Pic of dressing table skincare glass bottles with text asking if makeup primer is really necessary promoting Skin Essentials by Mariga's blog on primers - makeup or skincare product

I get asked so much about makeup, and the two biggest questions are to recommend a primer and a foundation.

So today I’m giving you my thoughts about primers – are they a skincare product or makeup? Do you really need one? What are they for? All is revealed below!

What are primers for?

Primers are a step between skincare and foundation. They are marketed as a type of ‘base coat’ to help your foundation go on smoother/ stay on longer/ perform better.

You would not use a primer if you were not going to apply foundation so they are categorised as a makeup product, not part of your skincare routine.

(Although pore blurring primers can be used on their own to create an optical blurring of large pores to give an overall smoother skin illusion).

Do you really need a primer?

It depends on what you are trying to achieve, primers are quite a personal choice really but here are my thoughts:

  • Silicone-based primers can be good for increasing foundation wear time on oily skin or reducing the appearance of large pores under makeup. BUT, if you had the correct skincare for your skin type and an appropriate foundation, this step still wouldn’t be necessary.
  • As far as making your makeup last longer, silicone-free formulas have some effect but again, look to WHY your makeup is not staying on.
    • Maybe you need a better or more appropriate foundation for your skin type?
    • You should get 8 hours wear out of any decent foundation with just a mid-day touch up of powder.
  • You have to be careful that the formula of the primer agrees with the formula of the makeup, for example a hyaluronic-rich primer will break down a water-based makeup very fast, take advice from your local makeup counter on this one, the sales assistants there should be trained in this with the brand they are selling.
  • Consider your foundation application techniques and make sure it is the best for the type of foundation you are using. Some formulas will perform best buffed in with a brush, some work better with a damp beauty sponge. Ask at the makeup counter when you are buying your makeup or experiment at home to see which works best for you.
  • I personally rarely use one, normal or normal to dry skin doesn’t require a primer and I think that the foundation should perform alone.

Note: spreading some foundations too thinly negates the elastic effect of the formula and the makeup won’t last, maybe try using a little more to see if this is the problem.

If you want to try one I recommend Camera Close Up from the brand This Works, it is low-silicone and perfume free, great for normal to dry skin.

For oily skin, one of the most popular among makeup artists is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. This silicone-rich formula slows down the skin’s old from breaking up the foundation giving longer wear time.

I also like the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm a lot but wouldn’t use it regularly as it is perfumed unfortunately.

Great under-makeup products from Skin Essentials by Mariga – our Hydra Collagen Serum has a skin-optimal amount of hyaluronic acid that will give a smooth base under makeup without breaking down the formula.

Our SPF30 day cream is also perfect for under makeup, leaving no pilling or white cast due to our multiple-milled mineral sunscreen formula.

Shop Skin Essentials online:Buy sun repair special offer, skin essentials by mariga