Prime- time primers!

Primers. What are they? There are a few new ones out in April/May, so here’s a quick breakdown of what they do. Basically, they ‘prime’ the skin – that is get it ready for your foundation. So, primers fit into your skincare regime after your daily moisturiser, before your makeup routine.

“Every good artist knows that the key to a good foundation in every masterpiece is a skillfully primed canvas,” says Tom Pecheux, Estee Lauder’s Creative Makeup Director. “Primers are essential to a perfect canvas, giving you an even, smooth foundation application, greater ‘pop’ in your colour pigments and a flawless, lasting finish.”

Estee Lauder launch two new primers in April – Matte Perfecting Primer (£21.50, esteelauder.co.uk) for Normal Combination Skin and Oily Skin, and Illuminating Perfecting Primer (£21.50) for Normal Combination Skin and Dry Skin.

The former is a light-diffusing, velvety finish primer which refines, mattifies and creates the look of even skintone. it’s a gel-cream formula which blots away excess oil, as it calms, smoothes and soothes the skin. It contains skin-calming Green Tea and Vitamin E to help rebalance the skin’s texture.

The latter is a luminous finish primer which instantly awakens dull skin, illuminating and highlighting the skin. it has a hydro-gel texture to it which adds luminosity. It has hydrators like Vitamin E and Shea Butter in it to nourish the skin.

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Airbrush Away Primer (£19.50, boots.com), which launched earlier this year, has a silicone base which helps it to provide a smooth ‘canvas’ for your foundation. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it gives you the ‘airbrushed effect’ but it does smooth the skin.

And in May, Boots 17 bring out their Miracle Matte Skin Primer (£4.99) which will be more for oilier skins again, and will help complexions stay shine-free. “Apply a thin layer of primer over the face and eyes area and massage into the skin,” says 17 make-up Artist, Vanesa Guallar. “Not only will it keep shine at bay, but the light formula acts as the perfect canvas for foundation.”

There are loads more primers on the market, make sure you choose the right one for your skin type, and your foundation will thank you!