Reader question: What's the difference between eye and face primers?
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 11:54AM Hi Liz,
I'm looking for a good primer for the oily parts of my face (I'm combination skin) - which is my T -zone AND my eyelids. I tend to get really oily lids which ruins my eyeshadow. My question is, if I plan to get a primer, do I need to get a separate one for my eyelids? Or could I just go with an all-around primer like Benefit's Porefessional or Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer? - Jin
Hi Jin! Thanks for the question. Eye primers and face primers are different from each other because the skin on those areas and the makeup you use on them require a different type of base. They're like oranges and apples!
Benefit Porefessional vs Urban Decay Primer Potion
You'd want your T-zone and cheeks to look smoother, poreless, and less oily, which is where silicone-based primers come in. The fine silicone in the product fills in the pores and lines, thus blurring them while also acting as a barrier between your skin and makeup. This makes you oil up less and helps your makeup look smoother overall.
An eye primer, on the other hand, is intended to coat your lids in a more solid manner. They are usually translucent or tinted to lighten the lids. The ingredients used in an eye primer serve as a sort of adhesive to the pigments and shimmer in your eyeshadow. They grab the color better and once it sets completely your eyeshadow shouldn't crease or move around.
Silicone face primers don't work well on the lids because the're more viscous and do not usually set; they sit on top of skin. They'll crease and slip everytime you blink your eyes. Conversely, eye primers can't be used on the face because they will block your pores due to the harder texture and different set of ingredients that aren't intended for the face.
There are other types of face primers that are water or gel-based, however. I haven't really tried them so I can't say for sure if they can be used on the eyes.
Hope this helps Jin!
Reader Comments (39)
Wow! This is excellent information. Thanks for expounding Liz! Now I'm convinced that I really should use eye primer instead of relying only on the face primer for my entire face.
wow! this is very helpful, as I get confused if they can be used in either ways. I also heard about lip primers, which makes the lipstick pop more if it's light and makes the color vibrant. However, I also have seen from korean makeup tutorials from youtube that they also use concealers in their lips.
How about you Ms.Liz, do you use lip primers/concealers on your lips?
There are lots of primers for the face made for different purposes. Some are geared toward minimizing pores and lines (Benefit's Porefessional); others to mattify oily areas, and some others still that work as color correctors (Make Up Forever and Smashbox). Apart from these, I think what's common with them, because their main ingredient is silicone (and some -cone-ending stuff) is that they provide a silky finish so that foundation gets applied more smoothly and evenly.
From personal experience, I could also say that makeup lasts longer and fresher-looking at the end of the day as compared to when I skip face primers. I used to obsess about Smashbox Photofinish foundation primer before but then I did some research and found that it actually has the same ingredients as Monistat chafing gel (minus the botanical stuff that's supposed to be beneficial to skin as well) -- well Monistat's not intended as a primer but works just as well since they share the core ingredients), in my opinion. So I've been using this since, and I'm quite satisfied with the results.
As for eye primers, this really makes a difference because eye primers intensify the colors of whatever eye shadows I have (especially for matte ones) that tend to fade with the lid color. It also prevents creasing. Good ones that I've tried and budget friendly are Art Deco Eye Shadow Base and NYX HD eye primer.:-)
This is one informative information, Ms. Liz! I have this ELF eye primer wherein I seldom use for my T-zone. Talking about saving and multitasking. thanks for this post and answering Jin's query, I am convinced to pursue buying a face primer. Will now be saving for that. Yay!
Btw, I would like to ask, is there such thing as lip primer? My lipstick wont really last for an hour or so! And if there is, what product will you recommend to people having tight budget like me? Thanks Ms. Liz, God bless! ♥
Primers (eye or face) really makes one's make-up last for quite a long time :)), very informative
topic Ms. Liz, I love it ^.^
It is very informative, now I know, it really helps but what will you recommend to a dry skin?
I've ordered the Nyx HD face primer and it hasn't arrived yet. What's interesting is, it doesn't contain silicon. Some people who have sensitive skin reacts easily with silicon, that's why they say it's a good alternative. I've read some pretty good reviews about it. What's your thought on non-silicon based primers, Ms. Liz? Are there brands you would recommend?
Great macro shots! I can really see the face primer filling in the ridges in the skin.
Wow grabe. I learned something today. Thanks for this tutorial Ms. Liz! I didn't know that primers used for eyeshadows are different from the ones that are used for the face.
because i have extremely oily skin..good luck to my tzone...i actually applied my etude house eye primer on my tzone. ..walang nangyaring maganda! ahahaha..i only did it cause i was so desperate and the eye primer really worked/controlled the oils on my lids so i thought maybe it would work on my entire face..epic fail!
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You can also prime your lids with a cream based eye shadow. Maybe try something that's a bit light in color to make the powdered eye shadows show through more vibrantly. :) But my question is about setting sprays. I heard that they can be sprayed before you put on makeup (just like a primer) but you can also spray them after. If you already used primer before, is it necessary to spray setting mist after also?
@Khristine - Hi! I've never heard of setting mists before makeup application. That's nice to know.:-) But yeah, I think setting sprays are necessary even with primer on especially if you're really intent on keeping the makeup from running, like for special occasions like proms or weddings. I think primer sets the foundation but a setting spray sets everything (including mascara) and offsets the "powdery" appearance we sometimes get with makeup (too many "sets" heehee!). I heard you can really afford not to retouch with the help of a good setting spray (read good reviews about Model in a Bottle). For everyday though, I think face primer is enough.:-)
My eyelids cannot live without a primer. My lids are so oily, the Ellana and Tony Moly eye primers can't make it stay crease free at all. My latest is the NYX HD primer and it still can't keep it matte all day but the creasing is minimal. But I don't put eyeshadow everyday so that's totally fine. Though, Majo Majo claimed that their face primer can be used for your eyes too. I found that it didn't work for me.
It is really in investing on the primer that will work for you actually. If you really need to use a primer to keep your makeup all day. It's worth investing on a high cost product if that's the one that works the best for you. Much better if a lower cost alternative works for you too.
Gossmakeupartist tells us in a video that choosing the right primer is based in the foundation you use. If you are using a silicone based foundation, you should use a silicone based primer. Same with a water based foundation, etc. That, according to him, is the reason why foundations don't last.
As a newbie to all these(kasi hanggang BB cream at powder lang ako), this is informative stuff! Thanks ate liz!
Thanks, Ms.Liz! I've actually been wodering about this myself for the longest time! I've been using Look Beauty's prime perfect and it really smoothens out my skin but does little to control the oil. I've been looking for a cheaper alternative to urban decay's primer potion that's available locally, but no luck yet. I'm new to all of this and you've just been such an inspiration so I'd just like to say thanks! :)
@Yani : I have heard of Monistat chafing gel for primer. Does it clog pores?
@Nikka: Been using Etude House Proof 10 eye primer, and it works well. I suggest you try it sometime :)
Hi girls! Do you know some primer that is not so costly like around P300 to P500 but works well? I've tried smashbox photofinish and yes it really works well but its expensive, I'm trying to look for alternatives. Hearing the ellana primer isn't that much though i haven't tried it I'm hesitating to buy now. I've heard about L'oreal primer as well but not yet that convince, could you help me out? :D
Hi girls, the ELF eyelid primer is one of the best drugstore primers I've tried and could recommend. It's around P130 lang, I believe! Though it's always out of stock in ELF counters sa SM.
Great post, Liz! :)
I used to avoid using my UDPP because it made blending a little more difficult... but it really does make eyeshadows show better, specially when you use UD eyeshadows with UDPP. So now I just go with it every single day and I've gotten used to blending with it underneath. Worth the extra effort, I think! And just for the sake of sharing, my fave face primer is the Laura Mercier radiance primer. I don't use it everyday but when I do, I feel like my face is lit from within! <3
@ManilaJen: Thank you for reminding me. I heard that the Etude House primer is better than the Tony Moly eyeprimer. Will try it when my NYX primer dries out. So far, I have a technique with it: I put it on first before my face makeup. When I'm ready to put on eyeshadow (it starts creasing by then), I just have to blend the creasing out with my finger again before applying the eyeshadow. And poof! No creasing for 8 hrs or so.
@Mariana: I read alot of good reviews about the Laura Mercier radiance primer! Sad that it doesn't have spf? My "primer" or base rather, is the Tony Moly UV Sunset all day long sun base. It has spf 50, pa +++ and is a good base for foundation. It doesn't do anything for pores or any other imperfections though. After all, it's not a primer to start with.
is it really a must to use these products? what if i skip doing this prior to makeup application, will this make a difference if i use foundation alone? i never tried before so i dont really know.
@yan: Personally, I think a face primer is not a "must have". Except if you have concerns such as large pores, oily skin, dull skin, general redness, etc, which your foundation cannot address. Primers help the foundation to stay on the whole day and helps correct most of these problems. If you see that your foundation is working well on its own (meaning you are satisfied in how it works for you), then you may not need a primer.
Long wear may or may not depend on the primer because some foundies or BB creams last all day with or without a primer (ex. water proof variants).
Check your skin (type, condition, etc). That can help in deciding. Whether you are oily, dry, normal, combination. Do you want to hide your pores (cause your foundie can't hide them)? Does your face look red compared to your neck? Does your foundie melt by noon? Do you sweat alot or do you spent your day in a airconditioned room, etc. Just remember: primers make your base (skin) flawless and ideal for the foundation to stay on so that it can make you flawless and beautiful all day long.
Hope that helps. #wasjustpassingbyagain
I used face primer before I tried BB Cream. When I started using BB Cream together with my remaining face primer, I realized that there face primer is hardly doing anything for me and that using BB Cream is enough.
But anyway, recently, I tried using Etude House Proof 10 eye primer. I have oily lids that's why my eye shadows sometimes fade off and come on, it isn't really easy reapplying eye shadows. Also, I'm really lazy. :p. Anyway, when I tried it, I observed that besides on helping my eye shadow last longer (yessss!), the colors are a little more vibrant. I got some comments from my friends that my makeup these days look better. So yes, go for eye primers. It's that silent "must-have" for us makeup lovers. :)
@jhenky, elf has face primers and eye primers that is worth less than 400 pesos, you might want to check them out if you are looking for something on that price range. i have both of them and they work well for me on the times I used them, however, i own nothing else to compare it with and i rarely use them, because i prefer to use just bb cream on a daily basis and skip out on eye makeup on daily makeup. But you can search for reviews on them on the internet. I have read some with good reviews on it that's why i purchased it although i know i wouldn't use it that much.
@Nikka, i love that Tony Moly UV sunset base and also the sun cream especially when I'm expecting to be out on the sun. No white cast and no white sweat dripping. I reach for this more than I would reach for a face primer. Also I prefer to use an oil pore cut balm such as face shop before I put on my BB cream because I tend to be a greaseball, it doesn't really make me stay matte the whole day because no product is able to that, but it doubles the length of time my Tzone is not oily than it normally would without it.
@Yani, i never heard of monistat chafing gel, maybe I should search on it.
What i have read good reviews for the budget friendly once were the NYX HD eyebase and face primer, the elf primers have good reviews but lesser rave than nyx, hard candy primer ultra light face primer , the etude house proof 10 eye primer. I've read also the Korean Brand Baniila Co, winning some allure awards in Korea for their face primer. And their face primer have variants for normal skin, for dry skin, for oily skin, etc. So if you have access to korean cosmetics, you might want to check that out.
Love the conversation thread here! :D Thanks for the feedback and inputs, it helps to get other perspectives aside from mine.