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Avanti Dalal profile imageAvanti DalalPublished on
8 make-up primers you can rely on through the humid weather

Thanks to these products you can be sure you won’t have any more make-up meltdowns

Think of primers as a critical mid-point between your skincare routine and make-up regimen—it creates a smooth canvas for which your make-up can adhere to, it can improve the staying power of the rest of your products, it can brighten, smoothe, hydrate and boost your complexion. Here are our favourite ones—they do their job without leaving your skin feeling greasy or heavy.

Dior Face & Body PrimerShop here₹3300This is a lightweight primer with a gel texture, and has a blurring effect and a peach undertone so it doesn’t look grey on darker skin tones. It leaves skin both luminous and matte at the same time—the ideal middle ground.

Dior Face & Body Primer

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₹3300

This is a lightweight primer with a gel texture, and has a blurring effect and a peach undertone so it doesn’t look grey on darker skin tones. It leaves skin both luminous and matte at the same time—the ideal middle ground.

ELF Matte Putty PrimerShop here₹750This putty primer is infused with kaolin and white charcoal to absorb excess oil, giving you a shine-free finish. It smooths over imperfections and blurs the look of large pores, creating the ideal canvas for your foundation because it grips onto your make-up so it lasts all day. Even after hours in the heat or humidity, it’ll keep you shine-free.

ELF Matte Putty Primer

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₹750

This putty primer is infused with kaolin and white charcoal to absorb excess oil, giving you a shine-free finish. It smooths over imperfections and blurs the look of large pores, creating the ideal canvas for your foundation because it grips onto your make-up so it lasts all day. Even after hours in the heat or humidity, it’ll keep you shine-free.

Kay Beauty Colour Correcting Primer - GreenShop here₹649Kay Beauty’s primers are available in a whole host of colours, and all of them do something different—some brighten, some lift and some hide dark circles. This one—infused with avocado butter to hydrate and mango butter to soften your skin—has a green tinge that covers redness, especially on the cheeks, the sides of the nose and near the eyes. If you have red zits and post-acne scars, layering a little bit of this primer before putting on a concealer will ensure that you do the best cover-up job.

Kay Beauty Colour Correcting Primer - Green

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₹649

Kay Beauty’s primers are available in a whole host of colours, and all of them do something different—some brighten, some lift and some hide dark circles. This one—infused with avocado butter to hydrate and mango butter to soften your skin—has a green tinge that covers redness, especially on the cheeks, the sides of the nose and near the eyes. If you have red zits and post-acne scars, layering a little bit of this primer before putting on a concealer will ensure that you do the best cover-up job.

NARS Soft Matte PrimerShop here₹2800If you hate the slippery texture of some primers, this lightweight formula is worth picking out. It has a gel-like texture that sinks into the skin as soon as you apply, giving the skin a satiny finish. Applying a water-based foundation then gets that much easier. It features the brand’s climate-balancing technology—it helps retain hydration when it is dry outside, and wicks off excess moisture in more humid environments. If you’re switching between being indoors with the air-conditioner on and being outside, this is ideal for you.

NARS Soft Matte Primer

Shop here

₹2800

If you hate the slippery texture of some primers, this lightweight formula is worth picking out. It has a gel-like texture that sinks into the skin as soon as you apply, giving the skin a satiny finish. Applying a water-based foundation then gets that much easier. It features the brand’s climate-balancing technology—it helps retain hydration when it is dry outside, and wicks off excess moisture in more humid environments. If you’re switching between being indoors with the air-conditioner on and being outside, this is ideal for you.

Pixi by Petra Flawless & Poreless PrimerShop here₹2180If you are prone to acne, you don’t want a thick formula that’ll leave your skin feeling greasy and uncomfortable throughout the day. This formula contains willow bark extract and salicylic acid to mattify and improve cell turnover, so you get a primer that feels velvety on the skin without making the acne worse. It’s so light that when you apply it, you’ll forget it is even there.

Pixi by Petra Flawless & Poreless Primer

Shop here

₹2180

If you are prone to acne, you don’t want a thick formula that’ll leave your skin feeling greasy and uncomfortable throughout the day. This formula contains willow bark extract and salicylic acid to mattify and improve cell turnover, so you get a primer that feels velvety on the skin without making the acne worse. It’s so light that when you apply it, you’ll forget it is even there.

Ready Set Jet Cleanse and Prime Beauty BatonShop here₹2940When you’re on the move , a product that does more than just one thing is the space-saving holy grail. This two-in-one stick reminds you to always wash your face before beginning to apply make-up (it gives you the best possible canvas to start with) and then prime. The primer side has a soft purple hue that counteracts the yellow tones in the skin that can lead to dullness, therefore boosting the skin’s radiance. Pop it in the fridge and then swirl it on to your skin for a soothing, refreshing experience.

Ready Set Jet Cleanse and Prime Beauty Baton

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₹2940

When you’re on the move , a product that does more than just one thing is the space-saving holy grail. This two-in-one stick reminds you to always wash your face before beginning to apply make-up (it gives you the best possible canvas to start with) and then prime. The primer side has a soft purple hue that counteracts the yellow tones in the skin that can lead to dullness, therefore boosting the skin’s radiance. Pop it in the fridge and then swirl it on to your skin for a soothing, refreshing experience.

Stila One Step CorrectShop here₹3,300If you wanted to just pick a beauty product based on the way it looks—it has three coloured ribbons suspended through it—add this one to your cart. But the actual formula is pretty cool too—the pink, purple and green ribbons are mixed together as you dispense it, and they reduce the look of redness, brighten skin and deliver a radiant finish.

Stila One Step Correct

Shop here

₹3,300

If you wanted to just pick a beauty product based on the way it looks—it has three coloured ribbons suspended through it—add this one to your cart. But the actual formula is pretty cool too—the pink, purple and green ribbons are mixed together as you dispense it, and they reduce the look of redness, brighten skin and deliver a radiant finish.

The Ordinary Silicone PrimerShop here₹600Remember—while you can’t get rid of pores, or close them down, or render them smaller, you can blur them a whole lot. This primer helps to do exactly that by forming a thin layer on the skin which fills in the pores and allows you to apply foundation and concealer in the smoothest way possible. Tap-tap-tap the product on, and then carry on with the rest of your make-up routine. The dimethicone holds onto the layers you apply on top, ensuring that it doesn’t slip-slide off your face by the evening.

The Ordinary Silicone Primer

Shop here

₹600

Remember—while you can’t get rid of pores, or close them down, or render them smaller, you can blur them a whole lot. This primer helps to do exactly that by forming a thin layer on the skin which fills in the pores and allows you to apply foundation and concealer in the smoothest way possible. Tap-tap-tap the product on, and then carry on with the rest of your make-up routine. The dimethicone holds onto the layers you apply on top, ensuring that it doesn’t slip-slide off your face by the evening.

Also Read: What it takes to put together a red-carpet make-up look

Also Read: 8 make-up products with skincare benefits ideal for acne-prone, oily skin

Also Read: How are Indian beauty brands making packaging more sustainable?

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