No7 Colour Calming Makeup Base

RRP: £9.75

--What does the promo say?--
"No7 Colour Calming Make-Up Base calms and neutralises rosy skin tones. Calm overly-rosy complexions with this clever colour corrector. Cool, sea-green tones neutralise unwanted blushes all day long, leaving your skin looking beautifully even. With caring, conditioning ingredients to help build skin's natural defences against the elements without blocking pores. Hypo-allergenic."

--Packaging--
Virtually identical to its anti-shine cousin: slim tube with the No7 logo and product name gracing the front in metallic writing. The tube itself is a suitably zen-like pale green colour, and it has a plastic screw-top lid that clicks closed.

--Application--
After moisturising, rub a small amount all over the face, avoiding the eye area.

--Appearance--
The lotion is exactly the same colour as the bottle, but luckily the skin absorbs it perfectly and no green residue is left on the face. Skin appears more matte, softer, and redness is visibly reduced.

--Texture/consistency--
It's quite runny, which I was a little disappointed about when I first bought it (having used No7's anti-shine equivalent, which is stiffer, I was expecting it to be more like that), and it took me a long time to get used to it. However, it's still relatively controllable and easy to use. Skin feels softer after use.

--How does it feel on the skin?--
That lotion feels like it's full of good stuff (though you'll have to wait until I can get home and look at mine before I can tell you exactly what - the Boots website is useless), with the skin feeling soothed and calmed all day as a result of use.

--Value for money--
It is a tad expensive, but it's still affordable, it works, and one tube lasts ages. Top.

No7 Shine-Free Makeup Base

RRP: £9.25/40ml
--What does the promo say?--
"No7 Shine Free Make-Up Base stops shine for a matte finish. All day matte... keep shiny skin under control all day long, with this mattifying oil-free base. Light-reflecting particles help disguise fine lines and flaws, while oil-absorbing Biopol helps minimise blemishes and blot away shine without blocking pores. With watermelon and cucumber extracts to help soothe and cool your skin. Hypo-allergenic."

--Packaging--
Comes in a white, square-ish tube with the No7 logo and basic product information on the front in silver font. Doesn't stand up on the base as the lid is quite slender. Nice simple packaging.

--Application--
Squeeze the tube gently until a small amount of the product appears at the tip of the tube. Apply all over face (though I don't know that I'd recommend putting it on your eyelids - there are more specialist eyelid primers available that are probably more sensitive) and rub in.

--Appearance--
The primer is a white lotion with a vaguely pearlised appearance. On the face, it blends perfectly with the skin, leaving no residue. It does exactly what it says on the tube, combatting shine before applying makeup. I've even used this when I'm not even going to wear any makeup at all as it does its job so well.

--Texture--
It is a lotion, but it errs more on the side of stiff than runny. It might sound a bit strange but it really does work very well.

--How does it feel on the skin?--
Light and refreshing. Doesn't weigh your skin down at all or make you feel like you're wearing more makeup than you actually are.

--Value for money--
It is perhaps a little on the expensive side - there are probably other primers out there that are cheaper while being just as good. However, Boots do good deals on their No7 stuff quite often (3 for 2 etc) so you may be able to save some money. I'm open to experimentation, though, for the purposes of comparison if nothing else.