The Best and Cheapest Primers and Setters for Long-Lasting Makeup for All Day
Anyone can use a primer and makeup set to keep it going all day. You don’t have to , but whether you’re using a $ 7 or $ 70 base, this product has been an investment and it doesn’t make any sense if you’re not going to last as long as possible.
Primer and set-up is simple and the products don’t have to be expensive. Plus, they not only hold your makeup in place, but also make it look its best. Now let’s make sure your makeup lasts as long as possible.
Primers come first and prepare the skin for makeup
Primers come in the form of creams, gels, and powders to prepare the skin for makeup. They are usually silicone-based, which helps smooth out fine lines, minimize pores, and give the foundation something to hold on to. They are available with a range of benefits, from brightening to help give dull skin a healthy glow, to matting to keep skin looking non-radiant, to smoothing to help smooth skin texture. Foundation can take a long time to wear out, but without something to hold on to, you risk fading, migrating, or simply wearing off.
Like everything else, primers come in a variety of price points. Here are some of my favorites.
Maybelline Face Studio Primer ($ 7)
Available in lighting, redness control, or anti-aliasing modes (although they are all anti-aliasing), they work as an accessible base for whatever you’re going to put on them. Blur + Smooth is a great all-round primer. The Blur + Redness Control has a faint green tint to help even out where your face turns red, minimize blemishes and improve your skin tone, but Blur + Illuminate really stands out.
The brightening primer has a soft pearlescent glow that helps your skin glow through foundation. It can be used underneath to create a lighting effect from within, mixed with foundation to add some luminescence to any foundation, or used as a highlighter on top. Everyone should have it in their cosmetic bag.
Pacifica Jasmine Iris Oil Control Primer ($ 18)
I live for a good radiant beauty moment, but I prefer to control the glow with highlighters and other products instead of having a uniform, solid glow that can sometimes be considered oily. Because of this, I like to start with a matte base and this primer is perfect for that.
This is a light gel that, when rubbed in, becomes smooth, almost like a powder, leaving your face incredibly smooth, without pores and without shine. Even on days when I have a bare face, I apply it over a moisturizer and then quickly dust it with a translucent powder to keep my skin matte all day.
YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer ($ 52)
This is my favorite elite primer. It’s a little pricey, but you get a whole ounce. It may not seem like a lot, but a little is a long way, so you will get a lot of useful information. Like the matte primer described above, it is applied leaving the skin very smooth while adding a touch of radiance. It is formulated to keep your skin hydrated and nourished all day long without leaving it shiny.
But now that you’ve primed and applied your makeup, you want it to stay in place, right? There are two ways to set makeup, but I find they work best in tandem.
Apply powder over foundation to keep it in place all day
Setting powder is applied over a liquid or cream foundation to hold them in place, prevent slipping or migration throughout the day, and control oiliness and shine. A quick dust-free cleaning is all you need to keep your makeup in place.
They are also a great base for powdered products you plan to apply over base to add color and dimension like blush, contour or highlighter, helping them blend and stay in place.
Again, do whatever you want, but as a general rule of thumb, if you plan on using both cream and powder, use the cream first and then the powder. Applying powder blush directly to a liquid foundation will cause the powder to stick to the foundation, making it lumpy and preventing smooth mixing. Adding liquid to the powder helps hold the foundation in place, and the rest of the powders apply, mix and wear better.
Powders are free-flowing and compressed. They work in much the same way, although loose powders are generally better for thicker makeup, while pressed powders are obviously better tolerated. I use both interchangeably, although it seems to me that I like pressed powders better for convenience.
Maybelline FaceStudio Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder ($ 8)
I hesitate to spend a ton of money on loose powders because they are more prone to product loss when traveling or when knocked off the sink. The Maybelline variant is a great drugstore find that styling makeup beautifully without being expensive.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed ($ 29)
Everyone has a favorite when it comes to translucent powders, but the real stunner that few people talk about are It Cosmetics Loose and Pressed Powders. They create a smooth, pore-free surface, prevent make-up wrinkling and dry skin. They create a natural matte finish while retaining makeup and oil all day long.
Spray setting Keep makeup all night long
Spraying the spray is an important final step that really makes sure your makeup lasts for as long as possible. It’s a great way to secure your entire face without touching it, and seal your foundation, blush, eyeshadow, and whatever else you put on so you don’t move or smudge it before you step out the door. It also works as another barrier between you and the elements in case you get caught in the rain.
L’Oreal Infallible Pro Spray & Set ($ 17)
Sprays can be quite expensive, but they don’t have to drain your wallet. L’Oreal’s is a great over-the-counter option that keeps your face in check no matter how much makeup you have. Plus, the nozzle delivers a generous amount of product and a wide spray for even coverage at no extra cost.
Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Matte Setting Spray ($ 31)
Some sprays can make your face look glossy overnight. Urban Decay doesn’t matte your entire look or dull highlights, but it will control grease for hours of wear and keep your face looking like you’ve just walked away from your vanity. Whether you use a matte or luminous foundation, it keeps your makeup exactly the way you wanted it and still helps it stay in place.
Whatever products you use, take the time to prime and customize them to get the most out of your makeup. No one wants to worry about having to touch up their face in the middle of the night or carrying all of their groceries with them in case they need to reapply. Spending an extra thirty seconds applying makeup is well worth the peace of mind knowing your face will be flawless until you take off your makeup at the end of the night.