My makeup artist friend shoved this $15 tube into my hands last week and said “just try it.” I was mid-text about some $60 primer that shall remain nameless.
She’s been using it on editorial shoots. Next to Pat McGrath. That got my attention faster than any ad ever could.
It’s Nyx Professional Makeup‘s This Is Milky Primer — $14.99 at Ulta. The claim: “glass skin effect.” I rolled my eyes so hard.
That milky texture
Not sticky. Not slippery. It’s the Goldilocks of primers.
The glow factor
Subtle but real. Like you drank water and slept 8 hours — not like a disco ball.
No pilling
Wore it under my Estée Lauder Double Wear. Zero flakes. Zero fights.
Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash
No fluff. No fairy dust. They put actual hydrators in here instead of just silicones and hope. The niacinamide is at a real concentration — not a “we added a molecule” situation.
- Niacinamide: Calms redness and shrinks pores over time
- Glycerin: The boring MVP that actually hydrates
- Hyaluronic Acid: Plumps without the sticky finish
- Squalane: Keeps the glow going 6 hours later
Photo: Claudia Tocuț / Unsplash
It comes out like runny yogurt. Smells faintly like… nothing? No perfume. Thank god. Sinks in within 15 seconds — I timed it because I’m insane.
Week 3: I stopped reaching for my Tatcha. That’s not nothing. The only downside? If you’re oily, this won’t mattify anything. It leans into the dew.
Photo: Daria Gordova / Unsplash
My makeup lasts 2 hours longer. My pores look smaller — not gone, but softer. The glow fades gracefully instead of turning into a grease slick by 3 PM.
Photo: Arteida MjESHTRI / Unsplash
This is the primer that makes you question why you ever spent more. It’s not magic — it’s just really, really good at the basics.