Matte skin is officially on its way out as we head into Spring/Summer 2016 with a bunch of new illuminating primers that promise to give you a dewy, glowy complexion. A few of the latest formulas to launch are the Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer ($44), Becca Backlight Priming Filter ($38), and Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base ($48). They all promise to illuminate your skin and peek through your foundation for a lit-from-within glow.
The drugstores will likely release their own versions soon (they tend to be a few months behind higher-end brands) but thankfully, there are already some affordable versions that have been out since the last time glowy skin was in.
Here are six budget-friendly options:
1. L'oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer ($12.99)- I still wear this primer all the time, and while it doesn't necessarily fill in pores and lines like some primers do (I use a separate one for that) this creates a glowy base that peeks through when you apply foundation on top. You can also mix a little into your foundation to get a lit-from-within glow. It's very lightweight and should work well with both dry and oily skin types.
2. Maybelline Master Prime Blur + Illuminate ($9.99)- This is a glowy base that actually acts more like a primer than Magic Lumi does, filling in pores and lines and creating a blurred effect. This one is a bit more hydrating so it may be best for normal to dry skin types.
3. NYX Born to Glow Illuminating Primer ($13.99)- This formula is similar to Magic Lumi in that it's lightweight, almost like a lotion so it doesn't fill in textured skin like a traditional primer does. However, it makes your skin feel smooth and gives a subtle glow underneath foundation (more subtle than Magic Lumi).
4. Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer ($11.49)- This is also a lotion-like primer that contains color correcting pigments to even out your skin tone. The pink-toned formula brightens and also adds a bit of shimmer for a luminous look.
5. Catrice Prime & Fine Healthy Look Primer ($7.99)- This primer with shea butter and argan oil contains light-reflecting pigments for an instant glow. I haven't tried anything from Catrice yet, but I'm definitely going to pick this up next time I'm at Ulta.
6. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Illuminating Primer ($8)- This is a more traditional silicone primer that helps to fill in lines and pores but it also gives your skin a soft glow.
So if you don't want to shell out the big bucks for one of the new illuminating primers, give one of these versions a try! As someone with dry skin, I'm really excited that the dewy look is coming back...all those matte foundations were killing me. Now if only lip glosses and tinted balms would come back into style, I'll be so happy! :)
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I love the effect of illuminating primers, but I find that they don't help with foundation longevity.
ReplyDeleteYou're SO right, most of them don't give foundation anything to "grip" to because they're like lightweight lotions. That's why I had such a hard time spending $44 on the Hourglass one. I usually put something underneath like the Porefessional to create a smooth base/fill pores and then layer one of these on top of that (or mix it in with the foundation). Most of them are thin and lightweight enough that it doesn't feel like too much when you put a base underneath. :)
DeleteI've been using the Maybelline Master Prime one for a few weeks, and I really like it, *especially* because it's SPF 30. None of the others are, I don't think. I have slightly dry & acne-prone skin and it's not triggering either issue.
ReplyDeleteThat's great to hear that it works for you and I didn't even realize it had SPF...that's really rare for a primer!
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