People have been chucking add-ons into primers since they came onto the beauty scene. Sunscreen, moisturizers, and all manner of shimmery particles and glow-inducing pigments are old news. Charcoal, though? Where primers are historically the one thing I refuse to make room for in my routine (most just don’t make enough of a difference, IMO), Smith & Cult’s Blackdrop—a new charcoal-infused primer—grabbed my attention. I was struck by the color alone; any product that runs the risk of making you look like a coal-smudged Tiny Tim has to have a reason that warrants the color, I thought. Lo and behold, it’s hobbled its way into my heart.

I have a track record of falling for gimmicky, yet delightful products. I know that, and I’m not ashamed. I’ve always been this way: It was love at first infomercial, from French twist hair rollers to electric, handheld hair braiders (the nightmare memory never fades). The brand says that Blackdrop gets its color from the formula’s mix of mattifying bamboo charcoal powder and smoothing black pearl, while Vitamin E hydrates and phytoplankton extract wards off pollution. That reads like most other primers’ marketing copy, but the color’s audacity pulled me in. I wasn’t disappointed: A dollop of Blackdrop looks nothing like any face product I’ve tried.

Let me be clear, though, it doesn’t look appealing at first squeeze. A blob comes out opaque and black, and it stays that way until you rub it in—and that’s when the feeling of velvety softness hits your skin. Softening primers already exist, but most deliver that baby-smooth effect with a hearty dose of silicones. Some people don’t love that, because many silicones can pill up with your other face products (and there’s nothing more rude than putting on a face product that not only doesn’t do its job, but gets in the way of others). To that end, Blackdrop is silicone-free. Ten seconds in and the color is gone, but the softness remains.

I wouldn’t necessarily say my skin feels moisturized (this hasn’t replaced my go-to cream), but a sense of tackiness sticks around for a few more seconds, which gives me time to buff foundation over its added grip. And there the pigment stays. I don’t have immensely oily skin, so my foundation’s routine disappearing act has frustrated me for years. By the end of the day, my jawline acne scarring is always loud and proud (and sure, that meant I had to learn to accept it). But with the help of Blackdrop, I never would’ve had to take the personal growth journey; my foundation stays put for hours. My one qualm-but-not-really is it makes my foundation read slightly powdery if I get two inches from the mirror and take a close look. Yet no one else does that, and from a more-normal foot away, the same effect looks airbrushed, without interfering with my #nofilter authentic Instagram brand.

The other noticeable advantage? Despite the advice of every dermatologist I’ve ever met, I’m a chronic face-toucher (there may be some link to my foundation’s disappearing act, but studies are inconclusive). With this spectacular black goo, nothing travels—even when I make a phone call, or press the primer’s shiny black tube against my face to test it infomercial-style. I can think of no higher compliment.

Smith & Cult’s Blackdrop Charcoal Brightening Primer, $32, ulta.com

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