Editor’s note: I’m heading to Sydney today to speak at the Digital Parents Conference. Helping me out over the next couple of the days are the first of some semi-regular freelance blogger contributions you’ll see here on Styling You. Because I’m commissioning these posts and these bloggers are helping me to keep my blog running while I’m away from regular duties, I’ll also be paying them for their contributions. Today, say hello to the beautiful B from B Being Cool.
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Now, I am the kind of girl who wears makeup most days, doing the school run means I have to be out the door early and then on the hop most of the day. Even if it is just some BB cream and a light dusting of mineral makeup with some eyeliner, mascara and lippy (which takes all of five minutes) – I don’t often leave the house without makeup.
Over the years I have been dreaming of a product that helped to keep my makeup in place, so it didn’t smudge, didn’t need re-applying during the day and let me have the coverage I thought I had applied in the morning. I have combination/oily skin, so I found that my eye makeup would smudge off and my foundation would just vanish, I was frustrated.
I decided to try some new makeup and was given some free samples in a gift pack, which is always lovely, thank you very much. I was intrigued by the ‘ Airbrush Primer’. I tried it and immediately loved that my foundation was still in place in the middle of the day, and then still at school pick up time.
Having oily, acne prone skin, I am very dubious about trying new skin products. I have a very simple beauty routine that does not involve a lot of products as I am always worried about clogging and then trying to hide blemishes. I was so surprised to find that when I used a primer, I was getting less breakouts and my makeup was easier to wash off. Win!
According to an extremely helpful beautitan at a beauty counter, makeup primers were developed by the magazine industry as a way of speeding up photo editing time. They wanted their models to have make-up that lasted longer and provided a smoother finish, so that they did not have to do as much post-photo shoot (just arm and midriff slicing 
). So Primers were developed. There is debate about who first developed primers. Was it Napolean Perdis, Smashbox or Max Factor? The argument can boil on for me, I am simply thrilled to have found a product that keeps my makeup in place without clogging my pores!
Here are the three makeup primers I have been road testing, all from different stores, all bought with my own money, all tested on my own face …
1. Nude By Nature Undercover Airbrush Mineral Primer
Price Range: Mid (around $30)
Coverage: Good coverage, lasts for several hours.
Good Points: Made from 100% naturally sourced
ingredients, no parabens or other nasty things.
Bad Points: I found it ran out really quickly, I
found I had to use more to get good coverage.
Where to buy it: Myer, Priceline and some major
chemists. I have found more and more places stocking this brand.
Website: Nude By Nature
2. NPSet Pre-Foundation Pore Perfecting Primer
Price Range: Mid (around $30)
Coverage: Okay, I felt I had to use more of the
product than recommended to cover my face.
Good Points: Made by Napolean Perdis, a great way to
get some of his good work in a local department store! It certainly
had moisturising qualities, not totally suited to my skin, but would
be great for dryer skin. Really lovely soft texture.
Bad Points: Slightly oily feel, I had a little shine
by the end of the day (but, still a huge improvement from those non
primer days)
Where to buy it: Big W is the only place I have found
it in my big country town.
Website: npsetcosmetics
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Price Range: High (around $55)
Coverage: Great. A little goes a long way.
Good Points: Non greasy, easily absorbed, the longest
staying power.
Bad Points: Umm…. Perhaps the price? But, I have
been using this tube for months with no sign of running out soon.
Where to buy it: I bought mine through Kit Cosmetics
in Myer in Brisbane City.
Website: Smashbox via Kit Cosmetics
So there you have it: three products, three major brands. I am loving the whole idea behind primers, love the added coverage, love the smoother appearance of my face, love the staying power of my make-up and love that they don’t actually clog up my skin, in fact, they seem to protect it.
Do you use a primer? Should I try any other brands?
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I am B. I write over at bbeingcool.com. I write about fashion, food, home and life. I am a mother of three, a teacher and I love life and love, love, love, writing about all manner of things. Last year, I wrote a post about ‘How To Wear Orange‘ for Styling You and I am very chuffed to be writing for Styling You again today!
