Review: Etude House Goodbye Pore Ever Pore Primer Essence

The reason why I use primers even though I don't wear foundation is because my face becomes an oil mine throughout the day. And since I leave home at 7am and don't get back until 5pm, there's lots of oil (especially when I'm busy and forget to use my oil wipes), which clogs up my pores and I've seen those little red bumps from where my large pores are grow to becoming new red and inflamed pimples.. I've tried to use pore refining serums before like the Skinfood Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore Serum, but it would end up caking with my day cream because the consistency of these pore serums are so matte and powdery. I've tried the Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream which also acts as a primer. It helped control my oil by halving its production but I wanted to see if other products could do more. After reading some reviews, I decided on trying this one.


Description (taken from yesstyle.com):

• Smooth and velvety soft primer dries to a matte finish, minimizing the look of enlarged pores and controlling sebum production, greatly improving makeup longevity and wearing power in the process. 
• To use, after cleansing and toning, apply an even layer of primer all over the T-zone, adding an additional layer over areas with pronounced pores. Follow with foundation and point makeup.

My impression:

I use this primer as the last step of my morning routine. I wash my face with Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam to try and minimize my pores, followed with the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner toner to cleanse my pores, and then Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream, which I find helps freshen and brighten up my face and take away that unhealthy yellow tinge. Then I put on this primer, first focusing on my T-zone and the cheek area right beside my nose where my large pores are, before spreading it to the rest of my face.

This primer is slightly pigmented, though I don't really notice a difference in the tone of my face after putting this primer on. However, the appearance of my pores are noticeably decreased and my face feels smooth but matte.

This primer is pretty good at oil control. I don't use that much (hard to use generously when it's such a small tube! Looks like I'm going to be out of it any minute -_-). At around 3-4 hours, my nose shows some oil but I would say negligible. Of course, its effectiveness decreases as time goes by and by 3pm I'd say oil production on my face is back to normal. I've only used one primer before this, the Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream, and I would say that this primer is better at controlling oil than Skinfood at around 3-4 hours. At around 8 hours though, I found that the effect of both to be visibly similar. BUT I use more of the Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream than Etude House. I also find that the places where I used more of the Etude House primer (t-zone) is better than the rest of my face...so I guess I'll have to start using it more generously.

The fragrance is a bit strong. It smells a bit like baby powder and lasts while you put it on and a few minutes after. Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream had a lot more pleasant smell in my opinion. But since Etude House's primer is more effective, I guess I'll have to endure the smell.

With both primers, I've found that the number of clogged pores turning into little red bumps then turning into pimples have gone done. I wouldn't say I noticed a difference in the number of pimples I've got while using one primer over another. However, that may be because I used my oil wipes more often with the Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream. I've needed to blot less with this primer.

Price-wise, it's around the same. eBay sells this primer for $10 for 20ml while the Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream goes for around $14 for 30ml. For a difference of $1, I would go with the Etude House since it's more effective in the first 3-4 hours.

Summary:
Effective at controlling oil production at 3-4 hours, reduced need to blot my t-zone for oil
Better than Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream at 3-4 hours but around the same after 8 hours
$10 for 20ml on eBay

Grade: 4/5 because it's pretty effective at controlling oil production and I've needed to blot less compared to Skinfood Fresh Apple Smooth Pore Cream

Value: 3/5 because $10 for 20ml for something to be used on the whole face everyday is pretty expensive...but it seems like all primers go at this rat

Repurchase? I think I will be, unless I see some other primers that have received good reviews.