There’s a perfect primer for everyone

On occasions when I wear real foundation (as opposed to a CC cream or tinted moisturizer) you better believe there’s a primer under there—and of course I have a handful to choose from. Depending on the state of my skin, I have versions for reducing redness (Smashbox), minimizing pores (Pixi Beauty) and enhancing radiance (Laura Mercier).

The main point of this post is that if you’re not using a primer under your foundation, you should be. Not only do these products help keep your foundation looking fresh and fabulous all day (or night) long, they can also help address other skin concerns at the same time.

For example, Laura Mercier’s expansive range includes amazing options for blemish-prone, oily, and dry skin, along with offerings that provide SPF 50 and natural-looking bronzing. Smashbox’s lineup also features a priming mist, oil, color correction for discoloration and sun protection with extra anti-aging ingredients.

To go one step further, consider “multi-priming.” This entails using, say, an oil-control primer on your T-zone and a glow-boosting formula on your cheeks. This technique creates the optimal canvas for foundation no matter your skin type—in turn making the most of your makeup!