THE LOW-DOWN ON PRIMERS

Recently there has been a lot more talk about Primers. They have been used in one form or another by make-up artists for generations but they have only recently come into the consumer market. A few of the department store brands have carried eye primers to hold shadows better for mature skin for some time but with so much emphasis on anti-ageing solutions they are now coming more and more into the forefront. Below you will find out what they do and some brands with our comments. Please note we have not tested every primer on the market but we only make comments on those we have! Find out if you should use them and where. .

What is a primer? As the name suggests it is something you use as a first step to even out flaws. Think about painting and you will get the idea. A make-up primer evens out the surface of the skin to help make-up go on more smoothly and last longer. It also helps it stay on top of fine lines instead of the usual tendency for it to gradually sink in. Many primers have silicon in them as that allows for a smooth surface and ease of application of make-up. Professional lines such as MAC and Smashbox have had some form of primer in the selection for some time. As we mentioned above they started out very much for eye shadows.

Above you can see the award-winning Photo Finish Primer from Smashbox which we think does a very good job. It is a little oily for some tastes and there is a light version which has less oil for those with a T-zone problem. It retails around the $40 mark from stores such as Sephora (if in Canada this is probably one of the few places you can get it). MAC do a very similar product in their line. Does everyone need a primer? If you are under 25 with really good skin we would say no as long as you have properly moisturized your skin. However if you have areas you know tend to absorb make-up or lines and wrinkles then yes a primer works wonders. It keeps make-up fresh. Don't use a heavy moisturizer though as it may feel too oily.

If on a budget then look out for L'Oreal's Magic Base. It looks like a cream but goes on similar to the more liquid gel products. We have tested this and works well. You will begin to see many more coming on the market. Our make-up artists advice is try beforehand any product you are unsure of as many can be a little too oily. Basically they coat the surface of the skin so stopping product sinking into the pores. It is part of the Studio Secrets professional range and it makes the tricks of the trade more affordable for everyone.