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Foundation Primers:
What are they; what do they do; are they worth the time?
A primer is a lotion or gel that is applied to the face underneath foundation. Its job is to keep makeup from fading during the day - and it does this by preventing the makeup from "soaking" into the skin. It forms a barrier between your skin and your foundation.
Primers also smooth out the skin by filling in fine lines and pores. After applying primer and letting it dry completely, foundation will go on smoother, and the final look will be more "airbrushed."
And there are other benefits. Many women say that primers keep their makeup fresh and the color true, even in hot weather.
Some primers contain sunscreen, some contain oil-control ingredients, and some are hydrating. Laura Mercier has one for normal skin, one for oily skin, and one for dry skin. Paula Dorf 's primers come in normal/dry and normal/oily.
With a hydrating primer, especially one with sunscreen, you can skip your morning moisturizer altogether.
Here is the application order:
1. moisturizer (with sunscreen, unless the primer has sunscreen)
2. primer (let it dry)
3. makeup (aka foundation)
4. setting powder (some women skip setting powder when using a primer)
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