Review: Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel (As Face Primer) FAIL!

I have to admit, i bought this one out of curiosity. I have been very happy with my Missha BB Boomer (click for review) as a face primer and do not really need any primer to replace it as of the moment. 

I have been reading so many rave reviews about this chafing gel as an excellent face primer (aside from providing relief in delicate areas) which i found totally weird. I got curios, so i decided to give this a try. You see, this was initially not intended for use on the face as a primer. This was made for use on the inner thigh and bikini area and in your *ehem*, nether regions, to provide relief and prevent from chafing due to moisture, heat, movement and shaving. As to why and how this became an alternative face primer, i do not know. 

The product comes out in a gel form which dries out instantly into a matte, silky-powder form. It leaves your skin feeling super smooth and silky.

I have been using this for a month now and here's my take:

•  This contains 1.2% Dimethicone which is the reason why you get that super smooth and silky feel on your skin right after application. Because of this, foundation/bb cream application is so much easier! Foundation glides like silk on your face.
• For some weird reason, it does make makeup stay on your face longer. I wear foundation in the morning and i am surprised to find it's still on my face in the afternoon.
• This keeps my oilies at bay. I normally get oily on my T-zone by mid afternoon and this was able to control the oiliness on my face, even better than Missha BB Boomer. 

So does this work as a face primer? Definitely YES! And it works great!

That being said, i know you would expect me to highly recommend this product right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but sadly i can't. Because ---- IT BROKE ME OUT SOOOOOO BAD!

As i am not a pimply person, i panic at the sight of more than 2 pimples growing on my face. For the longest time, i only get 1-2 pimples when it's that "time" of the month. So you can imagine my shock when i started seeing 1,2,3,4,5 pimples sprouting everywhere on my face. And it's not even that "time" of the month! Mind you, these were not just small red pimples, these were the big cystic ones. Like this one i got just 3 days ago:

EEEW! i had to crop my picture because i had been wearing no makeup at all the past 3 days to allow my skin to heal.

I first thought this was probably due to Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer that i was recently using. But i stopped using Aveeno for 1 straight week and i was still getting them (the pimples). I never thought Monistat could cause this because i figured, if it's safe enough to use on your "delicate" areas, it would also be safe to use on your face right? Well, bohoo, now i have dark spots on my face, remnants of the nasty cystic pimples. Huhuhu. Thank God for Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, my pimples dried up really fast.


I have stopped using this for 4 days now and thankfully, no pimples have sprouted anymore.

First Lesson learned: DO NOT USE A PRODUCT ON AN AREA IT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR.
Second Lesson learned: CURIOSITY DEFINITELY KILLED THE CAT. 

Now it may just be me. My face is probably more sensitive than my "delicate" areas. I am happy for those who have had no problems about this product. Because really, this is such a great substitute for a face primer. They even compare this to the infamous Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. Had it not caused breakouts on my face, i would be yelling praises for this gel because it's really cheap and very effective as a face primer.

What a waste...

What the Label Says

Relieves & Prevents Chafing

• Inner Thigh & Bikini Area
• From Moisture, Heat, Movement & Shaving

From the Makers for Monistat® Intimate Care

• Dries to Silky Finish
• Fragrance Free
• Skin Protectant

Provides on-the-go daily prevention and relief from chafing and irritation in intimate, delicate areas like the inner thigh, bikini area, and under arms and breasts.

Exclusive formula can be used whenever you need protection from the uncomfortable irritation caused by moisture, heat, movement and shaving. It forms a silky, breathable barrier to fight friction, keeping the delicate skin in the bikini area and inner thighs feeling healthy and protected, while it comforts chafed skin.

Helps relieve the appearance of redness that can develop after shaving or waxing the bikini area.

• Non-Greasy
• Fragrance Free
• Non-Irritating
• Non-Staining

Net WT. 

1.5 oz (42 g) 

Price:

$ 6.79 at drugstore.com

(about P 292.00) Not available locally

The Good

- leaves skin silky smooth which makes makeup application so much easier

- helps makeup stay longer 

- kept my oiliness at bay

- fragrance free

- as a face primer, this is very cheap

The Bad

- broke me out like crazy!

Final Verdict

I would not recommend this for those with sensitive skin, you might have the same experience as i did (and i do not even have sensitive skin).

My advise: Be careful in using a product on areas that it was not intended for.

Avon Ideal Shade Tinted Makeup Base in Pink Pearl

What the Label Says

Makes your foundation more effective by preventing creasing and fading. Makes your pressed powder more effective by preventing caking. 

Shades:

Pink Pearl (corrects dullness & enhances skin clarity) 

Mint (evens out skin tone)

Weight:

25 gram

Price:

P 379.00 

Swatches

it has a pinkish tinge in actual but somehow my camera does not capture the color

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 I am already very much satisified with my Missha BB Boomer as my makeup base. I have been using it for over a year now and have no problems with it. I bought this on impulse when i ran out of my Missha BB Boomer and could not find one as fast. Read on how this makeup base fares. 

The Good

- i got this in Pink Pearl which is meant to brighten skintone and it really does the job
- inexpensive
- has a nice light scented baby powder smell
- makes foundation or your bb cream last longer

The Bad

- the consistency is too thick as a makeup base
- because its too thick, it goes on white when you apply it on the face. make sure to apply only a little amount and blend, blend, blend

Missha BB Boomer VS. Avon Ideal Shade Tinted Makeup Base in Pink Pearl

I did a review of Missha BB Boomer here

Size & Price: 

Missha BB Boomer 40ml at P700 is slightly more expensive than Avon's Ideal Shade 25g at P395. Difference is about P2.34 / ml. 

Consistency & Texture

LEFT: Missha BB Boomer
RIGHT: Avon Ideal Shade Tinted Makeup Base in Pink Pearl

Missha BB Boomer has a lighter consistency which i love as it is easier to apply. Avon's Ideal shade is a little too thick for my liking. You cannot apply this without applying moisturizer first as it would be a bit difficult to spread. You will also notice in the picture above that Missha gives a pink pearlescent sheen when spread, whereas Avon's goes on just white. 


Overall
Both products actually accomplish what they promise to do. They both make my foundation/bb cream last longer and they really do brighten the face. In terms of keeping the oiliness at bay, they both fail at this. I have yet to find a primer that will do a good job in controlling oiliness. Between the two, i would pick Missha BB Boomer because i like its consistency & texture better and i find that it has a more brightening effect than Avon's Ideal Shade. 

Final Verdict

B+

While this is a pretty good product, I still prefer my Missha BB Boomer as a makeup base. 

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Missha BB Boomer

What the Label Says

BB Boomer gives Missha’s M BB Cream a boost that will increase it’s effect and extend its wearability. With added pearlized luminescence the BB Boomer will provide a radiant glow for a dewy complexion and angelic sheen. 

- Whitening + Wrinkle repairing

- Containing moringa, patent ingredient, mannan and olive ingredients which have an affinity with skin, it keeps moisture on the skin and creates moisture shield, leaving it moisturized after makeup.

- Containing adenosine and arbutin, it improves skin tone and fine lines.

Size:

40ml

Price:

P700+ (bought mine from SkinfoodPreOrder)

Swatches 

When squeezed out of the tube it looks creamy white

When blended, it gives a pink iridescent color to the skin

General Review

As all of you may well know, i'm in love with my Missha Perfect Cover! A few months after i've discovered Missha PC, i finally decided to give this BB Primer a try. So how did this fare? Read on.  

The Good

- this did not broke me out

- it smells of baby powder. fortunately, the smell does not irritate me.

- feel lightweight to the skin

- consistency is just right. makes it easy to apply on the face

- moisturizes my face and gives it a smooth finish 

- gives a glowy, luminous look to my face

- this makes my BB cream last longer for an additional 3-4 hours compared to putting on BB cream only

The Bad

- did not do anything to control the oiliness of my face

Final Verdict

A+

I've been using this everyday and would not miss to put this on before applying my BB Cream. 



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