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Barry M Fresh Face Illuminating Primer
Barry M

Barry M Fresh Face Illuminating Primer

Efficacy0/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Evens skin tone
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“The weightless formula is blended with gold pearls to neutralise warmth for an even skin tone and radiant finish all day long.”
Source: Feelunique

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low

Moisturizing
Side benefit · Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane + 8 more
Works

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: peg-10 dimethicone, isododecane.

CyclopentasiloxaneKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin~7.3–9%
IsododecaneKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: MediumAn emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture~4.5–5.6%
Peg-10 dimethiconeKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA silicone that works to soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce its water loss~2.1–2.6%
GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~0.75–1.15%
Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethiconeKey activeEffect: HighA silicone that mixes with water creating nice light-weight product texture~0.55–0.85%
Sodium hyaluronateKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin~0.25–0.5%
Caprylyl methiconeEffect: LowA type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin~3.2–3.9%
Cyclohexasiloxane· EmollientEffect: LowA silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels~2.5–3%
Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethiconeEffect: LowA type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin~1.2–1.5%
Hexyl laurate· EmollientEffect: LowHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency~1–1.3%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
6 strong irritants: Parfum, Hexyl cinnamal + 4 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 11 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.3–0.6%est.
Hexyl cinnamalA fragrance with jasmine smell. A likely irritantHigh~0.2–0.4%est.
GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.35%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.
CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.3%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.15–0.3%est.
Polyglyceryl-4 isostearateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~1.5–1.8%est.
Hexyl laurateHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistencyMedium~1–1.3%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.6–0.9%est.
Sodium ascorbyl phosphateA stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin CMedium~0.5–0.75%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.45–0.65%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Cyclopentasiloxane~7.3–9%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MattifyingMoisturizing

A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin

More about Cyclopentasiloxane
Isododecane~4.5–5.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture

More about Isododecane
Caprylyl methicone~3.2–3.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A type of silicone that helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product finish on the skin

More about Caprylyl methicone
Cyclohexasiloxane~2.5–3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels

More about Cyclohexasiloxane
Peg-10 dimethicone~2.1–2.6%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A silicone that works to soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce its water loss

More about Peg-10 dimethicone
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Polyglyceryl-4 isostearate~1.5–1.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polyglyceryl-4 isostearate
Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone~1.2–1.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together. Can help to soften upper layer of the skin

More about Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone
Hexyl laurate~1–1.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency

More about Hexyl laurate
Glycerin~0.75–1.15%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Tocopheryl acetate~0.6–0.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone~0.55–0.85%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A silicone that mixes with water creating nice light-weight product texture

More about Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate~0.5–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C

More about Sodium ascorbyl phosphate
Disteardimonium hectorite~0.45–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency

More about Disteardimonium hectorite
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.45–0.65%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Synthetic fluorphlogopite~0.45–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A mineral that is used as an optical filter (makes the skin looks nicer through light reflection) and to improve the texture of cosmetic products

More about Synthetic fluorphlogopite
Parfum~0.3–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Sodium hyaluronate~0.25–0.5%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

More about Sodium hyaluronate
Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract~0.25–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract
Hexyl cinnamal~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance with jasmine smell. A likely irritant

More about Hexyl cinnamal
Geraniol~0.2–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol
Linalool~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Citronellol~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citronellol
Limonene~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene
Titanium dioxide~0.15–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

More about Titanium dioxide
Ci 77891~0.1–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Ci 77891
Tin oxide~0.2–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation

More about Tin oxide
Ingredient list view

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Caprylyl methicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Peg-10 dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, Cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, Hexyl laurate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl acetate, Peg/ppg-18/18 dimethicone, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Disteardimonium hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Parfum, Sodium hyaluronate, Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract, Hexyl cinnamal, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77891, Tin oxide

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/1 21:09 GMT
$5.99
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Barry MFresh Face Illuminating PrimerYOUR PRODUCTNo7Instant Illusions Airbrush Away PrimerTulaluminizing & moisturizing primer - RegularVDLLumilayer Metal Cushion Primer
Match—36%36%36%
Price$5.99$16.02+$10.03——
Shared key ingredients—4 of 64 of 64 of 6
Key difference—Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideLactic AcidNiacinamide
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Product summary

"Barry M - Fresh Face Illuminating Primer" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • Humectants (glycerin 0.75% - 1.15% and sodium hyaluronate 0.25% - 0.50%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

About the brand

According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "Barry M" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.

Price

The product retails for 14.37A$ in Australia and for 5.55£ in the United Kingdom.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 12 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Sodium ascorbyl phosphate shows in vitro and in vivo efficacy in the prevention and treatment of acne vulgarisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Sodium ascorbyl phosphate in topical microemulsionssciencedirect.com
  4. 4
    Final report of the safety assessment of L-Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate as used in cosmeticseuropepmc.org
  5. 5
    Regulation of collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts by the sodium and magnesium salts of ascorbyl-2-phosphatekarger.com
  6. 6
    Comparison of clinical efficacies of sodium ascorbyl phosphate, retinol and their combination in acne treatmentonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Barry M Fresh Face Illuminating Primer
Barry MFresh Face Illuminating Primer
Buy on Amazon$5.99 · as of 11/1 21:09 GMT

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy on Amazon$5.99 · as of 11/1 21:09 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.