So Youthforia is slapping “97% natural” on this primer, and my first thought was *cool, finally a clean grip.* Then I flipped the bottle over. The second ingredient? Dimethicone. That’s silicone. Lab-made. Not natural. The math ain’t mathing.
The real story: they’re counting water as “natural” to pad the percentage. Water isn’t a flex. It’s in every primer ever made. This is the same trick brands pulled in 2015 — and we’re supposed to be past this.
🧴 **What You’re Actually Paying For**
It’s a $36 hydrating primer. The claim that got me: “makeup that’s good for your skin.” I wanted to believe. Here’s what you get:
Gel-cream texture
Goes on dewy, almost wet. Not tacky like a traditional grip primer.
Slight pearl finish
Micro-shimmer. Not glittery — but if you hate shine, run.
No SPF
For a “day game” primer? Missed opportunity.
Photo: Lidye / Unsplash
📋 **The Ingredient Reality Check**
Hero ingredients: Squalane (hydrating), Niacinamide (calming). But the full list is 50+ ingredients long. That’s not minimalist. That’s a cocktail. And the fragrance is borderline strong — not ideal for reactive skin.
- Squalane: lightweight moisture, sits well under makeup
- Niacinamide: pore refining, but low on the list
- Dimethicone: silicone slip, zero skin benefit
- Fragrance: unnecessary irritant for ‘clean’ brand
Photo: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
⚗️ **Texture & Reality**
First pump: smells like a fancy spa. Spreads like a thick moisturizer. Absorbs in about 20 seconds — leaves a tacky film. Not sticky, but you feel it. Like a light glue.
Week 3: my makeup did last longer. But my pores looked… fuller? Not clogged — just *there*. Like the primer filled them but didn’t blur them. Unexpected: it pilled under silicone-based foundation. Had to switch to water-based.
Photo: Karly Jones / Unsplash
🔬 **Does It Actually Work?**
Makeup longevity: solid 8 hours before creasing. Pores: still visible, just less oily. Skin feel: hydrated, not tight. But the “natural” claim is marketing, not truth. My skin didn’t improve — it just didn’t get worse.
Photo: Nick Noel / Unsplash
⚠️ **Final Call**
It’s not a bad primer. But the “clean” label is a costume. If you want grip without the greenwash, there are better options for less.