How do I make my makeup last longer? Ughh. Story. Of. My. Life

It’s annoying enough to have two contradictory pigmentation issues on my face, but to boot I have a hard time keeping any makeup on for long periods of time.

I always thought I should be looking for a good primer and finishing spray or powder, but I think what I’ve really needed is this “makeup gripper” concept Sephora is trying to push right now https://www.refinery29.com/skin-care-routine-best-sephora-products

Here are two makeup grippers that kind of actually work to make makeup last longer:

Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm Review

The Claim: It’s a makeup “anti-aging finisher” and primer in one. Use it on top of moisturizer to help makeup glide on smoothly and last longer. You can also use it on top of makeup to create a “velvety” finish and slightly dewy glow. Why Josie love it: “Makeup glides on seamlessly while the subtle glow awakens the complexion and softly sculpts the face with luminous light”.

Swatch of Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm. The shiny streak in the middle of my hand is product applied directly from the jar. To the jar is the sheen it gives after it is blended into the skin.

My Experience: The texture is nice – it’s creamy and ads just enough moisture. It feels a little more chemically (does that make sense?) than Josie Maran’s other products. I don’t really do the whole dewy, iridescent look so I just use it as a primer in hopes my makeup will cling to it.

Photo of Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm. It can be used as a primer or skin finisher. Sephora is trying to push this as a makeup gripper.

The Results: Mixed. I’m pretty sure it does help my makeup last longer than using many other primers or just a finishing powder.

Before and after photo of using Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm as a primer.

Ingredients: Natural ingredients like organic argan oil and shea butter.

Plus a few others that I see often in products – I don’t like the look of these names but most actually have the best – 1 rating – on Environmental Working Group’s Skindeep database.

• Dimethicone – rated as a 3 on EWG Skindeep database
• Caprylyl Methicone
• Glycerin
• Polymethylsilsesquioxane
• Cetearyl Glucoside
• Cetearyl Alcohol
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
• Dimethicne/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer – I don’t like the sound of “vinyl”
• Disodium EDTA
• Gluconolactone
• Isohexadecane
• Lecithin – 3/4 rating on Skindeep. I hope its not soy lecithin.
• Niacinamide
• Polysorbate 80
• Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
• Sodium Acrylates Copolymer – 3 rating
• Sodium Benzoate – 3 rating; a preservative
• Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
• Titanium Dioxide – a 1-3 rating; carcinogenic if inhaled or used in aerosol
• Mica – easy to see in the iridescent-ness

Boscia White Charcoal Mattifying MakeUp Setting Spray Review

I LOVE Boscia products! (Do I use “love” too much?). They are generally unscented and paraben, phthalate and sulfate free. I think I’m on my third bottle of this Boscia charcoal setting spray.

The Claim: pore-minimizing, hydrating makeup setting spray with Binchotan white charcoal that balances “moisture content.”

My experience: Most days I use it as a settle spray. A little goes a long way and I need it to dry quickly so I don’t overapply it. I think it works best when I also use it as a priming spray. Once you let it dry it is just slightly tacky/grippy enough to allow for a smooth application of foundation that sticks to it.

The Results: It works! Highly recommended. Definitely helps my makeup last longer and it helps to add a matte finish on top of makeup. If you have to make a choice I would choose it over the new Josie Maron finishing balm.
Ingredients:

Before and After picture of Boscia White Charcoal Mattifying Makeup Setting Spray. This paraben-free setting spray helps to make makeup last longer. Please ignore the double chin in the after picture 🙂

Ingredients: It’s preservative free without artificial fragrances, color, fluten and alcohol. It is also dermatologist tested.

Close-up photo of Boscia white charcoal mattifying makeup setting spray. This natural makeup setting spray works great as a primer and setting spray to make makeup last longer.

Other ingredients (again, not great looking names but mostly 1 ratings on EWG Skindeep database):

• Water (Aqua)
• Butylene Glycol
• Dipropylene Glycol
• Charcoal Powder
• Pseudoal Teromonas Ferment Extract
• Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
• Arginine
• Kaolin
• Cucuis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract
• Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
• Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract
• Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
• Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
• Glycerin
• Sodium Polyacrylate – a 3 rating on EWG Skindeep
• Sodium Salicylate
• Hydroxyacetophenone
• Acrylates Copolymer
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil – a 3 rating on EWG Skindeep but still not necessarily great. Credo beauty has great info on PEGs
• Caprylyl Glycol
• 1,2-Hexanediol