NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer Isn’t a New Concept

NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer ($20) is a new cooling hybrid facial primer and moisturizer that preps, evens, smooths, minimizes pores, tightens, hydrates, sculpts, softens, calms, and revitalizes skin. Yeah, it’s a lot I know. This is a menthol, silicone, and cruelty-free formula that contains snow mushroom and niacinamide. It’s supposed to act as either a moisturizing primer pre-foundation and makeup application and apparently was inspired by cryotherapy with it’s cooling sensation when applied.

This isn’t a new concept by any means. Right now the Internet, particularly Tiktok, is ablaze with how innovative this is but really, it’s not and many of you likely already had a light bulb go off above your head when you saw it and instantly remembered that Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer is an identical product that did come out first. But, of course, you’re going to hear everyone telling you this IS A BRAND NEW, MUST-HAVE, LIFE CHANGING formula. It is not. Dare I say, I liked Touch of Sol’s formula better.

First off, at $20 NYX does win the award for a larger-sized product. This comes in a 1.69 oz jar where as Touch of Sol is the same price the jar is smaller at 1.05 oz. That being said, I do appreciate the fact Touch of Sol’s version came with a little spatula for application where as NYX’s does not.

Both products are silicone-free but still have that silky, sorbet-like consistency that resembles a primer with ‘cones such as Smashbox Photofinish. Both formulas are an identical thicker texture that when applied to the skin instantly melts down and provides a fresh, cooling feeling I know a lot of people fell in love with Touch in Sol’s formula when I reviewed it as did I and the main difference between it and NYX is the fact that NYX blurs a little less and my skin isn’t quite as smooth after application. But overall, I’d say both are very much dupes as far as textures go and even the ingredients are quite similar however, NYX does contain a few more moisturizing ones as well as Niacinamide which Touch in Sol does not.

I dunno what it is but I felt like Touch in Sol had this awesome smooth blurring finish and also, it felt like it absorbed fully into my skin. NYX’s version felt like it didn’t quite blur as well and the finish was smooth but it wasn’t quite moisturizing enough as a primer. I felt like I needed a bit more hydration for my foundation to look its smoothest. I got that from Touch of Sol but with this, I didn’t quite see the same results.

It does feel very nice, adds a nice touch of moisture, and may blur smaller pores but if you’re looking for the exact same results as the Touch of Sol formula it doesn’t quite reach that level or at least it doesn’t for me. That being said, it’s a very interesting product and some people will be wowed by it. I do think if you already tried the original formula from Touch in Sol you might notice the differences easily but if you’re a first-time user of a formula like this perhaps you’ll find it innovative.

As I said above this absorbs very easily, it feels cool, and it does somewhat blur the appearance of the smaller pores I have on my nose. I’m pretty much pore-less on my face so I can’t say how well this would do for facial pores. It does “burst” upon application so, the unusual sorbet-like or silicone-like thicker texture almost immediately breaks down upon contact with skin and absorbs easily enough but I feel like it leaves a layer on my skin. Thankfully, that layer didn’t interfere with my foundation and I didn’t notice any pilling during application. I wish I can say I felt like this provided tons of moisture for my foundation to adhere to but my drier skin def needs more to look its best and smoothest. After application of this and my foundation, I did notice a bit of patchiness around my cheek area and nose which is where I tend to get dry. This means this wasn’t doing the best job of hydrating my skin and prepping it for my foundation. It also didn’t really provide any benefits in regards to extending the wear of my foundation. Of course, oily skin might just appreciate that light moisture as it might be just enough to prep their skin for foundation but as a dry skin girl it just wasn’t quite doing it for me.

NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer will prove an interesting product for those who never tried or even know about Touch in Sol. Personally, I think I prefer the original formula I’ve tried and loved before. This just didn’t quite feel the same to me. I do appreciate that NYX has some really good ingredients like Niacinamide but I’m still pretty much stuck on the Touch in Sol formula that I know and love.

Have you tried either the Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer or the new NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer? How did you feel they compared? Do share your thoughts!

Where to buy

Ulta NYX Target