Best in Beauty: Primer Edition

Best in Beauty: Primer Edition

In recent years I’ve become something of a makeup hoarder. I try EVERYTHING but tend to use just a few items in each category. I usually have a set routine that I do day to day but mix it up every couple of months (with the exception of a few items that I use longterm). Last year I set out to find the perfect primers and ended up with dozens of products that were mostly sort of meh. If you read Mae Amor regularly, then you may remember that I recently did a HUGE clean up and got rid of tons of stuff. Well, that included my makeup. I kept a bit but ditched most things that don’t suit me and these are the five primers that made the cut.

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield (c/o) – This is probably my favorite primer of all time. It’s one for all seasons. It’s mattifying without being drying. In fact, I find it quite moisturizing. It’s perfectly balanced. I started using Invisiblur just before I went to Hawaii last May and used it all summer and fall. It’s smoothing, anti-aging, and the perfect prep for foundation. My favorite thing about it is that it has SPF 30, which I find is rare in a primer. The texture is similar to other silicone-based primers, but is far superior in my opinion. It generally improves the appearance of your skin so it could reasonably be worn alone on those no-makeup days. The only downside that I have found to it is the price. To me, it’s a little expensive to be my everyday primer.

it Cosmetics No. 50 Primer – This lightweight primer is another obvious fave. I received it as a gift at an event and used it all up. Just a pump or two of this instantly revives my skin. It’s similar to the Murad primer in that it is anti-aging and moisturizing, but this is an entirely different in texture. This formula is more of a lightweight lotion (not watery, just light). Even though this primer has oils in it, I had no problems using it in the summer. I just paired it with a matte foundation and was good to go. This product, though cheaper than the Murad product, is also a bit expensive for the size of the bottle, IMHO.

Make Up For Ever Hydrating Primer (c/o) – This has been my go-to primer lately. When it’s cold out, I need an extra level of moisture to prep for my makeup or it just looks cakey and dry. No bueno. I’ve been using this daily and love the formula. It’s much more affordable than the others, but is by no means cheap.

Make Up For Ever Mattifying Primer –  This mattifying primer is mentioned here because I like this as an alternative to its sister above. This is a great option for those with oily skin or for those who, like me, like to combat that shine in the warmer months. I’ve used this a couple times in the recent months on those uncharacteristically warm  November/December days when I found my face a little shiny and thought it was perfect. Same price as the option above. The formula/texture are a little different from the above, as they should be. Definitely think I’ll get more use out of this one in the summer.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – This final option was a favorite of mine earlier last year. I haven’t used it in months, but I think it’s worth mentioning because I used up the travel tube and bought it again (not something I do often). I really loved this product and I think I only stopped using it because I received new options to try. This one is more of a gel/light lotion consistency and smooths skin for foundation. I’m definitely going to get this one out again once I use up some of the others.

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield | it Cosmetics No. 50 Primer| Make Up For Ever Hydrating Primer (c/o) | Make Up For Ever Mattifying Primer (c/o) | Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

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As I mentioned above, I’m a little bit of a makeup hoarder, so I’ve decided to start sharing more of my finds with you. Every week I’ll do a different spotlight with my favorites from a different category. This week, primers; next week, foundations (or something like that). If you have any suggestions for categories or products, please let me know!

Happy Tuesday!

Much love,

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