Are primers necessary? Yes. They are an absolute must in a makeup routine. After all, there is no perfect makeup without a perfect base. With a good primer, all the makeup that follows just glides on beautifully and lasts so much longer.

WHY USE PRIMER

Primer reduces the appearance of pores and evens out the skin’s texture, making it appear smoother. It also blurs blemishes resulting in the appearance of better skin. Primers also protect the skin by providing an additional barrier between the skin and the environment — they can include sun protection, and anti-oxidant properties. Some primers have added benefits like colour correction or skin brightening ingredients. But most importantly — primers correct specific concerns, help makeup last longer, and keep it looking fresh all day long.

WHERE AND HOW TO USE PRIMER

Apply primer on the face using fingers, a brush or sponge, after moisturising and right before applying any makeup products. With good primers, you don’t have to wait for them to “settle” and dry on the skin before applying other makeup; and they shouldn’t “ball up” on the skin under foundation. If that happens, you could be using the wrong type of primer for your skin type, or just too much product.

WHAT PRIMER TO USE

Choosing the right primer for your skin type and condition is important. Make Up For Ever has one of the largest selections of primers to address all sorts of concerns. They include 3 custom-based skin perfectors and 6 targeted colour correctors, which deliver 24-hour correction for every skin type and tone, and amplify any makeup routine for a look that lasts all day.

Above: The 9 Step 1 Primers from Make Up For Ever, including 3 custom-based skin perfectors and 6 targeted colour correctors.

All 9 primers serve their own specific purpose and can be mixed and matched with each other for a customised base. The formulas are infused with Ginseng — a natural skin balancer and known anti-inflammatory, as well as Glycerin and Glycols (humectants that draw in moisture to the skin), and B5 Provitamins that infuse skin with hydration. This cocktail of super ingredients comes in a comforting, creamy texture, and leaves a smooth finish on the skin, providing the ideal base for foundations and powders to follow. They are also easy to use and understand based on their descriptions.

To choose the right primer for your skin type and needs, here’s a simple guide to follow:

Above from left to right:
1. SHINE Control
2. Pore Minimizer
3. Hydra Booster
4. Redness Corrector
5. Tone Up Perfector
6. Yellowness Neutralizer
7. Fresh Brightener
8. Dullness Eraser
9. Grayness Reducer

SKIN CORRECTION

These skin correctors aim to perfect the skin. They address the following skin concerns: oily skin, shine, visible pores, large pores, dry patches, tightness, dullness, fine lines and irregularities.

1. SHINE CONTROL: Addresses oily skin, excess shine and visible pores for a refined matte texture and velvet finish.

This is the only primer in the range that is completely transparent. The cream texture is velvety, and the product smooths over skin creating a protective and invisible film. It keeps shine at bay for an entire day — and night — and has a blurring effect as well making skin appear more even.

2. PORE MINIMIZER: Reduces the appearance of pores, fine lines and irregularities by blending, refining, and smoothing the texture of your skin.

This silky cream comes out a light beige, and blends beautifully into all skin tones leaving no trace of colour. This one minimises the appearance of pores, making skin look smoother.

3. HYDRA BOOSTER: The skin is more radiant, supple, and comfortable whilst erasing signs of dryness. It infuses skin with hydration for a softened, plump texture and instant luminous finish.

The texture for this one is slightly more fluid, and the product comes out a pinky-peach that also blends seamlessly into all skin tones. It also has a slightly cool feel on the skin, which is great for hot days or calming skin down. Choose this if you have dry or dehydrated skin.

COLOUR CORRECTION

Colour correctors are applied to targeted areas of the face, such as around the nose, apples of the cheeks and even blemishes.

4. REDNESS CORRECTOR: Unifies the skin tone, correcting redness and addressing any blemishes for smooth, even skin.

Green neutralises and cancels out red tones, so apply this on blemishes and redness around the nose.

5. TONE UP PERFECTOR: Corrects sallowness or uneven, yellow pigmentation by re-toning the look of your skin for a cool, brightened complexion.

This light blue cream spreads nicely on the skin, and is very easily adsorbed. If you feel your complexion looks a bit sallow, you can apply this on the entire face — but remember, a little bit goes a long way.

6. YELLOWNESS NEUTRALIZER: Addresses yellow complexions, or uneven, ash-toned skin by neutralising yellowness, evening the skin tone and creating a more luminous complexion.

Violet neutralises yellow, so this is targeted at very yellowish complexions to help make them appear less sallow and healthier.

7. FRESH BRIGHTENER: Addresses dull, uneven skin to reveal a fresh, healthy, glowing, even-toned complexion.

You can use this pinkish primer to highlight the “high” areas of the face, such as the cheekbones, nose bridge, and under brow area.

8. DULLNESS ERASER: Ideal for medium to tanned skin tones, this corrector helps to minimise dullness and dark circles by illuminating the skin and delivering a radiant, unified complexion.

Yellow cancels out blues and violets, so this is great for the under eye area, bruises or bluish pigmentation.

9. GRAYNESS REDUCER: Formulated for deep skin tones, this corrector reduces the purplish aspect of dark circles by erasing gray tones and unveiling radiant, even-toned skin.

This primer comes out of the tube quite a pigmented orange-brown, and is formulated for deeper skin tones that appear ashy or dull. It instantly offers radiance to the complexion.