The what and why of make-up primer

Primer is one of those products.  Isn’t it enough to just apply moisturiser before foundation?  The short answer is not if you want your make-up to last for the whole day or for a big event.  

The face is not a perfectly smooth base or canvas.   There can be bumps or lines or enlarged pores which need smoothing and filling.  In essence it is similiar to painting a wall, you wouldn’t just go straight in and paint the bare wood, you would apply a base coat to prep the wall.   A lot of primers contain silicon which gives make-up something to cling to and also provides a silky feel.  

Primers smooth out the skin, fill in pores, prevents streaking in foundation and work as a barrier between your skin and your make-up to prevent it from slipping and sliding or sinking into the skin.  

Like many products, different primers do different things:  some contain SPFs, some are mineralised, some combat oiliness, some are designed for dry skin.  Some are corrective and work as a camouflage and concealer to cover up scars and blemishes, whilst others are oil-free which are best for acne-prone skin or skin which is easily irritated.  

The Benefit Porefessional, £23.50, is a silky, lightweight, oil-free balm which minimises the appearance of pores and contains vitamin E to protect skin from free radicals which contains a slight tint and is suitable for combination skin.

Clinique’s Redness solutions daily protective base, £16, is an oil-free primer containing SPF 15 for UVA and UVB protection and has a sheer green tint to correct redness and even out skin tone.

Nars Pore Refining Primer, £24, is a mineral based, gel formula designed to refine pores and mattify skin, control shine over the t-zone.  It can be used as a base or used on its own.

No7 Airbrush away primer, £19.50, evens skin tone, smooths fine lines, wrinkles and lasts up to eight hours.

Smashbox photo finish primer, £25, is 60% water based and is ideal for oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin.