The Best Glowy Primers for a More Luminous Base in Winter
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
Do you need a primer?
It's a question you’ve probably asked before and one of those beauty questions that some will answer with - “No, it’s an extra step you don't need.” while others (like me) will answer “Ab-so-lute-ly." with full conviction.
My makeup just won’t stay on all day without a primer; plus, they're my golden ticket to a smooth, flawless base every.time.
In my pre-primer life, the makeup I applied in the morning would be non-existent by 3PM.
When I first started working in magazines over ten years ago, I met a lot of beauty editors whose makeup would stay on all day while mine would disappear into the abyss leaving my complexion looking dull and tired.
My internal dialogue was screaming, “Why! How are all these peoples' makeup staying on all day while mine is going patchy and fading?!”.
Then one day, a makeup artist friend said to me, “Have you ever tried using a primer under your foundation? They leave the perfect canvas for makeup application and your makeup stays on all day.”
I swiftly bought one of these magical primer things, layered it under my foundation and boom! My makeup didn’t budge all day.
I’m considering naming my first born child after that friend because she honestly changed my makeup game forever.
But I also get some people don’t need a primer in their life (lucky ducks).
Whichever side of the primer fence you're sitting on, if your complexion is looking drab and dry during winter (the cool air on our skin does not a radiant complexion make) and you want to fake that ‘lit-from-within’ glow- then you need to try a glowy primer under your foundation!
Here’s just five I’m loving at the moment to give my base a ‘healthy glow’…
1. M.A.C Cosmetics Strobe Cream.
My MAC strobe cream review:
It goes without saying that MAC strobe cream should be at the top of the ‘best glowy primer’ or ‘the best glowy makeup products’ list.
And, it’s had a ‘glow-up’ since I first used it over ten years ago.
Back then, this shimmery moisturiser/primer/highlighter hybrid only came in one shade.
While a little gleamy on my olive skin tone, I was so excited there was a product that made my foundation look so luminous that I didn't care that it probably wasn’t the best one for me.
Thankfully, it now comes in Goldlite, Peachlite, Pinklite and Silverlite so there’s one for every skin undertone.
MAC strobe cream has been popular for years because it gives you that perfect ‘sun-kissed’ glow which my winter-fatigued skin is in desperate need of at the moment.
This primer is the perfect way to cheat your way to a glowy summer complexion thanks to its stunning iridescent pigments and can even be used over your makeup!
Sometimes I’ll apply the MAC radiance primer first, then pop on my foundation and kiss the high points of my face (nose, cheeks and cupids bow) with MAC strobe cream.
It’s also non-acnegenic, is infused with antioxidants, botanicals and its lightweight consistency dries and settles on the skin nicely.
2. Clinique Even Better Light Reflecting Primer.
My Clinique Even Better Light Reflecting Primer review:
This primer is a newbie that recently landed on my desk.
As a beauty editor I’m always excited to try a new product and even more excited as a primer girlie to try one with the words ‘light reflecting’.
It has a stunning coppery, pearlescent colour and sits on the skin beautifully leaving a nice dewiness behind too.
Also contains skin-enhancing ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.
It is slightly thinner in texture so if you want more grip or a thicker base to lay down for makeup, the MAC radiance or Bobbi Brown face base would be better-suited to you.
However, if a subtle shimmer and your face glistening in the sun is what you're after, this is the best primer to add to cart.
I only popped a small amount on in the picture above to see if it would still give me a subtle glow, and the sunlight pic speaks for itself.
I also went out all day, played with my dog, had lunch with family, came home, had a nap, woke up took another selfie and while a little patchier, my skin still looked radiant.
If I was going to a special day event and wanted my skin to look shimmery in the light, I would reach for this primer.
3. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base.
My Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base review:
An icon, a legend. The Bobbi Brown face base needs no introduction.
Not only is this just one of my favourite beauty products of all time, I also love it as a primer (second place goes to the equally iconic Kora tumeric glow moisturizer).
Even though I have combo skin and this is designed for oilier skin types (it has a slightly more mattifying finish), I would say this is the best hydrating primer or best primer for dry skin.
While this doesn't have as much of an obvious 'glowy’ finish as say your strobe cream or the Napoleon Perdis auto pilot primer, the Bobbi Brown vitamin enriched face base will instantly awaken and plump up your complexion.
It leaves a healthy-looking, hydrated and smooth base for your foundation.
When I layer this under my Estee Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Makeup SPF 20 like I've done in the selfie above, it’s the ultimate glowy base duo.
The cushiony texture is heaven on the skin and ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and vitamins B, C and E ensures winter skin is thriving and nourished.
Bobbi Brown face base fans, if you also want a brightening ‘eye primer’ for under your concealer there’s a Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base too!
4. M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing & Illuminating Silk Primer.
My M.A.C Cosmetics Studio Radiance Moisturizing & Illuminating Silk Primer review:
Winter makes our makeup go on a little lacklustre; the MAC radiance primer makes sure this doesn’t happen.
It didn't take long to convince myself to add this glowy primer to my staff order when it first launched (after waiting for it to stop selling out).
It leaves a more soft focus glowiness to the skin but doesn’t fall back on performance.
The first time I tried this I was going to a wedding, and my cousin-in-law tried some too.
This was her mini MAC Radiance primer review:
“When we first applied our makeup I couldn't tell, but then you look at our pictures from that day, I could tell this primer works because our skin looks so luminous.”
Thanks to this primer, my makeup stayed on all day and my complexion still looked nice at the end of the night.
I do wish it was a bit cheaper for the size but this still won’t stop me repurchasing it, because it’s a great primer, especially for winter.
Perfection for anyone who wants a smooth, subtle radiance under makeup rather than anything that looks too shimmery.
5. Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer.
The Napoleon auto pilot primer is Adore Beauty’s Social Media Manager and makeup artist Megan’s top pick for the best glowy primer (she also highly recommends the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer 30ml) and the best hydrating primer.
She says:
“A primer that has been in my personal and professional kit for over 7 years!"
"This super lightweight primer is the ultimate hard working hydrator.
Perfect for anyone with normal-dry skin needing a quick hit of hydration, this primer creates an evenly plumped canvas that lets foundation glide seamlessly onto the skin.
My favourite thing about this primer is that a little bit goes a LONG way, so economically you're doing yourself a favour in the long run.”
Ok after that review I think i’ll add that one to cart too.
Voilà! 5 of the best glowy primers to lift your winter complexion.
Whether it’s a glowy face primer, a blurring face primer or a greyness-reducing primer, I’ll forever be a primer stan!
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