Renowned makeup artist Karen Alder reveals her thoughts on this selection of eight unique and indispensable primers from some of our favourite brands.
Prime Time
Clear, fresh-looking skin without a hint of makeup is a big trend this season, and primers are key as they can be used in place of makeup to smooth and add radiance to skin. Primers also create a flawless canvas for base makeup and can help to blur imperfections. Find the one to suit you with Karen's expert guidance.
shop primer
radiance boosting
laura mercier
foundation primer radiance
“This is lovely with a beautiful, creamy texture. It evens out the skin tone right away and immediately adds radiance. It’s moisturising so great for dry or dull skin and it feels like it’s giving me a really smooth base for the foundation to stick to.”
radiance boosting
NEW
becca
First Light Priming Filter
“This colour-correcting primer is very exciting – it’s purple so it helps with any dullness or sallowness. It’s amazing; very light, like an eye cream, but really takes away the darkness from under my eyes. This is great for more mature skin as it leaves a non-shimmery glow.”
radiance boosting
becca
Backlight Priming filter
“This adds a dramatic all-over radiance to skin. Great for a strobed look, it has a really powerful glow that’s fantastic on younger skin. To use more subtly, mix it with foundation. This helps to re-texturise and really smooth - skin feels like silk and foundation applies really nicely on top.”
mattify
NEW
NARS
PORE & SHINE CONTROL PRIMER
“This has a smoothing and mattifying effect, so it’s great for anyone who has an oily t-zone or large pores. It feels like a skincare product and even works on top of makeup. This has anti-ageing benefits too as the technology that fills pores has filled in the fine lines around my mouth.”
mattify
hourglass
Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15
“Great for winter, this stops skin looking dull. It evens out skin tone with natural coverage and a lovely lightweight feel. It visibly colour corrects – it’s taken out all the redness from my skin. This is a brilliant primer for oily skin as it mattifies and leaves skin perfectly smooth.”
smoothing
by terry
Hyaluronic Hydra-Primer
“This stuff is amazing; I use it a lot in my kit. When you apply this everything goes into soft focus. It’s just perfect – hydrating, blurring, smoothing, and there is a certain luminosity to it – an old-school film star glow, as if you’re standing in moonlight.”
sun protection
eve lom
Flawless Radiance Primer SPF 30
“Like a glass of water for your skin, this primer is highly moisturising – perfect for dry skin. It feels soft and fresh and evens out the skin tone. It’s calmed redness too; I’d recommend it for sensitive skin. It leaves the complexion with a soft glow – it’s my skin, but better.”
sun protection
chantecaille
Ultra Sun Protection SPF 45 PA ++ Anti-Glycation Primer
“This is a bit different as it has a really thin liquid texture and its focus is on protecting skin with a great high SPF. The texture is ultra-light; it’s like water. Sunscreen is not always good under makeup, but this is really smoothing and dries down almost to a powder finish."
