We've all experienced it: You dedicate time and effort to creating a makeup look that makes you feel confident and attractive, only to witness its untimely demise after you push it to the limit. No matter how many makeup wipes, oil-blotting sheets, or powders you use in hopes of rescuing your makeup, there's always a chance it won't last. If these circumstances sound familiar, it might be time to invest in a product that can rescue your makeup before you even apply concealer or foundation. I'm talking about a face primer.
And who better to guide us on how to get the most out of a face primer than an industry expert? I asked KVD Beauty Global Veritas Artistry Ambassador and celebrity makeup artist Anthony Nguyen to share his tips and tricks for using face primers to create camera-ready makeup looks. Nguyen's work can be spotted on the stage and the red carpet as his clientele includes Rita Ora, Adele, Gwen Stefani, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Nas X. So break out your notebooks! It's time for a crash course on face primers.
The Benefits of Using a Face Primer
According to Nguyen, face primers allow for smoother makeup application and help promote the longevity of your makeup when applied correctly. Put simply, you should be applying your primer anywhere you notice your makeup shifting or sliding throughout a day's wear. "You can apply primer to certain areas of your face where the skin tends to be more oily, such as the T-zone, or you can apply it all over your face," explains Nguyen. Who wants to waste your favorite blushes, foundations, and concealers when you can trust they'll stay put with a little help from a great primer?
Face primer is truly the "glue" that holds your entire makeup look together and keeps you from having to reapply products, so knowing when to apply the primer can also affect the final result of your makeup look. Nguyen recommends using face primer only after you apply your favorite moisturizer—think of primer as the base on which you'll build the rest of your makeup on.
Applying the Product
Nguyen's top primer trick for application? Correctly identify what primer will best cater to your skin type. Depending on your skin type, a primer can help reduce or even erase dryness, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and other pesky imperfections that can alter the look of your complexion. Some primers can also help those with oily skin. Primer is truly a miracle product in that it not only helps create your makeup look but also helps ensure longer wear. As you try different primers, pay special attention to how your primer of choice responds to your makeup lineup. If it's pilling or clumping beneath your base, reconsider your application process (using your hands versus a brush) and the product's formula.
Primer can make a big difference in the final result—trust me. Ready to upgrade your makeup application game with Nguyen's help? Read on to discover his favorite primer, plus the ones Who What Wear beauty editors recommend. You'll want to get your hands on one before you reach for your makeup again.
Face Primers That Will Upgrade Your Makeup Game
This is the primer Nguyen swears by when working with his celebrity clientele. "It instantly maximizes the wear of your makeup and minimizes the look of your pores," he says. I love how ultra-hydrating this one is (it's gotten me through some dry winter days in the Pacific Northwest). Plus, it doesn't leave a white cast, so it looks great on all skin tones. This is one primer that truly does it all.
Anyone with dry skin will notice a difference in the appearance of their finished makeup after using a hydrating and brightening primer like this one from Kjaer Weis. With skin-loving ingredients like oat extract, plant-based squalane, and other certified organic products, you can count on it for supple and smooth skin that's primed for makeup application. I've used it for the past couple of years and have never experienced any piling underneath my other go-to base makeup products.
Every beauty editor I know can't seem to let go of Clinique's Even Better Light Reflecting Primer. Not only does this primer leave skin looking healthy and luminescent (thanks to 20 billion prismatic illuminators in every tube), but it's also lightweight and seamlessly sinks into the skin without any stickiness or flashback.
Beauty editors at Who What Wear have praised a lot of mineral-based products over the years, but this Hourglass primer may be at the top of our list. Its cream formula is oil-free, creating a smooth and even canvas for makeup while concealing redness, fine lines, wrinkles, and the appearance of pores. It even has broad spectrum SPF 15 protection.
If you know your skincare basics, you're probably aware of how beneficial collagen can be to your skin's overall appearance and health. Formulated with a cooling blend of cryo-extracted brown algae, Italian glacial water, and marine extracts, this Elemis primer promotes firmer skin for a hydrated, smooth canvas.
I will always be a fan of priming serums that bring radiance to my skin for seamless makeup application. This one takes it one step further with a formula that includes hibiscus, mastic, and beta-glucan to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It's also silicone-free and feels beyond breathable on the skin.
I've been using Smashbox's Photo Finish primer since I first began wearing makeup in middle school—although I was probably using it incorrectly back then. It's a vegan gel primer that instantly blurs and smooths away flaws while nourishing skin with vitamins A and E. Like many other primers on this list, it's very lightweight and soaks into skin instantly, filling in lines while making sure it stays protected.
Shiseido's Synchro Skin Soft Blurring Primer does just what you would expect it to do. It smooths and blurs skin for effortless makeup application using a transformative formula that includes cutting-edge light-diffusing technology for up to eight hours of hydration.
It's no secret that Who What Wear editors are big fans of Make Up for Ever products, including the Step 1 Prime Pore Minimizer. I've always had large pores, but I swear by this primer to help reduce their appearance. They also work wonders for disguising fine lines and giving skin a smooth and photo-ready blurred finish. Its key ingredient is ginseng, which protects the skin while promoting radiance.
I'll always go for a dewy-looking makeup look, and this illumination primer by Laura Mercier is my secret to pulling it off. It creates a flawless canvas for the rest of my makeup with an infusion of porcelain flower extract and a blend of micronized pearls for a healthy glow.
Lock in your base makeup with the help of this ultra-hydrating primer by SheGlam. Its new oil and silicone-free formula has a gel-texture that absorbs quickly while delivering hydration, moisture, and a smooth look. If you want your makeup to last for hours without reapplication, add this one to your routine ASAP.
Of all the primers mentioned, this one from Nars is my top choice for anyone with oily or combination skin. It prepares skin for makeup by controlling and mattifying shine to prolong your makeup's wear time. I like to wear the Soft Matte Face Primer alone for a smooth, soft-matte finish.
This wouldn't be a Who What Wear makeup article without at least one mention of a holy-grail Tatcha product. This weightless liquid primer prepares skin for easy makeup application while protecting it from pollutants. The "silk" in the product name refers to the formula's main ingredients—fibroin, sericin, and silk powder—which help diminish the appearance of imperfections.
This primer by Peter Thomas Roth instantly tightens, firms, and smooths the skin for flawless makeup application and prolonged wear. It has long-term anti-aging benefits and a sheer, tone-adjusting formula that won't leave you with a white sheen. Worn alone or under makeup, this primer is one to add to your everyday makeup routine if you want your look to last.
Rounding off my list is the Pore Diffusing Primer by Rare Beauty. I'm in love with its unique formula. It's a hydrating gel that blurs the look of pores and fine lines and extends makeup wear. It also does a great job combating shine, making it another A+ choice for anyone with oily skin.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.