We’re all familiar with conventional makeup primers, by various brands, from drugstore to high end. And of course, Nikkie from NikkieTutorials on YouTube introduced everyone to using the Nivea Men’s Post Shave Balm as a makeup primer, which to be honest, works quite well (read my review on it here).
The only problem with the Nivea Men’s Post Shave Balm is that it’s very heavily fragranced, which is fine for someone who doesn’t mind smelling like a sexy dude for about an hour after doing their makeup.
But what about those of us who are sensitive to not just fragrance, but pretty much everything??
Well, my darlings, I have a solution! Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel!
Yes, that stuff you’ve been using on your sunburnt skin all these years actually has another use!
Let’s start back at the beginning, shall we??
Many of you know that I’ve struggled for a long time to find the perfect primer. Many irritate my skin, break me out, cause cystic acne, or just plain ol’ don’t work on my skin. I have fine lines, large pores, and combination skin. After much trial and error, I’ve managed to find a couple that work well for me, but because they’re obviously full of chemicals that make them what they are, I try not to use them daily.
So I went on Pinterest one night looking for alternatives to traditional makeup primers, and one of the things I found was to use (specifically) Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel as a makeup primer!
*NOTE* It’s recommended to only use the clear kind – not the green or the blue or any other tinted gel.
This product can be found in Walmart, and a 12 oz. bottle is only about $4!!
Now, if you think about it, using aloe makes sense. It’s hydrating, pore-refining, soothes redness, helps control oil, and is the perfect primer if you’re fighting an acne breakout, because it actually helps fight the acne!
When you apply it to your skin, it dries down to an almost tacky finish, similar to that of the Nivea product. That’s when you apply your foundation and/or concealer. And it holds it on all day long!!
I especially like this on my combination/oily skin – it controls my oil, without getting heavy halfway through the day like most traditional makeup primers do, nor does it allow my makeup to break up as my oil tries like hell to surface. If anything, I look slightly dewy, but not oily! And because there’s minimal chemical ingredients (a few preservatives, just to keep it from going bad) I find that I get absolutely no oxidization with any foundation or concealer either, which makes this a total win!
Have you ever tried this product as a makeup primer? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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I’m pretty sure I don’t have to go into crazy detail on this product, because if you’ve been here awhile, you’ll have see my full review (and if not, you can by clicking 
Another one that you’ll recognize if you’ve been here awhile! And while I’m thinking about it, I wonder if this would be a good dupe for the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter?? Hmmm…. I love this especially because lately my skin has been so dry (thanks a lot, New England winter’s) and dull, and this primer makes you look so incredibly healthy and luminous, like you’re glowing from within! It’s lightweight, hydrating, and fluid enough that a little bit goes a long way (maybe a half of a pump?) – I’ve even mixed it in with my foundation, which is a breeze because of it’s consistency! If you’re oily, though, you’ll probably want to avoid this – it’s not mattifying in any way, and if you’re not careful you can end up looking like a greased chicken pretty quickly!
Ok, so I haven’t been using this for terribly long, but I’m already in love! If you haven’t read the full review yet (click 
“Wait, what?!” Yup!! Aloe! But it has to be the clear kind, and this brand in particular is the closest to 100% natural that I’ve found versus rubbing a gashed open Aloe leaf all over your face (which works too, by the way!). The way it works is by filling your pores in, reducing redness, and creating a nice tacky surface that your makeup can adhere to, you get probably the most natural primer with the least amount of irritants around! And as an added bonus, Aloe is loaded with vitamins C, A, B, and E, and it’s naturally anti-aging! It’s super hydrating, great for sensitive skin, and if you’re acne prone or even mid-breakout, it can help to prevent and clear up blemishes! Pretty amazing stuff, huh?
Affordable Gorgeous 