Primers have come a long way in the beauty game. No longer is a primer just used to keep your makeup in place (don't get us wrong, that's still a major perk), but it's just one of the many uses nowadays.
Looking for an added boost of hydration? Use a primer. Looking for something to calm redness? Use a primer. Looking to help minimise pesky wrinkle creasing? Use a primer.
From varying formulations, finishes, textures and benefits, there really is something for everyone.
To help make it easy for you, we have picked our top five options based on skin type. Whether you have dry, oily, combination, redness-prone or mature skin, we have a primer that will tick your boxes.
Primer: Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Hydrating Serum Primer
Perfect for: Dry skin
This multi-tasking two-in-one cares like a serum and preps like a primer for fresh, radiant skin. The innovative formula contains skin-loving hyaluronic acid to hydrate, help improve skin tone and restore skin’s youthful glow. Powered by microfluidic technology, droplets of oil are suspended in a hydrating gel. The lightweight texture glides on and bursts onto the skin, leaving skin fresh and supple.
Primer: Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus™ Mattifying + Pore Reducing Primer
Perfect for: Oily skin
This primer helps control oil and fight shine all day day, while instantly reducing the look of pores and smoothing skin texture with a mattifying effect. It instantly minimises the appearance of fine lines and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. Over time, pores appear minimised and skin appears less red, with a softer feel and more youthful look, without dryness. The complex is infused with artichoke extract, salicylic acid and AHA.
Primer: Ciaté London Superfruit Burst Citrus AHA Primer
Perfect for: Combination skin
Blending skin care with cosmetics, this new addition from Ciaté London is a makeup bag must-have for flawless makeup application, with added skin benefits. Packed full of gentle fruit enzymes, this skincare-priming hybrid works to smooth and brighten the skin, with evening primrose and kudzu extracts to help control any excess oil. With a formula that uniquely blends AHAs, anti-sebum actives and moisturising ceramides, skin is left feeling soft, smooth and balanced. Suitable for daily use, the primer combats dullness and keeps makeup in place all day.
Primer: Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer Correct and Even
Perfect for: Redness-prone skin
This correcting primer instantly neutralises redness and counteracts the appearance of dark spots, while providing a smooth base for makeup application. The velvety formula blends seamlessly into the skin, delivering a satin-matte finish and helping extend makeup wear. It is enriched with active natural ingredients, including the native Australian Kakadu plum and lilly pilly, known to nourish and provide antioxidant defence, while olive oil and vitamin E calm and soothe stressed skin.
Primer: jane iredale Smooth Affair® Illuminating Glow Face Primer
Perfect for: Mature skin
This silky, illuminating face primer is designed to lock in moisture, minimise the appearance of pores, and blur fine lines for a radiant, soft-focus pearl finish. It also hydrates and locks in moisture with hyaluronic acid, contains coconut oil which aids in hydration, and can be worn as standalone skincare or under makeup for more staying power.
Main image source: Getty Images
