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1. MAC ‘Prep + Prime’ Skin Refined Zone Treatment (buy it here): I bought this primer after seeing Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog use it in her video on using the MAC Masterclass makeup brushes. It can go under or over makeup, smooths pores and instantly mattifies my skin. It keeps me pretty matte for most of a day, but isn’t quite enough for the middle of the summer or a long, 12-14 hour day.
2. Milk of Magnesia Primer: Have I talked about this enough yet? Yes, it’s the ultimate mattifier. It can go under (but not over) makeup, I reach for it all summer long for my t-zone.
3. Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Primer (buy it here): Lightweight and it hides all pores. Perfect for when I’m feeling less than perfect myself!
4. Freeze 24-7 Freeze and Go (buy it here): This is even more pore erasing, I reach for this primer most days.
5. IT Cosmetics Tightline (buy it here): Technically this is a primer, so it made the list! Really, this is a black mascara with the smallest brush you’ve ever seen. It gets really close to the base of your lashes, so similar to the tightlining eye liner technique, it helps make your lashes look much thicker.
6. NYX Shadow Base (buy it here): I talk about this stuff all the time, but really I love it. This is the shadow primer I use most often, I love that it covers up all of my blood vessels and keeps shadows looking great all day.
7. Too Faced Shadow Insurance (buy it here): If I’m going to wear something that is a bit more powdery, I’ll use this one. They also make a great glitter version!
8. Urban Decay Potion Primer (buy it here): Also great for everyday eye makeup, a little less “tacky” than TFSI, so better for normal shadows.
9. ELF Glitter Primer: Pretty amazing stuff! This grabs onto any glittery or powdery shadows and just won’t let go all day long!
10. Mally Lipstick Primer: I’m not sure why this isn’t available alone (it comes in the perfect red lip kit), but it is a whitish liquid that dries to clear. It makes any lippie last all day long, I swear to you! Even with all of my coffee sipping. I save it for “special” occasions. Which means I break it out about once every 6 months. I should probably use this more often!
What are your favorite primers?
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!
UDPP is the best eyeshadow primer EVER. I'm obsessed!
Thanks for sharing. I am also a believer in primers. I've never heard of Milk of Magnesium, so it's nice to learn about it here. Always need a good mattifying primer.
I forgot to list UD Ozone lip pencil as a primer! Love your list 🙂
What is your take on the alkalinity of Milk of Magnesia and its effect on facial skin? Even Paula Begoun (who promoted MOM as a primer since at least the 90s) now suggests that the pH is too high for regular use.
Wow Milk of Magnesium is a new one for me! Very interesting, thanks for sharing that!
Pretty sure I also have a Too Faced primer *somewhere*. Need to find it!
I swear by my UDPP! Ant it lasts forever! I bought mine a year ago, use it every day, and it isn't even halfway gone.
Ooooh, I want the Freeze N' Go, I'm always looking for something to erase pores!
I didn't include the NYX because the pot is so small that it's a pain for me to use it regularly. If I had done 10 just for eyes though I'd have included that one and the ELF Glitter.
I really need to try UDPP… so many people rave about it… great blog by the way. Please check out mine, im a newbie ahah
Amy x
Please be careful with milk of magnesia — it has a pH of 10.5, which destroys your skin's ability to ward off unpleasant bacteria, could cause contact dermatitis, and interferes with extracellular lipid processing and your skin's ability to shed dead layers.
I couldn't live without TFSI. I like it much more than UDPP. I haven't tried any MAC products in ages. I think I unknowingly boycotted them. Sick of so many LE releases!
I looove the Elf primer. It has replaced all my expensive primers. It also has shea butter and jojoba oil 😀 And I want to try Nyx now 😀
Nice list. I didn't even think of adding in shadows primers or lip primers — I'd have to do Top 25 if I did that!