Cinema Secrets • Ultimate Foundation Primer • Primer/ Corrector

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DesMonae on 3/26/2013 12:55:00 PM more reviews by DesMonae

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium Brown   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I absolutely love this product. I been trying different types of primers and moisturizers to wear under my makeup and I must say that this is the best. I have combination skin and recently have had a moderate break out, (my dermatologist says welcome to 30). This primer feels like velvet on my face, you just need a pea size to put on your face. Let it dry for 60 seconds and your foundation glides easily across your face and I have noticed that I don't use as much as foundation either. My make up lasts all day long, I don't have to reapply powder or blot my t-zones. I ordered mine from camera ready cosmetics based on the reviews. Only con is that its in a glass bottle. I am about to order 5 more just to have in stock in case Cinema Secrets get creative and decided to alter the formula. It is worth it and not overly expensive. I wear makeup daily. Its so lightweight, non greasy and it literally feels like velvet on your face. Even with my breakout, I am able to do an even foundation application easily.

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flawlessbeautyconsultant on 11/9/2012 12:31:00 AM more reviews by flawlessbeautyconsultant

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

I've tried tons of products on myself and clients and have always had to settle for "okay" results. In fact because some primers, even the expensive ones, are so slimy, I've wondered if there were even necessary at all. Well, that all changed after this past weekend. I went to a makeup artist convention in Orlando, FL and was on a mission to find the perfect primer. I sent to Make Up Forever, Stila, you name it and they all seemed to just lay on my skin until I ran across the Cinema Secrets. I put it on my hand and didn't even have time to ask the girl how much it cost before it was completely absorbed. I thought it was a trick so I did it again and just stared at it while I was doing it and my skin just drank it up plus for $20, how horrible could it be with foundation. Again, the next morning before heading to the convention again, I used it as part of my makeup routine and again, WOW...amazing stuff. This has not become my permanent go to foundation!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Menolikepolos on 10/17/2012 4:42:00 PM more reviews by Menolikepolos

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

About me: NW13 (neutral-cool toned, very fair), blue eyes, Color season is True Summer, Baumann Skin Type is OSPW.

This is a great product. I cant give it 5 lippies because I really wish it had sunscreen. However, it is one of the most affordable sillicone-based primers out there, and it does its job. My powder foundation lasted through a workout and a shower where I forgot to wash my face! I think it's less than $20 on the website too, for over 1 fl oz. Highly recommend, especially for powder foundations.

It's not super effective at controlling oil, but it doesn't add oil either. I have combination skin, and my forehead just has a slight sheen after 6 hours.

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actress981 on 5/23/2011 2:11:00 AM more reviews by actress981

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I love the product, but I hate the packaging. I've bought this primer twice, and both times- after several weeks of use- it "spurts out" the product, so it flies out on the floor, mirror, etc. For a somewhat pricey product ($25, last I checked), this is a problem. I end up using far more than I want just attempting to get a usable amount out of the cylinder. It's enough for me to consider another brand next time I need primer.

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GrantMichael on 1/16/2011 2:51:00 PM more reviews by GrantMichael

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

great packaging! silky texture. i think it makes me breakout- it has a LOT of silicones (that's why its so smooth!) and moisturizing oils. I feel like it may make me too dry, which is weird- i have oily but dehydrated skin. i like fyrinnae's primers better, and they are, what 5 bucks? i will repurchase though, it does seem to work for a lot of my clients!

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leidy755 on 10/28/2010 11:19:00 PM more reviews by leidy755

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is simply the BEST primer ever.... it's just like anything else.. and a million times better than all the others... this is my first review ever and i do it cuz this is the isht!!!
put your smashbox or whatever else your using in the trash and run for this...

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Christy1745 on 10/9/2010 3:37:00 PM more reviews by Christy1745

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

After a few months of using this I've decided to stop and my face is already glad. I can't really pinpoint what it is about the primer that didn't work for me, but at first I loved it. It disappears and doesn't feel heavy. I can't say that it really made a huge difference in the way I put makeup on or how it looked. After a few months my skin was just looking tired and dull despite getting facials and exfoliating and everything. Since I've stopped using the primer I've noticed a difference. I am going back to the tried and true foundation I used to use but took a break from because it was really pricey. Now I see that it's worth the price!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Ms_Stressa on 7/9/2010 12:30:00 PM more reviews by Ms_Stressa

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I've tried a lot of primers, but this remains my favorite. It glides over the skin easily and makes wrinkles and pores fade into the background. It also helps keep my face from becoming an oil slick during the day and so my foundation stays on a lot longer and looks better. The smell of the product is...um...unusual (to me it smells somewhat like Right Guard deodorant?) but that fades quickly and the other benefits of CS Primer make me overlook that issue. Bonus points also for the hygenic pump dispenser that shows exactly how much product remains in the bottle. I will definitely buy this again when I run out; it is worth finding. I purchased mine from Camera Ready Cosmetics online and was happy with their service.

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hunnybaybee5 on 1/28/2010 5:26:00 PM more reviews by hunnybaybee5

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This foundation primer is really good, however I just can't get over the smell. It smells like a musky old lady. If the product was amazingly great, the smell would be a small sacrifice I would be willing to make, however I feel that the smashbox photo finish primers work just as well and are actually cheaper and more convenient for me to get, plus they don't have a scent...back to smashbox it is.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pocky on 1/24/2010 1:43:00 AM more reviews by pocky

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

I got this in a swap, not because I knew anything about it, but really just because I was curious. I have tried a lot of primers--MUFE, Laura Mercier, MAC, Urban Decay, Too Faced, Smashbox, Pixi, etc.--and although some were decent, none of them ever wowed me until Cinema Secrets. To tell the truth, foundation primers are all pretty much the same with varying degrees of suckiness. Not Cinema Secrets Ultimate Foundation Primer!


First of all, the primer already feels divine when I apply it to my skin. It is silky, satiny, and matte without the powderiness or greasiness of some primers. The fragrance I can do without but it is pleasant and subtle enough that I can't taste it all day long in my mouth. Actually, I think I like the fragrance a lot now. It is not perfumey or plasticy or chemically. Sorry for making up all these words. Not being able to taste your makeup is always a good thing in my book. What I love the most is how the Ultimate Foundation Primer does not pill up on my face and my foundation goes on and stays on all day. Of course, careful application and lots of blending also help.


With the right foundation (NARS Sheer Glow and Dior Diorskin Nude at the moment) formula in the perfect color match, my skin looks flawless all day when I wear this primer. For me, this primer works equally well on my oilier and drier skin days as well as my normal days. For super dry, flaky skin days in the dead of winter, I need a super moisturizing moisturizer plus a moisturizing foundation so I skip the primer because it would be too much. Before Cinema Secrets, I understood the purpose of a foundation primer but nothing I tried ever worked so I thought primers were just a gimmick.


I also love that the primer comes in a vacuum pump. I absolutely love this foundation primer and highly recommend it. As other reviewers have mentioned, this primer is full of -cones so stay away if you are sensitive. I have not experienced any breakous in the last 3 months of using this primer almost daily but then again I am not sensitive to -cones.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

akamariabella on 10/13/2009 6:33:00 PM more reviews by akamariabella

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Fantastic!!! I am waiting on my Cinema Secrets Dual Activ Foundation to show (and I am desperate let me tell you) - but I got the foundation primer after seeing some good reviews. Well - I put it on - waited the 60 seconds and then slapped on some of my crap mineral foundation because I am desperate. And all I can say is WOW. I feel like I have a cashmere sweater on my face (but one that isn't hot!). My pores look even - even the mineral foundation which at best can look kinda clumpy - looks pretty good. It has made my skin nice and even.

Call me a convert!

LOVES IT.

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*TOP REVIEWER* rjez on 9/25/2009 12:07:00 AM more reviews by rjez

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Another HG from MUAers.

I've tried so many ... from Smashbox to Armani. Givenchy and Skindinavia were my favorites and I didn't think it could get better than that. Then I saw the reviews and decided to try Cinema Secrets.

Ordered from bearsmompatty on Ebay - less expensive than anywhere else, received within 3 days of ordering, and only $3 for shipping???

Anyway, I tried the Primer this morning. It felt thinner than Skindinavia but pretty much the same as every other silicone primer.

But when I applied my foundation .... I was shocked ... my skin looked like glass, no pores, no blotchiness, perfect skin! My foundation (Armani Liquid Silk) even LOOKED better because my skin looked so smooth.

I can't believe that I paid MORE for crap like Smashbox. Yup, go smash the box and follow the light to Cinema Secrets.

14 hours later and going strong. I did have to blot twice today, but makeup still looks fantastic.

Now I HAVE to order all things Cinema Secrets!

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honeyjr on 5/30/2009 8:48:00 PM more reviews by honeyjr

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff rocks! I hated my Smashbox Photofinish so when my friend went to a store which sold Cinema Secrets, I asked her to purchase one for me. I love it. Not as thick as the Smashbox, goes on so smoothly and best of all does not pill like the aforementioned primer. A great base for foundation.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Hedd on 5/14/2009 1:38:00 AM more reviews by Hedd

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I love this product. I have been using it for myself and my makeup clients for the past couple years. It does its job and makes makeup stay on all day (great for weddings). Wish they made it in an oil-free version.

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blahiffy on 9/6/2008 3:46:00 PM more reviews by blahiffy

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is a great primer (and trust me, I've tried a lot)!

It is basically a silicone-filled clear gel that comes in a pump dispenser. The gel is rather thick (sort of like the consistency of aloe vera gel, but less wet), but it applies like a dream. A little product goes a long way, and I find that one pump is enough for my whole face.

Basically, I apply this after my moisturizer and before my makeup. I just use my fingertips to rub the primer into my skin in a circular motion. The primer absorbs into my skin really quickly and makes my skin feel so smooth. Then I wait 60secs (as recommended) before applying my makeup. This has really made my makeup application easier and my concealer/foundation/tinted moisturizer look so much better.

Also, there is some fragrance in it, but it pretty much disappears after a few seconds. But, if you are really sensitive towards fragrances, then you may want to do an allergy test beforehand.

If you are looking for a primer to control oil, by the way, this isn't it.

Overall, I recommend it!

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decj0002 on 8/23/2008 10:34:00 PM more reviews by decj0002

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is an amazing product. A CS Rep recommended this after I had come in for the CS Moisture Spray for setting foundation. She completely got rid of the spray for this primer because she said it worked 10x better. Now, I can't compare the two, but this primer is great! This stuff is full of 'cones (ingredients listed later in review), so if you're sensitive to them, this product is not for you. The consistency is like a more liquidy version of Smashbox's primer. It feels very silky, (and kind of smells-it's quite pleasant actually--your face will feel and smell like a baby's!!) like baby oil, when rubbing on your face. This product is labeled as "Oil Free", but as you can see from the ingredients there are many oils (although they're all good for your skin) so don't know what's up with that, lol.



It instantly gives a matte finish, extremely easy to spread, and does not 'pill'. I think it doesn't pill because it's readily absorbed within a few minutes, rather than having to wait and wait (and I'm not a patient person). This is a big deal to me because all of the heavier primers I've tried (BE Prime Time and Smashbox Photofinish) have pilled like crazy on me. I tried Perfekt, and while that didn't pill, it costs a fortune. Should last a good while because I only use a dime-size amount for my face and neck and let dry for a minute before applying foundation. It leaves no detectable residue whatsoever, just a primed, smooth face.




Retails for $25 for 0.60fl oz (0.17g). Comes in a very sanitary pump bottle that I found a little tricky to work at the Cinema Secrets retailer I went to so be careful, it can over-spurt sometimes and waste product, hopefully it was just that bottle.



I tried it on half my face underneath my CS Dual Finish Powder Foundation and found that the side with primer looked more even in terms of coverage (this is the main reason I got the primer) and stayed matte longer, although I did have to blot halfway through the day. I found that the foundation shade goes on true-er with this primer. Even the texture of my face on the primer side looked much better, I think it's b/c my foundation was so easily and evenly spread. My redness (rosacea-ish cheeks) started to peek through on the non-primer side. Make sure to get your eyelids and undereyes! I noticed that this helped, under UDPP, with creasing (the non-primer side is creasing, even with UDPP b/c I have really oily lids). And helped spread my BB Corrector much easier (with minimal tugging).



You can purchase this at Camera Ready Cosmetics website, the Cinema Secrets website, or find a retailer near you through the Cinema Secrets website.



Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Fragrance (Parfum), Matricaria Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tea Tree Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Safflower Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tribehenin, Ceramide 2, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Caprylyl Glycol. FRAG: Lavender Fields.

14 out of 14 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No