Skin Food Black Egg Pore Gel Base

My skin is quite porous - I did try couple of pore regulating products, but I noticed that I really have influence only on the size of my pores near nose and on the temples. The rest of my skin is just always porous, no matter what I use, what temperature it's outside etc. But if I cannot control them, I can at least conceal them with some good primer.

Product description: A pore-refining primer gel with a velvety finish that improves the appearance of enlarged pores while preparing skin for makeup. The apricot colour base brightens lacklustre skin tones.

In the ingredients list we will find silicones and talc, but also Titanium Dioxide (UVA & UVB filter) and rice extract, which contains skin soothig enzymes and has antioxidant properties.

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Boron Nitride, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG/PPG-19/19 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Talc, Fragrance, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Sulfur, Polysorbate 80, Oleth-10, Albumen Extract, Titanium Dioxide, CI77492, CI77491, CI77499.
Ingredient analysis [HERE]

The original product comes in 25g squeezy tube, I ordered set of 10 sample sachets (1ml each) on e-Bay. One sample last for approx. 4-5 applications.

The base has a very nice, light & velvety feel to it. Although it's called "gel base" it has consistency of light cream rather than gel. Nice, floral scent. It glides easily on the skin, a little goes a long way. Because it's flesh-coloured it evens out skin tone a little bit, but not as well as Baby Choux Recipe primer. But the good side is that it doesn't white up skin so much as Baby Choux - when I used Baby Berry Choux couple of my co-workers noticed that I look more pale than usual, the Black Egg primer doesn't influence my skin tone that much.

After first few uses I wasn't impressed with this product, it seemed to me like it doesn't really do much except of making skin slightly smoother. But then I discover that it needs a moment to blend into my skin - I have to give it a minute or two to sit on my skin before BB application. When I do that, the base covers pores and shallow wrinkles really well. This waiting time may annoy some, I personally don't mind. The primer makes application of any BB really nice and easy, also it mattifies skin a little bit, therefore the BB cream on top of that base looks slightly more matte than without it - that's a big advantage for my oily skin. Product itself is rather neutral for sebum control, but it makes make up last longer - some BB creams just disappear from the skin after some time, this base keeps them in place. It also makes my make up almost waterproof - once when I forgot to use cleansing oil and went straight under the shower, I could feel water just sliding off my face like off duck's back. Funny feeling ^^

Price: from £6 on e-Bay for the full size product; I payed £3 for set of 10 samples.

Pros:
+ a little goes a long way
+ covers pores and shallow wrinkles well
+ leaves skin velvety smooth
+ makes BB cream last longer
+ contains Titanium Dioxide - mineral UVA & UVB filter

Cons:
- have to wait a moment after application to let it settle on the skin

Overall this is a good product. Just remember to double cleanse your skin when using silicone based products like that - I recommend using cleansing oil ^^

If you have problem with enlarged pores you may be interested in the rest of Skin Food's Black Egg Pore line:

Line contains: Serum, Gel Base, Primer, Foundation (two shades: #1 Light Beige #2Natural Beige) and Finish Powder. The difference between primer and base it that base is tinted, while primer is clear.