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.