What are primers?
Primers prepare the skin for makeup. They are available in different forms and types: liquid, creamy, solid, gel, oil-free, tinted, fragrance-free and with SPF.
The benefits of primers
- Create a protective base to make you makeup last longer
- Even out the skintone
- Pamper and moisturize the skin, keeping it hydrated all day and are therefore good for people with dry skin
- Create a smooth surface
- Control shine and absorb oil and are therefore really good for people with oily skin
- Reduce redness and inflammation
- Smooth out wrinkles and fine lines by filling them in
- Make pores look smaller
- Make foundation glide on smoothly and blend easily
- Prevent cosmetics from clogging pores
Tinted foundation primers:
Tinted foundation primers can correct uneven skintones. Choose a green one if you have red patches, purple for yellow skintone and peach if you have blue skin undertone.
Ingredients
While some primers are water-based, most of them are silicone based. This is because silicones keep the moisture in and create a smooth surface. Here are the most popular ingredients used in primers:
1. Dimethicone: synthetic silicone that forms a barrier on the skin, preventing water loss. It lubricates skin but can feel heavy if it isn’t formulated properly.
2. Cyclomethicone: a synthetic silicone that has a dryer finish than dimethicone. It is lightweight and evaporates rapidly.
How to apply makeup primers
- Apply your moisturizer and wait a few minutes to let it sink in
- Using a brush, a sponge or your fingers, apply your primer
- Let it sink in for a few minutes and then apply your makeup
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
i love smashbox’ and urban decay’s!
i also have Nars’. i can’t get enough of them!
Although it’s an extra step, using a primer gives you a flawless look. However, the silicons can be pore clogging and I’m still looking for one that does not have silicon.
Sab: I love UD too! I wanna try nars, but I’d have to order it online and is so expensive!
Dao: You’re right, that is actually the reason why I don’t wear primer everyday, except on my eyes (eyeshadows crease so much if I don’t use one!). I can really see a difference when I use a primer but I don’t like the idea of putting so much silicone on my face all the time.
i love smashbox photofinish..YUMM. I always forget to put primer on a lot LOL
thanks for the wonderful primer details! I’ve always loved primers! :d
I love UDPP, as well as, Korean primers for face.
Jessica: lol, I don’t always wea it either.
Nikki: you’re welcome Nikki, I love them too.
Alyssa: I love UDPP too. I hope they change the packaging soon though.
great post on primers. i hear that the brothers at ud are trying to come up with new packaging for the udpp
I love the Urban Decay primer. Definitely want to try the Nars.
Jnie: thanks. And that is great news! I hope the new packaging will be available soon.
PBW: I love UD primer too, it is amazing! And I want to try Nars too, I just wish it wasn’t so expensive though.
Do you have a primer you could recommend for sensitive skin?
Thanks.
Hi Heather. If you have sensitive skin you can try Lorac aquaprime makeup primer. It is water-based, doesn’t contain oils and silicones and is fragrance-free. Hope this helps.
HI, I just came across this and wanted to know whether can BB creams be used as makeup primers?
Curious One, primers are products designed to help makeup stay longer, reduce the appearance of large pores or mattify skin while BB creams are a moisturizer and foundation in one product. Because of that, I personally wouldn’t use a BB cream as a primer but I guess it also depends on the claims a particular BB cream makes. If it says that it can be used as primer or has mattifying properties, then I guess you could consider using it as a primer.