January 7, 2021

NYX Marshmellow Primer Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.
2 stars out of 5

NYX The Marshmellow Primer ($17) is a new, permanent and expensive 10-in-1 smoothing facial primer that primes, softens, extends makeup, evens out skin tone, blurs fine lines, and soothes skin with a marshmallow root extract infused formula that launched with NYX Spring 2021. They actually had me at marshmallow primer! What is it about marshmallows that’s so appealing? In makeup, in fragrance, to eat, to cook yummy desserts with, marshmallows are just so terribly cute and appealing.

Yeah, I know! I should be purchasing makeup because it’s cute but I couldn’t resist. I have to admit though this was expensive! I think of NYX as a drugstore brand but the price on this is more along the lines of a mid-range brand. I think the sad news is it wasn’t worth the $17 because it’s really not that great a primer in my humble opinion despite the reviews I’ve read.

In the short time of it’s release NYX Marshmellow Primer is already a very hyped up product. Most of the reviews I’ve read are raving but sadly, this really didn’t do it for me. This isn’t really made from marshmallows obviously. It’s claim to fame is marshmallow root extract that might be a good pick for problematic skin that’s prone to redness or blemishes as the ingredient and can relieve inflammation and irritation wile soothing the skin! Ironically it does contain fragrance so, yeah, that sort of defeats the purpose of it being a formula that won’t irritate skin. Some users pointed out it smells wonderful and others said it smells like marshmallow. Honestly, I barely noticed a scent. It didn’t smell like marshmallow to be but there was a faint scent but I can’t pinpoint what it was I was smelling.

The main base on this formula is shea butter and glycerin which I thought would make it very hydrating but I didn’t really feel it did much in the ways of hydrating my skin. The texture is a cream that had a whipped consistency giving it a fluffy texture. I actually felt like it didn’t absorb well so I had to massage it in well to get it to absorb. It felt a little slippery and almost greasy until it absorbed completely. Sadly, NYX promises too much here. The whole 10-in-1 formula is ridiculous. Smooths, softens, extends makeup wear for 16 hours, hydrates, evens skin tone, minimizes imperfections, blurs fine lines, adds soft focus, etc…etc….the benefits on this are never ending. What does it actually do? Not a lot.

First off, I didn’t feel it hydrated my skin very well. Secondly, I have dry skin and I felt like this sat on top of my skin. Thankfully my foundation applied just fine on top of it as I thought maybe I’d run into an issue with my foundation not going on smoothly but it did. I can’t speak for visible pores as I don’t have larger pores on my face so not sure how well this is doing in regards to blurring or even filling those. That being said it is a thicker formula so there’s a good chance it will minimize the look of pores. One thing it does do is it create a good surface for foundation to lay on top of which will keep it fresher and wearing longer. I wouldn’t say it extended the foundation wear up to 16 hours but I think my foundation looked good for about two or more hours more if I wasn’t using this.

And finally, the price point is crazy. I still think of NYX as a cheap, affordable brand. $17 for a 1 oz price is neither cheap nor afford.

In the end, this was a meh for me. Definitely a bit hyped up which could account for why I was so disappointed. I’m not really sure what all the raving is about! Maybe it’ll work better on a different skin type than my own.

Have you tried it?

Do share!

Where to buy

Macy’s Ulta

NYX Marshmellow Primer arrives in a 1 oz pump bottle which is $17. This is a whipped cream facial primer that acts to smooth imperfections while extending the wear of foundation. NYX markets it as a 10 in 1 formula with a ton of added benefits including soothing skin with the addition of marshmallow root extract but I personally felt it achieved very little of what it promised. The formula seemed to sit on top of my skin and never fully absorbed. It did keep my foundation wearing for about an hour or two more than it would on its own but outside of that I didn’t feel it did much else.

AQUA / WATER / EAU, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER / SHEA BUTTER, DECYL COCOATE, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE, CAPRYLYL METHICONE, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, DI-C12-13 ALKYL MALATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE, ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS ROOT EXTRACT, CHLORELLA VULGARIS EXTRACT, STEARIC ACID, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, CARBOMER, GLUCOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, FRUCTOSE, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE STARCH, PALMITIC ACID, TROMETHAMINE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, CITRIC ACID, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, XANTHAN GUM, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE.

Pros

  • Extends makeup wear by 1 to 2 hours.

Cons

  • Doesn’t absorb well, seems to sit on top of skin.
  • Contains fragrance.
  • Marketed with a lot of benefits but achieves very little.

Who

NYX Marsh Mellow Primer might be a good pick for those that

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • kimkats

    Ugh – the fact that shea butter is so high up in the ingredients makes it a no – go for me. Shea butter never absorbs on me – it just sits there in a greasy mess. Dunno why, but it does.

    Sorry you have to spend $$ on it to find out it’s crappy! I always feel bad for you when you have spent hard earned $$ on junk, and it’s for *our* benefit. We love you for it tho – I can’t tell you how much $$ you’ve saved me over the years!

    • Isabella Muse

      This feels a little greasy at first. I like shea but it didn’t quite work out for me in this formula. Oh it’s ok! Part of having a blog 🙂 Good news I did get it 20% off with my ulta coupon so that helped a little. Aww I’m glad you’ve saved $$ ;-D

  • kel b.

    thanks for this review! it def sounds appealing but after reading this i’ll pass.

  • Jennifer F

    I was looking at this primer and thought it was expensive too! Thanks for the review!!! I considered this primer but thought I’d rather spend the same money on the small bottle of Milk Makeup Hydrogrip primer UNTIL someone told me on IG that they do not treat their POC employees well. I ended picking up the NYX Bare With Me primer. I know you don’t like products in jars but this one might be worth it. It keeps everything in place ALL DAY for me (with taking a face mask on and off!) It’s also $17 but for 1.4oz but you just need the tiniest bit (less is more with this formulation). I have photos of the texture of it on IG @jennifer.refinedbeauty

  • Rachel Berube

    I just bought this myself. By itself it’s great. It will NOT work on oily skin. It made my makeup fall off. It left my skin super sticky and oily looking. I am 46 and have fair skin and hormonal acne. Not a good product.