With the current heatwave-y weather I’ve been tuned into holiday mode makeup-wise which means more than my usual quota of no makeup days or a small dose of mascara, bronzer and fingertip-applied foundation if I need to make myself look half presentable. And though primer is a step I always forget I’ve been adding it to my routine in a desperate attempt to coax my base into staying in place despite the optimal makeup melting conditions. And you know what? It’s been working. Here’s my primer posse that do what they say on the tube…
For an extra glow – Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer – £28 – Space NK. Now ‘glow’ is something my glands like to produce by the bucketload on schwetty days, so I’ve been layering this on when I’m out and about in the evenings where I still want things to adhere but with a more dewy finish. My base doesn’t budge and the need for highlighter is negated.
For a base that won’t move – Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer – £20 – Space NK. In terms of your standard longevity increasing primer requirements, nothing beats this. A thin application pre-foundation keeps everything in place until the makeup remover comes out at bedtime. No overly siliconey texture, no white-cast, no drying finish. It’s pretty much perfect, and lets just forget the price of the full-size yeah?
For a colour corrected lid – Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden – £15 – Beauty Bay. I was a Primer Potion gal, before I discovered the product mentioned below, and though I’ve moved on to more adhering pastures, the version in Eden still gets dreged up every now and again. The same, original formula but with a yellow tint – any redness in the lid is blended away with the tiniest amounts of this. Particularly good sported on its own for days after a good ol’ crying sesh.
For heavy hold eye makeup – NARS Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base – £19 – Space NK. My favourite eye primer, hands down. My lids have a habit of getting so oily you could fry a tiny egg on them, but with this on no oil peeks through and by evening any eye makeup which I’ve haphazardly thrown on is exactly where I cack-handedly applied it. And thumbs up for the doe foot packaging. No mess, no fuss.
For under eyes? Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer* – £21 – Boots. Now it’s early days with this one, so I don’t want to get all ravey just yet but this is a nifty little release from the undisputed Queens of primers. One quick slick of this under the eyes brightens and provides a hydrated base for any concealer you wish to throw on – paired with my Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, it makes it that little bit creamier – we may be onto a winning duo there.
For 3-in-1 – Laura Geller Spackle Trio* – £26 – Cult Beauty. If you’re a primer newbie then this face, lip, eye starter set freshly imported from US shores may be a good place to start. The face formula reminds me a little of the original Smashbox one, the eye offering is a bit like Urban Decay’s Primer Potion but in cream-form and the lip primer – well I’ve never tried one before this – is a like concealer for your lips, a perfect pairing for a punchy pout.
*PR Sample
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