My Honest Comparison of Two Primers: Wakemake vs. Bonamedusa - The Beauty Receipt

I originally never used primers because I kept hearing things like “they clog pores and cause breakouts.” So even though I had received the Wakemake primer as a free gift when buying the powder, I left it untouched for almost a year. I finally decided to try it and finally answer my own question about primers.

That led me from Wakemake to the extremely hyped Bonamedusa primer that went viral on social media.

Product Info

Wakemake Stay Fixer Smooth Primer Balm

01 Pore Blurring

Capacity: 10g

Price: 23,000 KRW  (≈ 18 USD)

Bonamedusa Orange Skin Delete Soft Green Mini

Capacity: 10g

Price: 17,000 KRW (≈ 13 USD)

Wakemake Stay Fixer Smooth Primer Balm (01 Pore Blurring)

Packaging and Ease of Use

This primer comes in a cushion-type, so it is easy to use. The formula itself is a firm balm, but it melts quickly with body heat when rubbed with fingers, and it is well picked up with the cushion puff. 

The texture feels very smooth. 

The puff is slightly mattifying and removes a bit of moisture, so it helps create a soft matte finish while also removing excess primer if too much is applied.

Pore Cover Effect

Hmm? Are my pores actually filled? Is this working? I couldn’t tell whether my skin looked smoother or not. Even after applying foundation, I still felt unsure.

My pores were still visible. Blurring? I honestly could not see it. 

Unexpected Conclusion: Amazing Fixing Power

The moment I realized this primer works was after taking a walk on a humid, drizzly day. It was very damp, sticky, and I was sweating a lot.

But when I got home, the side with primer clearly had much less sweat buildup and the foundation had broken down far less. The left side had melted enough that my natural skin peeked through, but the right side still looked as if I had freshly applied foundation. It felt like sweat, oil, and sebum were reduced. Almost as if something was covering the pores.

Conclusion: Primer does work. I questioned them, but it does something! although it is not dramatic pore coverage.

2. Bonamedusa Orange Skin Delete Soft Green Mini

After trying the Wakemake primer, I felt I needed to try the Bonamedusa primer that everyone praises for filling large pores. Many people said you only need a tiny amount and it is nearly impossible to finish a full bottle before it expires, so I bought a 5g decanted version (11,570 KRW) from a secondhand marketplace.

Texture and the Nightmare of Quantity Control

The primer has a very “Shrek-like” green color. The color made me think the texture would be stiff, but it actually spreads smoothly.

However, controlling the amount is essential. If you apply too much, it pills like eraser crumbs.

Even when I thought I took only a small amount, it was still too much. It rolled around on the skin and eventually lifted like dead skin. You absolutely must use the tiniest amount.

Pore Primer Effect and Comparison

Fine lines on the hand were filled fairly well, and on the face it slightly filled pores and created a matte, blurred finish.

But unfortunately, I did not feel any strong appeal from this primer. Maybe I expected too dramatic of a result.

Were my pores perfectly filled? No.
Were my uneven skin textures less visible? No.
Do I actually not have large pores after all?

Comparing the Two: Wakemake vs. Bonamedusa

Bonamedusa seems to have better longevity and blurring based on photos, but in real life, I barely felt a difference between the two. The results were not noticeably cleaner.
At this point, whether I used primer or not did not feel like a big deal.

At first, Bonamedusa seems better but as time goes by, after 6 hours, after 10 hours, it felt like there really wasn’t much difference.

What I considered cons 

If I looked very closely, Bonamedusa lasted slightly longer than Wakemake. But I also felt my makeup broke down messier with primers. 

Applying an extra layer seemed to make the breakdown chunkier. White foundation pigments gathered inside the pores. It is only visible up close, but still that happened.

And my biggest concern is skin texture irregularities. It did absolutely nothing for uneven texture. No smoothing effect at all.

Final Thoughts

Right after makeup, both primers make the skin look smooth, but the longevity isn’t strong enough to impress me. People with more prominent pores might have a different experience, but for me not really. 

1. If you value "Convenience" and "Speed" → Pick Wakemake 

The biggest advantage of the Wakemake primer is the tool. Since it comes in a compact with a puff, you don’t need to get your hands dirty. 

2. If you prioritize "Pore Coverage" and "Detail" → Pick Bonamedusa 

Although it requires quantity control (remember, a tiny amount!), Bonamedusa does have a slight edge when it comes to actually filling in the gaps.