We’ve all experienced it: dedicating time and effort to creating a makeup look you feel the the most confident and attractive in, just to witness it’s untimely demise after pushing it to the limit. No matter how many makeup wipes, oil blotting sheets, or powders you use in rotation in hopes of rescuing your makeup, there’s always a chance that it won’t last. If these circumstances sound familiar, it may be time to invest in the one product that could completely rescue your makeup before you apply any concealer or foundation: a face primer.
Who better to receive guidance from on how to get the most out of a face primer than from a makeup industry expert? I reached out to KVD Beauty Global Veritas Artistry Ambassador and celeb makeup artist Anthony Nguyen to share his go-to tips and tricks on using face primers to create gush worthy camera-ready makeup looks. Nguyen’s work can be spotted from the stage to red carpet on clientele including the likes of songbirds Rita Ora, Adele, Gwen Stefani, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Nas X. Break out your note pads, ladies and gents! It’s time for a Who What Wear makeup crash course on face primer with yours truly.
According to Nguyen, face primers when applied correctly, can allow for smoother application as well as promote the longevity of your makeup.”You can apply primer at certain areas of your face with concerns such as the T-Zone where it tends to be more oily, or you can apply all over your face,” explains Nguyen. When it comes to determining when to use primer during your skincare and makeup routine, the answer is simple: your face primer of choice should be applied following your favorite moisturizer (think of primer as the base to build the rest of your makeup look on).
Nguyen’s top primer trick? Correctly identifying the primer that best caters to your skin type. Depending on your skin type, a primer can aid with curbing, or even completely erasing, the appearance of dryness, oily skin, discoloration, and hyperpigmentation among other imperfections. It’s truly the miracle product that not only helps create your makeup look, but ensures a longer wear. Believe us, it can make a huge difference in the end result! Ready to upgrade your makeup application game with Nguyen’s help? Read on to discover his favorite primer product and more Who What Wear beauty editor approved recommendations you’ll want to get your hands on before reaching for your makeup brush again.
First up, the primer Nguyen absolutely swears by this primer by KVD beauty while working with his celeb clientele. “It instantly maximizes the wear of your makeup and minimizes the look of your pores,” says Nguyen. It’s also ultra-hydrating and, because it doesn’t leave a white cast, looks great on all skin tones. This is one primer that truly does it all.
Anyone with dry skin will definitely notice a difference in the appearance of their finished makeup look after using a hydrating and brightening primer like this one from Kjaer Weis. Imbued 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 makeup application ready.
Ever beauty editor I know has gotten their hands on Clinique’s Even Better Light Reflecting Primer and can’t seem to let go of it. Not only does it leave the skin looking healthy and luminescent (thanks to 20 billion prismatic illuminators in every tube), but it’s also extremely lightweight and skins seamlessly into the skin without any stickiness or flashback.
We’ve raised a lot of mineral-based products in the past that we’re obsessed with but this primer, by Hourglass, may be at the top of our list. Its cream formula is oil-free, creating a smooth and even canvas for makeup while concealing any redness, the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. It even has broad spectrum SPF 15 protection.
If you know your skincare basics, then 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 the appearance of firmer skin for a hydrated, smooth canvas.
I will always be a fan of priming serums that bring on the radiance for my skin for seamless makeup application. This one takes it one step further with a formula that includes beta glucan (to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles), hibiscus, and mastic while also being completely clean, silicone-free, and beyond breathable.
I’ve been using Smashbox’s Photo Finish primer since I first began wearing makeup in middle school (albeit, probably incorrectly). It’s a vegan primer gel that instantly blurs and smooths the pesky flaws on your skin while also nourishing it with vitamins A and E. Like many of the other primers on this list, it’s also very lightweight and soaks into the skin instantly, filling in lines while making sure it stays protected.
The amazing qualities of this primer is all in its name. Shiseido’s Synchro Skin Soft Blurring Primer does just what you would expect, smoothing and blurring the skin for smooth and effortless makeup application with 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 huge fans of Make Up for Ever products; including their Step 1 Prime Pore Minimizer to solve all our makeup woes. Use this primer to reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines for a smooth texture and photo ready blurred finish. Its key ingredient, ginseng, protects the skin while promoting its radiance.
Of all the primers mentioned so far, the Pore & Shine Control Primer from Nars is my top choice for anyone with oily and combo skin types. It prepares the skin for application by controlling and mattifying shine in order to prolong your makeup’s wear time. To minimize the look of pores and absorb shine, its formula uses African whitewood, oleanolic, and peptides.
This wouldn’t be a Who What Wear makeup or skincare article without at least one mention of a holy grail Tatcha product. It’s a weightless liquid primer that prepares the skin for easy makeup application while also protecting it from pollutants. The ‘silk’ included in the product name refers to the formula’s main ingredients to diminish imperfections: fibroin, sericin, and silk powder.
This primer by Peter Thomas Roth instantly tightens, firms, and smooths the skin for flawless makeup application and prolonged wear using a sheer, tone-adjusting formula (meaning no white sheen), and long-term, anti-aging benefits. Worn alone or under makeup, this primer is definitely 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 obsessed with its unique formula: a hydrating, cushiony gel that keeps the skin hydrated while blurring the look of pores and fine lines and extending makeup wear. It also does a great job of combating shine (another A+ choice for anyone with oily skin).
