A couple of weeks ago, I received a deluxe sample of the Anna Sui Gel Foundation Primer with my order from Beautylish. I know I’ve said multiple times in the past that I don’t need a primer because I’m perfectly happy using my beloved Saint Jane sunscreen as a primer. However, the jelly-like texture of this new (to me) primer was intriguing and the reviews I read online were promising….

What is this sorcery? Seriously, what kind of devil trickery is this stuff? Upon application, the Anna Sui primer leaves a smooth, hydrated canvas for applying makeup. It’s when you start applying makeup that the magic happens. Not only does everything apply easier and last longer (it grips while imparting a glow…how does that work?), color somehow seems to stay more vibrant longer.

The color vibrancy only has happened with one other primer before, and that’s the Tatcha Silk Canvas primer, which is a PITA to use.

Everything else reminds me of the discontinued Son & Park Beauty Filter Cream Glow. Does anyone else remember this product, or even hear of it? It wasn’t too popular even when it was around, but I did love the glow it left my skin and used it as a primer. However, it did not give my makeup products the longevity that this Anna Sui primer does.

After using this primer for a few days, I decided to go on and order a full size. The jar is smaller than I expected, but you only need a tiny amount at a time. (The deluxe sample still looks barely used after a week.) The full size jar also comes with a spatula.

With this new primer, I have been going through my foundations to see which ones work best with it, or if foundations I didn’t like in the past now work well with this primer. And I’m happy to report that more than a few that I had almost given up on are now back in my regular rotation.

If I could change one thing about the primer, I wouldn’t make it fragranced. It has a strong floral fragrance, but I can live with that.

The Anna Sui Gel Foundation Primer is available at Beautylish, Anna Sui, Amazon, and Nordstrom and retails for $30.

(Some of the linked products are affiliate links, meaning I get commission for purchases or clicks made through those links in this post.)