Primer is your starting point for radiant skin

TA primer works to fill in rough skin and give it a more even surface

he benefits of wearing a primer are twofold. The base product helps extend the life and durability of concealer and foundation, plus it can help minimise pore size, fine lines, and add a hint of radiance to the skin. Since the original primers launched more than two decades ago, this simple beauty product has evolved to become quite hi-tech with variations for different skin types and ages.

For different skin types a primer can boost the effects of your foundation too. Where you might wear a mattifying face base to control shine on oily skin, a primer can double the effect if it’s for that skin type. And if eternal dryness is your skin’s natural state, a primer that offers hydration and better slip will cover up dry patches and let your foundation sit smoothly on top.

It goes without saying that for uneven skin texture, fine lines and enlarged pores, a primer works to ‘fill in’ rough skin and give it a more even surface.

As a guide, here are some primers that work on different skin issues, but there are plenty more available.

For dry skin, The Ordinary’s hydrating serum-like primer (€9.30) has a really nice texture that’s perfect for anyone whose skin ‘drinks’ up beauty products. Nonoily, it glides across the skin and helps to smooth dry patches and lock down your foundation. A little goes a long way too. (Department stores and pharmacies)

On the oily side? Lightweight, mattifying, and blurring, NARS Soft Matte Primer (€36) has a climate-control technology that helps to control sweat and sebum depending on the skin’s temperature. Its sebum control is excellent, if you want glowing skin and not shiny skin this is for you. (From department stores.)

For skin that suffers from discolouration like redness, ashy tones or dullness, a colour-correcting primer is the perfect fit. These offer all the blurring qualities but with a tint that counteracts discolouration. NYX has three such primers, Clear blurs and smoothes all types of skin, Lilac adds radiance to dull and ashy tones, Green conceals redness and balances uneven tone. (€12 each, from department stores)

To get added radiance for dull or tired skin, Laura Mercier has added pearl pigments and porcelain flower extract to its Pure Canvas Illuminating blurring primer so that it delivers glowing skin. Only a pea-size amount is needed to give skin that lit-from-within luminosity, it’s the Rolls Royce of primers. (€40/50ml, department stores and select pharmacies.)

To soften and brighten mature skin, Dior’s Face & Body primer is a dream buy, it blurs, smoothes, locks foundation down and gives you glowing skin. It’s very lightly tinted with peach so it actually boosts the radiance of the skin. It’s so nice that this is one you’ll wear by itself with zero foundation. (€32, department stores and select pharmacies.)