Staff Picks: Face primers that have totally changed our makeup game
Whether you’re worried about having makeup melt off your face or looking for a way to minimize the appearance of your pores, adding a primer to your routine can literally change your game face. There are as many kinds as there are different skin concerns; you need to just find The One to forever change your mind about never skipping this step again! I’ve personally been on the hunt for a new one to try so I turned to my fellow PV girls to give me the lowdown on their favorite face primers and why they can’t live without them.
Liz: Face primers should do two things for me. They have to enhance the appearance of my skin and help later layers of my makeup adhere better. That's why I love tinted and illuminating primers since they make my skin look fantastic and actually reduce my need for more coverage! In rotation right now is the Kanebo Glow Primer, which has no coverage but just brightens my skin instantly; the Benefit Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup, a watery tint for the t-zone; and the Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control for a matte coverage that sticks to my skin in a thin, lightweight layer.
Karla: It may be a recent discovery but the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter is my HG PRIMER!!! I never used to use primers because I always thought they were just an extra step and a "princess product" but OMG I WAS SO WRONG! My makeup has never looked more radiant and fresh, and boy, does it last all day! Whenever I have events and need to wear a full face of makeup that I can be confident about lasting all day (and not budging), I use the BECCA primer. It makes even the most full coverage and matte foundations look more natural and glowy (without being oily) and it doesn't break me out! ❤
Katsy: I use the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer for normal days where I know that I just need to extend my makeup a bit. While it does the job quite well, I still reach for the MUFE HD Primer for heavy-duty days. I honestly used to think that primers were just an extra step that's not really needed but after starting to use them, I could really see and appreciate the effect. I still have multiple primers for different purposes and I love mixing them up but these two are my go-to’s right now.
Claire: My go-to all-over face primer is Banila Co. Prime Primer Purity (for sensitive skin). It has a greenish cast that color corrects my redness! It also gives a brightening blur effect and extends makeup wear. To fill in large pores and lines, I also use the Innisfree No-Sebum Blur Primer alone when I feel like my redness is under control. It looks and feels exactly like Benefit's The Porefessional but has a slight herbal scent similar to their famous No-Sebum loose powder.
Gett: I only started using it recently but the Aritaum Pore Master Sebum Control Primer blew me away with how nice my skin looked after application. It made my pores vanish! The oil control is decent, lasting 5 to 6 hours before I get oily. Korean beauty bloggers say this is a dupe to the Benefit Porefessional (haven't tried it yet) but I'm super sold, especially considering how cheap this one is.
Stacie: I got Etude House's Face Blur a little less than a year ago and I’ve been reaching for it so often that I am already running out! It can hide my pores and skin unevenness, making my skin look almost completely flawless. It also has SPF so it can boost my sunscreen protection!
Kim: Before I started using primer religiously, I would always complain to friends about how I don't get as much wear time from my makeup. Murad's Oil Control Mattifier totally changed that! Not only do I stay matte for longer, I find that it also helps extend my makeup wear time by around 2 to 4 hours.
Have you tried any of these primers? Which one would you recommend or want to try out next?