ELF Cosmetics continues to make waves in the beauty industry with its vast range of makeup and beauty products at affordable prices. The E.L.F. Poreless Face Primer boasts that it provides a smooth canvas ideal for long-lasting makeup application. According to the site, the poreless face primer is suitable for all skin types. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype in this ELF Poreless Face Primer review!
Please note that this review is for the ELF Poreless Face Primer, not the ELF Poreless Putty Primer.
I do participate in affiliate programs, including Amazon Affiliates, and may earn a small commission if products are purchased through links on the site.
ELF Poreless Face Primer Ingredients
According to the Ulta website, the ingredients for ELF Poreless Face Primer are:
“Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate (Va), Tocopheryl Acetate (Ve), Silica. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).”
ELF Poreless Face Primer Pros Vs. Cons

Pros
Restorative Benefits
Good for your skin, ingredients like Tea Tree and Vitamins A & E help nourish your skin, restoring it to it’s natural beauty! These same ingredients helps soothe dry skin.
Ideal For All Skin Types
Those with dry skin will appreciate the hydrating benefits of this silicone-based primer. On the other hand, those with oily skin will appreciate that this primer dries with a matte finish.
It also works well for anyone with normal skin. It doesn’t dry out your skin or make it seem oily.
Blurring Effect
This primer will work great for you if you have oily skin and large pores. It helps fill in pores, creating a blurring effect. I don’t think it’s as effective at filling fine lines and large pores as the Poreless Putty Primer, but it gets the job done.
Available In Small And Large
If you’re not ready to commit to a full-size version, you can pick this poreless primer up in a small size to try it. I got a free trial size with an order from ELF. If you love ELF products, the free samples you get with each order on the ELF website are a great way to try new ELF products to see if you like them.
Leaves Your Skin Silky Smooth
This poreless primer makes every skin type feel like velvet. It doesn’t matter if you have normal or dry, rough skin, it helps.
Helped My Uneven Skin Tone
I have a seriously uneven skin tone. There are red patches of hyperpigmentation, age spots, freckles, etc. This primer helped my skin look a little more balanced than I usually have.
Long-Lasting
When it comes to longevity, this product works. After the primer absorbs into your skin, apply your foundation, etc. You’ll instantly notice that foundation simply glides across your skin. Then, it stays in place all day long.
Keep in mind that this product is a silicone-based primer. Because of that, you need to use another silicone-based makeup product on top of it. If you try to use a water-based foundation on top of a silicone-based primer, there’s a good chance that your makeup will slide off of your face.
If you do use a foundation that isn’t silicone based, check out the other primer reviews to find one that works for you.
A Little Goes A Long Way
You only have to use a drop of this foundation at a time. You have to use so little that it’s easy to use too much accidentally and wind up looking like an oil slick. Always remember that less is more with this foundation.
Cons
It Smells Horrible
This is the one big downside to this primer and why I won’t buy it again. The scent of tea tree is so strong that it bothered me. I used it for a few days for this review, and I won’t be using it again.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind the scent of tea tree, you’ll love this primer.
Watch Out For Irritation
The tea tree ingredient in this product can be fantastic for some people. For other people, it can cause irritation and breakouts. If you have extremely sensitive skin, test it on a patch of skin before using it to test for increased redness, irritation, etc.
The Verdict
If you can get past the smell or don’t object to products with a smell, this poreless primer will likely work for you. It has quite a few benefits you will be in love with.
However, ELF has plenty of other primers that offer those same benefits without the rank smell. I’d recommend trying one of those if you’re searching for a new primer to avoid disappointment. Try the ELF Poreless Putty Primer instead!
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