being Maybelline’s TheSmoother primer (chock full of silicones, that one. 
) Both give you a smooth feel, but Fyr’s definitely gives a more natural-ish smoothness (how else can I put it?) as opposed to Maybelline’s, or any other silicone-based primer.
The staying power for the Velvet-Gel’s also far bettter, and it didn’t give me oilies or zits at the end of the day compared to Maybelline’s. In context: I used Velvet-Gel continuously for a week with no hiccups, but Maybelline’s gave me a few zits after a good few hours. Eep.
I do find that I have to actually use a full pea-sized amount, though a freshly moisturized face helps me use less.
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Yeah I’m amazed at how small an amount it takes to cover my face!
Wow, so is that just due to the primer or did you do something to your face? You are seriously looking so glowy and fresh – I love your look!
Laujoyee recently shared..Incompleted Birthday Haul
I think it’s the primer + liquid foundation combination. Together they seem pretty amazing.
I am SO glad that they changed the packaging on this. I don’t dislike jars like you do, but I absolutely hated just how fast the product would dry out. I bought a jar of it, and it was dried out within a month or so, even after I had screwed it on tight.
I’m glad they switched the packaging because even though it was a great product, I wouldn’t have rebought it due to the fact that it would be so heavily wasted.
judith recently shared..A Spin on an Old Favorite
Yeah, the new packaging is awesome!
I’m in the market for a new primer and may need to give this one a try!
I hope you like it Jen!
I’m on my 3rd purchase of that stuff. Love it! Also, I can’t get enough of that lipstick on you!! Shrieking Orange, right?
Yep! Morgana’s Shrieking orange
I LOVE it!
I love this stuff as well! Although I think I use much more than I need. It doesn’t quite keep down the shine totally for me at the end of the day but then again, i’m walking to work and back in 35 degree heat! (95 F).
Wow! that’s hot weather!
I liked this but I didn’t love it….but you said it’s been reformulated so I’d definitely give it another try…it’s a steal at that price! And I do like that it’s in a squeeze bottle now instead of a jar
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Yeah the squeeze jar + the formula is pretty awesome.
I love Fyrinnae’s shadows and the Pixie Epoxy, but I’ve been ignoring the Face Primer because of the silica in it. Would you know how closely silica is related to silica microspheres (like the MUFE finishing powder, or the cheaper stuff at Coastal Scents/TKB)? Silica microspheres make me break out.
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I don’t know, but I will try to find out for you!
Silica microspheres are the same as silica. So probably one that it’s best you skip.
Thanks for the review. I am very weary of trying new things on my face as I breakout very easily. I have tried sooo many face primers…I cant even begin to tell you. Bare Escentuals Primetime was my go to primer, now I use Monistat Chaffing Gel. For such a low price, I just may try it. LOL
allison199 recently shared..Bare Escentuals- Big- Bright and Bold Kit
I’ve heard Monistat Chafing Gel is great, I keep meaning to pick it up to try so I could compare it.
Cool. I’ve been wanting to try this but haven’t ordered because I don’t know if I need this one or the one for dry skin. I think this one will be good for me. I usually get dry in the winter but most of the time I’m “normal”.
I’d say try this one.
I have been trying to order from Fyrinnae for months now, but the site is always closed or on hold or something like that. So frustrating! Their products get great reviews and I imagine it’s a super small company so I’m trying to be patient……….
ay yay yay
They really are great, but they’re only 1 person at the moment, so they’ve had to close to catch up on orders. I really respect them for the way they conduct their business.