We’ve learned the hard way: There’s a (very) fine line between concealing wrinkles and drawing more attention to them. So it’s no surprise that we’ve become weary of adding any unnecessary products into our makeup routine that might do more harm than good in the arena.
While we’ve been under the impression that the more products we apply on our face, the easier it is to cake, celebrity makeup artist and LORAC artistry advisor, Kelsey Deenihan, says that’s not always the case, and offers up one product in particular that makes a huge difference in mature skin types.
Instead of creating a caked-on look on top of wrinkles, Deenihan says a makeup primer does the exact opposite. “A primer sits in the fine lines and wrinkles and creates a barrier between the skin and your foundation. This allows a smooth surface to apply foundation,” she explains.
As for which primers are safe to use, Deenihan says to first listen to your skin’s concerns—this will help decide which main ingredients to look for—but for mature skin types, she always recommends something containing hyaluronic acid, “or anything that encourages plumping.”
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“Alternatively, pay close attention to the ingredients in your favorite skin-care products and look for primers with a similar composition,” she says.
For dry skin types, Deenihan loves LORAC’s Glass Skin Primer ($35), which offers up hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and fruit extracts as main ingredients. More dry-skin favorites: Lawless Set the Stage Hydrating Primer Serum ($48), which is packed with peptides and rose hip and sea buckthorn oils, and Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas ($52), which slightly blurs the look of wrinkles while shielding against pollution.
If your skin is oily or your pores are a bit larger than you’d care for, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer ($36) and Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer ($45) are constant best-sellers at Sephora for their ability to “fill” pores and deliver a smooth surface in seconds.
For skin types that fall somewhere in the middle, Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 ($34) delivers a smooth canvas for foundation while delivering serious sun protection, and BECCA Cosmetics Backlight Priming Filter ($39) is a fan-favorite for its ability to boost radiance and blur in one step.
