5 Face Primers the Pros Swear By

5 Face Primers the Pros Swear By

We consider face primer foundation’s ultimate sidekick – the Robin to its Batman, it works behind the scenes to ensure that all goes smoothly (pun intended). With secret powers of its own, its fills fine lines, makes pores disappear and even diffuses light to make skin look more glowing and radiant. In other words, it’s a must when it comes to your face makeup routine. To get the scoop on the best face primers in the industry, we consulted with five top makeup artists for their go-to picks; read on to see if your favorite made the list.

The Pick: Giorgio Armani Light Makeup Master PrimerThe Praise: Professional makeup artist Ashley Rebecca says this light-reflecting primer is her go-to, especially for clients who are looking to even out their skin tone: “With crushed mother of pearl and hydrating components, it’s the perfect accent product for any foundation!”

The Pick: Smashbox Photo Finish PrimerThe Praise: To create a velvety-smooth, soft-focus finish, professional makeup artist Emma Willis swears by Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. “It helps foundation glide on smoothly, it’s made of yummy ingredients and it reduces all the little imperfections like pores and fine lines – plus it gives skin that silky texture that really does help makeup stay put for those long hours of photoshoots!”

The Pick: Laura Mercier Radiance PrimerThe Praise: “I use Laura Mercier Radiance Primer on all my ladies, whatever their age or skin type” saysprofessional makeup artist Tara Shakespeare. Because of the slight pearl tint, she says that it gives everyone’s skin a radiant glow when layered under foundation. Glow on!

The Pick: Lancôme La Base ProThe Praise: This oil-free foundation will not only make imperfections disappear, but also allow your foundation to stay on longer, according to Lancôme national makeup artist Ricardo Costales. He even suggests wearing it alone on the weekends for a lighter look: “Your skin will feel even and soft – you’ll fall in love with it!”

The Pick: Giorgio Armani Fluid Master PrimerThe Praise: For a perfect canvas every time, celebrity makeup artist Rhona Samuels reaches forGiorgio Armani Fluid Master Primer. “It’s silicone based,” she says, “so it smooths fine lines and imperfections for a perfect glow to the skin.”