Archived Post

Do you find face primer necessary?


Do you find face primer necessary? Why/why not? When do you use it?

.

I don’t find it necessary for a few hours of wear, but if I know I need my makeup to look flawless for 8+ hours, then I do find primer useful.

44 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
nicola Avatar

i have never used it as i have super sensitive skin and try to use the absolute minimum on my face always usually studio tint and petticoat on my cheeks and im done

Amy Avatar

I do find face primers necessary – it is more than keeping your makeup flawless; rather, it protects your skin for not having makeap applied directly to the face, and it’s actually better for the skin if you often apply makeup.

shontay Avatar

Absolutely! I used to make fun of people for wearing it until, on a whim I tried a Chanel primer. It illuminates my skin, makes foundation go on smoother and minimizes laugh lines that I have. I have sensitive skin and eczema, but this Chanel primer does not irritate me at all. HG product right there.

marisa Avatar

my makeup always wears off and i definitely need it for at least 8 hours a day…..so i’m currently on the hunt for my HG primer because mine neverrrr lasts. tomorrow my hourglass mineral veil primer SPF 15 arrives in the mail and i’m really excited…..only thing i have found that fulfills my primer requirements: natural-based, not silicone-based, with SPF. and it has such overwhelmingly good reviews, i can’t wait!

Princess Lolli Avatar

Yes. Mostly because I use MAC’s P+P SPF and thus need it for sun protection (I’ll even wear it on days I skip foundation completely) but also because I get shiny faster if I skip it. I love that stuff. My skin looks better instantly. I just wish it came in a larger size as I go through it quickly.

tg Avatar

I only use it on my nose and the larger pores around that area. If I apply it to my cheeks, chin or forehead, I get terrible breakouts.

It’s a shame the silicone-free Korres primer turned out to be a dud. 🙁

Musingonbeauty Avatar

Not really, I find it makes the whole look heavier more than anything else. But I do use the MUFE SPF50 one when I’m on holidays and need protection but want to wear foundation or powder.

livnzoe Avatar

i use my mac skin refined zone every day!.. for me a primer is absolutly necessary!! Yesterday i applied my foundation once more without a primer.. but after 5 hours my face looked horrible.. because i had to touch up a few times with my msf natural!!

has anyone a recommendation for a very good face primer?? thank you all

(weird english? = i’m from switzerland..)

sara Avatar

I don’t think that a face primer all over the face is necessary for a everyday makeup! I use it only in special occasions! I use more often a primer for T zone like MAC Prep+ prime Skin Refined Zone…I love it especially in spring/summer season 😉

Dini Avatar

I always use face primer. I never used to be able to figure out how people got through the day without their makeup slicking off on everything. It was a happy day when I was introduced to primer.

Joey Avatar

I usually wear primer to enhance my skin on special occasions or when I know lots of pictures will be taken. It makes my skin look more radiant and glowy.

Not a “must” for my everyday routine.

Val Avatar

Absolutely! Especially with Hong Kong’s weather which is very humid and hot during the summer and have air conditioning every where…In fact, I mix MAC Prep + Prime SPF 50 with Make Up For Ever HD Primer in green color together. The MAC one helps control oil and the green MUFE primer helps to neutralize the reddness on the face….just love them…

rukia Avatar

Hi Christine, I’m new in using primers. I would like to ask if I have moisturizers, if I apply the moisturizer first would it not ruin the use of the primer?

Thanks

shuz4ever Avatar

I’ve never used a face primer…never needed it… but lately i’ve noticed my foundation turns orange on me after a few hours of wear. May be if i wore a primer i’ll prevent the oompa-loompa effect. What do u reco Christine? Any fav brand?

Anitacska Avatar

Probably not absolutely essential, but since I’ve discovered them, I’ve been using them much more and there is definitely a difference. My favourite one is Guerlain Meteorites face primer, the one with the little pearls inside, but it is pretty pricey, so I sometimes alternate with Avon’s Magix which also works quite well too (and has SPF 20 which the Guerlain one doesn’t have). I also have a Dior one which I haven’t even opened yet, but the MUA talked me into it when I bought some eyeshadows. So I’m okay for face primer for a while, lol.

Christine B. Avatar

No. My skin doesn’t get really oily so I don’t need one. Plus my skin is very sensitive and acne prone, I don’t want to put anything on my face that isn’t necessary.

happybadfish Avatar

Absolutly. Foundation just sits on my face and looks cakey without it. I tend to have skin a bit on the dry side. Primer gives my skin a nice silky feel. I wear it even if I am not wearing foundation. LOVES IT.

Emma Avatar

Face primer is def a must have thing for me! Wherever I’m going and whatever I’m wearing I would never skip priming my face!
It smoothes out my uneven skin, makes my make up look so much more flawless, keeps it in place and absorbs my natural oils 😉

chibu74 Avatar

naaaah, i don’t use a primer, but love to try and see what diff. it makes, any suggestion for a good primer for oily skin?

Scientific Housewife Avatar

I don’t actually own a face primer because if I find the right foundation, it should stay on pretty long!

MichL Avatar

It is VERY necessary. Anything, lotion, makeup primer, “pore-filler”,etc., are all primers and are necessary. At the VERY LEAST, lotion should be used daily…with sunscreen 🙂

Maycon Arêas/Green_Neon Avatar

i think depends, what your skin tipe, the weather, maybe a dry skin doesn’t need any primer, just clean and moist, an oily skin in a really dry weather just need and simple mattifier, i don’t know cuz i have uber oily skin and i live in a humid plase so i need a primmer and a mattifier…

Eileen Avatar

I don’t use primer per se , but I do use Chanel’s UV Essentiel SPF 50. It does triple duty as a face serum, sunscreen, and primer all in one product. I’ve noticed that my make-up goes on smoother and wears better when I use it.

Mirna Avatar

Face primer is a must for an oily skinned girl like me. I am in love with Benefits Dr Feelgood right now. I finally learned how to apply it correctly. I was about to return it when a MUA @ Sephora told me how to apply it best, w/my fingers!

Brittany Avatar

I wish primer worked for me. For some reason, every time I use primer, my makeup basically wears off. It really doesn’t do that when I don’t wear primer, though. It’s strange. I have tried Benefit’s That Gal, some type of Clarin’s in a little red jar, and a peach-ish Smashbox one. Same outcome with all of them. My skin is prone to dryness, so it’s not like it is oily and it’s slipping off my face. I have even tried using different foundations. No such luck! Does that happen to anybody else?

Joy Avatar

Every day. I only started doing this about a year ago, and its made the biggest difference of anything I’ve ever use. I use different brands, but like Smashbox the best.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!