By Hannah Powling
It’s a fact that primers are very much an essential part of your makeup regime. While this has always been known – this season’s makeup trends of natural healthy looking skin really highlight just how important prepping your skin is to create the perfect canvas.
While lots of dewy skin is so in right now; those of us with quite oily t-zones and larger pores may be a little weary of slathering on the super shiny foundations and oils – even if we do want a little glow. This can lead to breakouts, makeup that doesn’t last well as it slides off, and the kind of ‘shiny’ look we’re not quite going for…
So, the way to keeping a perfectly smooth base for anyone with oilier skin to add their makeup on to is down to these essentials: Pore Minimising/Mattifying Primers. They work to blur and minimise the appearance of pores and wrinkles, smooth the skins texture, and control oil along the way to keep your makeup looking fresher for much longer.
Find the primer that’s right for your skin in our round-up of tested formulas; starting our list with the most velvety matte products, going down to the slightly lighter mattifying gels to help even out your complexion…
Benefit
Benefit comes out the most mattifying – as it is a thick, silicone super velvety formula and completely gets rid of any shine on the skin as you smooth it on. Kind of like liquid powder. Instantly blurs any imperfections on the skin as it mattes (which shiny skin can exaggerate), to give a more flawless, even appearance. Perfect for more oily skin types and hey, you may want to go foundation-free after using this as it delivers such a visible difference. An ideal solution for excessively/oily skin.
Elizabeth Arden
Elizabeth Arden’s newest addition is a nude coloured balm; which smoothes across and disappears into the skin to leave a velvet texture. Because it sinks in so well I would say a little goes…a little way. But so perfect for the T-zone, evenly blurring the look of pores, fine lines and wrinkles to help give your skin an all-over balance. Improves the longevity of your makeup massively, is suitable for all skin types, and smells lovely too.
The Body Shop
The Body Shop Instablur is a lightweight velvet-texture formula – when you squeeze it out it almost looks lumpy but then smoothes over the skin beautifully, giving a smooth soft canvas. Made with marula oil so it won’t dry out your skin; just keeps it looking fresh.
Smashbox
Clear, gel-like silk formula containing vitamins A & E, oil-free with grape seed extract and green tea – Smashbox’s best selling primer smoothes onto the skin, reducing fine lines, pores and gives flawless velvet skin. You might not be able to stop feeling your skin after using this – it is crazy soft.
MAC Cosmetics
More of a creamy lotion texture, but still softens the skins texture with its special-effect silicones, and contains light-reflecting glimmer to even out the appearance of your skin. No, your skin won’t look glittery with this on, it is just one of MAC’s clever formulas to help reflect the light off the skin from the inside out for an illuminous finish. Non-drying but blots out excess oil and holds on your foundation well. Good for normal to slightly oily skin.
Make Up For Ever
Squeezes out as a milky cream-gel and feels soft and lightweight. Great for all over control; and makeup smooths on effortlessly on top. Controls excess oil to help unwanted shine at bay, without drying out your skin in the process. Very nice for a long lasting, even finish for your makeup.
Benefit
Although the name suggests this product may be super strong – we found this one was a more lightweight version. It is water based, and doesn’t have the silicone feel. It gives an instant de-shine and helps with the oil control throughout the day. Also contains diamond powder for a pore blurring effect. Fancy!
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