Off the back of my ‘Which Foundation?’ feature I got a request for a similar spotlight to be shone on primers from one plucky reader, so your wish is my command and today I’ve gathered the best of my long-lasting, pore-erasing, dew-imparting, practically makeup magic in a bottle bunch that keep things in place all day (when I remember to apply it *shhhhhh*)…
The Glow Giver – BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl. Hello dewy skin. When lacklustre rears its ugly head, this gets dusted off and slapped on. It skips the glitter and shimmer and heads right to glow – a peachy sheen if you will, that catches the light in movement. I tend to use this over classically highlighted areas and then blend my foundation over the top for a finish that means I can skip any powdered lighting, but drier gals may wish to apply all over to ramp things up. The best bit with this, aside from the fact that I think it’s impossible to ever use the whole tube completely up, is that it can be topped up during the day, used as a highlight alone, mixed with your base, applied to limbs, lids – the list is endless.
The Budget Option – Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer. When I snapped a picture of this on my Instagram last week the reviews came in thick and fast on this formula and the conclusions were mixed. I personally find this to be the most mattifying of the bunch and a bit Benefit POREfessional-like in its behaviour; filling out pores and keeping my oil levels in check. It’s silicone-heavy, so can make things a bit slippy, but on oilier days it sets my base into place and helps things stick around for a few hours longer. And it’s a bargain.
The Two-in-One – Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Protect SPF 30. If you’re a bit stuck on where to start with primers, then Laura Mercier’s got you covered. I’ve become rather fond of her latest release which combos up her classic foundation primer formulation with UVA and UVB protection. Though I wouldn’t crack this out under the intense rays of the sun – I like to whip out a dedicated SPF for that – but in the dimmer winter weather it’s a good choice that provides protection, hydration and a hardy foundation for your chosen coverage of choice.
The All-Rounder – Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. When I need my makeup to stick for 12 hours plus, there’s nothing else that I bother to reach for, this is the one. There’s no funny feels to this one, it just leaves the skin feeling satin-like and smooth and whatever foundation I pair it with it just seems to eek out the wear for so darn long. A formula that will satisfy all sorts of skin types, if longevity is your concern then look no further; makeup glue this one.
The Freshen Upper – CHANEL Le Blanc de CHANEL. A more recent addition to the ranks but it’s the one that’s got me the closest to being an everyday primer wearer. Not strictly part of the primer posse this is offered up as an illuminator designed to be applied pre-base or mixed in with your coverage for lightening and dewifying things up. There’s no tack or heaviness to this formula; once smoothed onto skin it just forces anything thrown over the top to look fresher, healthier and it does it all without a fleck of shimmer in tow. I’d prescribe this for all skin types on days when you’ve has less hours sleep than I have primers. Juicy looking skin be mine.
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