If you want your makeup application to be flawless, then the key to achieving that look is making use of a primer. A primer helps to lift up even the most ordinary foundations to the next level instantaneously. Whether you’re looking for a dewy, glowing or a matte finish, there is a makeup primer available for you.
Primers create a smooth, blurred finish and allow your skin to look perfect by filling out the fine lines and pores and letting you apply your makeup smoothly, without it sinking into your skin.
If you don’t use a primer as you don’t want one more step in your makeup routine, you are indeed missing out on a very important step. Using the right type of primer can do wonders for your beauty routine.
What Are Primers?
Typically, a makeup primer is a cream or gel, that is usually colorless and is a bridge between your skincare and makeup and combines the best of both. A primer creates a barrier between your skin and your makeup, creating a smooth and clean canvas for you to apply your foundation on and it also ensures that your foundation sticks and remains intact for a longer time.
You may notice that most foundations tend to oxidize and change color when they come in contact with your skin — a barrier created by the makeup primer which prevents the foundation from coming in contact with the sebum in your skin and getting oxidized.
A makeup primer is an essential part of your beauty regimen and has different functions, it can hydrate and moisturize your skin if your skin is dry, help to mattify oily skin types, dull the red spots and blemishes and boost radiance.
Some primers can blur imperfections, while others can correct the color of your skin. And today, most primers have other skincare benefits such as moisturizing, anti-aging, sun protection and anti-acne effects.
When choosing the makeup primer that is right for you, it is a good idea to understand the various types of primers available and what is right for you according to your skin type and skin tone.
Skin Tone
Makeup primers are available in different hues that help to address varied skin concerns. For instance, pink-colored primers help to brighten your complexion, while green-hued primers help to reduce the redness caused by acne or rosacea and mauve colored primers help to reduce the sallow undertones of your skin.
Skin Type
You must determine your skin type, whether you have dry, oily or combination skin and then buy a makeup primer that is best suited for the skin type.
Choosing Your Primer Based on Skin Type
You need to choose your makeup primer according to your skin type, as a specific primer will not look the same on all skin types.
Primers for Normal Skin
If you have normal skin, this means that the pores are not very big or small and your skin does not become too dry or oily throughout the day. The primer you opt for should not have a mattifying effect but instead, choose one that makes your makeup long lasting and has additional advantages like having SPF.
Since the current trend is a “dewy cool”, you could buy a primer that is illuminating. Normal skin usually does not have problems such as blemishes, redness, etc., so you can just use a simple primer with pore blurring qualities and completely do away with a foundation.
Primers for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, then you will require to use a mattifying primer, which can help to prevent your skin from becoming greasy and shiny throughout the day. Usually, people with oily skin have larger pores, so a makeup primer suitable for oily skin also has a pore-minimizing effect. Also, oily skin tends to be acne prone, so you can opt for a primer that contains anti-acne ingredients that can help to prevent any breakouts.
Primers for Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, you may find it a bit difficult to find the right type of primer. You will need a primer that moisturizes your skin and also gives you a dewy look. Often, “dewy” is synonymous with shiny and a shiny look can emphasize your dry and flaky skin. It is best to try out a sample of the primer before you actually go out and buy a primer if you have dry skin. You should try and find a primer that is creamy and hydrating but at the same time, it should have a very light texture.
Primers for Combination Skin
If you have combination skin, then there are 2 options of makeup primers you can choose from. You can either opt for a neutral primer that will not mattify your skin too much and won’t make it look too oily as well. It allows the smooth application of foundation and also makes it long lasting. On the other hand, you can opt for a mattifying primer for the portions of the face that become oily and use a different one for the dryer parts.
Primers for Mature Skin
Makeup primers are great for mature skin type as they can fill the wrinkles and pores and blur them. It is a good idea to look for a primer that is moisturizing, lightweight and does not contain any shimmer. Several primers today have SPF that offers excellent sun protection, is anti aging and also contain antioxidants, which is great for your skin’s health. You could also consider using a firming primer that can help to tighten your skin and give you a facelift effect.
Primers for Sensitive Skin
Primers are great if you have sensitive skin as they offer an extra protection from the environment. However, it’s a good idea to buy a primer without any fragrance as this may cause irritation. If your sensitivity causes your skin to become red, then you could opt for a primer with a green base which can help to neutralize the red tones in the skin. This also enables you to use lesser foundation. You could also buy a primer containing soothing ingredients such as niacinamide or green tea extract.
Tips to Apply Primer
Primers are available in various, brands, types, sizes and prices and in our review, we will discuss some tips on how to choose the right primer and we will also review some of the best primers on the market.
- Top 4 Reviews of Makeup Primers -
DHC Velvet Skin Coat
The DHC Velvet Skin Coat is an excellent makeup primer that smoothes the skin so beautifully, creating a flawless, velvet-like canvas which hides the wrinkles and fine lines perfectly. Suitable for all skin types, the DHC Velvet primer softens your skin and improves its look instantly.
The DHC Velvet primer minimizes the imperfections, pores and fine lines on your face while reducing the oiliness and helps the makeup to glide on super easily and last much longer without any waiting time required for drying. The primer makes your skin smooth and silky. So, now whether you are wearing any makeup or not, get a flawless look with the DHC Velvet primer.
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Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer
The POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer from Benefit Cosmetics is a “cult favorite” and gives you a super smooth and flawless finish by invisibly filling in even the most aggressive pores. The primer works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores leaving behind smooth and silky skin.
The POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer has a silky, lightweight texture and you can use it all by itself or under or over your makeup for a flawless finish. The no-oil, translucent formula is suitable for all types of skin tones and ensures that your makeup lasts for a long time. The primer contains vitamin E which helps to protect the skin.
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stila One Step Correct
Just one step of stila One Step Correct primer can lead to perfect and flawless-looking skin. The primer is a revolutionary triple-swirled helix primer that brightens, nourishes, color corrects and covers most of the imperfections and blemishes on your skin quickly and easily. The primer hydrates the skin and also helps to control the oil and improve the texture of the skin.
The stila One Step Correct primer contains three color-correcting brighteners. The lavender tone gives your skin a bright, energized and vibrant look by counteracting the sallow undertones of your skin. The green tone helps to conceal the blemishes and imperfections by neutralizing the redness and the peach tone helps to illuminate, brighten and reduce the appearance of sunspots.
The lightweight, creamy formula blends into the skin without settling into the fine lines or pores of your skin. The stila One Step Correct primer helps to reduce pores, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. This all-in-one primer is indeed a “gift” and the brightener, anti-aging and color-correcting serum does it all and makes all the imperfections disappear in a jiffy.
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Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Serum
The Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Serum is a skin-blurring, foundation-saving primer mixed in with sunscreen of SPF 30 which helps to protect the skin. The primer helps to improve the skin tone and texture and also fights wrinkles and the visible signs of aging.
The skin repair system and vitamin C in the Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Serum helps to improve the elasticity, firmness and clarity of the skin. The broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen and the antioxidants help to fight the skin damage caused by the sun and also free radical damage.
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While using exfoliators, day and night creams, moisturizers and foundations are all important to keep your skin healthy and looking good, if your ultimate goal is to achieve a flawless complexion, then a primer is an absolute “must.” The idea is to find the best makeup primer that not only addresses all your skin concerns but also works best with your skin type.
Sources: Bride Everyday, Fashonisers
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