You Might Be Missing The Most Important Place To Use Primer

You may not understand what exactly primer does to your skin, but for many, it's still a makeup step that can't be skipped. As reported by Bustle, primer is the very first part of your makeup routine. It's named primer because you are literally priming, a.k.a. preparing, your skin for your makeup and creating a nice base so everything goes on smoothly. You can prime your whole face or separate parts such as your eyelids.

Before you begin, you'll need to do some research as to the best type of primer for your skin. If you have dry skin, you'll want a hydrating primer, whereas those with oily skin might prefer something with a matte texture. Either way, primer can be costly, which is why it's so important to make sure you're picking the right product for your specific needs. 

If that wasn't enough to consider, there are different techniques when it comes to applying primer. Without knowing it, you might be making some crucial mistakes that are preventing your makeup from looking its absolute best. 

According to Be Beautiful, we're all making one major mistake when it comes to primer, and that's skipping priming our eyelids. You may never have heard of it, but eyeshadow primer has been around for a while.

InStyle recently ranked Urban Decay's cult classic Eyeshadow Primer Potion first in their list of the best eyeshadow primers due to its longevity, non-crease application, and ability to work on a variety of eye shapes. Another great option is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which has a matte formula and is waterproof so you won't have to worry about a rainy day ruining your eye look.

Several professional makeup artists told Bustle that eyeshadow is essentially useless without primer, as it will help the pigment go on with minimal creasing. You can buy primer that's specifically made for your eyelids, though using a regular priming product is still fine if you're on a money saving kick. Each primer is made for a different issue, and eyeshadow primer is no different. Some offer extra shimmer and some are fully transparent — what works for one person might not work for you, so really get up close and figure out your eyelid skin texture.

Another primer mistake you might be making is only putting primer on before your foundation (via Bustle). Instead, try mixing your primer with your foundation for a lighter and more natural look. Moreover, a good tip for those who already love primer, but don't feel like it's doing anything, is to switch out your primer based on the seasons. For summer, you may have naturally oilier skin, whereas winter could dry you out drastically. Swapping your primer to match the weather will keep you covered (literally). 

According to Evoke, primer also works best when you only apply a small amount. Too much coverage, and your primer will pretty much do the opposite of what you want it to do — crease and slide off. Remember, primer isn't foundation, so don't apply the two products the same.

 The next time you wonder if primer is really doing anything, keep these tips in mind for flawless coverage.