TOP TIPS: Primers

Primers are really the most vital step to your makeup routine. Get your base right and the rest will follow! 

Before every make up application you always require a "clean slate" therefore you should always cleanse and moisturise your face as this will make your make up look 10 times better than if you had to put it on without having a clean face. But the next step that many people tend to always forget is applying a primer in order to prepare the face for makeup. 

Read on further for a quick and easy guide to not only what a primer does for your skin but learn about how best to apply it and also what products we recommend you try!

A primer’s job is to help make your makeup glide onto the skin smoother! A primer usually contains certain ingredients such as wax or silicone which bonds with the other ingredients found in your foundation, blusher etc. causing them to stay put longer than before.

Choose from transparent primers or even tinted primers to match your skin tone which can be used on their own without the need to apply foundation over them.
The three key primers are:

1. Face Primers- smooth the fine lines on parts of the face
2. Lip Primers-   help your lipstick appear fresher and to stay put on longer without bleeding
3. Eye Primers-  helps your eye shadow to stay put and not crease

Face Primers

• Per-fekt Skin Perfection Gel (£49.50 House of Fraser)

A gel-like mousse formula from Hollywood famous for being used by the likes of Rihanna. It gives a velvety- matte finish to the skin thanks to the subtle colour pigments contained inside.

• (FAB) First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum (£20 Boots)

Say good-bye to those blotchy red skin with this serum designed to calm the skin and define an even skintone. It is packed with caffinne which shrinks blood vessals hidden under the skin, whilst calming with soothing aloe and anti-inflamatory ginger.

• Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer   (£11.99 Boots)

Minimises imperfections making it a perfect base before foundation application. It helps to soften lines creating a flawless airbrushed finish to your skin.

• Rimmel London Fix& Perfect Primer  (£4.99 Boots)

Helps to balance out the skin ready for your makeup. Apply over your moisturiser and provides a staying power for your foundation.

Lip Primers

• M.A.C Prep + Prime Lip (£12 Debenhams)

A colour-free primer designed for your lips to wear under your lipstick. Use this to help smooth and refine your lips. It glides on smoothly leaving your lips feel silky even before you apply your colour. Lipsticks and lip glosses last longer throughout the day and colour remains truer. 

• Benefit Lip Plump (£14.50 FeelUnique)

A lip primer for "full and sexy lips". It's neutral-toned so looks natural under all colours, providing a surface base for lipstick to stick to. Due to the colour it helps to even out your lip tone. It helps smoothes and fill in fine lines and builds up the contours of your lips thus making them appear fuller and younger.



Eye Primers

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion  (£14.50 House of Fraser)

Ensures your eyeshadow lasts all day with no smudges or creases. With a needle-nose tip you control exactly how much you want to use and apply to your lid.
Take your pick from the different colours!
Choose from Original, Eden, Greed or Sin.

• Nars Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (£18 Nars)

Starts off as a white cream which dries within seconds. No smudging, creasing or caking. This is fragrance-free with no smell. Ensures a grip on eyeshadow colour for hours.