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A face primer is an indispensable item in your cosmetic bag: it instantly improves the appearance of the skin and serves as the foundation for flawless makeup. The main thing is to know how to use a primer (we’ll teach you), and choose the one that suits you (we’ll tell you).
What is a face primer and what is it for?
So, let’s see what exactly a primer does.
Primer translates as a primer. In construction and painting, this mixture prepares the surface for painting, creating an intermediate layer on which the paint will lay down evenly and subsequently will not run. Before makeup, the primer performs approximately the same function, adjusted for the fact that the skin is not a canvas, but a living tissue.
Primers for make-up in most cases smooth the skin, that is, smooth out pores and fill in bumps.
The primer is another protective barrier between the epidermis and the environment, so some manufacturers actively use it as such and add sunscreens to the formula.
The composition of the primer often includes components that fix the foundation.
Another bonus is that thanks to the primer, the foundation is spent more economically, since the makeup base takes on some of the corrective functions.
Now let’s find out what types of primers for the face are and how to choose the right option. The easiest way to do this is with specific examples.
Looking ahead, let’s say that primers are chosen according to skin type. Find out which one you have with a test to close this question right away.
Types of primers for the face depending on the texture
The texture of the primer can be gel, cream, liquid or more viscous, water or silicone based, with or without added oils.
Silicone
The primer with silicone has a light gel-like texture, it is easy to apply, as if it glides over the skin, filling in bumps, wrinkles, retouching pores. Silicone base is the most versatile option that will suit oily, combination, and dry skin, but for problematic it is better not to use it.
Makeup base with a smoothing effect La Base Pro, Lancôme
Universal primer for all skin types prolongs the durability of makeup, has a visible smoothing effect.
Cream primer
Light cream primer suitable for normal to dry skin. Usually its composition is enriched with moisturizing, and sometimes caring components. The tool smoothes out unevenness associated with dry skin and peeling.
Moisturizing makeup base Face Studio Prime, Maybelline NY
The air cream primer spreads easily over the skin, moisturizing and visibly perfecting it.
liquid primer
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The lightest representative of the genre with the consistency of serum, essence, lotion is both oil-based and water-based, has both a moisturizing and matting effect, while prolonging makeup durability with a bang. A liquid primer often contains tinting pigments to lightly correct skin tone.
Face Primer Total Control Drop Primer, NYX Professional
Just a few drops of this primer is enough to create a long-wearing matte finish.
Oil
This is a moisturizing primer with oils, due to which the product provides a slight radiant effect, and also protects the skin from dehydration, visually smoothing wrinkles. Suitable for age, dry and normal skin, but it is better not to apply it to oily and combination (at least on the T-zone).
Bare with Me Daily Moisturizing Primer, SPF 30, NYX Professional
Contains hemp seed oil, perfectly moisturizes, smoothes and protects from the sun – just what dry skin needs in summer.
Gel
Transparent gel is almost the most common primer texture. Such a tool can be moisturizing, matting, silicone, depending on the specific product.
Makeup base Studio Perfect Primer, NYX Professional
This primer with silicones evens out porous skin, softens it and helps make-up last longer. Available in three shades: clear, green and lavender for additional color correction.
Types of face primers depending on their functions
From a professional point of view, the purpose of any primer is to prepare the skin for makeup, creating an even, smooth surface. But for each skin type, this task is solved in different ways.
Matting
It fights the problem of excess sebum secretion, due to which makeup does not hold well and requires constant correction throughout the day. Features a gel-to-air-cream texture, oil-free, contains sebum-absorbing ingredients such as minerals.
Mattifying face primer Infaillible, L’Oréal Paris
Gives a lightweight finish that banishes oil and lets make-up last all day.
Moisturizing
A water-based or water-oil-based primer with the obligatory inclusion of hydrants (for example, glycerin, hyaluronic acid) has pronounced caring properties due to a moisturizing effect.
Moisturizing make-up base that gives radiance, Luminous Silk, Giorgio Armani Beauty
The pinkish light cream gives the skin a radiant look and smoothness, filling it with moisture.
Leveling
The ability to even out the relief of the skin is a characteristic feature of all primers. But for some, according to the editors of Healthy-Food, this is especially successful.
Facial primer smoothing Infaillible, L’Oréal Paris
This pink primer is different in that it perfectly smooths out irregularities, in particular pores, and at the same time does not clog them.
Corrective makeup base Baby Skin, Maybelline NY
The formula with cherry extract smoothes the micro-relief of the skin, creating a smooth surface on which makeup fits perfectly.
Tonal
Color-correcting primers resemble CC creams in their properties and purposes – they also even out skin tone with the help of colored pigments. Only primers also take care of the durability of makeup.
Base corrector UV Master Primer, SPF 40, Giorgio Armani Beauty
Available in three shades and with different levels of UV protection. The coverage evens out skin tone without being heavy at all. The moisturizing effect lasts 12 hours. Pay attention to the high SPF, which protects the skin from unwanted pigmentation and photoaging.
Color-correcting primer Infaillible, L’Oréal Paris
A primer of a green shade well camouflages redness and refreshes the complexion, gives durability to makeup.
With reflective particles
Some primers include particles that scatter light and thus help visually hide skin imperfections.
Primer-essence for face Infaillible, L’Oréal Paris
Liquid gel with a light, non-sticky and non-greasy texture moisturizes the skin. And the smallest shiny particles give it an extra shine.
With glitter
Top Secrets Instant Moisture Glow, YSL
The product itself is not a make-up base, it is a moisturizing care product. But they can and should be used as a primer! Contains hyaluronic acid & shea butter to hydrate & smooth skin.
High Glass Face Primer, NYX Professional
A water base combined with pearlescent pigments creates the effect of sleek porcelain skin.
How to choose a makeup primer?
The main criterion in finding a suitable base for makeup is the type of skin. Below we will show you how to choose a face primer and what points you should pay attention to so as not to be mistaken.
For oily skin
Suitable matting primers, gel, silicone (only if the skin is not problematic). The composition welcomes minerals, as well as exfoliating components, but the presence of oils is not desirable.
Moisturizing cream with a matte effect Instant Matte Pore Refiner, YSL
Smoothes pores and keeps the skin matte for a long time, contains a derivative of salicylic acid (LHA).
For dry skin
Water-based jelly or creamy primers with added nourishing oils and labeled “moisturizing” are a great choice for dry skin.
Moisturizing gel primer Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer, NYX Professional
Enriched with hydrating ingredients and enriched with Vitamin E, this product locks moisture into the skin and keeps make-up on its surface.
For combination skin
For combination skin, either primers recommended for oily skin (see above) or universal bases with a light texture are suitable.
“Intellectual” moisturizing serum Armani Prima, Giorgio Armani Beauty
A smart product with hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract moisturizes the skin well, while remaining invisible and imperceptible, prolongs the durability of makeup.
For aging skin
Ideally, the base should moisturize, soften, correct wrinkles and keep makeup until the evening so that it does not clog into folds and does not emphasize irregularities. Protective components are also welcome – antioxidants, SPF.
How to use colored makeup primers: application rules
Perhaps now you know everything about the base for makeup and can easily explain to a beginner beautyholic what a primer is, what it is for and how it works. It remains only to figure out how to use the primer depending on its color. After all, we found out that makeup bases can be not only transparent, white and solid, but also colored.
The function of such primers is to correct imperfections associated with skin color. Choosing the right shade is not difficult if you remember the following:
colorless (transparent) – evens out the skin relief without color correction;
green – perfectly neutralizes red shades, that is, suitable for skin prone to redness, for example, sensitive, thin, with a visible capillary network;
pink – corrects a dull, grayish complexion;
white – highlights blackouts and dips, for example, sunken cheeks, nasolabial folds;
yellow – used to neutralize blue, in particular, under the eyes;
blue, blue, lavender, purple – good for correcting yellow skin tone;
beige – evens out pale skin with a bluish undertone.
Now we will tell you how to apply any primer, regardless of its individual properties and effects:
use a moisturizer;
distribute a small amount of primer from the center of the face to the periphery with your fingers, sponge, brush or beauty blender;
wait until the primer is completely absorbed (this may take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the specific product);
apply foundation or powder.
Do you really know which toner is right for you?
Is it possible to replace the primer for the face with something?
By and large, no. As a more or less worthy alternative, only BB or CC cream can act.
What do they have in common with the primer:
light texture;
caring properties (matting, moisturizing);
toning (for BB cream);
color correction (for CC cream).
A few more tips:
If using BB cream instead of primer, apply it very thinly.
If you don’t have a primer, you can prepare your skin for makeup by focusing on moisturizing.
To even out the skin before makeup, apply serum with hyaluronic acid to the face still damp after tonic, seal it with a moisturizer, wait until it is absorbed and proceed to the make-up.
If the primer has shimmer particles and no silicone, mix it with foundation for an inner glow effect.