The Tightline: To Prime or Not To Prime?: Face Primers

Purpose: create a lasting base for makeup, ensure a smooth application of foundation, and decrease the look of fine lines and pores.

To prime or not to prime that is the question. For someone like me who wears some sort of foundation or concealar almost every day and is a freak about having a smooth surface a apply makeup on you think would use a face primer. But sadly I skip this product unless I know that I’m going to be in a situation where I’ll sweat makeup off my face or ill be leaving the house early and coming home super late and don’t want to look in the mirror and see my blush dripping down my face (slight exaggeration). I do have oily skin and priming would be beneficial but my favorite primers are quite pricey and I like to save them for when I really want my skin looking its best.

Personally I choose to skip primers because I know that if my make up looked better longer I would keep it on longer. But when trying to nurse my problematic skin to health means that the minute I’m alone and changed into sweats the makeup comes off. If I leave makeup on too long my oily skin almost breaks down the makeup and my large pores begin to come through. It sounds pretty gross but it is a good reminder when it’s time to wash my face off.

Overall primer is your choice, I know many people with relatively dry and smooth skin do not use primer I also know many people who do use primer daily. I reccamend to always have a primer on hand just in case but it’s up to you how often you use it.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Even if you do not use primer, have a skin care routine that involves some sort of serum, toner or moisturizer that you can wear under your makeup because your skin does need to be prepped and you never want to apply just makeup to the face, you want a good foundation for your foundation. (Preferably one that is well moisturized!)

Primer Tips:

· -Know your ingredients: if you are using a water based foundation use a water based primer and if you are using a silicon based foundation use a silicon based primer. If you mix silicon and water the primer will not be doing its job and your makeup will not stick and stay as long as it could.

· -Try before you buy: just like foundations primers are no different you should always be able to sample the product (especially if it cost more than the shirt your wearing). You never know how you skin will react to a product or if it truly works with your specific foundation.

· - Be on top: instead of using a primer use a makeup setting spray. This can help reduce the over powdered look and claims to do the same things as your primer. Urban Decay makes really good setting sprays that last.

· -Use what you have: if you own any BB or CC creams they have built in primers so you can use that under your makeup for more coverage and the same priming affect.

My favorite primers:

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer $36 at Sephora