Ask and You Shall Receive: Why use Primer

Reader Deirdre has a question for us about foundation primers. She wants to know what they're for, do they work and what would be a good one to try?

Basically a foundation primer works along the same lines as a primer you'd use for any other purpose - they prepare the skin for what you're going to put on top.

And like a primer you might put on a wall before painting, a foundation primer can fill in small holes (pores) and small cracks (lines). So they're really suitable for everyone as they should give you a smoother finish.

Do they work? Well, there are really two ways of looking at it - if your skin needs a bit more help to hide blemishes and lines then yes, they can certainly prime it. Whether that effect lasts all day is another thing, but in the first instance you should get a nice finish.

In addition, if your favourite foundation doesn't have an SPF and you don't want to change it, then you can just use a primer with SPF underneath to solve that problem. You can get primers for people with sallow or red tones in their skin too, and they would be useful for them, I reckon. Smashbox do a range of these.

I blogged about NARS foundation primer recently, and Smashbox also do two other foundation primers. Their Photo Finish Foundation Primer (€37 from Arnotts) is a colourless fluid that fills in fine lines and pores - and that gives you a smooth finish. They also do a Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 with something called Dermaxyl complex. It gives all the benefits of the original with added UV protection and this Dermaxyl stuff moisturises the skin and reduces the appearance of little lines and wrinkles. It does this over time too, so with frequent use, you'll see even more benefits.

Shiseido do a product called Smoothing Veil (approx €30) which you can use under makeup to create flawless skin. It's a colourless foundation which blurs fine lines and diminishes their appearance to create "a breathtaking translucent finish". It has an SPF of 15 and can be worn on its own as well, for the benefits of foundation without the colour.

Lastly, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (approx €33-34) is what I use under my foundation and it helps to give a lovely dewy finish to my makeup. You can get it from Strawberrynet for a few quid cheaper though at €29.