No7 pro artist runway radiance primer
- Size: 45g
- Key ingredients: Water, glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, anti-inflammatory geranium oil
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Fragranced: Yes
- Why we love it
- Lovely lemony scent
- Indulgent, thick texture
- Take note
- Might be too rich for some skin types
The formula
When I look at the ingredients of No7’s pro artist primer against those of Bobbi Brown’s face base, it’s actually astounding how similar the lists are, with both creams featuring vitamin C, vitamin E, shea butter, geranium oil, squalane and HA.
As for the differences between the two, Bobbi Brown’s features a vitamin A derivative to help with anti-ageing, and the two formulas use different silicones (dimethicone in No7 versus cyclopentasiloxan in Bobbi Brown) to create their silky smooth finish. For those unfamiliar with technical beauty jargon, dimethicone works as a barrier to lock in moisture, while cyclopentasiloxan evaporates after application, meaning, the former (No7s formula) will likely be better suited to someone with dry skin, whereas the latter leans more towards those with an oilier complexion.
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After swatching both creams, this variation in skin suitability was immediately apparent and the No7 formula had a decadent buttery formula, while Bobbi Brown’s was more slippery and spreadable. That said, when applying the two primers to my face it was difficult to differentiate the two consistencies, and both had deliciously lemony scents, too.
Both formulas required just a few small dollops to adequately saturate each half of the face and, likewise, each proved easy to smooth into the skin without dragging.
Performance
After application, the No7 formula proved – once again – to be a near copy of Bobbi Brown’s iteration, with both creams leaving my skin feeling hydrated and with a subtle, satin-like finish. However, I did notice some differences after buffing my usual make-up products into the skin.
After wearing both primers on my skin for around an hour, No7’s formula had a better grip on my make-up without the telltale slipperiness that usually – on my skin, anyway – precedes an oily sheen. This surprised me given that the the runway radiance ingredients list was better suited to dry skin with its full-bodied consistency. But, as it stood, the high street brand’s primer had effectively set my make-up from beneath, like a reverse setting spray, if you will.
As the hours passed, this continued to be the case and, while I will admit that both primers did a stellar job (versus others I’ve tried through the years), I have to give it to No7 on this occasion – and for £34 cheaper, no less.