How to Find the Best Primer for Your Skin Type

Ever make it halfway through the day only to wonder why your makeup seems to have a mind of its own, slipping and sliding in every direction but the one you intended? You’re not alone. While you might be meticulous with your skin care routine, using a facial cleanser and face moisturizer diligently twice a day, can you say the same thing about your makeup routine? Sure, you love your face makeup—your foundation, concealer, highlighter, and face powder— but what about what comes before all that? Yup, we’re talking about primer. You may think that applying primer is an unnecessary step in your makeup routine, but maybe you just haven’t found the right one for your skin type yet.

How to Find the Best Primer for Your Skin Type

When it comes to acing your makeup base, it all comes down to finding the best primer for your skin type. Whether you have oily skin or dry skin, we have you covered.

If you have oily skin…try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Lock Makeup Primer. If you have oily skin, then you likely have experienced your complexion looking shiny by midday. So, look for a primer that has a matte finish, like this one, and layer some of it on after completing your skin care routine. This mattifying primer helps blur the look of imperfections for a matte finish.

If you have dry skin…try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Lock Makeup Primer. Dry skin can often look a little dull, so choose a primer that has a radiant finish, like this one. Apply it all over your face before moving on to foundation.

For more tips on picking the best primer for you (and all different kinds of makeup primer), read The Ultimate Guide to Using Makeup Primer.

How to Complete Your Face Makeup Routine Starting with Primer

Now that you know how to choose the best primer for your skin type, it’s time to learn how to add it to your makeup routine. Follow our step-by-step face makeup tutorial below.

Step 1: Prime your complexion. Depending on your skin type, choose a primer from the options above. Simply smooth some primer on from your forehead down to your chin.

Step 2: Color correct any skin imperfections. If you have redness, dullness, dark circles under the eyes, or dark spots, consider using a color correcting concealer. Choose from the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Color Correcting Crayons to help neutralize the appearance of skin imperfections. Use your color corrector of choice after primer but before foundation. For a more seamless application, use a makeup blender, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Concealer Blender, to help smooth color correcting concealer onto your skin.

Step 3: Apply foundation. Again, depending on your skin type, you have options. If you have oily skin, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation; if you have dry skin, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Foundation. Whichever you pick, just squeeze some out onto the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender and stipple it onto your skin.

Step 4: Conceal any remaining skin imperfections. If you notice any other skin imperfections peeking through your foundation, dab on some of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Concealer. This concealer helps brighten the look of your skin as it conceals. A little goes a long way—seriously, you only need a tiny amount!

Step 5: Finish with face powder. To help set your face makeup, use a fluffy makeup brush to dust on some face powder, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Face Powder.

Now that your face makeup is all set, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll do your eye makeup and what you’ll wear on your lips. For inspiration, check out our tutorials, Anything But Ordinary: 6 Modern Takes on Winged Eyeliner and Lip Contouring: How to Master This Makeup Technique.