How to Use the Best Makeup Primer For Your Skin
You’ve probably heard multiple beauty gurus on YouTube talk about how a great base is the key to a great makeup look. Or maybe you saw Rihanna’s 10-Minute Everyday Makeup Look on Vogue. While all the greats recommend using primer as step 1 in your makeup, we think it’s safe to say that it still remains one of the more mysterious and puzzling base makeup products in the market. The question “how to use primer?” doesn’t have to be confusing!
You’d think you may be doing everything right, with your strict skincare regimen. Your skin (if you’re lucky!) may look crystal clear and poreless without makeup. But as soon as you put your foundation on, pores the size of the Moon start appearing on your face? This happens because you’re probably skipping one of the most crucial steps in any beauty regime – Face Primer.
These silky, soft creams and gels are meant to be applied underneath your makeup to guarantee perfect foundation application by filling in fine lines and smoothing out uneven skin texture. Plus, they also keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the day and makes it last longer. Primer is basically magic in a bottle. It’s the kind of insurance you didn’t know you needed.
How To Use Primer in Two Easy Steps
Now that you’re all caught up with what primer is, after following this easy two-step guide on how to use primer, you’re on your way to becoming a makeup pro!
Step 1: Get Your Skin Ready
This step is crucial if you want your makeup to look flawless. Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, exfoliate and apply a lightweight moisturizer before anything else. Let it sink into your skin.
Step 2: Set, and Go!
Squeeze a pea-size amount on your hand. With clean fingers, lightly spread the primer on areas where you have pores using gentle, tapping motions. This could be your nose, your forehead, upper cheeks. Everyone has different skin problems, but primer fixes them all!
How To Choose The Best Primer For Your Skin Type?
While the functions of all makeup primers are the same – to smoothen out the pores and make your makeup last longer, the chemistry of your skin type with the kind of primer you use can sometimes cause something close to a disaster, if something goes wrong.
Don’t worry, this isn’t as complicated as it sounds. It’s important to understand we’re all different people with different skin types (united by our love for makeup, we stand together!). Some of us need more hydration while some need extra mattifying. Some of us need a gentle formula, whereas some don’t need to worry about minimizing their pores.
Choosing Primers for Oily, Dry, and Combination Skin:
In the same way, with the different formulations, every primer is unique in their own way. You see, the same primer doesn’t feel and look the same way on every skin type.
The Best Primers for Dry Skin:
If your pores refuse to produce oil (and you have dry skin), choose a hydrating or illuminating primer. This will make your skin supple and bouncy. It’ll also give you a “glow from within” kinda look. This Lotus Proedit Silk Luminizing Primer makes your skin look plump and keeps it hydrated throughout the day!
The Best Primers for Oily Skin
And bang opposite to hydrating primers, people with oily skin need mattifying primers. You need to eliminate all that extra shine-bordering-on-grease look on your face. With the mattifying effect of the primer, you’ll never have to worry about your makeup not staying on long again.
The Best Primers for Combination Skin
This is a tough one, if you’ve been dealing with combination skin all your life, we salute you. Not only do you need a product that curbs the excess oil, but you also need one that can moisturize the other parts of your face. You can opt for a neutral formula. This way, you’ll neither be too matte, nor too shiny. One of the best neutral formulas in the market is that of Lakme face primer. Lake Absolute Blur primer blurs your pores like nothing else to give you that baby-smooth look.
What? There are Different Types Of Primers?
That’s right! Not just for different types, but some primers are created to serve different purposes too, Here’s a handy guide to the different types of primers available:
1) Tinted Primer
If you’re not a full-coverage queen and foundation just doesn’t go with your vibe, you can try a tinted primer! It’ll not only give you a smooth, poreless look but will cover up any marks that you may have thanks to the slight tint! We love this E.L.F Cosmetics Studio Illuminating Face Primer. It gives a flawless base to your makeup while brightening with a perfect pink tint!
2) Colour Correcting Primer
If you struggle with dark spots, it’s time to meet your new best friend. This two-in-one solution not only fulfils your priming needs but corrects any visible mistakes you may think you have on your face! Check out this L A Girl Prop Prep Colour Correcting Primer range. It’ll save your time and money!
3) Pore Minimizing Primers
These primers are specially curated for people with overtly visible skin issues. They act like an eraser for your pores. Speaking of erasers, this Maybelline primer might be the perfect match for you if you’re looking to cover the texture on your face.
Common Primer Mistakes To Avoid
Once you stop doing the following things, you’ll get one step closer to that near perfect looking skin everyone longs for! Some most common primer mistakes that you’re probably making without realising are:
1. Applying your foundation immediately after applying your primer.
All good things take time. This saying is famous for a reason – it’s true! The primer needs a few minutes to settle onto your skin and create that smooth base for other products to glide on. Always remember, patience is key!
2. Applying too little or too much.
Jenna Marbles made the “too much gene” famous, while she uses it in the “all fun and games” context, it’s important to recognize your over-generosity and stop. What’s the harm in using too much, you ask? Well, your makeup will slide around instead of staying put on your skin. Therefore, use just a pea-sized blob for your entire face to ensure a flawless makeup application.
3. Not priming your eyelids
Who knew eyelids could get oily, right? That’s just how life is. As much as your oily nose, your lids need primer too! Otherwise all your eyeshadow is going to slide right off. Give your lids some lovin’ and prime them before doing that cut crease!
Best Makeup Primers in India
| Top 5 Makeup Primers in India | Best Features | Suitable For |
| Lakme Absolute Blur Perfecting Primer | Mattifies the skin.Blurs pores and fine lines. Leaves a smooth and silky texture. | Oily to Normal Skin |
| Blue Haven Studio Perfection Primer | Gives the skin a luminous finish. It is very affordable. This primer is non-tinted. | Dry skin |
| Insight vov Primer | Lasts very longPrimes, protects and moisturizes your skin | Dry skin |
| Lotus Makeup Ecostay Insta Smooth Perfecting Primer | The vitamin E content that it has will keep your skin healthy and moisturized resulting in younger-looking skin.It has an oil-free formula that will keep you safe from accumulating acne.You will not feel any weight at all while wearing this face primer because it is weightless. | Oily and sensitive skin |
| Colorbar New Perfect Match Primer | Paraben-free.Easy to apply. | Normal and combination skin. |
Now that you’re informed about the wonderful thing that is primer, we’re sure you’re never going to skip this step in your makeup routine. You can thank us later.
