There is always time to Prime

As a self-confessed makeup addict, primers are definitely something I have tried and tested. High-end, low-end, I have experimented with a lot, and thought I would share with all of you, my thoughts on some.

A primer is like a base-coat to your foundation that is ultimately designed to make your foundation last longer. Different primers also seek to do other jobs as well, such as mattify skin, even out skintone, create a dewy base, act as a skin supplement, fill in pores and the list goes on and on.
When choosing a primer you really need to look at what you want to get out off it and what job you want it to do.

I have oily and acne prone skin, so I tend to gravitate towards mattifying/oil absorbing primers however, I have ventured out on some occasions. Honestly though, primers that do not contain mattifying ingredients, have not impressed me, but that has more to do with my skin type and personal preference than the product.

My top three Primers for people with Oily/Combination/Acne prone skin would have to be: 

1. Rimmel Stay Matte
This primer is a God-Sent. Hands down, 11/10 rating, I cannot believe that I once got through life without it. In seconds it instantly mattifies my whole face so well that I can go through the day without needing to powder my face or blot with a tissue. I have also worn it alone, without a foundation or powder over the top, and it does still give a matte appearance to the skin – without making it look dead – for a good few hours. I have no faults for this product and at its extremely affordable price, I will continue to stock up on it.

2. Cover FX Mattifying Primer
I really like this primer, and I found that it does work really well, however I found it be quite pricey for what it delivers. It is infused with ingredients to help problem skin, which is good because it never irritates or inflames any problem spots on my skin, however I would just like to point out that it is not strong enough to help clear them up so stick to your normal skin routine. It does also help with shiny skin, however I feel that I do still need to blot or touch up throughout the day to maintain a matte appearance.

3. Revlon Photoready Prime + Anti Shine
As a new product and part of the ‘photoready’ series, I had really high expectations for this product. In a price range between the above two primers, I believe it to be worth the money but would still lean towards the Rimmel Stay Matte. It does the job of mattifying the skin so well, that it is almost too well. When I have applied it to my skin in an area that it already quite dry (which I found to be around the top of my nose, between my eyebrows) it clung to the dry skin and became noticeable even once I had applied my foundation. A creamy concealer helped to cover up some of the dryness and the product works perfectly on the rest of my skin, so I still find it to be a great primer.

Now onto the least favourite…

This is probably going to anger a lot of people, but I’m going to have to say my least favourite primer is actually the Napoleon Perdis ‘Auto Pilot’. I don’t think it’s a fault in the product, rather, it just does not get along with my skin. I received the sample size version of the product in a free goodie bag and I tried it out but it just did not work for me. It made no difference to the application of my foundation and it left my skin looking extremely shiny after just 2 hours of wear. For my birthday last year I also decided to have my make-up done at Napoleon Perdis before heading out to dinner, and nonetheless I encountered the same problem. I had an oily face not even 2 hours after having my makeup professionally applied. I’m sorry Napoleon but even though “not to prime is a crime,” I won’t be priming with ‘autopilot again.

In terms of the other primers, I like them but do not love them.

The ‘Porefessional’ by Benefit
After trying this out, I think I would love the matte version, ‘The Porefessional: Agent Zero Shine’. It hides my pores so well and makes my foundation go on so smoothly, however I do find that my skin gets pretty oily when I wear it, hence I feel like if I tried the matte one I would adore it.

Australis ‘Cya Later Pores’ Spot Primer
Again, I did like this primer for reducing pore size, its worked amazingly well for the price. The price comparison to Benefit is amazing and I think it is a perfect alternative, however personally, I do prefer something that will mattify my face. If you are looking to achieve a more dewy finish though, or you have dry/normal skin, definitely give it a try because I feel like it would work perfectly for you.

Australis ‘Matte Out’ Mattifying Face Base
I think this product has been repackaged to fit the aesthetic of the new primers line but again, I liked this product and I do still use it however, it just didn’t make the cut for the top three. I found that it does loose the matte appearance after a few hours and I did need to blot and powder, so I mainly use this primer if I know I won’t be out for long, or I will be somewhere where I know I can touch up.

Loreal Paris, Studio Secrets Professional, Anti Shine Mattifying Primer
For a long time, this was my ‘go-to’ primer, however it has since been discontinued. I think once I found out, I went out and bought the last 3 bottles from my local priceline. It works beautifully and I am still really sad that they stopped producing it. It was out before ‘priming’ was a common thing, hence this was part of the ‘studio secrets professional range’, and for a long time it was the only one of its kind. So I’d like to say thankyou loreal, for producing something way ahead of your time, that essentially got me through my oily skinned teenage years. If the primer could still be purchased, it would have been #1 on my list.

Well I hope this helped some of you out, let me know in the comments section what your favourite primer is, and If you have any suggestions for some I should try out.

lovelexy xx