Do you need a Lip Primer for your Lipstick?

Hey guys, this week I have a questjen to ask you - should you use a Lip Primer when wearing Lipstick? This post is going to be a swatch and review of an ELES Micro Bubble Lipstick and the ELES Pro Lip Primer SPF 15 where I will hopefully be able to give you an idea of whether a Lip Primer is beneficial and/or worth getting.

ELES Pro Lip Primer SPF 15

RRP $48.25

I hadn't actually heard of this product existing before I discovered the ELES Lip Primer. We know that face primers make foundation stay on longer and eyeshadow primers make eyeshadow crease-proof so... what exactly does lip primer do?

Its claims:

• Plumps, softens and smoothes lips
• Enhances lipstick wear and makes lips appear fuller and more sensuous due to the peptide plumping complex in the primer
• Super anti-oxidants and SPF 15 combine to shield lips from sun damage, dehydration and environmental stress
• Shea butter in the formula keeps lips moisturised

There isn't too much of a difference between my bare lips and 'primed' lips but the primed lips are noticeably paler, which is good as it will make the lipstick appear more vibrant and true to its swatch (think of the lipstick being applied on a white piece of paper compared to a pale pink piece of paper).

I noticed that shea butter scent which is very pleasant and I like how there is SPF protection in the lip primer. Most lip products tend to not have any SPF protection (or any noted) and having this protection as a base is perfect - if your lipstick wears off, at least you'll still have this protection underneath! Or you can reapply your primer and lippie :)

I found the texture and consistency to be quite similar to a stick concealer. It isn't smooth like lip balm and it's definitely not as moisturising but I don't see this as a bad thing. Primers tend to have a thick consistency (thicker than moisturiser at least) to assist with long-lasting adherence. However I personally would prefer for it to be a tad smoother as my lips are prone to dryness and cracking. I felt that this lip primer didn't plump, soften or smooth my lips as well as my usual lip balms.

It did enhance my lipstick wear though - even after eating and drinking, my lips still had a tint of my lipstick shade. Of course, you can't expect a lip primer to make your lipstick stay on like a permanent marker but having the stain effect is good enough! This isn't common for all lipsticks and there are definitely some out there that completely disappear from the lips after having a meal or a drink!

ELES Micro Bubble Lipstick in Micro Melon

RRP $39.50

This is a gorgeous pink-red shade (just like its name - melon!) and totally suitable for the warmer weather we'll be experiencing in Australia very soon. I like the shiny packaging.

Its claims:

• Long-lasting, rich, creamy colour and offers protective treatment
• Keeps lips smooth and colour fresh for hours
• High pigment levels, deposits opaque colour
• Clever micro-bubble spheres continually release conditioners to keep lips hydrated and soft while helping to set lip colour
• Hypoallergenic formula with Vitamins A, E and C, Chamomile and Aloe, providing anti-oxidant protection and smooth lips
• Skin-safe formula contains no chemical 'nasties' or potential irritants
• Safe to use after dermatological procedures such as lip collagen injections

 A 'J' swatch on the back of my hand

It's nicely pigmented and it smoothes onto my lips so well. Very creamy and moisturising indeed. I'm happy that there isn't any shimmer in the lipstick because I feel that with a shade like this, it's perfect as a colour on its own without the need for extra gloss or shimmer.

It has a pleasant, sweet-like-honey scent which I really like! Knowing that it's packed with lots of good vitamins and anti-oxidants with no chemical 'nasties' is great and will give me an incentive to continue using it. An extremely safe lipstick to use!

Now that you've read what I've got to say about the ELES Lip Primer and Lipstick, here are my thoughts on the combination of the lip primer and the lipstick:

Left: Lip primer + lipstick

Right: No primer, only lipstick

Can you see a slight difference? Besides the Js being slightly different in size, I can see that the lip primer + lipstick combination makes the 'J' on the left appear more pigmented and vibrant even thought it was swatched in the same way as the 'J' on the right. Which means that in my opinion...

ELES Lip Primer + Lipstick wins!

• Better opacity
• Better consistency
• Less sheer
• Shade appears deeper
• Appears to be more vibrant 
• SPF protection
• Lasts longer
• Leaves a stain after rubbing/eating/drinking

The ELES Micro Bubble lipstick on its own is amazing as it is but the combination of TWO amazing products = power couple!

If your lipstick or lip stain gives you all of the above without a lip primer then that's awesome! This means that you may not necessarily need a lip primer but I'd highly recommend investing in one anyway for that extra SPF protection and for your lip product's shade to be more vibrant on your lips. Alternatively you could use concealer but wouldn't you rather use a product that is actually meant for your lips and could benefit you?

If your lipstick or lip stain offers only a few of the above or none then it could be time to invest in new lip products... or try using a lip primer. This was what I found out about my eyeshadows... some would fade and crease very easily but with the help of applying eyeshadow primer underneath, it made all the difference in a good way. Seemed as though I was using a new and improved eyeshadow!

My answer to the questjen is yes, use a lip primer if you want your lipstick to last that extra bit longer. A worthy investment :)

❤ Jen xx

Disclaimer: ELES products were provided for review and consideration purposes. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions stated are my own and are 100% honest.