A foundation primer, also known as makeup primer or face primer, is on the list of essential items in a makeup bag for many women, but what to do if you don’t have one, or you’ve run out of primer? Here is a list of cosmetic products you can use instead of foundation primer and achieve excellent results.
First and foremost, let’s figure out why a lot of women consider foundation primer a basic essential for makeup. The main purpose of a primer is to improve coverage and make your makeup last longer. In addition, a good foundation primer can make your skin seem smoother and has a matte effect.
Depending on the skin type, primers can contain absorbent and seboregulating ingredients that prevent oily shine. They can also contain nourishing and moisturising ingredients that prevent flaking and keep the skin from feeling dry and tight. Some primers contain colour-correcting ingredients and/or silicones that make pores and fine lines look less visible.
If primers are essential, why may you need to replace them with something else? First and foremost, primers usually don’t have a long shelf life once opened, plus they can be quite expensive. If you’re not a big fan of makeup and only wear it on special occasions, you probably shouldn’t invest in primer because it’ll just be a waste of your money.
Or maybe you do have a primer, but at the worst possible moment you discover you’ve run out of it, and you have no time to buy a new one. The best way out in this case is to pick an alternative from the products you already own. Surprisingly, there are quite a lot of cosmetic products that can double as foundation primer. Here are five of them.
Day Moisturiser
This is probably the easiest and most obvious choice: you can use your regular day moisturiser as a primer replacement. It’s great is the product contains humectant and emollient ingredients, such as glycerine, hyaluronic acid, or aloe vera leaf juice. If the moisturiser absorbs quickly and can make your skin look smoother, you can use it instead of foundation primer on a permanent basis.
Aloe Vera Gel
This is a great option for dry skin, since aloe vera gel, also known as aloe vera leaf juice, actively hydrates the skin and helps to prevent flaking. In addition, it has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it great for sensitive and problem skin. By the way, you can mix your day moisturiser with aloe vera gel; their combination is a great alternative to foundation primer.
BB or CC Creams
These multi-purpose cosmetic products simultaneously take care of the skin and conceal imperfections, which makes them a great alternative to primer. Some people use BB cream as both primer and foundation, but sometimes it may be not enough to even out skin tone and create a good makeup foundation. If you use BB cream instead of primer, make sure it is one shade lighter than your makeup foundation. You should also keep in mind that your BB cream and foundation should have the same texture to blend perfectly.
Aftershave Balm
This may seem like a rather unexpected option, but quite a few women use aftershave balm instead of makeup primer. It prevents skin dryness and irritation, makes the skin softer and smoother, and has a matte effect. Aftershave balm probably isn’t the best replacement for primer on a permanent bases, but it can really come in handy in case of emergency.
Powder
At first glance, using powder as an alternative to foundation primer may seem illogical because a layer of powder is usually applied to set makeup. However, if you have oily skin, powder can serve as a perfect primer replacement because it absorbs excess skin oil and makes the skin seem smoother. Please note that this trick won’t work for dry skin because powder will highlight flaky patches, fine lines, and other imperfections.
A primer or any of the above-describe alternatives will prepare your skin for makeup and help your makeup to last longer. However, makeup products will never make your skin look flawless if you don’t take good care of it. In our online shop Organic Store, you can buy natural and organic skincare products based on natural oils, plant extracts, innovative beauty actives, and other highly effective ingredients. We offer affordable prices, secure and convenient payment methods, and international delivery to most parts of the world to make your online shopping experience as great as possible.