Primer has always been an essential in my makeup routine. Some people think it’s useless or unnecessary, but I just love putting a layer of it on my face before I go in with my foundation. Because of that I have tried quite a couple of primers. Recently I did a post discussing different types of lip products and today I’m going to do the same for primer. I’m going to discuss the different types of primers, their pro’s and cons and I’ll show you my favourites. If you’re interested in reading about that, make sure you continue reading!
Silicone primer
The most generic primers are those really silicony primers. The clear ones with the pretty thick and heavy texture that feel really slippery on the skin. They are great for creating a very smooth base, but the feeling of it is a little cringy to me. I have to say that most primers contain silicones because that’s just a great ingredient if you’re going for a smoothening effect, but with silicone primer I mean those that seem like they’re just silicone if that makes any sense.
Pro’s
There are a few pro’s to silicone primers. One of the main things is that these silicone primers do great is smoothening the skin, like I already said. Thanks to that it makes your foundation go on incredibly smooth, it just glides on. Therefore you’ll be able to achieve a very perfect and flawless finish which is obviously a great thing.
- Smooth skin
- Smooth foundation application
- Flawless results
Cons
One of the main cons when it comes to silicone primers, for me, is that I just hate the feeling of them. They feel a little too smooth. Sometimes that super smooth and slippery feeling can cause the foundation to slip and slide everywhere instead of really hold on to it. That’s not the case with all silicone primers, but I have seen that happening before. I also feel like these silicone primers don’t keep me as matte as I’d want to, I feel like they are rather shiny. If you’re going for a dewy look that’s absolutely perfect, but I’m naturally dewy so I don’t need that.
- Cringy feeling
- Slippery: Makes your foundation move
- Rather shiny finish
Creamy silicone primers
The second category is pretty similar to the first one, but there is a difference. These are the creamy silicone primers. Where the silicone primers are usually clear and just feel like pure silicone, these have a more creamy texture. They feel like a combination between a moisturiser and a silicone primer and that does make all the difference. Not just in the way they look, but also in the way they work.
Pro’s
One of my favourite things about these primers is that they don’t feel as slippery and as cringy as regular silicone primers do. Because of the creamy aspect they feel a little nicer to the touch. I also feel like the more creamy silicone primers hold product a little better. They still have that smoothness to them which makes it very easy to apply your foundation smoothly, but it doesn’t feel like my foundation is going to slip and slide all over my face.
I also feel like these creamy silicone primers have something a bit more hydrating to them. Not all of them of course, they can also be mattifying, but they just feel a little more hydrating. And that brings me to my next point: I feel like these creamy silicone primers do a little more for your skin than just creating a smooth base for foundation.
- Nicer feeling
- Hold product better
- Not as slippery
- Smooth complexion
- Do more for the skin: Hydrating or mattifying
Cons
And even though I really love these creamy silicone primers, there are still cons to them. One of which is that some creamy silicone primers don’t work well in combination with some moisturisers or foundations. That ends in your foundation balling up or piling. This is not a good look and it can actually ruin your entire face of makeup.
Another con is that it can cause blemishes. Some people feel like silicones cause blemishes or that silicone primers like this can clog your pores.
Lastly I do feel like silicone primers, whether they are creamy or not, feel quite heavy on the skin compared to other, non-silicony primers.
- Don’t respond well to other products –> foundation piling/balling up
- Can cause blemishes
- Feels heavy on the skin
Light primers
Moving on to the next category. I found it pretty hard to name it, but it’s basically the type of primer that has a very light texture, kind of like a serum. These primers feel like a moisturiser or maybe even thinner than that and they don’t feel as silicone like as other primers might. For people who aren’t a fan of that silicone feeling these primers are just the absolute best. I have to say that for me, these light primers work the best. I do really like some creamy silicone primers as well, but they aren’t as amazing as light primers.
Pro’s
One of the main pro’s of light primers is that they don’t have that silicone feel to them. They aren’t slippery and they don’t make your skin feel super slippery. I also like that they don’t feel heavy on the skin and that they aren’t very thick. Another great thing about these light primers is that they feel like they actually do something for the skin, whether it’s mattifying, moisturising or adding a nice glow to it. They can do all of that.
I also like the fact that these light primer usually do more than just making your foundation go on smoother. I feel like they do a better job at really keeping the foundation in place and making it last longer.
- No silicone feel
- Perfect consistency
- They do something for the skin
- Do more than just smoothening the skin
Cons
I have to admit that I found it difficult to come up with cons since this is my favourite type of primer, but I did think of some. One con is that they don’t make your skin as smooth as silicone primers, so the foundation application won’t be as smooth as it would be if you were using a silicone primer.
I also feel like these light primers don’t do as well at minimising pores as silicone primers do, and if you have enlarged pores that could definitely be a big deal breaker for you.
- Less smooth foundation application
- Not as good at minimising pores
Conclusion
In conclusion there are lots of different primers, even more than I just described, and they all have their pro’s and cons. It’s totally up to you and your personal preferences which type of primer fits your skin and your needs the best. For me light primers work the best and heavy silicon primers don’t, but it could be the complete opposite in your case!
With that being said, it’s time for me to end this post. I hope you enjoyed reading today’s post and be sure to let me know which type of primer works best for you and which don’t!
Let Me Know What You Think!