Makeup Primer for Mature Skin
The topic of whether or not to use makeup primer for mature skin has weighed heavily on my mind as of late. My primer preoccupation is the result of a rather heated discussion I had on said subject with a few of my fellow beauty enthusiasts. It became painfully clear to me that I had largely ignored this category of product. Perhaps there were benefits I was overlooking.
The subject is post-worthy for sure, and the core question to answer is simple: does this product deserve a “seat” at our over 50 vanity table? Should we or shouldn’t we prime our faces?
With a mature skin lens, let’s explore these questions in tandem with defining what face primers are, the problems they claim to solve, and an examination of skin with and without primer. I have documented this journey with commentary and photos.
Where I have landed on the subject may surprise you and me most of all.
What Is Face Primer
For those of you who may not know, face primer is part of a larger primer category. In addition to the face, eyeshadow, lips, and eyelashes all have associated primers. As the name suggests, these products serve to “prime” or optimize the skin, lashes, etc. so that they may better “receive” additional makeup products.
Face primers, specifically, act as a gateway or transition from skincare to makeup. Depending on one’s perspective, face primers are a skincare routine’s final step or conversely, makeup’s first step.
To that end, face primers promise smoother skin texture for better smoother makeup application, as well as skin that grips makeup for longer makeup wear, giving a more refined poreless finish to the skin.
Primers in general emerged commercially in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Despite their newness, the category has achieved amazing success with exponential growth.
Today’s cosmetic brands offer a myriad of face primer options that address all skin types and concerns (e.g. pore minimization, color correction, hydration, etc.) In the process, primers have also become a regular added step for many beauty routines.
What Is Face Primer Used For?
Let’s first understand what we are asking from our face primer and what ingredients are in face primer to achieve that. I have compiled a chart below that lists the typical ingredient suspects.
For those of you who are in the market for a primer, I am also hopeful that this will offer some guidance on what products to select.
*Exercise caution when using primers with silicones. While silicones have wonderful slip and create a very smooth canvas for makeup, for some of us, they can create havoc with skin. For those who have dry skin, silicones can create additional dryness. For those who are oily, they may create additional heaviness to the skin. Either way, cleaning off the silicone product well is imperative due to the potential for clogged pores.
I’m happy to report that many newer primers on the market are silicone free.
Do I Need A Face Primer…Really?
This is the million-dollar question.
In looking at the chart above, face primers claim to do a lot-so much so that they have begun to tread into skincare territory. Perhaps this will eventually be good news as products may merge with fewer resulting steps to beauty routines. But right now, I wonder whether we are expecting too much from our primers and whether they can deliver on the promise.
Is it all just marketing fluff?
Primer Advantages and Disadvantages
My argument against face primer has always been that it is additive, another layer to a multi-step skincare or beauty routine. This “more is more” approach opposes the “less is more” approach I usually espouse particularly for mature skin.
In other words, more stuff tends to look and feel like more stuff on skin-particularly mature skin.
On the other hand, by the time most of us are over 50, our skin is naturally uneven in texture, hydration may be too much or too little, and our pores are larger than they once were. While some of us may strive for great skin, we are also all at different points in our skincare journey.
Face primer could be a quick and easy solution for better makeup application and wear.
Primer vs No Primer Makeup
To really determine whether a face primer works, I tested 2 different primers over the course of 2 days. The 2 sets of photos below represent each day morning and evening.
On each day, half of my face has a primer on it and the other half does not. My skincare and very minimal makeup is exactly the same for the 2 days.
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cleanser, SkinFix Barrier Triple Lipid Moisturizer, EltaMD Mineral UV Restore Sunscreen, Herbivore Rosehip Phoenix Oil, Timeless 20% Vitamin C, Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Glossier Stretch Concealer, Rare Beauty Lip Oil, Glossier Boy Brow Gel.
As my skin tends to be very dry, I chose more hydrating primers.
Day One
Primer: RMS Beauty ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer
Silicone-free with ingredients that include squalane, hyaluronic acid, fruit extracts, and also a proprietary skin tightening ingredient called Tightenyl. The product is meant to lock in hydration and give a slight lifting effect. It is slightly pink in color and lays nicely on the skin. My skin on the primer side felt slightly tighter throughout the day than the non-primer side.
MORNING
Observations: While both the primer and non primer side look almost identical, my makeup applied noticeably easier and more smoothly on the primer side than on the non-primer side.
EVENING
Evening Observations: At the end of about 7-8 hours, it is clear to me that the primer side has worn better than the non primer side with more lines and skin unevenness showing on the non primer side. The primer side has continued to feel tighter.
Day Two
Primer: Milani Illuminating Primer
Product is meant to smooth and brighten skin along with extending makeup wear. Ingredients include a Vitamin C derivative and brightening pigments along with jojoba oil and squalane for hydration. Silicone free.
MORNING
Observations: Similar to Day 1, foundation was much easier and smooth to apply on the side with primer. Primer provided light but additional coverage. Skin was tighter on the primer side. I did not notice any brightening effect from the product on the primer side.
EVENING
Evening Observations: Both sides of my face looked pretty much the same by the end of the day with similar “wear” on both sides. The primer seemed to dry my face out a bit. Day 1 primer felt better and the photos show that as well.
Final Thoughts-Makeup Primer for Mature Skin
I must admit that I was suprised by the photos. They have made me a reluctant convert-at least to some degree.
I know that face primers cannot replace good skincare. With that said, here are my thoughts:
- Face primers can make a positive difference to the way makeup looks and applies
- Face primers differ in efficacy from each other
- Face primers are another layer of skincare/makeup and as such feel heavier and more un-natural
- Face primers could be great for a more finished look
- Face primers may elevate a foundation that is hard to work with
- Not all foundations necessarily need a face primer such as the hybrid foundations discussed in my previous post here
Thank you for reading! I would love to hear about your experience and thoughts!
xO
Andrea
Merrilee Bodzin says
Thanks for your newsletter. Just curious, do you put the rosehip oil on top of moisturizer and sunscreen? Is the rose hip oil instead of serum?
Thanks so much.
Merrilee
The Beauty Maestra says
Hi Merrilee-There are generally no right or wrong techniques with oil. With that said, if you want to create a more enriched moisturizer, mix the oil into the moisturizer and apply just like you would at any other time. Sunscreen is applied after moisturizer and is the last step prior to makeup. Oil is not a replacement for serum. Serum is applied as a first step after cleansing. (serum will not be able to reach your skin if you apply it after moisturizer/oil)
Sravani says
Thank you for describing the face primer uses
The Beauty Maestra says
You are welcome!