If you are wanting a primer that is non-silicone based and could be used by itself, the newly reformulated Club Airy Touch Gel Base is a very good affordable one. Its light-as-air gel formula creates a breathable, complexion-enhancing veil over the skin with a velvety-soft feel. Like the rest of Airy touch line, it is decidedly young and girly with its cute packaging and sweet “LaFrance” pear scent.
I especially like the shade Enchanted Pink as it takes a very comprehensive approach to priming skin — it slightly blurs and hides minor imperfections, adds radiance, as well as brightening skin tone. It gives the skin a very believable freshness rather than the “dewy glow” (which more often than not, is just a kinder term for shiny, greasy skin) or shimmery shine that you often find in luminising primers. Complexion looks brighter and enhanced. Its subtle effect gets lost underneath heavier foundation, but for perfecting bare skin or underneath sheer-coverage base it’s just wonderful.
As a moisturising primer, the Airy Touch Gel Base works perfectly — it holds makeup well and there’s an ethereal natural illumination that lifts the skin tone and enhances the complexion. It has added SP50+ PA++++ and anti-pollution screen that you’d never guess were there, though I can’t imagine you’d apply enough of it to provide adequate protection, if you were relying solely on that. That being said, some protection is better than nothing if you are to forego proper sunscreen (which admittedly, I sometimes do on dreary days).
Club Airy Touch Gel Base is ultra-portable in its little 30g tube and it imparts just enough colour to make it perfect as a light base for most skin types. Those with very oily skin might prefer something with oil-control and mattifying. You can find Enchanted Pink at Amazon Japan, it’s ¥1,296 (international shipping via AmazonGlobal). It also comes in Warm Natural Beige, a light yellow-toned beige, if you don’t like pink tint. You can also find both HERE
for US$25.99+ on eBay.
