Something strange has happened. I once deemed primers a completely unnecessary step, but after flirting with Benefit’s The POREfessional, then falling in love with Urban Decays latest offering (review here), I now see the fuss behind the makeup-to-skin-binding wonders. My latest lust turned to love? Hourglass’ Veil Mineral Primer. I’d heard a load of hype about this, so trotted down to one of their counters, picked it up and slapped it on. And ever since I’ve been impressed…

On paper it’s a mineral based water-reistant primer designed to eliminate redness, minimise pores, soften fine lines and create a smooth and even base for makeup. On the face it does just that, although I find its main selling point to be the fact that my makeup looks pretty much the same as when I first put it on, half a day later. It’s a white, almost blue-toned light cream consistency and I blend it over areas where I tend to loose makeup first, around my chin and nose, with my fingers, then I apply whatever base I fancy over the top and I’m done. It’s as simple as that. It claims to be water-resistant, which can vary wildly in it’s meaning and I’m sure if I was to walk into the shower I would look like a drowned rat and I don’t find my makeup any harder to get off when I use it, but it does hold up through me cutting some shapes on the dancefloor and getting a little schweaty. Tried and tested baby. In terms of how it compares to the other primers I own, it’s closest to Benefit’s The POREfessional, although a little less drying and more natural looking – a not so much matte finish, just a subtle silky skin-like one.

Here’s the glitch. A full-size will set you back a cool £52. Yes, ouch. Hence why I save this for special occasions where I know my makeup needs to last over 12 hours and nights out (which happen once in a blue moon these days). I love it, but I’m just not sure I could justify splashing out on the big bottle – I’ll be sticking to the £20 for 10ml travel size for now, thank you very much. I picked this up from their counter at Liberty’s but it’s also stocked instore at the place where beauty dreams are made, Space NK. So the question of to prime or not to prime is answered. Now it’s the case of to splash out or not to splash out?