Three of the Best... Primers.

1. Lancome LA Base Pro oil free primer gel, £28

The moment the sales lady pumped a bit of the primer gel onto my hand, I knew I had to buy it. It's a really light, clear gel that is perfect for oily skin, and doesn't clog pores. After application, it leaves a really soft-skin feeling, and a great base to add make up to. One pot will last you a year - a small pump goes a long way!

2. Benefit PoreFessional, £24.50

This balm is amazing, aiming to minimise the appearance of pores. It's a thick but with a lightweight consistency that is surprisingly silky, and is a natural/translucent colour that will blend in with any skin tone. I add a bit first thing in the morning to reduce shine on my nose, but it's perfect to reel back in that pre-evening 'shine' by applying it on top of your make up. (I even know a few men who swear by this, to reduce shine and pores.)

 

3. BareMinerals Prime Time (Oil Control), £21

I finally treated myself to a pot of this because EVERYONE seems to have it. (Therefore you'll know how good it is already.) The oil control is a more whitey-translucent colour to the regular Prime Time, which is much more clear. The oil control has a bit of an odd (but faint) smell to it, but is really light and silky, and creates a flawless blemish-free base. When applying it to my skin, it felt rather like a glue, and I could feel it 'tightening' over my face. It was then really easy to apply the make up, as it feels like it glues the foundation onto my skin - there's definitely no budging it! 

All these primers are amazing, and I like to alternate them on a regular basis. If I had to take one to a desert island, however, it'd probably be the Benefit PoreFessional as it's great for touching up shiny areas throughout the day, and can be used as a primer. For holding make up down for a long amount of time, it's got to be the BareMinerals Prime Time oil control - great for those who exercise with a full face of make up (ashamed to admit I'm one of them). I use the Lancome LA Base Pro on a daily basis though as it's unbelievably light weight and provides a really nice texture on my skin to add make up.