Choosing the Best Facial Primer For Your Skin Type
Some cosmetic junkies wouldn’t consider makeup application without proper prepping and priming first. Facial Primer for me hasn’t always been an essential part of my regime however it is an important makeup application step since it can prolong the freshness of your foundation, fill in fine lines and pores, and just allow your overall makeup to last longer as it creates a solid base between your foundation and your face.
Choosing the best facial primer for your skin type can be a little confusing so it’s best to understand your skin type prior to choosing the proper primer for it.
Jump ahead for a brief guide to facial primers.
- Normal Skin
I haven’t personally ever met a person with normal skin (I suspect it’s an urban legend) and if you happen to have some, lucky freaking you! We are all jealous!
If your skin is normal it will feel supple, look vibrant, and lacks traces of oil or dry patches. Normal skin types have the least amount of woe and problems.
If you have normal skin chances are you probably aren’t feeling the need for a primer at all but it will aid in making your skin look its best, easing the way for your foundation, plus allowing your make up to wear long and strong.
Look for a primer that has a light, creamy formula sans silicones. If you have normal skin chances are you have smaller pores and less likely to have fine lines if you’re younger or even older which means you can easily leave behind silicone or thicker primers to fill these imperfections.
- Facial Primers for Normal Skin
Benefit “That Gal” Brightening Face Primer isn’t a fav of mine however normal skin types will see the advantage as it preps well, has a light, creamy formula, and will even brighten skin a little bit while creating a good working canvas for makeup.
Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow is another great option for normal skin types as it’s silicone-free as well and has a slight illuminating finish with a creamy, light formula to make skin glow.
Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer is another great option as it comes in a variety of shades plus is quite suitable for normal skin since it’s formulated sans oil plus has a light, quick absorbing formula.
- Dry Skin
If your skin is dry your face will feel tight perhaps itchy. You’ll also experience flaky and dry patches. Dry skin types have smaller, finer pores and have a tendency to age quicker. Dullness and a swallow tone is common for those with drier skin.
If you have dry skin it’s essential you skip silicone primers in my humble opinion as they are simply going to pill on your face (roll off in tiny balls). Go for a silicone-free formula with a highly moisturizing formula.
- Facial Primers for Dry Skin
Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-Reversing Primer and Korres Face Primer are moisturizing primers that sooth dry skin while creating a dewy base for foundation. The age reversing formula is a particular great option since it’s a powerful treatment to improve skin texture as it primes.
Although not a primer in the traditional sense Make Up For Ever HD Elixir is an ideal solution for prepping dry skin for makeup, particularly powders or minerals. This lightweight serum eases flaky, dry skin with a single application.
Shills Perfect Brightening Primer is another favorite for dry skin as it’s a rich creamy base that truly prolongs your makeup wear. This creates a solid base for makeup and wears long all day while brightening up tired, dull skin.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer as well as Laura Geller Spackle are both wonderfully lightweight, hydrating primers for makeup. These both create a great base for foundation as they aid the blending of product and create a dewy surface.
- Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, POOR you. Oily skin is prob the worst type of skin type to have in some cases as it’s difficult to keep in order. If you have oily skin your cheeks, nose, and forehead will easily become shiny and look greasy. You’ll also likely have larger pores and easily break out.
Oily skin users should choose a mattifying primer and in most cases that has silicone since this formula will create a good matte base for makeup plus fill pores.
I personally think silicone are uncomfortable as they make me itchy and also feel mask-like on my face. The options I choose for oily skin do have silicone but are comfortable to wear without having the itchy, mask experience.
- Facial Primers for Oily Skin
Although not a traditional primer or acknowledged as a primer by its brand, I highly suggest Urban Decay De-Slick in a Tube to keep oily skin tamed. De-slick comes in a lightweight gel formula which instantly soothes oily skin on contact and keeps it matte for hours. A perfect prep and prime for oily skin types.
Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion is ideal for filling larger pores as well as creating a matte base for makeup.
Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer evens skin tone while filling pores and creating a matte finish.
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch is a very good base for oily skin types as it’s thick enough to fill finer lines and larger pores in a snap. This also creates an even, smooth, matte finish.
Philosophy Never Let Them See You Shine Primer is another great pick for mattifying skin with a lighter, comfortable formula.
- Combination Skin
Ahhh the most combo skin type. I always struggle with whether my skin is dry or combo. Combo types experience oil around the nose and forehead but will be drier around other areas of the face such as the cheeks. My skin is combo in the Summer and I seem to experience a bit of oily around my jawline as well I’ve noticed. Combo types also experience patches of dryness on the cheeks on occasion.
- Facial Primers for Combination Skin
Clarins Instant Smooth is a good base for combo skin types as it will mattify oily spots while still remaining moisturizing enough for drier areas without pilling.
Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion Brightening is a thicker formula that manages to fill pores and smooth oily spots.
Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-Reversing Primer and Korres Face Primer are moisturizing primers yes but they are also great to use on combination skin as each can act as a facial moisturizer so you can multitask the product. Skipping facial moisturizer is not recommended but on warmer Summer days you can use as a facial cream and primer to prep skin.
- Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin inflames easily, becomes irritated easily, and just reeks havoc on your makeup life.
- Facial Primers for Oily Skin
Lorac Aquaprimeaqua is a lightweight water-based makeup primer that moisturizes and prepares your skin for makeup. This particular primer is ideal for sensitive types since it’s formulated without oil, silicones, fragrance, or parabens.
Although choosing a proper primer for your skin type can be intimidating with a little homework, patience, and searching you’ll find the perfect facial primer for your skin type easily.
What’s your skin type and what primer do you use?
Do share, I think it’ll be a great resource for those who have a similar skin type to see what others are using!