Wedding Primers: Top Five For Your Big Day

Weddings are pretty stressful affairs. There's a lot to worry about, and the last thing you want to have to keep in mind is a shiny face or moving mascara. As is tradition, your weird uncle's drunken dancing and your Granny's loud, innocently stated racist remarks should be what ruin the day, not your makeup.

Your wedding day is also when might consider having your makeup professionally done. Even if you're hiring a professional makeup artist, it's best to use staple products that you love and always work for you. It's great to be open minded and try new products, but even if you're doing your own makeup for the day, always insist on a full trial run. Wear the full makeup for at least eight hours to see how it wears and how your chosen products react to your skin type.

Though I generally don't bother too much with primers unless the weather is very warm or very cold, they're always a good idea for wedding makeup. Here are five of the best for every skin type and budget:

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (€32)

This primer from Smashbox is an old reliable, which is precisely what you want on your wedding day.It leaves an airbrushed, smooth finish on the skin that blurs pores and lines,  and it gives just enough grip to keep makeup in place all day. This is oil-free too, so it will work for all but the driest skin types. Paired with a good nourishing moisturiser, even dry skins will look great with this on.

• Illamasqua Hydra Veil (€32)

Illamasqua isn't available on counters in Ireland any more, but you can still get it via Debenhams.ie. Though Hydra Veil isn't technically a primer, it does act nicely as one. A weird gloopy transparent gel, you brush a thin layer of it onto skin after skincare and before foundation. It gives skin an immediate drink. gives makeup grip and somehow imbues the skin with glowy radiance. It just works. This is best for normal and dry skins.

• Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - Radiance (€41)

Though it's a touch too slick for people with very oily skin, this primer really lives up to its name. Rather than opting for a separate liquid highlighter, this looks fantastic under makeup for an all-over glow with the extra benefit of blurring the complexion just a little. If your skin is dry, this will help to prevent that nasty sitting effect that foundation can develop after several hours' wear. 

• Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer (€15.99)

This serum primer from Bourjois is positively delicious. Feather-light but hard working, it creates a lovely matte veil which keeps shine at bay. If you have more combination skin, just wear this around the t-zone area to stay shine-free and minimise touch-ups. No matter what makeup you use, at least one touch-up during the day will probably be needed to keep everything looking fresh.

• Benefit The Porefessional (€34)

I know that this one divides opinion among Beaut.ie readers, but I find this one of the best primers just around the nose and forehead to minimise shine and blur away pores. This is definitely an oily skin's friend! If silicone textures aren't your cup of tea, the Bourjois matte Serum option might be better for you, but if you don't mind the polyfilla effect from time to time, the Porefessional will cheat good skin!

Do you have a holy grail primer? To the comments!