How To Apply Primer On Your Face So Your Makeup Doesn’t Move, According To Pro Makeup Artists

While it might be tempting to slather your face in primer, especially during warmer months, as a way of combatting sweat and shine, Joy says that applying more product doesn’t mean more staying power.

What are the disadvantages of using a primer?

While there are no specific disadvantages to using primer itself, if you’re using the incorrect primer for your skin type, the end result could achieve the opposite effect. Correctly identifying your skin type can help to avoid this. “If you’re unsure of your skin type, the safest option to prepare the skin as though it’s normal skin,” Ranti advises. “This gives you a balanced starting point and you can make small adjustments from there, rather than over-correcting in either direction.”

Another issue comes from the way your products mix with one another once layered. “Certain primers and foundations don’t play well together and can pill or separate throughout the day,” explains Joy. “For very dry skin, heavy silicone primers can settle into fine lines and make them more visible rather than less. Always test your primer and foundation combination before committing to a full face.”

Why do makeup artists not use primer?

You may have noticed when you’ve had your makeup done by an MUA or watched one at work on social media, that they avoid using primer entirely before starting on the base makeup. To get to the bottom of it, we asked our makeup experts why. “Some MUAs prefer to let the skin breathe, especially for editorial or creative work where longevity isn’t the priority,” says Joy. “It’s also about the products you’re using, some foundations have primer built in, so adding another layer is unnecessary.

Keeping that in mind with your own makeup needs, applying primer on a daily basis might not be necessary. “If I’m using Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream on a client with normal to dry skin, I wouldn’t usually apply primer afterwards,” adds Ranti. “The cream already hydrates and prepares the skin beautifully for foundation, so adding another primer would be unnecessary.”