Want your make-up efforts to last all day? The best primer is a must for your beauty kit

When you’ve spent time getting your make-up exactly right, wouldn’t you quite like it if it stuck around all day or night? That’s virtually impossible without using the best primer.

This often overlooked step does more than just keep your make-up in place, though. As well as locking down make-up, primers can tackle all manner of skin concerns, from boosting radiance to moisturising and even filling in pores and fine lines.

Why is the best primer such an essential step?

‘Primers are an essential part of my personal make-up routine and a must have in my make-up kit, as they are the first step to a flawless base!’ says professional make-up artist Cher Webb. ‘They are a game-changing product, working in harmony with your skin and foundation, merging and blending for a seamless complexion.

If your only experience of primers are those heavy silicone-based formulas that can cause irritating pilling, then it’s time to become reacquainted. These days many primers come with skincare benefits that help to look after your complexion, while simultaneously helping your best foundation stay in place for longer. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 (often in the form of niacinamide) and witch hazel extract are now common in modern day primers. Thankfully, you can now forget that feeling of a thick layer of something on top of your skin.

Nowadays the best primers can even soak up excess oil and blur imperfections. They’re able to camouflage the appearance of large pores and smooth out bumpy skin to help your make-up apply more evenly. If you struggle with concealing redness or rosacea, there are colour-correcting primers that will neutralise it. There are now some formulations that even protect your skin from the sun’s rays, with the addition of a high SPF.

‘Primers are designed to adhere to your foundation and can provide amazing results when using the appropriate primer for your skin type,’ Cher adds. ‘They act as an instant filter by reducing the appearance of redness, and adding instant radiance and glow while blurring imperfections.’

With that in mind, we’ve done our research and have tried and tested as many of the best primers on the market. Below you’ll find our handpicked edit of the very best formulas to shop now – and we think you’re guaranteed to find a new make-up bag staple. Happy priming!

The post The best primer for mattifying, blurring, locking down make-up and more appeared first on Marie Claire.