While I was browsing Superstore in a vain attempt to find the new Wet N Wild Color Icon palettes I instead stumbled upon the new Wet N Wild Photofocus Dewy Primer. My skin has been so dry lately. Matte finishes are looking cakey and patchy on me so I decided to give this primer a try and see if it could lend my skin a little boost. Dewy normally means hydration, so I try to buy dewy vs. matte products most of the time. I’ve been wearing this primer almost everyday since I picked it up and let me tell you.. it’s radiant. But was it good? Keep reading to find out if it’s worth your money!
Wet N Wild Photofocus Dewy Primer Review
A fresh face starts with photo-prepping primer. Infused with Vitamin E, this lightweight formula helps smooth your skin for an even makeup application. The primer is infused with pearl pigments to add dimension for that glow-from-within look. — Wet N Wild
The Wet N Wild Photofocus Dewy Primer retails for $4.99USD and contains 25ml of product. I would normally complain that most products contain at least 1oz, but considering this is under $5 I don’t have a lot of ground to stand on there. Does Photofocus remind you of something? Because it certainly reminds me of the Smashbox Photofinish primers… Possible dupe alert?
Packaging
I always include a packaging section in my reviews, even for drugstore products. So many drugstore makeup products are now stepping up their packaging standards, which is a-ok with me! The Wet N Wild Photofocus Dewy Primer comes in a Squeeze tube just like the Smashbox Photofinish Primers but unlike the Smashbox packaging the WNW is opaque. The packaging is really simple, just the brand name, product name and a little leaping bunny certification stamp. For $4.99 I wouldn’t expect anything more.
Before & After Primer – No Foundation
Dewy/Radiance Factor
My main hope for the Photofocus Dewy Primer was that it would be hydrating. I didn’t really care too much if it made my skin look dewy. I have setting sprays for that and I find that the glow from most Radiance Primers gets covered up by foundation anyways. Regardless, I was surprised when I squeezed out some primer and saw that it was a glowy gold mixture. It’s more of a cream than a liquid and it made my face look lit AF. It’s a good thing I applied foundation over this because the amount of radiance this primer infuses your face with is insane! My face was positively reflective.
I want to warn you that the WNW Photofocus Dewy Primer isn’t a primer you can just wear on your own. I personally don’t primers on their own, but I know that many people do. When I tried the Smashbox Photofinish Radiance Primer through Ipsy I found that the glow was present but subtle enough that I could have worn the primer alone for a no-makeup look with a touch of radiance. This is far from the case with Photofocus, there’s no way in Hell that I would go outside without foundation on top of this primer!
Photofocus Dewy Primer has no pore filling capabilities. It adds radiance to your face and a small amount of moisture but unfortunately if you have fine lines or enlarged pores it doesn’t really help in that regard.
Worn Under Foundation
When I wore the Primer under my MUR foundation I looked more glowy than usual. I wouldn’t use the word Dewy, which to me is more of a wet look but the primer definitely infused my foundation with some extra radiance. As I said earlier I find that most radiant primers loose their glow when worn under foundation; However, Wet N Wild Photofocus Dewy Primer is so glowy that it borders on being a liquid highlighter. It gives me a “lit from within” kind of look!
Because the formula is a cream and not silicone based it also makes a good mixer for foundation. If you want to add some glow to your liquid foundation it’s easy to mix on the back of your hand.
Longevity
My foundation didn’t wear any better on top of the WNW Photofocus Dewy Primer than it does on other bases. With Photofocus my foundation started to look cakey and settled into my fine lines, making me look older. If fine lines or pores aren’t an issue for you this might not be a problem. If you look closely at my forehead you can see small lines that haven’t been filled by the primer.
To combat this I’m wearing a blurring primer as usual and then using Photofocus as a mixer in my foundation to get the best of both worlds.
Have you tried the new Wet N Wild Photofocus Dewy Primer?
Thank you for reading! I hope you found my review of the WNW Photofocus Dewy Primer to be helpful, let me know what your favourite primer is! Do you prefer blurring primers or hydrating ones? Talk soon! xx
I need to find a few Wet N Wild products! I had no idea they were so affordable. I’d probably skip this primer since it doesn’t fill pores, but it’s still great to know they offer products for such a great price. Also, it’s great to know about cream versus silicone based for adding on foundation–I didn’t know that could make a difference with their compatibility! Thanks for sharing!
Author
Yes WNW is so inexpensive! I highly recommend the Color Icon 10 pan palettes, they’re only $4.99US which is incredible for the quality.
I only learned that about silicone primers because I switched my moisturizer and everything stopped working for me, I was like Nooooo! Thanks for reading!
Ooh thank you for the recommendation! I don’t think I’ve seen them at Walmart, would WNW be at Target? Or perhaps a regular drugstore like CVS or Walgreens, haha.
That would be so frustrating! I know I’ve been struggling to figure out what works with my oily skin…which seems to melt everything off in a matter of hours, lol.
Author
Hmm I don’t know unfortunately! We don’t have the same drugstores or Target in Canada 🙁
Ohh haha that makes sense! lol Thanks!
I’ve been really liking the honest beauty primer, not for hydration, but it really helps make my makeup last longer! I’ve always loved the smashbox primer (the clear one?), anddd for hydration, I’ve been liking the too faced hangover one! It actually helps loads for the winter! Great post xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Author
I’ve never heard of the Honest Primer, I’ll check it out!
I haven’t tried either the smashbox or the too faced hangover primer, it’s good to know that the hangover one is hydrating! I will need to pick that up!
let me know what you think of them if you ever try it out!
I love that you can use it as a mixer in your foundation! How cool! I think for me I would probably target this to areas that don’t crease, like my cheeks and jawline and then I might be able to avoid lines forming. I also always set my foundation so that might prevent it too. You don’t set yours typically, right? I might actually consider tracking this down..
Author
I’ll have to try that, kind of like multi-masking but multi-priming instead lol!
I normally don’t set foundation no, only my concealer. I’m sure there are other ways to make it work! I really like it mixed in my foundation though. Thanks for reading!
i haven’t seen this one yet, so weird that only certain store carry some products, anyway, i love dewy products as well, but this one sounds like a hit or miss, which i’ve come to expect from WnW, may give it a try though eventually as I have too many primers in my stash, but it would be worth a shot, wouldn’t be out much money
Author
It’s so strange! I was surprised that I found something new at Superstore here in Canada, they usually only stock older releases.
I can see how someone could either love or hate this. I wish it did a better job of actually filling in pores and such, because the glowyness is really nice.
i’ll have to visit my local drugstore just to see then, that or Ulta.
Are certain types of primer better for dry skin vs oily? I was using one with a subtle pore blurring effect but the one I’m using now seems to be more hydrating. I don’t notice any enlarged pores so personally I don’t think I have a preference as long as the foundation on top of the primer sits nicely 🙂 Maybe I’ll give this a go!
Author
I think that hydrating ones are generally better for dry skin, I really like the Becca first light primer for hydratiion. But I’ve noticed that hydrating primers don’t fill lines like silicone primers so it’s hard to decide which type is better. I don’t have oily skin so I don’t know what’s best for that skin type!
Let me know if you like it!
I’ll probably skip over this one since it can accentuate pores, but good to know! Wonderful review 💕
Author
Yes that was the one down side… It’s great for luminosity but not so much for that blurring effect. Thank you for reading!
Great review! I hope you find those Color Icon Palettes soon!
Author
Me too! I’m searching, it’s hard when wet n wild isn’t sold in many places here!
That’s a shame! Next time when you come to the States you need to stock up 😉.
Author
Yes I must!