Primers have received a lot of importance over the last few years. But why? What makes primers a must-have in anyone’s makeup drawer?
Primers for the skin work basically the same as primer in painting. The purpose of primer is to create a barrier between the skin and makeup while also smoothing out and “filling in” any imperfections of the canvass, in this case your skin. Although, most primers do not clog the pores the molecules are generally large and lay on top of the skin and therefore should always be washed off at night.
Primers are not an end all be all to achieving all day wear. They do help maintain makeup on the skin longer because of the barrier that is created but there seems to be a big misconception that primers are going to make your makeup last for endless hours. If you touch your skin, you inevitably will remove makeup. The only way for makeup to last is to not touch your skin. Primers also help to limit the effects of the natural oils and skin cells that are present on your skin, at all times. The natural oils of the face, like most oils, break down product as time goes on. The natural oils of the skin are meant to be a protective barrier between your skin and the natural environment, which generally includes the sun, cold air, dry winds etc.… however, primers “suppress” that action in order for makeup to last longer than it would if the primer was not present.
Primers come in all shapes and size now, back a couple of decades ago there were only a handful available and all for the same skin type. Now, companies are creating primers specifically for each basic skin type. For example, Sappho makes primers for both dry and oily skin types. If you’re unsure which one is best for you, think about what type of moisturizer you would prefer/use. If you like oils or thick creams as moisturizers, opt for the primer geared for dry skin. If you’re skin looks shiny throughout the day or feels slick by mid-day go for the primer for oily skin. If you have mixed skin, choose the one that helps the issue you want to control the most. For example, if your dry skin is itchy or makes your fine lines/wrinkles appear more obvious then reach for the primer for dry skin as this will add hydration to those areas and make your makeup go on smoother. If parts of your skin get oily and it really bothers you then opt for the primer for oily skin to help control oil production. I personally, have oily skin but because I have such a phobia of fine lines/wrinkles I am a big believer in keeping my skin super moisturized and opt for the primer for dry skin, but I apply a pea size amount.
Palm oil is a type of edible vegetable oil that is derived from the palm fruit, grown on the African oil palm tree. Oil palms are originally from Western Africa, but can flourish wherever heat and rainfall are abundant. Today, palm oil is grown throughout Africa, Asia, North America, and South America, with 85% of all palm oil globally produced and exported from Indonesia and Malaysia; but most of the time not using sustainable measures.
Harm to Animals and the Environment
A large proportion of palm oil expansion occurs at the expense of biodiversity and ecosystems in the countries it is produced. Currently, a third of all mammal species in Indonesia are considered to be critically endangered as a consequence of this unsustainable development that is rapidly encroaching on their habitat.
In Borneo and Sumatra, the main threat to the survival of orangutan populations in the wild is the huge expansion of palm oil plantations, with methods such as slash and burn being used to clear the land, driving the orangutans from their habitats. Over 90% of orangutan habitat has been destroyed in the last 20 years, and as such, is considered “a conservation emergency” by the UN. An estimated 1000-5000 orangutans are killed each year for this development. The orangutan is a keystone species and plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
There are over 300,000 different animals found throughout the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra, many of which are injured, killed and displaced during deforestation. In addition, palm oil development increases accessibility of animals to poachers and wildlife smugglers who capture and sell wildlife as pets, use them for medicinal purposes or kill them for their body parts. The destruction of rainforests in Borneo and Sumatra is therefore not only a conservation emergency, but a major animal welfare crisis as well.
Harm to Humans
While palm oil production does provide employment to many people in Southeast Asia, the industry has also had devastating impacts on groups of people in this region. All too often, the government’s main interest in the country’s economy leads them to allow corporations to take the land owned by indigenous peoples for their own financial benefit.
The palm oil industry has been linked to major human rights violations, including child labour in remote areas of Indonesia and Malaysia.
Sustainable?
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established in 2004 to promote the production and use of sustainable palm oil for people, the planet and prosperity.
The RSPO is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to unite stakeholders form all sectors of the palm oil industry, including environmental and social NGOs. RSPO is currently the largest sustainability-focused organization within the palm oil sector, however its standards do not ban deforestation or destruction of peatlands for the development of oil palm plantations.
AT INDI & ARY WE SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT CHOOSE TO BE PALM-OIL FREE OR ARE RSPO CERTIFIED OR OBTAIN THEIR PALM-OIL FROM A RSPO CERTIFIED SUPPLIER.
