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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