If you've ever wandered the cosmetic aisles scanning products and wondering, "What does makeup primer do?" you're not alone. It's a beauty product that people either love or consider pointless. With so many beauty products available out there today, it's hard to figure out what works best for us. Maybe there's something all your friends use, but you've never heard of. Perhaps you heard people gushing about a new product they swear by, but you don't see the point.
Comparison Table
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For some, that product is a primer. If you've never tried it before, what's the point of using it now? Should you bother?
When it comes to your makeup routine, the last thing you want to do is make it more complicated. Why would you want to add another product into the rotation or an added expense to your beauty budget?
Well, primer is the one product that can help correct and prevent some of the most common beauty blunders people face. What does makeup primer do, though, and do you really need it?
What Does Makeup Primer Do?
If you're someone who considers themselves basic with makeup, you're not alone. All you really need are the bare minimum essentials: foundation, concealer, mascara, etc. You already moisturize, so would a primer really make that much of a difference? The answer may surprise you.
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Think of your primer as a foundation for the rest of your makeup layers. It helps smooth skin and creates the perfect canvas in which to build your other layers of makeup on.
Makeup primer smooths and fills fine lines, reduces oil, and provides a surface for your makeup to stick to. The result not only looks better but lasts longer. We can even use it on its own. Just using primer itself can help improve the appearance of your skin. So, it's not only useful for those looking to wear heavy layers of makeup every day. There are benefits for everyone.
The Benefits Of Using Primer: A Base For Your Face
To prime is to prep. It's like adding a base-coat before painting your nails a bright color or exfoliating your skin before slathering on self-tanner. You wouldn't paint the walls of your home without priming them first, would you? When you take the necessary steps to prepare, you end up with a much more satisfying result. The same is true for makeup application.
Primer acts as a barrier between your skin and makeup. Primer is an important base for your face. It produces a silky soft finish, thanks to the silicone-based polymers in most primer products. It gives your makeup something to hold on to.
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But, what does makeup primer do other than help make your makeup last longer? It helps even out skin tone and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Certain primers can correct specific issues like discoloration and large pores. It can even help illuminate and brighten skin.
Another thing makeup primers do is reduce the need to touch up your makeup as often (or at all) throughout the day. Primer makes it much more likely that everything will stay put exactly as intended.
How To Use Makeup Primer
You need not be a beauty expert or makeup guru to apply a primer. So, if your makeup knowledge and skills are minimal, don't worry. There's no complicated process involved in its application. It's as easy as applying any serum or lotion.
- Before you apply primer, first do your entire morning skincare routine as usual. Wash your face and put on any serums, sunscreen or moisturizer you use. Make sure they are all absorbed before applying the primer.
- To apply primer, you can use your fingers, a sponge or a brush. Choose what you are most comfortable with. But, most beauty experts suggest applying the primer with your fingers. This helps make sure the product is evenly distributed, blended and absorbed.
- Once you apply your primer, wait at least a full minute before applying your other makeup.
One of the great things about primer is that you don't need a lot for each use. Most only need about a small dime or nickel's worth to cover your face. Your skin type matters, though. For example, people with dry skin can usually be more liberal than those with oily skin.
It's also worth noting that there are different types of primers available. There are ones for eyes, for example, to apply before eye-shadow, and ones for your lips. So, where and how you use primers depends on what your beauty goals are and which areas you want to correct.
How To Choose Makeup Primer
There are a great number of beauty products flooding the market today. With our makeup, the products we choose are important. Makeup routines are very specific and personal to each person. Bu,t they can also be difficult to navigate.
Do your research. Buying makeup on a whim isn't the wisest choice, not when you will wear it every day. It's important to know how different products work for different types of skin.
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- To choose a primer, you need to know your complexion. There are two major factors to consider when choosing a primer: skin type, and skin tone. Do you have oily, dry, or combination skin? There are different primers made to address each of these skin care concerns. Primers come in all different shades and hues. It's important to choose one that complements your complexion.
Different Types Of Primers
To choose the right primer and get the most from it, you need to first understand the different primers available.
Illuminating
Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer
- Combats rough patches, flaky dryness, fine lines, excess oil, uneven texture and enlarged pores so that your foundation goes on flawlessly
- Extends the wear of your foundation, keeping you looking fresh for longer
- Soothes and nourishes with plant extracts, antioxidants and Vitamins C and E
- Free of preservatives and irritants so that your skin feels great
- Silky formula glides on without any stickiness
These primers add a glimmering and sparkly aspect. Most illuminating products work as a standalone product or in combination with other makeup products. This option is great if you're looking to boost the glow and radiance of your skin. One of our favorite products is Bare Minerals Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer. It is a peachy formula that contains vitamin E and plant extracts and adds a sheer shimmer to dull skin. It's available for around $$.
Color-Correcting
stila One Step, Color Correcting Facial Serum, 1 Fl Oz
- It is an innovative, three-in-one gel serum primer.
- This innovative, triple-swirled helix serum primes, color-corrects, brightens skin
- Free of parabens
Tinted primers are best for people who have certain areas of their skin they want to correct. Green-colored primers are best for those dealing with redness or acne. You can combat sallow skin by using a mauve or light purple hues. For a color corrector that also smooths and brightens, try Stila One Step Connect. It's a color-correcting primer suitable for all skin types that is available for about $$.
Mattifying
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Studio Perfect Primer, Clear
- STUDIO PERFECT PRIMER: Prep your complexion for perfection using our Clear Studio Perfect Primer. This silky formula creates a smooth matte surface for foundation & prolongs the wear of your makeup. Also available in color-correcting Lavender & Green.
- SMOOTH & EASY APPLICATION: Create a smooth matte finish before makeup application with this easy-to-apply primer. Also available in color-correcting Lavender and Green shades to address a variety of skin concerns.
- FACE FROM FOUNDATION TO FINISH: Complete your makeup look with our full line of NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP face products to aid in color-correction & coverage from blush, bronzer, foundations & contouring concealer to palettes powders & setting sprays.
- DISCOVER NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP: Try all of our professional makeup & beauty products today, from eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara & false lashes to lipstick, foundation, primer, blush, bronzer, brush & more.
What does makeup primer do for people with oily skin? Will they make it worse? The answer is no, not if you get the right kind. If you have oily skin, mattifying primers offer a lightweight solution. Products like NYX Studio Perfect Primer are great for their mattifying properties and ability to minimize pore and control shine. The best part? You can get it for less than $.
Hydrating
Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Primer, 1 Ounce, Multi
- An ultra-light, fast-absorbing face oil
- This product is cruelty-free, non-acne genic
- radiant look with a dewy finish
There are a ton of primer products out there that can give you an added layer of moisture. Even if you use a moisturizer every morning, dry skin can still creep up. Many of the makeup powders and creams we use can dehydrate the skin. So, if you're looking for some added moisture, go a more unique route. Consider an oil-based primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil. The first of its kind, this primer oil is packed with moisture and leaves skin dewy and smooth looking.
Smooth Finish
Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer Pore Minimizer .75 Ounce
- Quickly minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin.
- Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup.
- The translucent formula contains a vitamin E derivative known to protect skin.
- Compliments All Skin Tones.
If you have normal skin, there are plenty of primer products to choose from. Your main goal of primer is likely to have a blurred, airbrushed look with makeup. For a general, everyday primer, we recommend Benefit's POREfessional Primer, available online for about $$$. It has a balmy, silicone texture that fills in pores while creating a smooth, even complexion.
Conclusion
It may take some experimenting and trial-and-error before you find the product that works best for you. But, we promise that once you do, you'll be glad you did.
It's okay if you're not a makeup fanatic. It's normal to feel overwhelmed by all the different types of makeup products available. Trying to figure out whaat purpose each one serves and how to use them can be exhausting. The key is to identify which one offers the biggest return on investment. And, for most people, that is a primer.
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You're not alone if you've ever wondered, "What does makeup primer do?" or "How important are they for my skin?" Instead, consider the following questions:
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, it's probably time to try a primer. Don't think of it as a luxury item or frivolous indulgence. Makeup primers can increase the effectiveness of the other makeup products you use. Plus, there are plenty of affordable, quality products you can get right on Amazon without spending a fortune. They key is making sure you choose the product that is most effective for your specific skin and your goals.
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