primers – Amy Savage

Whether you agree with the need for a primer or not, I personally think they were one of the greatest products to come to light out of the recent make up boom. For those of you that know me, my skin is drier and at the minute the texture of my skin has been playing up. While there are certain things that only switching up a skincare regime can fix, a primer gives a little short term help to fixing those issues.

I have used an insane variety of primers in my time and while some work great for a few months, inevitably most stop working at what they did at the start. The list below are the ones that have stuck by my side and done the job they claimed to do. I use these on myself and I trust them enough to use them on clients whose skin is drier also.

What is primer? A make up primer is a product that you apply before your foundation (or you can mix with foundation!) to allow for a longer lasting finish. Not only do primers keep your make up on for longer, but primers typically make your face look smoother and can have other benefits too like hydrating, mattifying, smoothing, etc. Primers take a little pressure of your foundation and if anything, you’ll probably need less foundation than if you don’t use one. So there’s that!

Marc Jacobs Undercover Perfecting Coconut Face Primer, £32

I will never forget the first time I bought this as I had read somewhere that this primer was all the rage and I wanted nothing more than to bury my face in it as I am obsessed with anything coconut scented. I scrambled and saved every extra penny I could as at this point I was at university, a poor student. Eventually, I bought the primer and upon the first usage my face almost sighed with relief as it was cooling. If I am going to an event, or know that I need to look like utmost best then this is the primer I use as any foundation I have sits beautifully on top.

The primer hydrates and nourishes thanks to the coconut infused formula including cold pressed coconut water, juice and pulp that forms a natural, vitamin rich barrier between your skin and your makeup. My skin feels fresh and natural, all day.

Make Up For Ever Nourishing Primer, £25.50

Make Up For Ever have a vast range of primers that cater to each and every skin type and I find myself bouncing between the Nourishing Primer and the Hydrating Primer. Where the Hydrating Primer hydrates (shocking) the nourishing primer just goes that extra mile and has a richer, creamier texture which I prefer. The Nourishing Primer feeds skin, repairing and hydrating all day while anti oxidants actually help to prevent from the elements. As if that’s not enough, the primer restores elasticity and revitalizes skin creating a more even textured, flawless finish.

Today for example, as I said my skin was feeling a little more textured and so this is the primer I have used today. My make up has been on my hours now and you can’t tell, my skin still looks and feels seriously smooth.

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow, £38.50

Before you gasp at the price, give me a minute! This primer is multi functional and contains an amazing blend of ingredients that can make all the different to your beautiful face! I bought this originally as a primer but after a few uses started wearing this on it’s own also. I am off on holidays soon and this will be firmly packed in my make up bag for daily wear!

I absolutely love a glowy finish on my skin but it can be hard to get a product that will give you that finish that lasts longer than 2 hours. That’s why I am so glad I took the plunge with this product because my make up stays on forever – hey, if it’s good enough for Jamie Genevieve then it’s good enough for me – SEE HERE Jamie Genevieve Night Out GRWM

*NOTE* This is what I am wearing in this picture for this post

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Hydrating, £30

Yes, yes Laura Mercier are so much more than their loose powder. I like this primer because all the others I have mentioned are on the thicker side and sometimes it’s nice to have products on your face that are a little thinner, especially for days where you don’t want to wear a lot of make up. Again, it hydrates and leaves the skin nice and glowy while multi tasking to help minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections.

I notice that as my make up wears, my make up can tend to settles into lines on my forehead but when I use this primer that doesn’t happen! So a bonus if any of you struggle to keep foundation out of any little crevices!

Estee Lauder The Illuminator, £26

The thing I love about this primer is that it is designed for use on top of your make up as well as a primer underneath. It’ll always be in my kit for events and make ups that require a lot of photography as it photographs beautifully. Not only that but it really makes your skin feel fresh and awake, so if your skin is feeling very lacklustre and needs waking up then this would be the primer for you. It’s the only primer that I would probably mix with any foundation to thin out as it doesn’t separate on the skin.

It hydrates, smoothes and illuminates giving you that Hollywood glamorous glow and is one that you can depend on to make your skin look flawless all day long.