GOSH Cosmetics has come up with some crackers this season, and the Prime ‘n Set Primer and Mattifying Powder is one of them. As my main beauty tip is prep the skin, I love all things primer. However, I had never used a powder primer.

I used a powder brush to apply on moisturised skin, before any makeup, of course. On application, skin feels silky and I noticed that the texture became slightly more even. I then went on to apply the foundation and found a minor disadvantage of a powder primer: as it is dry, it doesn’t help makeup glide more easily across the skin, but I still noticed it glides much better than if I hadn’t used a primer.

In terms of holding power, it makes makeup set well (as a primer as a finishing powder), and makes it last a few hours before some shine starts to comes through. I think one or two re-touch sweeps during the day would make it stay all day long.

The plus side of being a powder is that, if you have oilier skin, this won’t add to the creams underneath your makeup, so it did work well for me.

I also used it as a setting powder, after my normal powder and noticed it does give a more polished finish to the makeup, without interfering with colour. This is a great alternative to more expensive setting powders, especially if you are a big fan of contouring with cream based makeup and don’t want to slap on coloured powder which will interfere with you sculpting work.

Usually I am about cynical of 2-in-1 (or more in one) products, but this seems to deliver well in both fronts.

The powder is loose and silky, but it comes with a sieve and lock to help manage spills – I usually take a bit with the brush decant on the lid the sweep and apply. It is perfume and paraben free.

The GOSH Prime ‘n Set Primer and mattifying powder is available at Superdrug and costs £9.99, currently with £2 off, for £7.99.

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.