There’s nothing more frustrating than taking the time to apply your make-up in the morning, only to find by lunchtime that it’s turned patchy, faded away or left your T-zone gleaming with shine. That’s where the right primer can transform your beauty routine.
Some primers deliver a mattifying, blurring effect that softens the look of enlarged pores and fine lines while helping to control excess oil throughout the day. Others are designed to create a luminous finish, adding radiance and brightness, or to deeply hydrate and nourish dry patches.
Ultimately, choosing a primer comes down to the finish you’re after, but make-up artist and owner of Sculpted By Aimee, Aimee Connolly, says: “The key is knowing your skin type and understanding the benefits promised from the primer. If your skin’s on the dry side, you’ll want to look for a primer with hydrating and moisturising benefits, whereas if your skin is oily, you may need something that has built-in oil control that mattifies the skin.”
Armed with this knowledge, I went on the hunt to find the best primers for all skin types. If you go for a glowy, luminous look, I found Saie’s glowy super gel (£24, Cultbeauty.co.uk) to really deliver on radiance, so much so, it doubles up as a highlighter. For something more matte, Milk Make-up’s hydro grip (£35, Boots.com) is my go-to when it comes to oil control, so it’s definitely one to consider.
Over the course of six weeks, I put dozens of primers to the test to find the best. I wore them under my make-up to see if they could make a difference in staying power, putting each one against the other. Milk Make-up’s pore eclipse mattifying primer has a creamy texture that I like to use on areas of excessive oiliness, such as my forehead, nose and chin. It makes an instant and dramatic difference to visibly larger pores, creates a smooth canvas for foundation and concealer, and keeps my make-up in place for significantly longer.
If you’re looking for the best budget primer, I’d recommend 17’s vitamin enriched primer. It has a rich texture that’s closer to a balm than a cream, and it feels far more premium than the price tag would suggest. The shea butter and vitamin E formula make it ideal for dry skin types, but if you have combination skin (like me), I found it worked best when I skipped using any moisturiser first. Danessa Myricks’ universal shade is a solid balm that applies seamlessly to skin and settles down into a powder finish, making it a very effective way to control oiliness. Elf’s power grip primer is popular for good reason; if you're prone to angry, red breakouts, this primer will prevent your carefully applied concealer from sliding off throughout the day.
