Apart from choosing the right makeup products and applying them correctly, another key to being on top of the game is ensuring your look stays put throughout the day. For this you need a good base, otherwise known as primer. This ‘makeup magnet’ saves you the hassle of touching up every few hours.
The first step is to know your skin type. Dry skin needs hyrdating/ soothing primers, oily skin benefits from mattifying primers while simple products with a short ingredient list are most suitable for sensitive skin. If you’re a bit older, go for those with antioxidants to counter fine lines and blotchy skin.
Before applying, ensure the skin is clean and moisturised. Then use a pea-sized amount only for the entire face. Using a lot of primer doesn’t necessarily mean your makeup will stay on longer. It ends up overwhelming the skin and you may look cakey.
When applying, start from the centre of your face moving outwards and upwards. Use gentle circular motions and finish by patting with open palms to absorb all the product. Also check to see if the primer is safe to use up to the eye area. Eyes are delicate organs thus we need to be careful what we apply on/ near them.
If your eyes are extremely sensitive and tend to puff up easily, you may need a special under eye primer. These help concealers to stay put while being gentle on the eyes.
The primer you select should cater for your skin’s unique needs. Watching reviews online is great, but use them only as a guide. From hyperpigmentation to oily T-zone and blemishes, ensure the product you choose addresses all if not most of them. You want a product that works for you as much as possible. For example, colour- correcting primer helps to reduce appearance of blotches.
If you have an active lifestyle or are planning to attend a packed party, use a sweat-resistant primer. You don’t want your makeup sliding off in the middle of a cocktail party!
