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Summer is finallllllllly here in the UK….yay!! I have oily skin, so during summer months my face used to look like an oily slick and my makeup would literally melt off my face. But thankfully I learnt that it’s all about the base, and by that, I mean a good makeup primer that is suited to your skin type. Primers create a barrier between your skin and your makeup which makes it last longer; they also can correct a number of skin issues like fine lines, large pores, dryness, and excessive oil production. Over the years I’ve used many primers on myself and on clients, so I wanted to share with you the ones that have worked for dry, combination/normal, and oily skin types. I encourage you to experiment with primers to find the right one for you and for your foundation, because sometimes it takes trial and error before you find the winning combination. I often use 2 different primers on my face – one to control oil on my t-zone and another one for my drier areas – so you can mix and match them depending on your needs.
By the way, I did use photos from the internet for this post; I usually like to take my own photos but I didn’t have all the primers at home, hence why I had to rely on internet images. Also, I’ve included a shopping link for each primer, so click on the title and you will be redirected. So, let’s explore the best makeup primer for your skin type:
Dry Skin
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Nourishing Moisturiser
£13 for 30 mls
This product is highly recommended by makeup artists because it truly works! It’s fantastic for moisturising dehydrated, flaky skin and it doubles as a primer, so it’s actually 2 products in 1. I even use it as a night cream when my skin feels a bit dry. I love the way foundation glides effortlessly over this moisturiser; it just makes skin look so plump & juicy! Be warned though, a little of this product goes a long way, but in my opinion that’s a good thing.
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The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer
£3.90 for 30 mls
If you haven’t heard of The Ordinary skin care brand, then consider this is your miracle for the day! The Ordinary creates amazing skin care products, that actually work, at budget prices. They have truly revolutionised the skincare industry, and when there is usually a queue a few metres long just to enter their store at Covent Garden, you know that this brand has done something special. The silicones in this primer hydrate but also mattify skin which is great for when you want moisturised skin but you don’t want to look overly dewy. At £3.90 it’s a ridiculously good bargain!
Normal/Combination Skin
BareMinerals Prime Time Original Foundation Primer
£26 for 30 mls
I love the light, silky texture of this primer! It seems to just glide effortlessly across the surface of skin. It moisturises but also controls excess oil production which is perfect for combination skin. Although I have oily skin, I can get away with using this primer by pressing a layer of translucent powder over it before applying my foundation, and it gives my foundation a beautiful finish.
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Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing Primer
£25.50 for 30 mls
I can confirm that this primer definitely has a smoothing effect. It fills in pores and blurs fine lines, which helps to create a great canvas for applying makeup. I find that people with normal skin do well with this primer because it’s not drying or overly hydrating. I like to apply it just under my eyes before applying concealer because this area tends to get a bit dry.
Oily Skin
Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector
£28 for 40 mls
This is an amazing heavy-duty primer for very oily skin. I pretty much use it daily in summer months and it helps my makeup to last all day. It does make my skin feel a bit taught when I first apply it, but this feeling quickly fades after I apply foundation. I like that it is silicone and oil free which is the perfect combination for oily skin.
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NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Matte Primer
£15 for 25 mls
I bought this primer a month ago because the Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector was out of stock (I will confess that I had a brief meltdown before I calmed down and decided to buy this primer by NYX). I was SO surprised to discover that it’s just as good as the Becca Ever-Matte Primer!!!!! It truly controls my oily skin and extends the wear of my foundation. It is a thick formula and it does leave a white cast on my dark skin, but once my foundation is applied you don’t notice it. I think this is a fantastic product and well worth the price. Thank you NYX for coming to the rescue!
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These primers are tried, tested and true. So, if you have never used a primer I encourage you to try one. Trust me, it will raise your makeup game to the next level. Do let me know in the comments section below what primers you have tried, because I’m always keen to enlarge my makeup collection. xx
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