NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer Review

Having tried the £34 Illamasqua Hydra Veil Primer last year, I was surprised that the drugstore didn’t seem to offer an affordable jelly primer. The NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer released recently along with a few other items in their new Bare With Me Line, and I have a review of the primer for you below.

Packaging

This comes in a weighty plastic tub that reminds me more of a skincare item. It has a screw-top lid with a plastic cover inside to stop the product getting everywhere. The tub itself is pale pink in colour and matches the rest of the NYX Bare With Me range.

Price

The NYX Hydrating Jelly Primer retails for £15 in the UK for 40g of product. That’s definitely at the top end of the drugstore when it comes to pricing but it’s still much cheaper than the Illamasqa primer it’s a potential dupe of.

Application

Being a jelly, this feels very refreshing and hydrating on the skin. It does feel almost like a gel moisturiser and sinks into the skin easily. I can’t see much of a difference in my skin once it’s applied but it is hydrating and makeup applies smoothly on top. One thing I will say is that it’s very easy to pick up too much product and this doesn’t come with a spatula or anything so I tend to use my fingers. It does still blend into the skin quickly even if I’ve used too much but it could mean I get through it fast.

Is it a dupe?

Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s been a while since I finished the Illamasqua Hydra Veil so it’s hard to compare but I do think both primers are very similar in texture and both feel hydrating and smoothing on the skin. The obvious difference apart from the price is that the Illamasqua primer feels a bit more luxurious and comes with a spatula for application, but I can do without that for the money I’m saving.

Overall, I think this is a great hydrating primer and would definitely recommend if you want to try out a jelly primer. You can grab it here from Boots (affiliate links).