What’s been your go-to primer and foundation combination?
Too Faced Hangover RX and Too Faced Born This Way.
— Christine
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Primers/face prep: DermaE x SunkissedAlba Facial Oil, CeraVe AM Moisturizer/SPF, Milani Soft Focus Glow Enhancer, and Smashbox Primerizer all mixed together.
Foundation: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream applied with my fingers. I usually place, spread, and then pat it in to get rid of any streaks.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Makeup. I don’t use primer because I’ve found that it works best when my skin is just moisturized (CeraVe).
It’s summer so I’ve used Smashbox Photo Finish Anti Shine Base Primer and Bobbi Brown BB Cream Spf 35 in light. Odd bc I never wear primer but I want to use it up. Been working quite well!
It’s not a primer, per se, but it acts like one – Lise Watier’s SunSmart has the velvety finish of a primer with the added benefit of sunscreen built in. I also really like the (discontinued, of course!) Estee Edit Treat+Prime+Glow (or whatever the heck it’s called) and Becca’s Backlight Priming Filter (again, or whatever the name is). Shiseido’s Ibuki primer is great for when I need heat and humidity proof in summer.
I need to check that Lise Watier’s SunSmart for fall. I like that is a mineral oil-free sunscreen.
Nicole, I’ve been using it for years (since the days when it came in a pump tube, which I much preferred). It’s a terrific product. I think they came out with a tinted version too, a while back, though that might have been LE.
Thank you, Mariella. I have to try it. Lise Watier has some excellent products. I still remember one of her foundations which I adored (Teint Vitalité Mineraliste Foundation). It came in a tube, with a built-in brush. The brush could be removed and washed. It was discontinued, unfortunately.
Becca Backlight and It Cosmetics CC Cream. I’m thinking of trying some of the new foundations that have come out recently (Urban Decay, ABH, Fenty, Pat McGrath), but I’m overwhelmed with options and also really liking this combo.
I haven’t found a primer that does much for my skin. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. lol Is there a good one for combo oily skin?
I love the GA Luminous Silk…it’s my fave foundation. I also have been enjoying the Juvia’s Place one…it’s full coverage but I use just a little and it does pretty well without looking like too much.
I wish wish wish that Too Faced didn’t lean so yellow even in their pinky toned foundation/concealers. Their BTW concealer is so nice. But I’m super glad it works for others!
Milk’s Hydro Grip Primer and CoverFx’s Power Play Foundation or Fenty’s Pro Filt’r Longwear Soft Matte Foundation, sometimes I will mix the foundations depending on my skin tone that day.
Past week I’ve been using FAB Coconut Moisturizing Primer to prime my face. Then mixing MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation in NC41 with some Lumene BB cream, because the Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof can seem too “heavy” and thick unless I do. Setting with WnW Reserve Your Cabana.
I usually use multiple products for each step of my routine and that is the case with primer. I use Tatcha Primer over my nose, middle of my forehead, under eyes and on my lids. I use Revlon Blurring primer (pink not white) over my cheeks and then I use Smashbox Primerizer everywhere else. I add NYX Waterproof Eye Primer over the Tatcha and then MAC Prep and Prime over lips.
Current foundation I am loving: Have been using the Dior Forever Glow in 2N now for about three weeks steadily. I usually add Guerlain Meteorites Cushion before the foundation. If I am just putting something on for basic makeup I will frequently use the Boscia CC cream (I think it might have been discontinued or just not being carried at Sephora anymore) or one of my cushion foundations, WNW, Sulwhasoo, etc.
Half NYX Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer and half e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer with either BH Cosmetics Naturally Flawless Foundation in Ivory or bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream in Opal. Which foundation I use depends on how good my skin is and how hot it is outside.
Non-primer primer=Tatcha dewy skin cream
Foundation: UD Stay Naked Weightless – fabulous foundation for my dry mature skin. Even more fabulous shade choices. I am 20NN + 30CG (yay! ??? A cool toned olive!!!)
Plenty of new foundations churning out. I’m still shocked I have managed to pass on Mother’s offerings. It really comes down to hating most primers so dubious about whether I would be enthralled enough and also the price of the foundation. I’m certain I will need two bottles for a really good match and sticker shock has held me back. Two hundred dollars for foundation would have to take 20 years off my face. I would love to try the powder, but I’m not in the least impressed with the packaging (thank you youtubers).
I loooove NARS Radiant Tinted Moisturizer this summer. As of primers, I don’t use it everyday, but I love Marc Jacobs Coconut primer & Becca First & Backlight priming filters.
I still love the FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie but I’m also really enjoying the Revolution Pro range – the Radiant Peach, Hydra Matte and Goddess Glow primers all suit my skin quite well, as does the Makeup Revolution Star Primer.
And I’m just using the foundation I mixed up myself from various options that weren’t quite ideal…
I’ve been interested in trying the FAB smoothie, does it smell strongly of coconut? If so, does it dissipate? My better half HATES coconut smells. 🙂
It’s a very sweet, kind of baked coconut scent – I personally think it smells more like creme brulee that actual true to life coconut but it does have a recognizable coconut element to it. It is only noticeable when first applied and maybe for a couple of minutes after but definitely not longer term. It also has a noticeable gleam to it – it’s not exactly full on shimmery but there is a “glow” once it’s applied.
I’ve also got various sachets and small sample tubes so it shouldn’t be too hard to get some testers to try out. Good luck!
Clarins SOS Primer (Green 04), La Mer Foundation in Linen. (I know but it’s SO good on me.) I like the Clarins because it adds some radiance while evening out some of the redness around my cheeks and chin. The foundation blurs texture/pores around my nose and doesn’t emphasize dryness anywhere while still looking pretty natural. It also seems to get better as my work day goes on.
TLG, I was interested in the Green Clarins SOS Primer but I’ve noticed among the ingredients the presence of alcohol and fragrance, which a big no-no for me (treated for rosacea which has been in control for more than two years now).
I use instead the Nanoblur colour corrector green from Indeed Laboratories. This is conceived for sensitive people, has no alcohols, fragrance etc., and contains copper, zinc, magnesium which are great for reinforcing the skin barrier + Nigella Sativa Oil + the well-documented tetrapeptide-14 which reduces inflammation. It is truly a great product, very light. The brand is Canadian.
https://ca.indeedlabs.com/shop/nanoblur-colour-corrector-green/
Funny thing is, I haven’t worn any makeup since summer began because it’s too hot for me. When I am wearing makeup, it’s Becca Poreless Primer and Too Faced BTW foundation.
Primer – HangoveRx & Ole Henrickson Banana Bright on top
Foundation – Armani Luminous Silk, though this also looks good under CYO & Flower mixed.
In the humid summers we have here (yes, it’s Eastern Canada), I stopped using primers per se. The only primer is a silicone-free one recommended by Caroline Hirons, REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum.
Most of the days I use a light silicone-free moisturizer as a primer. Today I’ve used the following “concoction” which held up surprisingly well during a day with high humidity:
– On my washed but still wet face, I applied Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Hydrating Daily Skin Booster. This is a silicone-free serum, great base for summer.
– Once dried, I applied Azelaic Acid 15% on my cheeks (a pea-sized amount on each).
– Followed with DE B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, as primer. This is too light for my dry skin to be used in winter.
– Then I applied a tinted physical sunscreen, DE Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF and some powder (Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder). I almost forgot that I have this powder (bought it last year). The” refresh” effect seems to be gone, but it gave such a smooth finish. After five hours, two 10-minute walks outside and no touch-ups, my face was not shiny.
I don’t always wear primer-usually I save it for either really special occasions or really hot weather-but I’ve found that UD Optical Illusion primer plays nicely with both Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte and UD All Nighter.
SPF – Farmacy – no breakouts!!!!
Primer – Hourglass veil – smooths pores so well
Foundation – Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion – great color and I feel it really lasts all day!!!
For summer
Tatcha Silk Canvas under a mix of 1 pump of Beauty Blender Bounce Foundation + 1-2 drops of Kosas Tinted Oil Foundation.
The combo is luminous, dewy, medium coverage, and applies quickly/blends out like a dream.
Too Faced Hangover Primer and Tarte Foundcealer.