Before you scroll on, know this, a skin primer not only locks your foundation or SPF in place, but it can also smooth the look of your skin and reduce redness and shine while blurring fine lines. The glory that is a primer will improve any base routine, says editor Trudi Brewer.
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Pore perfecting with skincare benefits
NEW Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting Primer Antioxidant Blend, $66.
Not only is this silky-smooth, but it’s a matte primer that works to blur the look of open pores, while the colourless finish means it works on any skin ethnicity. It also boasts skincare benefits with the blend of botanical extracts from broccoli, aloe, and citrus, to give your complexion an antioxidant boost. At the same time, ‘locking polymer technology’ and light-diffusing powders help your foundation stay in place for hours - it’s brilliant.
Skin Illuminating
Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, $87.
British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury thought of every woman when she created this glow-giver. You can use it as a primer under your foundation or mix it with your makeup to create a sheer luminous coverage. It also contains serious skincare ingredients, including a bio-nymph peptide, rosehip, and camellia oils to nourish and plump skin. Wild pansy extracts smooth those fine lines, and hyaluronic acid keeps your skin hydrated for hours.
We panic when this primer is out of stock (which happens regularly) because it’s more than a complexion-perfector.
Mattifying
Trinny London Face Finish Mattifying Balm, $54.
In the same way, the famous Miracle Blur Lip + Line Filler wipes out the look of fine lines and fatigue; this balm-like primer removes annoying shine without leaving the skin looking powdered and flat. Simply tap it on the skin where you need it most and apply foundation- it’s genius.
Hydrating and long-lasting
MAC Studio Radiance Moisturising & Illuminating Silky Primer, $68.
We thought we would never use another MAC primer after Strobe Cream. However, this hydrating, radiance-maker has a clever ‘moisture-reserve technology’ with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, olive, jojoba oils and vitamin E to nourish and give your foundation longevity - we’re hooked.
Blurs imperfections
Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer, $105.
Most makeup artists are never without this silky skin primer. Ideal for all skin types, a small scoop can be used on the eyelids, lips, or face to minimise shine and blur imperfections and fine lines. It also has skincare benefits, including pollution-fighting natural actives plus the brand’s signature Hadasei-3, a complex of youth-boosting ingredients to help create soft and radiant-looking skin while you wear it. Simply scoop out enough to press into the skin and then apply foundation.
Redness reducing
Nude by Nature PERFECTING PRIMER - CORRECT & EVEN, $42.
Skin redness is one of the main reasons people seek a correcting primer. But gone are the days when your skin needs to be sporting a green Shriek-like halo to counteract the high colour. This 100 per cent natural option neutralises redness and dark spots with a velvet-like formula enriched with active natural ingredients, including Australian Kakadu Plum and Lilly Pilly, olive oil and vitamin E to calm and soothe that redness. As well as a satin-matte finish ready for any foundation application.
We ask the experts.