A good one will prevent the normal fading, smudging, and creasing that occur throughout the day. The primary purpose of an eyeshadow primer is to keep your eyeshadow in place longer.
#BEST MAC FACE PRIMER SKIN#
To choose the best fit for your skin and foundation needs, here is a run-down of the best makeup primers.Applying a clear or neutral eyeshadow primer to eyebrows is a great way to help them stay in place. Take this as proof that the sometimes-overlooked primer deserves a place in the day-to-day arsenal. For instance, when she draws on Twiggy lashes (a favorite look of Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira), Davy applies it beneath the lower lashline.
#BEST MAC FACE PRIMER TV#
And while Davy tends to skip makeup primer on the Euphoria cast-as she puts it, “I like TV skin to look really real, and allow natural oils to come through a little bit”-she swears by dedicated shadow primer to prep the delicate eye area ahead of eyeliner or shadow. “I apply it to the neck and décolletage to help smooth out fine lines,” says David, who dabs extra product onto the backs of the hands, too.
While complementary formulas may matter for application on the face, primer is also a welcome addition beyond the jawline. (A shortcut: Some beauty brands create primers to accompany given foundations, making for a straightforward pairing.) “If you don’t line up the chemistry correctly, you can get beading and pilling.” Chemistry dictates that like attracts like, so the makeup artist recommends using water-based primers with water-based foundations, and oil-based primers with oil-based foundations. “You can’t just use any primer with any foundation,” Davy says. Key to that ultra-smooth finish is having the right combination of products. “Using primers helps ensure that their makeup stays in place and looks fresh all day and night”-a benefit that will come in handy when she oversees the upcoming Oscars look for Hall, one of this year’s cohosts. “There will always be flash photography, and I want clients to always look flawless,” says makeup artist Lewina David, who works with the likes of Regina Hall and Issa Rae. Formal events fall squarely in this camp. Primers’ inherent versatility makes them particularly suited for circumstances in which cameras are involved-which, these days, could be anytime, anywhere. “Primers can also help with blurring pores, infusing extra hydration into the skin, or creating a matte surface for your foundation to go onto if you’re super oily,” says makeup artist Donni Davy, the Emmy Award–winning makeup department head for HBO’s teen drama Euphoria. Barring the existence of a virtual-reality filter that simulates an immediate complexion enhancement, primer can offer a real-world fix, delivering a soft-focus effect that transforms skin into a preternaturally smooth canvas.īut creating an even texture-whether as a standalone goal or a means of achieving a seamless foundation application-is only the beginning of primer’s power. But that was then, and this is now: a world where many people lead camera-ready lives, whether through remote meetings, FaceTime calls, viral TikToks, or all of the above. In years past, makeup primer, as a category, often felt like an ancillary step, a nice-to-have supplement alongside more elemental products like foundation and mascara.