Everyday Guide to Primers

Primers is one of those subjects that once you get started it's very hard to know when to stop - you can now get photography fluids and other post-moisturiser, pre-foundation fluids that I didn't include here. Nor did I include lash primers. I've gone for basic primers as they were originally - to prep the skin and increase the longevity of your make-up.

For a lot of people you don't need a primer but I often get asked about whether people should use them and if so which ones. Primers are great because you can use them for just where you need them, they don't necessarily need to go all over your face. If I am prepping a brides skin I will often use primer over the majority of the face, then a mattifying primer on the t-zone and an illuminating one on the tops of the cheek bones.

I only use them on myself if I am going to a wedding or going out, out. Otherwise I find my foundations last pretty well all day anyway. I do however, always use them when I am working on brides or on someone with an oily skin.

I do use an eye primer every day as I find it really helps my eye make-up stay in place and I am often testing eye products so I'll use primer on one lid and not on the other to see how it affects the shadow/liner I'm trying.

All the products I've mentioned are listed below. Let me know what primers you love or hate and don't forget to subscribe to my channel.

My Everyday Guide to Brows

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
Laura Mercier other primers
SuperMatte Anti-Shine from Make-up International
MAC Fix+ Spray
Joan Collins Timeless Beauty 10 Effects
Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer
NYX HD Eyeshadow base
Lola Eye Base
Laura Mercier Eye Basics
Urban Decay Primer Potion
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil
MAC Longwear Paint Pot

Make-up International Supermatte Anti-Shine

This is one of those pro favourites that once you've used it, it's never not in your kit. As a make-up artist you need to be able to problem solve as quickly as possible and the Make-up International Supermatte Anti-Shine is a small miracle worker that gives real piece of mind. A little goes a long way so it's worth having and hardly takes up any space in your kit. It's a bit of an unsung hero, but I'm about to sing.

Whether you are on a film set, photoshoot, working with a bride or just in the hot lights of a studio, shine in the wrong place is not what you want. Packing on blotting powder can cause cakey build up or really affect the finishes of your base. Anti-shine matte's out the skin under the base so you don't lose the desired finish. You can also tap it over the top of foundation if shine appears. This is also great if you do a lot of male grooming shoots - perfect for use around the hairline.