Before You Buy Another Foundation, You Should Read This

Everything You Need to Know About Makeup Primer

There are some makeup gurus who swear by their favorite brand of makeup primer. There are others who dismiss the product entirely as an unnecessary layer that could cause breakouts. Still others use it only for special occasions when they are wearing a full face, and more who aren’t even sure what primer is in the first place. With so many opinions and different understandings of this product roaming the industry, it’s easy to see why newcomers to the world of makeup aren’t sure if they need primer – or what it is for that matter.

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about this product from what it is, to how to use it, how to choose the right type for the look you want, and more. We’ll also discuss lip primers, mascara primers, and eye shadow primers, and we’ll address once and for all the most important questions of: Do primers make you break out? If you’ve ever had a question about makeup primer, here’s what you need to know:

What Is Makeup Primer and Do I Need It?

Makeup primer is a product that is designed to prepare your skin for the application of other makeup. It is usually a cream or a gel, and it offers a variety of benefits. The biggest benefit, and the main reason primer was created in the first place, is to smooth out the appearance of pores and fine lines. That way, when your foundation goes on, it doesn’t settle into those areas. Trust us – if you’ve ever seen a flawless, airbrushed foundation look on an Instagram model, they were wearing a great primer underneath.

But there are other reasons to use primer as well. Some of its other benefits include:

• It helps your makeup last longer. The big reason that foundation and other products don’t look great by the end of the day is that your pores sweat. Primer creates a barrier between the sweat and your makeup, which keeps your makeup looking fresh, longer.
• It helps reduce shine by absorbing the oils of your skin over the day.
• It can help even out your skin tone or texture. Many primers are also color-correcting or moisturizing (or both!), which helps create smooth and even tone and texture for your foundation. You can also get primer with highlighter in it to brighten up your skin tone.
• It can offer an additional layer of coverage for acne.
• You can often save money by getting primers that are combined with other steps in your face routine. For example, it’s very common for primers to also include sunscreen and moisturizing ingredients.

Convinced that makeup primer could be helpful for your look? Let’s dive a little deeper.

How to Apply Makeup Primer the Right Way

Applying primer is simple and you only need to know two absolute rules to do it correctly:

• Always moisturize before you apply your primer. Even if your primer is moisturizing, go ahead and do this anyway, because it makes the primer go on evenly.
• Always let your primer set for a few minutes before you continue with the rest of your makeup.

That’s it! Those are the only two “rules” you need to know. You can simply apply primer the same way you do moisturizer, smoothing it over your entire face with your fingertips or a sponge. Facial primers should be used everywhere except the eyelids. There are primers specifically for the eyes, though not everyone uses these. Remember that you are aiming for a light, even coat of coverage with your primer, just like a moisturizer.

What Is Foundation Primer and Do I Need It?

When we discuss “makeup primer”, we are primarily talking about foundation primer. This is the most common type of primer you’ll find, and it’s meant to cover your whole face as a base for your foundation. If you use foundation and have ever found it drying out, caking, sweating off, or getting shiny towards the end of the day, you could definitely benefit from a great primer underneath.

Before you just pick up a primer and slap it on, though, it’s a good idea to consider what type of primer you need. In addition to choosing one that offers you extra benefits, such as moisture or sun protection, you can also consider the finish.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Makeup Sponges

How to Choose the Right Makeup Primer Finish

Foundation primers typically come in four finishes: matte, satin, illuminating, and color-correcting. You may see some of these combined, such as a matte color-correcting primer. Here’s what each type of finish does:

• Matte primers focus on reducing shine from oily skin.
• Satin primers focus on giving you a natural, dewy look. These are great for aging skin or very dry skin.
• Illuminating primers contain a bit of highlighting pigment to help brighten up your overall tone.
• Color-correcting primers contain pigment to help reduce the appearance of blotchy or uneven skin tones. You’ll often see them in green or yellow to combat redness. Be sure to consider your skin tone when choosing a color-corrector.

You may also see primers that are labeled as anti-aging or hydrating (usually satin finishes), and pore-minimizing or blurring (usually matte finishes). Consider what your number one skin challenge is and choose a primer that offers you a solution.

What Is Lip Primer and Do I Need It?

There are other types of primers out there that you’ll find if you go a bit deeper with your makeup looks. Lip primer is a product designed to help keep lip color in place, and also to smooth out the appearance of lips to avoid having lip color settle into lines or cracks. If you’ve ever put on a hydrating lip balm before putting on your lipstick, you were priming – you just didn’t know it!

But do you really need this product? Some beauty gurus say they aren’t any more effective than using a bit of Vaseline or a hydrating lip balm. Others say that a lip primer is the best way to get a smooth, beautiful application of lip color. If you regularly wear lipstick that tends to settle into the lines of your lips, a lip primer can be a great addition to your makeup kit. It can also help cut down on the number of times you need to reapply throughout the day

Related: Liquid Lipstick 101

What Is Eye Shadow Primer and Do I Need It?

Specifically made for the eyelids, eye shadow primer goes on underneath any eye shadow products. It not only helps to prevent creasing throughout the day, but also helps prevent fallout so you don’t end up with eye shadow on your cheeks. Most eye shadow primers work extremely well, keeping eye shadow from sliding into the crease or smearing. If you often blend multiple colors for a dazzling smoky eye, a primer will help maintain the definition so that you don’t end up with a muddy mess of color.

Some people simply use concealer as their eye shadow primer, which does help to brighten up the eye area and smooth it out. But it is not formulated to offer the same “sticking” power that primer does, so if this is a common issue for you, an eye shadow primer could be very helpful.

Related: Create the Perfect Smokey Eye With This

What Is Mascara Primer and Do I Need It?

Mascara primer is formulated to add additional plumping and lengthening to your lashes, without layering on more and more globs of color. It is a clear or white substance that is applied just like mascara. After you apply it and let it set, apply your mascara as normal. If you’ve been working on letting your natural lashes shine, this is an excellent product to keep around. It also helps to keep mascara in place so you don’t end up with smudged under-eyes as often.

Quick Makeup Primer Tips

Here are a few tips from the makeup pros on how you can use primer to enhance your makeup looks:

• Primer isn’t just for the face. It can also help smooth out the décolletage, neck, and hands. If your primer includes a sunscreen, use it in these areas for protection and coverage.
• If you still find that your foundation tends to settle, try mixing a bit of your primer in with your foundation to sheer it out. Do this only with a non-silicone-based primer to ensure that it mixes smoothly.
• If you have to rush from work to another event and don’t have time to touch up your makeup, you can smooth on some primer over your foundation for a renewed glow.
• If your skin type is not makeup friendly, or you struggle to keep your makeup in place all day, you can layer multiple primers for a better base. Try something to reduce oil in your T-zone, and something to moisturize all over the rest of your face, for example.

Give these tips a try to see how primer can be your new go-to miracle product.

Do Makeup Primers Cause Acne Breakouts?

This is the big question that everyone wants to know about makeup primer. As a product that is designed to smooth out the appearance of pores, does it clog those pores in the process? Dermatologists across the board say that no, primer does not cause acne. If you begin using a primer and you break out, odds are that you already had an underlying issue and the addition of the new product simply pushed your skin to its breaking point. The fact is that if your skin is acne-prone, any type of makeup could cause problems, even your foundation – the primer itself is not inherently comedogenic (acne-causing), however.

The Don’ts of Primer

There aren’t a lot of don’ts when it comes to primer, but there are a few things to be aware of:

• It’s best to choose a non-silicone-based makeup primer if you can. Silicones are not inherently bad. In fact, silicone-based primers can actually make your makeup look great and last longer. But silicone-based products can aggravate acne-prone skin and they don’t blend as well with other products if you use your primer as an addition to your foundation. Go with a silicone-free version to skip these concerns.
• If you have very oily skin, you’re probably excited about the idea that a primer can help tone down the shine. However, it’s more important for you to be careful with primers. Primer itself is not inherently acne-causing, but it’s easier for oily skin to get clogged when wearing primer. If you want the matte power of primer and have oily skin, you should definitely invest in a good cleaning routine.
• Don’t skip primer just because you’ve heard that it makes your makeup look heavy! This is not true at all. If you feel as though your foundation looks heavy after applying a primer, that’s good news – it means you need to use less foundation to get the same coverage thanks to your primer. You’ll save money on your foundation and give your skin a break! Try using a lighter coat of foundation with your primer and you’ll see that the results are more airbrushed, while maintaining a light and natural feel.

Ready to Try It Yourself?

Makeup primers are a bit of a controversial product in the makeup industry, but don’t let that scare you away from trying them out. They offer tons of benefits for your entire face, and are truly the best way to get that Instagram-ready face that will blow you away. Your makeup will go farther, your skin will look younger, and you’ll be able to achieve those high-fashion looks you’ve been dreaming of. Take your time choosing the right type of primer for your skin type, as well as the finish you want for the look. Then simply give yourself an extra minute to apply it and let it set. You won’t even notice the additional time in your makeup routine, but the results will be life changing.

More Great Resources:

Beauty Beginners: How to Find the Right Foundation

The 14 Best Foundations for Every Skin Tone

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT FOUNDATION FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE