Priming. Are You Doing It Right?

Article by BR Amelia

It’s a crime not to prime.  It’s a crime not to prime.  It’s a crime not to prime.

At BRHQ we chant it loud and proud on a regular basis and we stand by our belief. Yep, if it’s a makeup day you can be sure our faces are covered in the good stuff before we let a finger or brush or sponge loaded with product anywhere near our skin. But is it just the general face area that requires priming or do we need to get specific? Will one primer fit all?

No, one won’t. While a stock standard face primer (one suited to your skin type) is great for helping makeup to adhere beautifully, some parts of your head need a little extra help.

Eyelids can be funny old things. They’re quite good at creasing eyeshadow and some people even find that it eats their eyeshadow. One minute you’re rocking a bright turquoise the next your lid is barely blue. If you find you belong to the eyeshadow-eating creases-galore club then an eyelid primer is a must. And for everyone else? They’re still a must if only because they keep your eyeshadow looking excellent for longer. Eyelid primers are generally thicker than a normal primer and they work by ensuring your eyeshadow adheres to your lid, they can even give the colour more impact, and a really good eyelid primer will wipe out creasing. Our BR Member’s pick? Art Deco’s Eye Shadow Base gets a solid 5/5.

It’s not only your lids that can do with priming, your lips can too! Lip primers work to smooth out lines while making sure the colour lasts longer and the chances of feathering and smearing are minimised. They can also add moisture; perfect for those who are fans of matte lipsticks, which can be so drying. What gets the top tick on BR? MAC’s Prep and Prime Lip.

Priming lips and lids makes sense, but what about eyelash primers? Because that’s a thing too. Eyelash primers are applied with a wand before you hit your eyelashes up with mascara. Like other primers they work to keep the product on longer, but they can also work to care for your lashes by moisturising them, as well as helping create volume, length and even curl. So have any BR members jumped on board the mascara primer train? You bet they have! Sarahbeautynz calls it a ‘luxurious necessity’ and rates Estee Lauder’s Little Black Primer 4.7/5. 

Is your prone to frizz? Is it heat styled? Does it need a little love? You know what it needs… hair primer. Hair primer’s not just your usual styling product in disguise either, it works to condition and smooth your hair, as well as helping your hair hold its style longer. They’re easy to use too, just apply to damp hair, and then go about your usual styling business. So which hair primer is getting a lot of buzz? Check out Bumble And Bumble Prep Foundation.

So there you have it, primers you need now! Are you already up with the priming game? Will you be searching out a new primer in order to perfect your look? Chat away…