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Top 7 Face Primers Without Fragrance

January 17, 2022

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

We all know fragrance isn’t great for the skin. When it comes to face primer, it can really be seen as a skincare step because a lot of the time, there’s just a small barrier between it and your skin (moisturizer). This means that it is even more important to find a face primer without fragrance, especially if your skin is sensitive to fragrances.

This is why I’ve curated a list of the best performing face primer without fragrance.

Honest Beauty Everything Primer Glow + 2HA Primer with Hyaluronic Acid


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Honest Beauty’s Everything Primer Glow is a super hydrating primer that is great for sensitve skin! It contains hyaluronic acid, as well as watermelon, apple, and lentil extracts to hydrate the skin. What is important for sensitive skin is to take a peek at what it is formulated without. You won’t find any fragrance, parabens, Polyethylene glycols, or mineral oils.

This primer retails for about $23. Something I love about this primer is that it comes with a pump. Super convienent!

e.l.f. Puff Puff Primer + hemp-derived Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil


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Elf’s Puff Puff Primer is another great option for anyone looking for a primer to add hydration to the skin. Becuase it contains Hemp Seed Oil, it does a great job of adding a layer of hydration to the skin. Not only does it hydrate, it also keeps makeup in place all day long. This one is great for anyone looking for a primer with skincare ingredients that is also fragrance-free.

This primer retails for $8 and also comes in a pump.

Ulta Poreless Face Primer


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Ulta’s Poreless Face Primer is more of a traditional, silicone primer that is going to do a great job of filling in any large pores and mattifying the skin. I find this one to be similar to the formula’s of Smashbox’ Photo Finish or Benefit’s Porefessional primers. It goes on super smooth and makes my skin feel silky.

Head’s up, I like waiting for this one to really set on my skin for a few minutes before applying makeup on top.

This one retails for around $12.50 and is packaged in a squeeze tube.

The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer


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The Ordinary has been taking the skincare community by storm. This is because they have excellent ingredients and are very reasonably priced. This primer is no different. It is a silicone primer, which is going to fill in any imperfections on the skin and helps control oil. Again, The Ordinary does a great job of only putting in the best ingredients into their products.

This retails for just under $5 (a steal!) and comes in squeeze tube packaging.

The Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid Primer 


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While the previous The Ordinary primer is ideal for normal to oily skin types, this one is better suited for normal to dry skin. This primer helps your foundation spread more evenly on the skin and even helps it from clinging to dry spots. I love this one because I feel that my foundation goes over top of it so beauifully.

The Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid primer retails for just under $8 and is packaged with a dropper.

Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Foundation Primer


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Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer has been a fan favorite for many years. They were one of the first to release a super successful silicone primer. As we know, silicone primers are great for oily skin types because they fill in large pores and keep skin looking matte all day long. I love this one because it fills in fine lines on my skin and makes it look flawless.

This one retails for $39 and comes in squeeze tube packaging.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer


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Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Primer comes in a few different formulas, all fragrance free. You can choose from Illuminating, Hydrating, and Perfecting. The Illumating focues on adding radiance to the skin, while hydrating adds hydration. Perfecting, my favorite of the three, is a light-weight skin perfecting primer that makes your skin look amazing. What’s even better is that it also helps makeup stay on all day long.

This one retails for $40.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article helped you find a face primer without fragrance that will work for you! Have you tried any of these primers? Let me know which ones have worked for you!

Continue the fragrance free train by viewing our post on the best fragrance free bronzers. Just click here!

Until Next Time!

  • Note: This page contains affiliate links.

Top 8 Silicone Free Concealers That Don’t Just Cover Dark Circles

January 5, 2022

Photo by Karly Jones on Unsplash

It’s no secret that silicone in makeup can be harmful to the skin. There are a lot of reasons for this including that it can clog pores and cause breakouts. That’s why I’ve curated a list of the best silicone free concealers.

What Are Silicones?

Silicones are ingredients in makeup that make it more resistent to fading throughout the day. It resists water and air, which can keep your makeup from breaking down as you wear it.

They actually do a really good job of forming a barrier between your skin and the environment. Think air, pollutants, bacteria. But this can cause issues for those of us with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Which Ingredients To Avoid

Silicones hide under a lot of ingredient names. It can be confusing thinking you’re using a silicone free product because the ingredient list doesn’t include the word “silicone”. Here are a list of sneaky names for silicions:

  • Dimethicone
  • Cyclopentasiloxane
  • Cyclomethicone
  • Polysilsesquioxane
  • Silsesquioxane
  • Cetearyl methicone

Basically, look for any ingredient ending in -cone or -siloxane. Then you’ll know it contains a silicone.

How do I find more information on ingredients?

I’ve found Paula’s Choice Skincare Ingredient Dictionary helpeful to learn more about the ingredients. You can visit the site by clicking here.

However, what I’ve found is the dictionary does label silicons as “good” ingredients. While I don’t disagree they’re fine for most people, this article is written to address those who have skincare concerns that are exacerbated by using silicions.

With that said, take the information found with a grain of salt. Only you know your skin best.

Are Silicones Bad For The Skin?

In general, I don’t think silicones are going to harm the majority of consumers. However, silicones can clog pores, which can really be a pain for those with acne-prone skin. This happens because the silicones act like a barrier and trap any dirt, oil, and bacteria under your makeup. That’s a recipe for breakouts!

Silicones are also water-resistent, which means they’re a lot harder to wash off. This can lead to trace amounts of makeup getting stuck in your pores. If you suffer from acne-prone skin, you know leaving makeup on for long periods of time will lead to breakouts.

So, no, I don’t think they’re bad for everyone. But they can be really bad for some.

Which is why I’ve curated a list of the best silicone free concealers.

Best Silicone Free Concealers

NYX Concelar Jar


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NYX’s concealer jar is a creamy concealer meant to be used on the under eyes. What I like about this concealer is that it comes in so many different shades. Meaning you can get one for color correction and one for your skin tone to create a perfectly smooth under eye.

This one comes in a pot and retails for about $7 a jar. That’s a steal!

Anastasia Beverly Hills – Pro Pencil


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Anastasia’s Pro Pencil is a full coverage concealer that can be used in multiple ways. It can be used as a highlighter, concealer, or an eyeshadow base. We’d stick with using it as a concealer though. Its rich and creamy and does a great job of concealing those undereye circles.

The Pro Pencil is vegan and paraben-free (and of course silicone free) and retails for $18.

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer


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MAC’s Studio Finish Concealer is one of the best concealers on the market. It blends so easily into the skin, but still gives you that full coverage look. This one can really banish those under eye circles! I’ve found this one to be creamy in consistency, but not so creamy that its melting off my skin in a few hours. Overall, this is one I’d highly recommend.

This concealer comes in a jar and retails for about $24.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer


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IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer contains anti-aging ingredients that are actually really good for your skin. So, not only will you be banishing your under eye circles, you’ll also be taking care of your skin. With ingredients like hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, your skin will be looking better in no time!

This concealer comes in a squeeze tube (great for keeping bacteria at bay!) and retails for $28.

Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector


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Bobbi Brown’s Under Eye Corrector comes in many different correcting shades, such as peach and pink, so it does a great job at correcting discoloration under the eyes and redness. It’s creamy, hydrating, and long-wearing formula banishes dark circles and keeps the under eyes looking great all day.

This concealer comes in a jar and retails for $32.

NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Face & Body Concealer Serum


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NYX’s Bare With Me Concealer is not only a concealer, but also a serum becuase it is formulated with skincare ingredients such as tremella mushroom, cica, and green tea. This concealer is meant to be used on the under eyes, face, and neck to cover any blemishes or imperfections. While this concealer is medium coverage, it is buildable and can easily cover any skin concerns.

I love this concealer because it comes with a pump and retails for only $11.

Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector


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Tarte’s Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector has a pink tint that does a fabulous job at correcting dark circles under the eye. It has a full coverage formula that lasts all day long. I love this one because the formula is so rich and creamy. If you have dark circles or discoloration around the eyes, this one is a must to elimate them!

This one comes in a pan and retails for $25.

NUDESTIX Nudies Tinted Blur Stick


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NUDESTIX’ Nudies Tinted Blur Stick is a stick formula concealer with light coverage. While it does apply pretty creamy, I noticed that it doesn’t leave a sticky feeling to the skin. This is the lightest coverage concealer in the list, so I like to use this one good skin days.

This concealer comes in a stick formula and retails for $32.

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this post on the best silicone free concealers help you find a concealer that works for you. If not, I hope I’ve helped you learn how to spot silicone free concealers in stores easily. Just bring the list of silicones to look out for and take a peek at the ingredient list on products you’re interested in. That’s it!

For more products for senstive or acne-prone skin, click the links to check out my posts on:

  • Fragrance Free Bronzers
  • Setting Powder Without Talc
  • Cream Blush For Acne-Prone Skin
  • Setting Powders For Acne-Prone Skin

Happy Shopping!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

Best Drugstore Setting Powder Without Talc

December 27, 2021

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

In recent years, studies have found some harmful side effects of using products with talc in them. Because of these findings, a few brands have gone out of their way to formulate setting powders without talc in them. Today, we’ll be going over the best drugstore setting powder without talc.

For more information on setting powder and what it’s used for, click here to view my post on The Purpose of Setting Powder.

Why Use Talc Free Setting Powder

First, we need to talk about why switching to talc-free can be important.

  • There are conflicting studies about whether or not talc can cause cancer

While some studies argue they have found a link between using talc in powders (makeup or other products like baby powder) can cause cancer, there are also many studies that have found no link. In general, I think using talc in your setting powder isn’t going to cause cancer, but I do understand that some people may be wary of using it.

To read more about these cancer studies, click here.

  • Recent concerns about inhaling talc

In recent years, there has been more concern over the inhalation of talc, with some studies claiming that it can increase lung problems, such as asthma and bronchitis.

  • Talc can cause breakouts

For those of you with acne-prone skin, you may want to skip on powder with talc. This is because talc can be comedogenic and irritate your skin, causing more breakouts.

In general, going talc-free is more of a personal choice about what types of ingredients you want going in your body. Since we all know how powders, especially loose powders, can go everywhere and eventually be inhaled, I can see why anyone might be concerned about this.

Who will benefit most from talc free powder?

Those of us who will benefit from using talc free setting powder are people who have:

  • Concerns about the safety of talc
  • Acne-prone skin
  • Skin sensitivies

With that said, all of these setting powders do work really well for anyone, not just those looking to avoid talc in their setting powders.

And without further ado, here’s the list!

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Airbrushing Pressed Powder


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If you are looking for a talc free setting powder that is going to work well for your sensitive skin, this one will be a great fit for you. Not only is the one formulated without talc, but it is also fragrance-free and paraben-free.

At $15 per container, this is still on the higher end of drugstore pricing, but be sure to look out for the $5 Physician’s Formula coupons if you want to try this one out.

I love this one because, not only does it not have any irritating ingredients, it also has SPF 30, which I think is really important to protect your skin.

It comes in 3 shades: Translucent, Creamy Natural, and Beige.

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder


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This one might be my favorite drugstore setting powder without talc.

I think this one does a phenomenal job at controlling oil. This is because it has silica in it to absorb any excess oil on the skin. This means that this one is a top pick for anyone with oily skin.

I love this one because it does help you achieve a matte look. On those really humid summer days, I love adding a layer of this to keep my skin from looking too dewy as the day goes on.

Overall, this is a great one to try out for $10.

Elf Studio High Definition Loose Face Powder


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I’ve been using this one for years and it’s one that I always have in my makeup stash. It’s so lightweight that it’s perfect for setting your makeup without looking cakey.

At $6, this one is a steal for the performance. I feel like this makes my makeup last all day long and keeps my skin from getting too dewy during the day.

One of my favorite things about this product is that it has a sifter, so I can get just the right amount of product on my brush so I don’t end up using too much.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder Foundation


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I know, I know. This one is a powder foundation, but I have found that I am able to set my skin with powder foundations if the powder is light enough, which this one is.

I really like setting with this powder because it contains a lot of skincare ingredients, like Vitamin C and E.

The downside to this powder is that because it’s technically a foundation, you’ll have to find a shade that somewhat matches your skin tone and this really only comes in four shades and there are literally no options for deeper skin tones. Womp womp.

The price for this foundation is around $13.

L.A Girl Pro Setting powder


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Here’s another powder that is formulated with silica instead of talc, so you can bet that this one will help control any oiliness throughout the day. It also provides a nice matte finish that will last all day long.

This one comes in two shades: Translucent to set your face makeup and Banana Yellow, which can be great for setting under the eyes and adding some brightness.

At just $7, this one is good for anyone’s budget!

Final Thoughts

I hope this post helps you find the best drugstore setting powder without talc for you! Each of these options should suit anyone with a sensitivity to talc or anyone who just wants to cut talc out of their makeup routine.

Drop a comment below about your favorite setting powders!

Until Next Time!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

Top 8 Best Dewy Drugstore Foundations of 2021

November 15, 2021

The winter months can wreck havoc on my skin, causing it to be drier and less radiant. This is the time of the year I’m most likely going to gravitate toward dewy foundations. These help in a variety of ways: by adding some moisture back into my skin, making my skin look more radiant, and relieving me from that tightness in my face. Today I’m going to be writing about the best dewy drugstore foundations.

Best Price: Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation


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This foundation is formulated with ingredients that will add some moisture to the skin. This alone will add a more dewy finish. But that’s not all! It also will help fill in any fine lines and wrinkles and leave your skin feeling moisturized throughout the day.

I love how this foundation just glides right over the skin, making blending a breeze!

A couple of other benefits to this one is that it has SPF and is fragrance free. Definitely a plus in my book.

The one downside to the Fit Me Dewy & Smooth is that it does not come with a pump, but with an $8 price tag, I can’t complain too much.

Best Luminious Glow: L’Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Foundation Makeup with SPF 20


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L’Oreal’s True Match Lumi foundation is awesome for a couple of reasons. First, it has SPF to protect your skin from the sun. It also is formulated with 40% water, which is going to add a lot of hydration to thirsty skin. Lastly, it has vitamins A and C to make skin brighter and more luminious.

Although this is a luminous foundation, it doesn’t contain glitter or shimmy to give you that dewy look. It has all the right ingredients to make your skin look completely hydrated!

This foundation is on the sheer to medium coverage and comes with a pump, which I always love to see in a foundation.

Best Age-defying: CoverGirl Simply Ageless 3-In-1 Liquid Foundation


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If anti-aging ingredients are on your list of foundation must-haves, this one’s for you! This foundation reduces the appearance of wrinkles and is formulated with anti-aging skin care ingredients.

As for hydration and a dewy finish, Simply Ageless contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to rejouvinate the skin and add brightness. I love this foundation because it gives off a really natural looking finish, not too dewy, but dewy enough to hide any dry skin issues I may be having that day.

CoverGirl’s Simply ageless is a medium-full coverage foundation, comes with a pump, and is cruelty-free.

Best Coverage: Physician’s Formula Butter Believe It! Foundation and Concealer


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This one is really cool because it is full coverage, which is really difficult to find in a drugstore foundation or a dewy one. To find a full coverage dewy drugstore foundation is quite the challenge.

In comes Physician’s Formulat Butter Believe It! Foundation. It is formulated with Murumuru Butter, Cupuaçu Butter and Tucuma Butter, making it really creamy and hydrating for the skin. This translates to a beautiful, dewy finish for your skin.

This one is full-coverage, but is buildable, meaning you can use smaller amounts for less coverage and more for areas that need fuller coverage.

This one also comes with a pump, but does not have SPF. It is also has a fairly strong fragrance, for those of you that have sensitivity to frangrance.

Best “Your Skin, but Better”: L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation


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This one reminds me a lot of Nars Sheer Glow foundation. I love them both because of the natural, dewy finish they provide. It looks like skin, but not my dull, dry skin. It looks like skin that is healthy, glowing, and radiant.

This foundation has a long-lasting, sheer to medium coverage formula. It also contains SPF 15!

While it doesn’t come with a pump, it does have a squeeze bottle, which is perfect for the price.

Best Shade Range: Milani Screen Queen Foundation


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This is one of those foundations that feels really light on the skin, but also really good coverage. It is medium-full coverage and easily builds up to hide any imperfections.

Its on the less hydrating end of the spectrum, but does leave a satin, natural finish. It also has a pump!

One of the greatest benefits to this foundation is its shade range. There are 45 shades to choose from, ranging from light to deep. There are also a good mix of shades for every skin tone.

Best for Photos: Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy Foundation


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This foundation really does it all! It leaves a lightly luminous glow to the skin, while also providing great coverage. It also helps reduce the light cast in photos, so your selfies will always look great!

I like this one because it feels so lightweight on the skin, but provides really good, buildable coverage, and leaves my skin looking like I have the BEST skincare routine. (Spoiler alert: I do not. Its average at best).

The Photo Focus Dewy Foundation is fragranced and cruelty-free. It also does not come with a pump, but rather a spatula, which is not my favorite at all.

Best Natural Finish: NYX BORN TO GLOW!


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This one leaves a really beautiful, glowy finish to the skin. It looks gorgeous on the skin and never looks cakey. I love it because it has a great shade range (44 shades!) and is very lightweight.

This is one of the most natural looking foundations I’ve ever tried. It does look like you have some luminiousity and radiance to your skin, but not overly dewy and wet.

NYX is also cruelty free. This foundation comes in a squeeze tube, which is perfect for the price point.

Final Thoughts

These are, in my opinion, the best dewy drugstore foundations on the market. There are a variety of options to choose from, to help you pick which is best for your budget or specific skin concerns. For those of you with dry skin, that don’t necessarily love the more dewy finishes, you can see my post on the Best Drugstore Foundations for Dry Skin here.

Note: This page contains affiliate links.

The 9 Best Eye Primers for Mature Skin You Need to Try in 2022

November 13, 2021

Did you know that eye primers can actually fill in all those fine lines you’re trying to hide around your eyes? I had no idea! I just started developing some smile lines around my eyes, and while I don’t hate them, they do wreak some havoc on my makeup. Here’s where eye primer can fill in. Literally. Using the best eye primer for mature skin will help fill in some of those lines and elevate your makeup look.

Does Eyeshadow Primer Help with Wrinkles?

Absolutely! Is it going to make the wrinkles go away? No. But here’s what they can do.

They fill in the fine lines and wrinkles so your makeup isn’t settling into them.

Have you ever put on a concealer just for it to settle into the fine lines around your eyes? I HATE THAT. It looks… not good.

Input the right eyeshadow primer…. Suddenly, concealer isn’t settling anymore.

But which ones work best?

We’ve compiled a list of the Best Eye Primer for mature skin you need to try in 2022

1. MAC Paint Pot


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Mac Paint Pots come in a few different shades, so make sure to choose the one that suits your skin tone best. I’ve linked Painterly, since it is the one that I found works best for me. The awesome thing about Paint Pots is that they have a really rich formula, so they’ll add a bit of hydration as well.

I think this works exceptionally well for mature skin because it is so hydrating (and many of us start struggling with drier skin as we age). It is also on the thick side, so it does a great job of filling in those fine lines and wrinkles.

This product, in particular, is one that I’ve used for many years, even before I had fine lines to worry about and I’ve just fallen more in love with it now. It retails for around $28.

2. Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Eyeshadow Primer


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This was one of the first eye primers I ever tried and I hated it. I had really oily lids at the time and this stuff just slid right off. However, I gave this one another shot as I got older and my opinion has completely changed. I really like this one because it is formulated with Sodium hyaluronate, which is hydrating on the eyes.

Not only is this primer hydrating, but it also contains anti-aging skincare ingredients. This is another primer that’s on the thicker, more emollient side, so it goes a long way to fill in any fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Hourglass Veil Eye Primer

Here’s another one that has ultra-hydrating ingredients. We know this works for mature skin because it will do wonders for any dryness around the eye area. It will also help fill in any fine lines and wrinkles.

Another thing we love about this primer is that it’s formulated without sulfates and parabens and is vegan and cruelty-free!

Hourglass is a great brand in general and this product is no different. Apply a thin layer, set with powder, and any eyeshadows applied on top are sure to last all day long.

4. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer

Fenty Beauty’s eye primer is so hydrating that we’re sure you’ll think it’s a winner too. Because it’s so hydrating, there is a bit of a thickness to it. It goes on really smoothly and leaves you with the perfect finish to apply your eyeshadow over.

We also love this one because it’s free of any ingredients you don’t want to put on the skin, especially near your eyes! This formula is paraben and sulfate-free.

5. Laura Mercier Eye Basics Eye Primer

Laura Mercier does skin products to perfection because they understand the need to put skincare ingredients in the makeup. This one has antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E to make your skin look healthier while also providing a base for your eyeshadows.

Another cool thing about this one is that it comes in different shades, so you can choose one that will also brighten around the eyes as well. No fine lines, wrinkles, AND brightening power? Yes, please!

6. NYX Eyeshadow Base


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At only $7, this one provides a lot of bang for your buck! It comes in several different shades, white, black, and “skin tone” (don’t let me get started on that…). Personally, I prefer the white one because it gives me a blank canvas to put my makeup on top of.

This is another one of the richer formulas, so you know its going to really get into your fine lines and keep eyeshadow and concealer from creasing around the eyes.

7. Too Faced Shadow Insurance


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This is such a great eye primer all around. It works great at extending the wear time of your eyeshadow and leaving a tacky surface for your shadows to cling to. It will also provide a bit of a tint, to help neutralize any discoloration on your lids.

This one is on the list because it is also a thicker formula and helps combat fine lines, while also ensuring there is no makeup creasing in them.

8. Milani Eyeshadow Primer


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I’ve been bragging on this primer for a while now. At just around $9 a tube, you can get an eye primer that’s going to make your eye looks last all day long!

This one isn’t quite as hydrating as the others in the list, but it won’t dry out your eyes either.

The formula on this one is a bit on the thicker side, which will do a lot for filling in any imperfections around the eyes.

9. Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion

I think I saved the best for last! Urban Decay Primer Potion is one of the absolute best eye primers on the market. They just amplified it to make it better for more mature eyes. This one is full of anti-aging ingredients that will combat the look of fine lines. It also improves skin tone and texture!

If you’re looking for an all-in-one option, I’d give this one a go!

Final Thoughts

Eye primer is definitely our friend when it comes to combating the signs of aging. Using one of these eye primers that are best for mature skin can enhance any eye look! They can fill in any fine lines and wrinkles before eyeshadow and concealer application, which can give a more youthful appearance.

I hope this post on the best eye primer for mature skin gets you started on finding one that works best for you!

Are you also looking for setting sprays that work well with dry skin? Click here to view our post on the 8 Best Setting Sprays without Alcohol!

Until next time!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

Which is Better: Setting Spray or Powder?

November 12, 2021

This week we’ve been covering how to make your makeup last longer. Of course, that topic has brought us to our two primary products: setting spray and setting powder. But, which one is better? Which one is a must have for your routine? Today, we’ll be going over the benefits of each one, when they should be used, and ultimately, which one is a must-have for your routine.

If you haven’t already, you can read our post on the FAQs on Setting Spray and The Purpose of Setting Powder. These should give you some background on these two products and answer any more in depth questions you have about them.

Which is better: Setting Spray or Powder?

I’m just gonna come right out and say it: BOTH. They both have their own purposes in the makeup world and both bring their own sets of talents to the game. Each also serve a distinct purpose.

Here, we’ll go over the benefits of each, to help me prove why you really need both in your makeup routine.

Benefits of Setting Powder

Setting powder is also going to help your makeup stay all day long. This is because it can reduce the oils on the skin that break down foundation.

It can also help any other powder products blend more flawlessly over the liquid foundation. Have you ever tried blending a blush right on top of your liquid foundation? Its not easy. Setting Powder can help with that!

Setting powder also can keep your skin looking matte throughout the day because it adds an extra layer of powder that soaks up excess oils.

It can also be very brightening if applied directly under the eyes. The extra layer of powder helps brighten the under eyes, making you look more awake and fresh!

Benefits of Setting Spray

The number one benefit to using setting spray is that it will increase the wear time of your makeup. This is because they typically contain alcohol and polymers that bond with the makeup and make it adhere to the skin.

For oily skinned gals, there are setting sprays on the market that contain ingredients that will help keep your skin looking matte all day long.


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The NYX Matte Finish setting spray is one of them. It helps keep makeup lasting all day, while controlling the oils that break down foundation.

For our dry skinned ladies, setting sprays can be made with more hydrating ingredients. This means they not only are going to give you a dewy look, but they will lock your makup into place.


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The Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix is going to deliver a dose of hydration, while also prolonging the wear time of your makeup.

Setting spray also helps reduce the powdery look on the skin you can get from applying blush, bronzer, or setting powder.

To recap:

  • Prolongs wear time of makeup
  • Reduces oil and keeps skin looking matte
  • Delivers a dose of hydration
  • Reduces the powdery look on the skin

When to Use Setting Powder

Always use setting powder after you apply your liquid foundation. There are a few nuances to this, like if you go in with a powder foundation, or use a cream blush or bronzer. In general, all liquid products should be applied after powder products.

If you use powder foundation, skip the setting powder. You don’t need it.

If you use cream blush or bronzer, apply those before the setting powder.

If you use powder blush or bronzer, apply foundation, setting powder, then blush and bronzer.

With these tips, watch how easy it is to blend your powder products over the liquid. It will absolutely speed up your application and give you a effortless, blended look.

When to Use Setting Spray

Setting spray is the final step in your makeup routine. It is applied after the entire look has been applied.

Spritz onto the center of the face, forehead, sides, and chin and wait for it to dry.

Your look is complete and won’t be all day long!

Final Thoughts

I hope it is easy to see why I think both products have a special place in a makeup routine. Without setting powder, I find it really difficult to blend powder products over my liquid foundation. Without setting spray, the excess powder does look like too much. Together, they form a team that will keep your makeup flawless the entire day.

Until next time!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

8 Best Setting Sprays Without Alcohol

November 9, 2021

Yesterday, we talked about Setting Sprays and if they are bad for your skin. In that post, we went over the different types of setting spray and which setting spray might be the right one for you. From that post, we learned how difficult it can be to find setting sprays without alcohol.

We lightly touched on the fact that most setting sprays are formulated with alcohol. This is because it helps makeup stay on all day.

However, if you have very dry skin, this is probably not the best option for you. Alcohol can be drying and if you’re already struggling with hydration, topping your makeup with a drying product isn’t going to do you any favors.

So, without further ado, we’ve compiled a list of the best setting sprays without alcohol.

1. Best Drugstore: Elf+ Glow Dewy Mist


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Forumulated with Hyaluronic Acid, coconut water, and argon oil, this is a setting spray that is going to deliver on hydration. It leaves a nice glow to the skin, which is something a lot of dry skin gals love to see.

Because this formula is so milky, it does help to shake it a lot before spraying. Use a very light layer of this spray to give your look a dewy, glowy finish.

Elf is vegan and cruelty free. This setting spray has a price tag of only $8!

2. Best Luxury: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray


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This is a really nice setting spray, but is slightly more expensive than even the luxury brand at $35 at Sephora. What we like about this one is that is has no ingredients that are going to irritate your skin. It is formulated without alcohol, oils, or parabens. This does have a slight scent to it, so keep that in mind if your skin is sensitive to fragrance.

This sets your makeup all day long and leaves a slighty glowy finish. This one also has complexion-enhancing ingredients, so it leaves your skin look fresh all day long.

3. Best Long Lasting: Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix


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Whenever I use this setting spray, it keeps my makeup locked in allllll day long. Not only does it keep your makeup in place, it does deliver a bit of hydration to the skin as well. Because it is formulated with hydrating ingredients, it will also deliver a radiant finish to your look.

A note, the formula recently changed and now it is pretty fragranced. If that’s not your thing or if your skin is really sensitive, I’ve give this one a pass.

4. Best Hydrating: Too Faced Hangover Rx


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This one is formulated with coconut water and gives your skin a drink, while also setting your makeup all day long. Its also lacking a lot of the harsher ingredients we don’t want to see in a setting spray: silicone and alochol. It does come lightly fragranced and smells like coconut. I really enjoyed the scent of it!

I found this setting spray really set my makeup in place all day long and delivered a dose of hydration that left my skin looking dewy throughout the day.

5. Best with Skincare Ingredients: Laura Geller Spackle Mist


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Not only is this one going to hydrate your skin and set your makeup in place, it also has skin care ingredients in it as well! Laura Geller’s website says this is “a probiotic-based ingredient and potent skin reviving minerals to boost skin’s radiance, promote elasticity and hydration while locking down makeup for fresher, longer and more flawless wear.”

I enjoy this setting spray because I can use it before I even start my makeup and it delivers some intense skincare benefits. Then I top my makeup with it as well and it sets it all day long!

6. Best for Sensitive Skin: Cover FX Dewy Finish Setting Spray


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Because this one has Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid built in to the formula, it really delivers a dose of hydration. With that hydration, comes a dewy glow that cannot be beat! Its also super light-weight because it is lacking oils in the formula.

This setting spray can also keep your makeup looking great for 12 hours! Cover FX is vegan and cruelty free and this product is formulated without alcohol, parabens, and fragrance, so you know this is a product you can trust to not irriate your skin.

7. Best with SPF: COOLA Organic Makeup Setting Spray with SPF 30


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I wanted to include this one, even though it does have an alcohol in it because it is formulated with SPF, which is really important for the skin. If you look at the ingredient list, this one does have an organic, plant-based alcohol that helps with the SPF in the product. Because this one does have SPF in it, it does need the alcohols, so COOLA went with an organic one.

This one has SPF 30 to help protect your skin from the sun, so spritz this on and you don’t have to worry about your makeup falling off during the day. It also won’t mess up your makeup like a traditional SPF would.

8. Best Overall: MAC Fix+


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This one is a cult favorite and there’s a reason why! It keeps your makeup looking great ALL. DAY. LONG. Whenever I’ve used this my makeup was set in place for 12 hours and didn’t budge.

This also has the best mister of any setting spray I’ve ever tried. So it can really deliver that light coating without worrying if you might accidentally get a droplet on your skin.

This one also provides a slight glow to the skin. Please note that this one is fragranced as well, if that is an issue for you.

Final Thoughts

That rounds out our Best Setting Sprays without Alcohol. The list has a few that shine in each category to help you decide which one might work best for you. Happy testing!

Are you interested in setting sprays with coconut oil to hydrate dry skin? Check out my post on the Best Setting Sprays with Coconut Oil here.

*Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Is Setting Spray Bad For Skin and Other FAQs

November 8, 2021

One of the biggest questions I hear when it comes to setting spray is this: Is it necessary? Next, is setting spray bad for my skin?

So you just spent an hour putting on your makeup and you really don’t want to see it falling away by lunch, right?

What can you do to keep it locked in, all day long? Setting Sprays.

Settings sprays have changed the game for me when it comes to makeup wear time. Whenever I have a special event to attend, they’ve always given me the peace of mind to know that my makeup won’t be budging all day long.

Just like makeup primers, setting sprays will go a long way to keeping your look fresh all day long.

I don’t know about you, but I really cannot stand knowing I’m going to have to do a midday touch-up, when I know that I’m going to have my hands full that day.

Another thing setting spray can do for you is help combat the humidity and heat. Setting sprays for the summer are a must.


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What is setting spray and what does it do?

Setting spray is the last step to the makeup routine. Simply spritz a light coat over your makeup and go! There are a couple of main purposes setting sprays serve:

  1. Keep your makeup on all day long
  2. Reduce the powdery appearance of the look

Personally, I prefer the ones that make your look stay on all day, so I search for those.

Is Setting Spray Bad for Skin?

Short answer: No. The reason they get a little bit of criticism is because most of them are formulated with alcohol, which can be drying to the skin.

The alcohol in setting spray evaporates as it dries, which actually helps with the bonding process, keeping your makeup in place all day. Pretty cool, right?

So you don’t really have to worry about setting spray affecting your skin at all.

However, there are certain setting sprays made for certain skin types (as with most face products).

So if you have dry skin, look for one with hyaluronic acid. Many of these have the name “hydro”, “dewy”, or “glow” on the packaging, so it’s pretty easy to find them.

If you have oily skin and need a setting spray to help keep your skin looking matte throughout the day, look for a setting spray with the word “matte” on the packaging.

Will Setting Spray Make You Break Out?

Setting spray doesn’t necessarily cause breakouts. The breakouts are caused by pores getting clogged with oil or dead skin cells.

This just means that there are some setting sprays you might want to avoid if you do have acne-prone skin. Avoid setting sprays formulated with oils: specifically coconut oil.

Basically, anything on the Best Setting Sprays for Dry Skin you should skip on.

Can I use Setting Spray Every Day?

Typically, professionals recommend using setting spray for special occasions, where you need to have your makeup looking perfect for hours on end.

There are no adverse effects to using setting spray every day, so I say go for it! If you need your makeup to be long-lasting every day, there’s nothing stopping you from using it every day.

In fact, when I worked in the office full time (pre-pandemic), I used it every day.

Do You Use Setting Spray Before or After Powder?

Definitely use it after powder. This will help for a couple of reasons:

  1. Its going to help reduce the “powdery” look of your makeup
  2. Its going to help your foundation and powder blend together seamlessly
  3. Its going to lock that powder into place all day long

Best Settings Sprays

For Oily Skin


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NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray

As we said before, if you have oily skin, you’re gonna want to look for a setting spray with the word “matte” in it. Its going to help lock in your makeup all day and really control the oils that cause makeup to break down in the first place.

This one is a fan favorite due to its ability to keep makeup in place all day long. It also helps control the oil, so you won’t need to use that blotting paper throughout the day.


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Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Matte Makeup Setting Spray

Urban Decay is one of those brands known for their products that help makeup last forever. Their All Nighter spray is one that has been touted as one of the best for years.

This is another one of their products that can keep your makeup looking fresh all day long but is specifically formulated to help control oil for those of us with oily skin.

For Dry Skin


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Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray

This one comes off as a fine mist, which is crucial for setting sprays. It needs to dry quickly and not leave little droplets all over your face. Not only does this have a great mister, but it also hydrates the skin and keeps makeup looking fresh all day.

You can also put this one on before you apply makeup to act as a bit of a face primer. That’s a double win!


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Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix

This one is going to deliver a bit of hydration, while also keeping your makeup set in place. It is one of the best at making makeup last all day long.

I will note that this one has fragrance, which can be irritating to some, especially those with sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

Is setting spray necessary? I think if you have a special occasion, like a wedding, or just work 12 hours a day, this can be game-changing. I know when I worked in the office full time, along with pick up and drop off duties for the children, and any errands in between, setting sprays absolutely helped me keep my makeup looking on point all day long.

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

Top Tips for Rocking Lipstick with Braces

November 1, 2021

Our top tips for wearing lipstick with braces
Photo by Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash

When I got my Invisalign 3 months ago, I truly thought I’d be ditching my lip color for some time. I mean, we are pretty much always wearing masks anyway, right? But the thing is, I never really feel like my makeup look is complete when I don’t finish it with some sort of lip color. Luckily, I’ve found a few ways to manage where I can still wear lipstick with braces.

1. Choose your shade carefully

Depending on how you feel about your braces, you can choose to bring attention to your mouth or not! Since I chose Invisalign, I don’t really mind people looking at my mouth, but I do understand that some people are nervous about it. If that’s the case for you, I would recommend choosing a nude or neutral lip shade. One of my personal favorites is NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade, Toulouse. Remember, neutral kind of depends on skin tone too, so keep your own personal skin tone in mind when picking a shade!

For those who have clear braces, or Invisalign, you’re probably a little less shy wearing lipstick with braces and don’t mind wearing a bolder lip. If that’s the case, any shade you pick will be fine for you. Want to go a rich red? Great, go for it! For those of us willing to bring some attention to our lips, keep reading, as the upcoming tips will be helpful for keeping those vibrant colors off our braces.

2. Pick a transfer-proof formula

The problem with Invisalign especially is that any lipstick I put on kept transferring to my aligners and would smudge all over them, sometimes making me look like my mouth was bleeding. Ok, maybe red lipstick wasn’t the best choice when trying to figure all of this out. Anyway, that’s where this tip comes in. I had to find a transfer-proof formula. This is usually going to come in the form of a liquid lipstick or lip stain. These dry down and don’t leave your lips for hours. This means once it sets, you really can forget it.

Transfer-proof lipstick suggestions

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

This has been one of my favorites for a long time. Its so cheap and lasts a really long time. Don’t let the word “Cream” in the name fool you, this stuff dries down to a matte finish that isn’t going to transfer!


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KVD Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

This one has been a favorite since before Kat Von D sold and rebranded to KVD Beauty. It lasts all day and doesn’t transfer. The particular shade below, Lolita, has been a fan favorite for years! It’s just one of those perfect “Your-shade-but-better” lipsticks!


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3. Go For a matte Shade

Matte shades are, in general, going to move around a lot less than satin shades. Yes, they’re less comfortable, but they’re also not going to get all over your braces. I would also stay away from lip gloss and any colored chapsticks when wearing braces, as I’ve noticed those can really transfer all over your teeth. I’ve also noticed the more matte the lipstick is, the less likely I’m going to have to worry about it getting all over my braces during the day, so that’s a win for me!

4. Blot Your Lips After Applying

The next tip is to always blot your lips after applying your lipstick. If you’re going with a lip stain or liquid lipstick, you don’t really have to worry about this much. For those, I typically wait until they’ve completely set before putting my aligners back in. For those of you with metal or clear braces, try not to move your lips around until the formula sets. If you are wearing a lipstick, however, you do need to blot the excess off after application to keep it from transferring to your braces throughout the day.

To blot your lips, take a tissue and fold it in half. Then press it between your lips for about 5 seconds. Do that 2 times and you’re set! Another tip I like it is to take a tissue, place it over your lips and then dap some translucent setting powder over your lips to really lock in the lipstick and keep it from getting all over your braces.

5. Take Great Care of Your Lips

One of the most important tips to wearing lipstick with braces is to make sure you take great care of your lips. Braces can often leave you with chapped lips and matte lipstick is just going to amplify the dryness of your lips. Here are my best tips to making sure your lips:

Use a lip exfoliator before applying your lipstick

If your lips are already looking a bit flaky, a lip exfoliator can really do the trick! Elf actually has a really affordable option that I really love. It’s so awesome because it is in a lipstick tube, so it makes it really easy to just slap on and take off.

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Wear a lip mask to bed

Lip masks can really help rejuvenate your lips if they’re flaky and dehydrated. One of my favorites is Laneige Lip Mask. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and loaded with minerals, you’ll wake up with refreshed, hydrated lips that are soft to the touch.


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Use chapstick whenever you aren’t wearing lipstick

Hydrate!

Braces can really make your mouth dry out a lot easier. I noticed ever since I got my Invisalign, I have had to drink a ton more water just because my mouth always feels so dry! Try to keep up with the recommendation of 11.5 cups for women and 15.5 cups for men.

Getting braces doesn’t have to be the end of your relationship with lipstick! With these tips, you should be rocking your favorite lipsticks without having to worry about them transferring or calling attention to areas you don’t want to be noticed.

Loved this post? Check out our top tips for Finding Your Perfect Foundation Shade at the drugstore!

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What does Makeup Primer Do Anyway? A Beginner’s Guide to Using Primer Like a Professional

October 30, 2021

When I was first dabbling in the world of makeup over ten years ago, I was super curious about makeup primer. Does it actually work? Is it bad for my skin? Will it clog my pores? Back then, people weren’t really writing about primers, so I did a lot of the research myself. Today, there’s just so many options to choose from, it can make it really difficult to choose! I’m going to be going over what makeup primer is, how to use it, and if its even worth the trouble.

What does makeup primer do?

The whole purpose is in the name: to prime you skin for foundation application. Essentially, makeup primer extends the wear time of your foundation. Not only does it make your foundation last longer, but it also fills in any pores or wrinkles on the skin, leaving it with a smooth and silky base to apply foundation over. There are also primers out there that are ideal for certain skin types, so they can mattify oily skin or bring additional moisture to dry skin. Lastly, primers can help solve certain skin issues, like redness or dullness.

Is makeup primer even necessary?

Do you absolutely need foundation primer to complete a makeup look? No. Is it going to seriously amp up your routine and make your makeup last longer and look better? Absolutely. Especially in today’s market, where there are just so many types to choose from, they can really handle a lot of skin issues you may have and ensure the wear time of your foundation.

Different types of skin issues makeup primer can solve:

  • Oily skin
  • Dry skin
  • Redness
  • Rosacea
  • Dullness
  • Large pores

Makeup Primer Benefits

To recap, some of the best benefits to primer:

  • Makes your makeup last longer
  • Fills in any pores, leaving skin with a smooth finish
  • Has skin care benefits
  • Can reduce redness before you even apply foundation
  • Even skins tone

Will foundation primer clog my pores?

No, most foundation primers will not clog your pores. Now, this might not be true of all of them, but most are non-comedogenic, which means that they won’t break out your skin. I’ve seen some really wacky primer “hacks” on TikTok these days (I’m looking at you, lube-as-a-makeup-primer trend) and I wouldn’t guarantee that those won’t break out your skin, but in the upcoming recommendations, I wouldn’t stress about it causing you any breakouts or clogged pores.

Still stressed about it? Check back soon for my skincare steps to flawless-looking skin.

Best primer for oily skin

Earlier in the post, I went over what face primer is and how it might benefit you. Now, we’ll go over which one might be best for you and your specific skincare concern.

Oil Control: Elf Oil Control Primer Mist


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This one is a steal! At just over $8 a bottle on Amazon, you can have an oil-control primer that will keep the oil at bay throughout the day and extend the wear time of your foundation significantly. This is a water-based primer that won’t clog pores and will keep skin looking fresh all day. As a misting primer, it is also super refreshing in the summertime. Elf states that is “enriched with purified water, cucumber extract, Vitamin E and Vitamin B,” so you know it’s good for the skin! This product is vegan and cruelty-free.

Pore-blurring: BENEFIT COSMETICS The POREfessional Face Primer


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This is one of the OG makeup primers and one with a huge following. I mean, people are nuts about this stuff! If you’re looking for a primer that will just make you look completely poreless, this is your go-to. This one has a blurring effect that will treat larger pores, fine lines, and wrinkles if any of those are your areas of concern. Since this is an oil-free formula, it’s going to be great for those of you with oily skin. Bonus points: it’s slightly tinted too, so it’ll do a little bit of your foundation’s job.

Mattifying: Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer

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Tarte’s Poreless Mattifying Primer is going to go a long way to make your skin more matte. Not only is it going to create a flawless matte finish for you to put your foundation on top of, but it’s also going to help reduce oil production throughout the day. This means you get more wear time out of your foundation! It also has a waterproof formula, so you don’t have to worry about it melting off your face during the day. Bonus points: Tarte is cruelty-free and this specific item is also vegan.

Best primer for dry skin

Hydrating: Elf Hydrating Face Primer


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Elf’s Hydrating Face Primer is a great option when looking for a primer that’s going to add a little bit of moisture to your face before applying foundation. Elf says its formula is “infused with grape, Vitamins A, C and E to help boost complexion and hydrate your skin.” So not only are you going to get a little hydrating boost from this product, its going to add a little liveliness to it too. Adding this under your foundation is going to give you that trademark glowy look that everyone is looking for these days.

Glowing: Dior BACKSTAGE Face & Body Primer


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This is a makeup artist’s favorite due to its long-lasting wear time and is used in Dior’s runway shows. It suits all skin tones and provides an underlying glow that can’t be beaten! Not only is going to add a light glow to your skin, it’s going to blur imperfections, provide hydration for up to 24 hours, and make your makeup last all day. Who doesn’t want that?!

Color Correcting: NYX Studio Perfect Primer


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I added this line because they come in three different shades: green for redness correction, purple to correct yellow tones, and clear, to reduce fine lines and pores. Here’s the thing with color correction, though. You need to put the color-correcting primers on ONLY the parts of your skin that need it. For me, my skin is overly red on my cheeks only, so I like applying the green primer on my cheeks and finishing the rest of my face with a clear primer.

That’s it on the beginner’s guide to primers! I hope you enjoyed reading more about makeup primer and how to use it. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any I didn’t mention so I can give them a shot too!

Interested in learning about my favorite drugstore mascaras? Take a look at my latest post: The Best Drugstore Waterproof Mascara! Until next time, beauties!

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