When I started out learning about makeup and how to use it, I stumbled upon this thing called a “primer”. It all made sense, when put in a painting context – you prime your walls, before you apply your paint. It helps the paint stick better, and last longer, and creates a smoother finish. When I had my walls painted, I made sure they put on a primer too! LOL!
But, what d’ya know? That’s what makeup primer does too! We discussed this once right here on the blog, but that was way back in 2012 – a lot has changed in 5 years! Or has it?
If you watch YouTube videos and try to learn about makeup, primer is always used. If you have oily skin, primer is recommended to keep the skin oil-free for longer. If you have visible pores, primer helps create a smooth finish.
Yet, how often do you use a makeup primer? Or rather, do you use any at all? 😀
Personally speaking, I don’t.
I mean, I have them – I’m a beauty junkie remember? I’ve tried most things at least once! 😀 But they aren’t products that I use very often. The primary reason is because the primers I had experience with didn’t sit well with me in terms of texture.
You see, in order to give your skin that smooth texture, fill in the pores and holes and keep oilies at bay, a primer primarily consists of silicones. Lots and lots of silicones. My skin tolerates silicones, but I don’t like the texture. It feels like it’s suffocating my skin.
When I found my Holy Grail sunscreen, I had no more need for a primer. The sunscreen not only protected my skin something wonderful, it also acts like a primer! Or rather, a makeup base.
So, on a day to day basis, that’s what I’d use. My makeup sits well on my sunscreen, and because I don’t have oily skin, it doesn’t slip off throughout the day. I didn’t have a lot of trouble with my foundation and makeup staying put either, and I don’t usually need to look picture perfect all day long 😀 If I look the worse for wear by the evening, it reflects how I feel LOL! 😀
Yet, when the occasion warrants, when I have to put on a good face – e.g. for an event, or for when I want to be sure my makeup stays intact for a few hours. I delve into my stash of primers. For now, I only have 4! Well that’s probably 3 more than most people lol! 😀
- Guerlain Meteorites Base Perfecting Pearls – This is the bottle you see in the first picture. It has the signature Meteorites pink pearls suspended in a gel texture. When you pump it out, the powder breaks up and infuses the gel with the pink iridescence. On skin, I don’t see anything. No shimmer or glitter. It also feels like nothing. It’s like you’re applying a gel on your skin, and it feels lovely and refreshing. I absolutely love it! Yet, despite the invisible feeling on skin, it makes a beautiful primer. Any base I put on it, or even just powder, makes my skin look amazing! Smooth, glowing and importantly, everything stays put for hours. My makeup looks as fresh after lunch as it did when I put it on in the morning. I only have to touch up my lipstick! So this is my go-to primer, when I have to attend (or host) an event, or just whenever I feel like my makeup could do with a little boost. It’s STELLAR!
- Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – This is a long time favourite over the years. It was one of the first primers I ever used, and I like it for the simple reason that it does NOT have a silicone feel. Instead, it feels just like a lotion, absorbing easily, without any sticky or velvety feeling. Yet, it holds my base well, and helps my makeup last. It is a classic and bestselling Laura Mercier product and I can understand why. I’ve actually used up a tube over the years! That’s saying something 🙂
- YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer – This one was a sample a friend gifted me, because she told me it was her favourite primer ever! While the gel texture with its gold dust suspended in it is reminiscent of the Guerlain Meteorites base, this one feels just like a classic silicone primer. It goes on skin with the velvety feel of silicone. It isn’t unpleasant, and my pores do not feel clogged or suffocated, thank goodness! I don’t notice the illumating effects, but it does help base makeup and makeup in general, stay put better. I’m not sure if I’d buy a full size bottle, because of the texture.
- Clarins Beauty Flash Balm – You can read my review here. This one is absolutely lovely, because it’s actually supposed to be a skincare and can be worn as a mask. So, if you use it as a primer, it’s sort of like wearing a mask all day under your makeup LOL! It holds base beautifully, but unlike the other primers above, it is a little trickier to work with, which is why some people don’t like it. You have to work quickly, as it will set on your skin. So while it’s a cult favourite, there are many who don’t get it either.
I sometimes like wearing a primer under a light BB or CC Cream or tinted moisturiser. For some reason, I feel like it makes your skin look better, especially if the product is very sheer. Perhaps it’s because your skin isn’t oiling up and making an already sheer base look even more sheer? I don’t know. Sometimes, I wear a primer under just powder as well. It helps the powder stick, and it makes your skin look natural, yet better. Interesting! 😀
But for the most part, I eschew wearing primers – in fact I’d forgotten I had these till recently! LOL! 😀
How about you? Are makeup primers a must have in your makeup routine? What are your favourites?
I’d love to know what your favourite makeup primers are. Always game to try something new – beauty junkie remember? 😀
Paris B
Although I love that my makeup looks better after applying a primer, I’m too lazy to use it on a daily basis haha! On special occasions, I do enjoy using the Innisfree No Sebum Blur Primer if I need my makeup to stay put and not melting away in the daytime. It also makes my skin looks really smooth. If I need some glow? I love using the VDL Lumilayer Primer, its awesome and it gives a beautiful illuminating effect on the skin.
You know what you can do, you can actually mix your primer into your foundation! A makeup artist taught me that once, and it works well. But I still prefer to layer, if I plan to use a primer. Most of the time however, I’m just too lazy 😛
I have a really oily T zone, so I always use a primer like “Stay Flawless” by Benefit.
When I want to put on a good face, I use a primer which enhances my complexion, at the moment it’s “Self-Adjusting Complexion Primer” by UD.
I haven’t found a holy grail primer, but I would love to try the one by Guerlain.
The Guerlain one is lovely, but many people have said that it doesn’t seem to give them results. For me, it’s fine but I’m wondering if it might be because I have drier skin so the gel texture sits better? I just don’t like that siliconey feel of most primers 😛 And yes, primers are great for keeping oily skin looking better longer. It’s one of the secrets that allow oily skinned gals to put on a good face base 🙂
Hi! Under Greek sun, I must wear sunscreen 365 days a year and I’m afraid an extra step and layer in my makeup routine. I think foundations must do what they are supposed to do, alone. Maybe a primer with SPF would be great. U.D Urban Defense Complexion Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is under my radar and I will check the ingredients.
You are absolutely right Amalia, and that’s what I subscribe to with my makeup as well. A foundation should sit on my skin without sliding off, and eyeshadow should look bright right off the bat without my needing to boost it with primer! It’s nice for the odd special occasion, but to wear primer everyday is a bit much I think.
I also use sunscreen as a makeup primer but one day, I used a sample of BECCA Backlight Priming Filter and liked it so much that I ended up purchasing the full bottle. It made my makeup look better by giving me a dewy glow all day long. But again, I don’t use it too often, only when I have to go to work (which isn’t daily) or on special occasions. I’m quite intrigued with your suggestion on using primers before BB cream or tinted moisturizers though. It simply has never crossed my mind.
Ooh I’d heard a lot about that Becca primer and how beautiful it looks. Damn tempting 😛 Oh try it before your BB/tinted moisturisers. It gives it a nice boost coz most of the time, these products are very sheer or light. 😀
Tried quite a few but found that the Ordinary high-spreadability fluid primer works really well for me. I have less than perfect skin and this primer helps set the stage for the foundation. The Guerlain L’or did not do a thing for my skin but the Hourglass veil mineral primer did. Price wise the Ordinary wins hands down.
I’ve heard that primer is very good, and very affordable, which is of course, an added bonus! Also the hourglass one. Good to know you’ve found products that work for you – that’s most important!
Nowadays I’m looking for one because my base seems to disappear faster (the only products that stay put all day on me are Benefit tints and L’Oréal Brow Artist kit -holy grail material); so I’m looking for one but I’m afraid about breaking out, because some primers that don’t seem to have silicones have broken out my skin like Burberry Fresh glow base, some primers with ‘cones have done the same like LRP Anthelios mousse, but some with them haven’t affected my skin like Rimmel London base.
In a nutshell, I want a primer but I need to test it first and if I plan to use it everyday I can’t buy something really expensive; so while I want one I can live without. It’s like with the Beauty blender, I bought a dupe, I understood the hype and while I want the real deal, I can wait a lot of time before having it.
Really off-topic: I got impressed with NARS matte tint but the price is sooo steep , that I need to pass *sigh*
Perhaps it’s the type of silicone or the formula that breaks you out. There are many options available these days, and from what I hear, the primer from The Ordinary is very impressive and I’m sure it’s quite affordable so maybe you could try that one? At least if it doesn’t work, it won’t break the bank 😀 And funny you should mention the Beauty Blender. Do you know I’ve STILL not tried that or any sponge? LOL! I just can’t be arsed, seriously. So much work 😛 Oh and the Nars velvet matte tint? It’s grown on me over time! But yes, it’s very expensive. Not to worry, you have years ahead of you yet, to indulge! 😉
In fact, today I went to Sephora and got the Urban Decay blush palette (it’s still cheaper than the NARS tint and also I’m sure I won’t finish it as fast as the tint); the SA gave me a sample of Smashbox original primer and Becca First light primer, so now I have two to try to know if primers are my thing.
You know I bought a sponge for around 1.5 dollars but now I get the hype, it applies the foundation without traces an I think you can easily build up, because it eats the unnecessary foundation and buffs it. I’m not sure if I really explained how it works, but yes you look really polished.
Ooh I hear a lot of good things about the Becca primer – I hope it works for you 🙂 I should give sponges a try. I do understand the concept behind it, and I do like seeing that flawless finish it gives. But the hassle! haha I think that gets to me most of all, having to dampen it, use it and then wash it everyday. I don’t do my makeup in my bathroom, or near a sink so that’s where the hassle is. But I do have one I bought from Real Techniques a while ago. I should try it!
You know it’ a hassle going to the bathroom to dampen the sponge but you can use an atomizer full of water or a face mist and you avoid the bathroom. I’ve only tried the Smashbox two days in a row and some suspicious break outs appear let’s what happens with Becca.
Thanks for the atomizer suggestion! I have a RT sponge lying on my dresser, that I look at every now and then but never get round to trying. I guess I’ll try misting with my usual face mists and see how I like it 🙂
Primer is a MUST HAVE for me since foundation otherwise disappears off my face within a few hours. I’ll wear it even under just powder as well.
I don’t think much of the Laura Mercier primers; they don’t seem to have much of an affect on making my foundation last.
Currently I’m using hourglass (purchased in Canada) and one from Cle de peau (a hand-me-down from my mother). Both are pretty nice but rather heavy on the silicon feel but it’s something that I don’t mind.
Oh I remember you telling us that your foundations disappear very quickly. I guess primers are a god-send for you! 😀 I find the LM primers maybe better for drier skins coz they feel like a lotion going on. For me, I find the Guerlain, Clarins and YSL hold better than the LM, but that is nice for when I have a drier foundation as well. I’ve heard the Hourglass one is the bomb! But since I don’t use primers much, it hasn’t interested me enough to try it. I am curious about the Becca backlit primer though, because that is supposed to give skin a lovely glow, while holding on to your makeup.
I tried pore filling primer from NYX and I dont really like how it looks so I tried Rimmel Stay Matte and Fix & Perfect Pro. And I like Stay Matte a lot better. Nevertheless, I dont think primer made that much difference in this humid weather.
Actually, primer is supposed to help especially in humid weather! haha 😀 Maybe you just haven’t found one that works yet 😀 That said, I do prefer letting the makeup do its own work, instead of getting “help” if you know what I mean.
Oh, really? In that case I got to keep searching
I hear the one from The Ordinary is good. I haven’t tried, but it’s affordable so you can try that 🙂
I don’t know if I should wear primer after my sunscreen, does it make a difference? I tried a sample from Sephora, it’s silicony. My fidget hands love to land on my face so, primer or no primer, my BB cream disappears before lunch. LOL!
Yep, it goes after sunscreen, as it’s makeup. For me, sunscreen is my last step of my skincare. Anything makeup related goes on after 🙂
On a day to day basis, no, I don’t prime. I only spot prime areas that need a little more prep, like my hooded eyelids, with a touch of UD Primer Potion. That being said, I have heard good things about The Ordinary primer. And at a affordable price point. Maybe I’ll take a dip into the primer pond one of these day.
Oh eyeshadow primer is a big thing and I think, for those with oily lids, a god send! At least colours stay on better. I don’t use an eyelid primer either unless for very special occasions (when I remember). These days, I’m so lazy, I just do cream shadow which is quicker and more fuss free 🙂