Best Makeup Primers

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with primers for many years now and I know I’m not the only one.  If I had to guess I would say that most women don’t use a primer.  Many don’t see the point.  For a long time, I didn’t see the point either.  It’s an added expense, it adds time to your makeup routine and whether it is effective or not is often debatable.  After trying many different brands catering for different purposes or needs for priming, I feel that I have finally sussed out the priming market.  Today I wanted to share what I feel are the very best makeup primers.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

This is single-handedly my favourite primer of all time.  It may even be my favourite beauty product of 2015 (last mentioned here).  Once I done my skin care routine in the morning I let my moisturiser sink in a little and then I’ll press in a R1 coin sized squeeze of the balm into my skin.  The trick with this product is to press it into the skin and not to rub it in.  Instantly you will notice that it makes your skin look so well hydrated and nourished that it looks as though you’ve had an extra 8 hours sleep (which I wish was true).  I love the healthy effect that it gives to my skin!  The glow is due to the wonderful natural ingredients in this product.  It has no harsh chemicals or perfumes in it that will irritate or dry your skin at all.  After I have applied this balm to my skin I apply my foundation and it is at this point in my makeup application that I see the true benefit of the balm as a primer.  My foundation glides on a lot smoother and I am able to blend it a lot easier too.  The balm acts as a smooth surface above my skin and as such, I notice that it doesn’t sit in my pores or dry patches of skin.  It gives my foundation a flawless finish.  It also adds a couple hours to the longevity of my foundation too.  This product is well worth trying.  It was a little bit pricey but I’m hooked!

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

My sister gave me this product to try after she had been testing it out herself.  After seeing so much hype about the product on YouTube, naturally, I was curious to give it a try.  I generally apply this over the Beauty Flash Balm (it’s completely unnecessary to apply two primers but I love the result) and only on areas where I want extra smoothness or cover my pores.  It has a silicone texture and feels so smoothing.  I find this product to be so similar to the Benefit Porefessional and at half the price which is always a win.

Bobbi Brown CC Cream SPF 35*

While this is not technically a primer, the Bobbi Brown makeup artists have explained that this Colour Correcting cream can indeed be used as a primer.  Practically this is the only way I would use the product.  I use this product to correct any redness that I have in my skin, applying it only to the areas where it is needed before I go in and apply foundation and it works wonderfully that way.  I also love the fact that it is moisturising and has such a high SPF.  If you learn one thing from me, let it be this: sun protection is everything.  A great quality makeup product with a high sun protection factor that corrects skin colour and primes skin for foundation?  It’s almost too good to be true but Bobbi Brown has created this dream of a makeup product that successfully does everything that it set out to do.

Almay Smart Shade Perfect and Correct Primer*

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, colour correcting primer – look no further.  Almay has designed a two-toned primer that neutralises redness in the skin and evens out skin tone.  It smooths out the skin and gives it a great dose of hydration.  It has such a lovely, light-weight formula that leaves no oily residue on my skin which I love.  The two-toned primer is designed to defuse any skin imperfections and I think it does a wonderful job.

Of all the primers I have ever tried, these four primers are, in my opinion, the very best makeup primers out there on the market.  I hope this post helps you in your discovery of a primer worth investing in.  I have no doubt that if you use any of these products you will see a difference in the appearance of your skin and also in the longevity of your makeup.  If used consistently you will also notice that your skin prefers the use of a primer as it acts as a protective barrier between your pores and your makeup.  Cleaner, less clogged pores means healthier skin and a smoother canvas for your makeup.  I have to say, I’ve officially moved over to the side of pro-primer in the beauty world after having discovered these four gems.

*PR Samples.