Keep your makeup in place with primer
Primers are becoming increasingly popular to use as part of a daily skincare routine, as they help to blur wrinkles, minimise pores, and keep makeup in place for longer.
We take a look at some of the best makeup primers on the market, and how you can use them to keep your makeup in place all day long.
Primers for Dull Skin
Primers can be fantastic at reducing redness and brightening dull, tired skin.
- There are several excellent primers in the Laura Mercier range, intended for different skin types and problem areas. The Foundation Primer Radiance (£29) contains skin protecting vitamins and is designed to give skin a radiant, youthful glow. Find it here
- Clinique have a range of six different products in their popular Superprimer (£20) face primers range. They come in different colours to help with the specific concern, and can help to smooth and correct dull, sallow, red or discoloured skin. Find it here
- The No7 Brilliantly Bare Beauty Enhancer (£12.50) is a lightweight, colour-free primer which helps to smooth and brighten skin, giving you a healthy glow instead. Find it here
Primers to Fill Imperfections
Many primers work specifically to minimise pores, blur fine lines and wrinkles, and help your skin look and feel smoother.
- Benefit’s Porefessional Primer (£24.50) is one of the most popular on the market, and its oil-free formula makes it especially good if you have large pores. It minimises the appearance of pores and fine lines, and helps makeup stay in place. Find it here
- To smooth away fine lines and make skin look flawless, try Dermalogica Skinperfect Primer Spf30 (£38.80). The primer is designed for mature skin and helps make it feel and look velvety smooth, as well as providing a long-lasting makeup base. Find it here
- Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF15 (£52.00) is an excellent all-round primer. It gives skin a smooth surface for makeup and helps to minimise pores, reduce redness, and soften lines. Find it here
- Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Lightweight Primer (£7.99) is a silky, gel feel primer that helps to reduce pores. Find it here
Primers to Reduce Shine
If you’re prone to shiny skin, there are several primers on the market that are designed to help mattify your complexion.
- Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer (£5.99) gives skin a smooth finish and reduces the appearance of shine. It also helps makeup stay on longer, and is one of the most affordable primers on the market. Find it here
- Bourjois Happy Light Base Serum Matité (£10.99) works to make skin look naturally radiant, while reducing shine. It’s lightweight with a velvety texture, and also helps to minimise pores. Find it here
How to Use Primer
You can use primers on their own after moisturising if you prefer the natural look, or as one of the first steps in your makeup routine.
Wash your skin with cleanser and then apply your moisturiser as usual. When your skin is dry again, apply a small amount of primer, smoothing it gently around your whole face with your fingertips.
Once your primer is dry, apply foundation as normal and then dust powder over to seal your makeup in place. As well as helping foundation to stay in place, primer will help stop makeup from smudging or feathering, and will absorb excess oil.
Do you have a favourite primer?
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