When it comes to your makeup routine, priming your skin is an important step that should not be avoided. A makeup primer is a product that creates a barrier between your skin and foundation. Many women tend to neglect using primers because they are not fully aware of the benefits of using them.
In search of some great beauty tips, I reached out to Grace Gold, a multimedia beauty expert and journalist. Based in New York City, Gold has appeared as a beauty expert on The TODAY Show, News 12 New Jersey, NBC4 New York Live, and many other syndicated news shows. She writes for multiple print and digital media outlets, including People Magazine, Elle.com, RedBook.com, and Dr. Oz’s YouBeauty.com. She provided me some great beauty tips and explained the benefits of using a makeup primer.
“Primer is key,” says Gold. “Whether your look is natural or full-on glam, using a face primer will take your look to the next level. Primer makes skin look and feel smoother, preserves the authenticity of any color you apply, and makes makeup last much longer.”
How to Choose a Primer
With so many different primers on the market, it can get quite overwhelming when looking for the best one. When searching for a primer, there are definitely different factors you must consider.
“Choose a primer according to your skin type,” says Gold. “Oily skin should go for pore-minimizing (my favorite is Benefit The Porefessional), normal to combination skin can look for tone-correcting (I love Clinique’s Superprimer range), and dry skin needs a hydrating formula (It Cosmetics No 50 Serum Anti-Aging Collagen Veil Primer is my recommendation).”
How to Apply Primer
Primer can be applied with a foundation brush or with your fingers. With most primers, a little goes a long way so you should only have to use a small amount.
“Apply the primer to your face, and let it sink in for a minute before applying makeup,” says Gold. “Or just apply the primer alone on bare face days to enjoy the blurring and smoothing benefits, too.”
Don’t Forget Eye Primer
“Eye primer is another essential to keep product in place and to prevent smearing in this delicate area that’s especially prone,” says Gold. “I often wear eye primer alone to brighten my lids and give my face a burst of well-rested vibrance. My favorite eye primers are Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer (which also doubles as coverup) and Urban Decay Primer Potion.” “You can also just use your own foundation or concealer in a pinch,” she adds.
“These may seem like extra steps to add on to your routine, but I actually find that they make the time I spend on my face in the morning worth it, since it will last all day – and I can use less makeup, too!” says Gold. “Just about every celebrity you see on television or on the red carpet is rocking a look that owes its beauty to primer.”
You can read more about Grace at www.gracegold.com. You can also connect with her via social media: Twitter & Instagram: @msgracegold and Facebook.com/gracegoldbeauty.
