Just when we thought it was time to dust off those warm cosies and pumpkin spice candles...we have some humid, summer weather back here over in the UK. Not gonna lie, I am happy to see the tail-end of the summer weather now. I have enjoyed the sun and the warmth and being outdoors more, but I am very much ready for the cooler weather and vibes.
Us oily-skinned peeps have the struggles in the summer ; with makeup sliding off your face as soon as you step outside into that heat, feeling a bit grim and dirty throughout the day and just looking a little more hot and bothered than usual.
In the warmers seasons, our skin naturally produces more oil so yeah….summer + oily skin + makeup can be a real struggle.
Priming your skin will help ; sometimes it won’t keep you a 10/10 flawless babe from dusk til’ dawn but it certainly will help the wear and longevity of your makeup. Here are my Top 5 primers that have helped me and my oily skin get through this summer.
The Instagram makeup fave = Too Faced Primed and Peachy : This is a primer that I find gives that instant cooling and mattifying gratification. It’s one I have dipped into and out of for years and I find the key thing for me about it is that it seems to work well with any and every foundation I have used it with. It’s a light cream and breathable formula, that blends into the skin quickly and easily and leaves the skin feeling really fresh.
For me, not a huge selling point, but some people do love the fact that this has a sweet peaches & cream scent. It’s not cheap at £26 and up there with the more expensive of my picks, but it’s a great one if you have the budget to splash a bit more and like your makeup pretty. It’s also a 40ml size whereas most primers are around 30ml.
The budget darling = E.L.F Prep and Blur Stick. My favourite budget primer EVER. I really love it and it’s actually the one I have used the most this summer. I love the quick and easy stick applicator, it doesn’t feel siliconey or greasy on your skin which some of the budget ones can and it does a fine job of smoothing my skin. A snip at just £9 and I highly recommend if you are oily / combination or open-pored.
The glow-getter go-to = The Benefit POREfessional Pearl primer. This cream still has that lovely smoothing effect of the more famous and original Porefessional primer, but it just adds that wash of glow over the skin. It is perfect if you, like myself, are always searching for that perfect balance of glow….but not oily-looking. It is oil-free, reduces the appearance of pores and leaves the skin comfortably semi-matte.
The hybrid skincare-primer = The Erborian Matte Creme. This is more leaning towards a (light) face cream but it’s a perfect consistency and finish to warrant being a mattifying primer with benefits. It blurs the skin, leaves it matte and also maintains the skin’s moisture barrier so this can be your all-in-one. I have the 15 ml trial size which is the perfect travel companion and trial tube.
The BEST all-rounder = The one I’ve probably used the longest (& a LOT in my kit!) is the NARS Smooth & Protect Primer. NARS do a few different primers and actually one MORE targeted to an oily / open-pored skin (the pore & shine) but I find that a little too thick on my skin and it doesn’t work with all foundations, so I prefer this original formula which is lighter and still smooths my skin really well PLUS you have the good ol’ dose of SPF50 to boot. It is oil- free and a light cream texture and possibly the most versatile of my primers, so one that works well on not just an oily/combination skin, but even more dry and dehydrated.
Have you tried any of these primers before? Let me know your favourite primers at the moment to keep the shine at bay!
*contains press samples
