When it comes to primers, you either swear by them or you have mixed feelings and generally avoid them, but the primer devotees will tell you that they lay the groundwork for your foundation, filling in lines and blurring imperfections while others see them as an extra step in an already lengthy routine. When it comes to primers and the role they play in makeup application, not all are created equal. They have evolved well beyond the veil that would sit atop our skin like a thin layer of Teflon for our foundation to glide over, now offering skincare benefits, oil-controlling properties and formulations made without chemicals and synthetics.
Regardless of what camp you find yourself a part of, we turned to Amybeth Duclos, principal and celebrity artist for Bespoke Beauty to get a pro makeup artist’s take on primers and how we can benefit from them.
For Duclos, primers are a “can’t live without” product and an essential part of any makeup application, due to the advancement in their formulations and the multiple benefits they provide. “Primers are a key step to prepare the skin for maximum results from your foundation,” says Duclos. “Whether it is staying power you are looking for, an overall flawless finish to be photo ready or a base to help your makeup go on smoothly, a primer is key in helping you achieve these results.” Duclos loves primers for their multipurpose qualities and their ability to enhance various skin types. For a “glow from within” look Duclos always stocks a primer with light-diffusing properties in her kit for a beautiful spotlit finish to the skin.
To help you in your search for the primer that is right for you, we’ve pulled together some of the latest and greatest including some of Duclos’ top picks.
This Backlight Priming Filter ($46) from BECCA creates the perfect canvas for your makeup, extending its wear from day into night. Infused with filtering luminescent pearls, each one adds a different drop of diffused light imparting a soft-focused radiance to the skin.
