Brand new in the primer scene at the drugstores is Rimmel Fix & Protect primer – 8 hour hydration (005, with pink cap), sent to me for review.

You might be more familiar with Rimmel Fix & Perfect pro primer (002, with blue cap), meant to smooth, resurface, brighten, mattify and protect.

The Fix & Protect primer claims to offer protection against pollution and stress, with skin perfecting effects. A slight overlap with the Fix & Perfect, but without the matte finish.

On my combination skin, it works very well with matte/ non-dewy foundations, adding a bit of a glow from underneath, to avoid that flat look that a matte finish might give. However, under luminous foundations, it turns oily after about 5 hours. Nothing a blotting paper can’t fix though.

I can’t say that it prolongs the lasting power of foundations but it preps the skin well, with no slippery feeling nor residue left behind. Very comfortable on.

The “protect” aspect of the primer is harder to notice, and it also does not blur my pores

The brand also suggests it be worn alone as a brightening protective shield against stress and environmental aggressors and to prevent skin from drying out. This way, it feels a little more like a skin care product, but I still incline to reach for regular serum/ moisturizer for that purpose.

The lotion-like texture also gives the product the more skin care than primer feeling. If you do not like silicone-y type of primers, Fix & Protect might be for you.

Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/ Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, etc.

The tube is of standard size – 1oz/ 30ml, retails $10.99.