Beauty Basics – Makeup Primer

Beauty Basics – Makeup Primer! We’re going to talk about primer. Oh, how I wish I had known about primer when I was in high school! Once a specialty item used only by industry professionals who required their makeup to stay perfect for several hours for photoshoots and videos, primers have reached the everyday consumer and are now a staple in the makeup bag of anyone who enjoys a polished look.

This post is sponsored by Tarte Cosmetics. All opinions my own.

Primers can help your makeup to last all day, especially in less than ideal weather conditions. They can add a subtle glow or highlight the skin if they have brightening properties, like Tarte’s clean slate™ flawless 12-hr brightening primer. You can choose from antioxidant rich formulas such as those containing grapeseed or green tea that will help repair skin damage. Some primers can add extra moisture or oil control. They can even color correct if you have redness. If you prefer extra sun protection, choose a primer with an SPF.

Think of your face as a canvas and primer as the base coat. It helps to fill in lines or enlarged pores on your face, creating a smooth surface for the application of foundation and pigment.  Applied after moisturizer, a thin layer will go a long way. If you use too much it can cause your foundation to ball up on the skin. On areas that tend to be oily, like the eyelid or nose, a primer will help the makeup adhere. Tartecosmetics.com has an excellent eyelid primer containing mineral-rich Amazonian clay that can help your eye makeup stay around all day and not smudge.

Luckily, as primer has become more and more popular over the last decade or so, specially formulated products for individual areas have appeared. For instance, consider lash primer. If you’re switching to a waterproof mascara for humid summer days (which you should consider unless you’re a fan of smudged raccoon eyes), a lash primer will provide many benefits.

Waterproof mascara is formulated to really stick around and not be removable with just water, so it can be somewhat harder on your lashes.  A lash primer will not only help the mascara stick to your lashes and increase its efficacy, it will smooth the application process, reducing pulled lashes and general lash loss. It will even help your lashes hold a curl.

Finally, don’t forget to prime your lips! This helps to increase the longevity of your lipsticks. You can find several lip primers on the market. However, you can also use a clear lip pencil to prevent feathering and bleeding and help make the most of your lipstick, too.

Because I have an oily t-zone and oily, hooded eyelids, I consider primer indispensable! My makeup doesn’t last without it. At the very least, I use eyeshadow primer daily.

Which makeup primer do you consider essential? Face, eyes, lips or lash?