BY: KIZZY COURTNEY
Have you ever put on foundation and in an hours’ time your makeup feels and looks oily, your pores can be seen through your foundation or your makeup simply clings to your dryness or fine lines? The solution to your problems may be as simple as using a primer beforehand. Priming your skin is a necessary step to any makeup look and in my opinion should not be skipped. Not only does a primer make you appear more youthful but it also keeps your makeup looking fresh longer. Not to be confused with a moisturizer, which softens the skin. Primers prepares the skin for your favourite foundation, BB Cream or tinted moisturizer giving it something to adhere to and allows it to last throughout the day. Primers are easy to use and works with any skin type and skin colour, they’re no shades to choose from, so why not give it a try.
Using a makeup primer allows you to combat shine and create a smooth base for your foundation. It minimizes your pores by creating a smooth, velvety layer over your face which in turn allows your makeup to go on flawlessly. Primers evens out the skin by filling in fine lines and wrinkles giving you a more youthful appearance. Primers have different ingredients and textures that work with different skin types, so knowing if you have oily, dry, or normal skin is beneficial in choosing the right primer for you. Look for a mattifying primer if you have oily skin which helps reduce shine and soak up oil. A great inexpensive primer is the Sacha Cosmetics Mattifier Primer. This company is a black owned company that creates products that are “flash friendly” for a diverse skin tone. You can find this product on their website or amazon. For dry skin, try a gel-based primer that will help illuminate and won’t dry out the skin. The Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser is a great drugstore primer for dry skin. It is also amazing at minimizing pores. Another primer that gives life to your makeup and gives you a velvety smooth canvas to work with but doesn’t allow your makeup to last as long is the NYX Angel Veil Primer. The price is a little on the high side for a drugstore product but it’s worth it, this primer can also work for oily skin as well.
Applying a makeup primer is very simple and doesn’t take up much time, it usually goes on after moisturizing and before foundation. Always start with a clean freshly washed face, then decide which primer you will be using. With your fingertips (be sure that your hands are clean) take a pea sized amount and apply to the center of your face. With circular motions gently blend it outwards, working the product evenly into your skin making sure to blend it up to your hairline and down to your neck. After you’ve finished applying your primer make sure it dries completely before moving on to the next step. Now, simply apply your foundation or set primer with a translucent powder for a more natural look.
Primers are important and advisable before putting foundation directly onto your skin, that barrier is needed especially if you have acne prone/problematic skin. Experimentation is the best way to figure out which primer works best with your skin type. Just because it say ‘for dry skin’ or recommended ‘for oily skin’ doesn’t necessarily mean you will like it and it will become an instant favourite or holy-grail product, so have fun playing with your makeup. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t paint a room without priming the walls first, so why would you not prime your face? If you want smooth, flawless makeup that lasts all day, try this very simple solution and start with a primed face.
