Want your makeup to be flawless and long-lasting? A good primer is what you need. Let’s be honest – most of us do not like a long and tedious makeup routine. However, taking a few extra minutes to apply a primer is definitely worth the time and effort. Primers not only make the makeup last longer, they also make it look more seamless. Here is our list of the best primers in India along with the answers to all the questions you may have about them.
What are primers and what do they do?
Primers are makeup products that prepare the skin for the makeup that goes on top. Just like we prime a surface to make it even before painting it, primers fill up large pores on the skin and turn it into a smooth canvas for the foundation. Traditionally, primers are usually silicone based. The nature of silicone allows it to fill up any pores or the gaps in textured skin. The result is smoother looking skin where the texture looks blurred out. Silicone based primers also make the foundation and concealer adhere to the skin better. Hence, these primers increase the longevity of the makeup as well.
The primers I am talking about in today’s article are face primers. We also have eyeshadow and lip primers to prep the eyes and lips for makeup respectively. I can cover those in a different article in case you are interested.
Are Silicone-based primers bad for the skin?
A lot has been said about the perils of silicones in cosmetics. A number of people believe that silicones clog the pores, which in turn leads to acne and other skin issues. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to confirm the same. I personally believe that as long as you are cleansing your face thoroughly at the end of the day, the silicones in primers will not harm your skin. Use an oil-based cleanser followed by a face wash to get rid of all traces of makeup. This will ensure that your pores are clean at the end of the day.
If you are skeptical about silicones then I will encourage you to do your research on the topic instead of believing hearsay. Take an informed decision regarding whether you are comfortable with the ingredient or not. You can also patch test and try out sample sizes of silicone-based primers to figure out if the ingredient is suitable for your skin. Check out this informative article if you want to know more about silicones.
How to use primers?
Primers need to be applied on cleansed, dry skin before the application of any base makeup. Some people like to use a moisturizer underneath their primer while others don’t. If you are opting for a hydrating primer then you may not need a separate moisturizer but it depends on your skin type. Also, instead of spreading the primer on your skin like a cream, try to gently press it into your skin with your fingers or a sponge. This will ensure that the primers fills up your pores and covers patches of texture evenly. Once you have applied the primer on your face, go ahead and apply your foundation and concealer as you normally would.
These days we also have tinted primers which can even be worn on their own without any makeup on top. They blur out the texture on the skin and even out the skin tone a bit due to their tint.
Can creams and oils be used as primers?
These days, we get primers in different formulations such as gels, creams, sprays and oils. Each of these will affect how your makeup looks differently. Silicone-based primers are great for textured skin, but if you have dry skin then a hydrating primer may work better for you. Usually, primers that contain lesser or no silicones cannot blur out texture, but by hydrating the skin they create a soft and glowy base for makeup. Some of the gel, cream and spray-based primers also extend the longevity of the makeup due to their tackiness. A regular moisturizer may make your skin softer and glowy (which will make the makeup look better) but it won’t prime your skin in the true sense of the word.
Using oil as a primer is a newer trend and a questionable one, because oil may make your foundation slip around and can also feel heavy under makeup. However, with the right foundation on top, oils can add a beautiful luminous finish to the makeup while preventing the foundation to cling to any texture on your face. This combination will work particularly well for those with dry to normal skin. If you are looking for the “glass skin” effect with your makeup then an oil-based primer is a good idea. One oil that works particularly well for me as a primer is the Vaunt Tamanu + Cranberry Seed Oil.
Makeup artists often recommend wearing a silicone-based primer with a silicone based foundation, water-based primer with a water-based foundation, and an oil-based primer with an oil based foundation. This is a good rule to follow if you have lots of foundations and primers. However, if you only own a couple of foundations then I will recommend sticking with a cream-based primer for dry skin and a gel-based primer for oily skin.
Which are the best primers in India?
I have listed above some of the best primers that are readily available in India. The Nykaa Beauty, Colorbar and Sugar ones are gel-based primers whereas the other two are cream-based. All of these help to blur out texture and make the base makeup last longer. I prefer the gel-based variants in summer and the cream ones in winter. You can pick any of these as per your budget, brand preference and availability. Performance-wise they are pretty similar.
This brings me to the end of this exhaustive article on primers. Do let me know if you found it useful and if you would want me to make this into a series. Looking forward to reading your feedback in the comments!