“Not to prime is a crime,” says foremost makeup artist Napoleon Perdis, prompting us at SPICE to look for ten of the best primers out there.
Since face primers are said to be key to the overall look and finish of our makeup – with top primers doing a multitude of things, including holding back grease, reducing the appearance of pores and, in some cases, evening out skin tone – this product is a makeup bag must-have and the best canvas smoothing base to apply your makeup onto.
We’ve done our research so you don’t have to. Here are our top ten face primers;
1. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Oil Free, $32
Perfect for acne-prone skin, Laura Mercier’s oil-free must-have has long been the standby solution for oil slicks and makeup meltdowns.
2. Chanel Le Blanc De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base, $45
While it is a little pricey, this product adds a spark to your regular makeup routine, applies well and is worth every penny.
3. Laura Mercier Mineral Primer, $32
Lightweight and translucent, this primer in powder form glides on easily before foundation application. This primer is also known to give a beautiful, soft focus and poreless finish.
4. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15, $52
Great for outdoor makeup due to its waterproof formulation, a little goes a long way with this velvet-textured primer so you’d be wise to invest in it.
5. MAC Prep + Primer Beauty Balm SPF 35, $30
A fantastic option for the open air, MAC’s Prep + Prime tinted primer makes a solid mattifier for oily skin.
6. Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer, $38
This product helps to conceal pores and gives a really nice, smooth finish. As well as being oil-free, Smashbox’s Photo Finish is also popular because of its age fighting antioxidants.
7. Too Faced Primed & Poreless, $30
Too Faced’s primer leaves skin silky soft and minimises the appearance of pores. Its non-greasy formula also ensures all-day wear with any silicone-based foundation applied on top.
8. Benefit The POREfressional Face Primer, $35
Suitable for any skin type, slightly pigmented and very smooth, this primer helps fill in large pores, keeping foundation from settling into them. Only draw back is a slight and unusual scent…
9. MAC Mattifying Gel, $19
This gel primer stays put and is great for people with oily or combination skin. It glides on smooth and dries to a matte finish which helps to reduce and control the amount of oil on the face.
10. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer – Original, $36
Basically odourless and colourless, this silicone primer from Smashbox is designed for use with a foundation specifically. It goes onto skin easily, blends into a nice consistency, is super light-weight and has a smooth and silky finish. Try it today.
Image source: Totalbeauty.com, Makeupgeek.com, Beautylish.com, Smartcookiesdontcrumble.com
