Best face primer for mature skin

There's nothing worse than your foundation settling into the lines of your face or drying up throughout the day, but this is where the best face primer for mature skin can help. If you're tired of this happening every time you apply makeup as an older woman, you might just benefit from adding one to your beauty bag. However, if priming your face isn't a usual step in your makeup routine, you may also be wondering what primer is, how it should be applied and what the best primer is for your skin type.

Selecting the right primer will depend on your skin type as well as the look that you're hoping to achieve. Some will have the consistency of regular face cream, while others can take the form of a lightweight gel. Different types of primers will also have various benefits depending on their formulas. That's why we've also enlisted advice from skincare experts to answer some frequently asked questions about face primer for mature skin.

The best face primer for mature skin at a glance:

• Best face primer overall: Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer - view offer on John Lewis
• Best face primer for all skin types: Facetheory Ultraglide Silicone-Free Face Primer P1 - view offer on FaceTheory
• Best face primer on a budget: e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer Mineral - view offer on Boots

A face primer creates an even base for your foundation, helping your makeup to look smooth and last longer throughout the day. It's applied as the last step in your skincare routine and just before you apply the best foundation for mature skin. The best face primer forms a barrier on your skin, allowing your makeup to glide on effortlessly and stay put for longer.

Finish off your primer and foundation with the best concealer for mature skin, and you've got a perfectly painted canvas. But, what is the best face primer for mature skin? Here at Yours, we've put together a list of primers from some of the best brands in the UK that specialise in beauty and skincare. Believe us - once you've tried primer, there's no going back.

The best face primer for mature skin UK

FAQs: Best face primer for mature skin

How to apply primer on the face

You should always apply face primer on clean skin, so be sure to wash and cleanse your face beforehand. If you're following the steps of a traditional skincare routine, you might then follow this with toner and then your favourite moisturiser.

Once you've finished your skincare routine, you can follow it up with the best face primer for mature skin. Remember, primer is a base for your make up, so always apply it before applying your foundation. There are many ways to apply primer, including using a stippling brush, a damp make up sponge, or even with your fingertips.

Simply dab a small amount of product onto the applicator of your choice, and apply it to all of the areas of your face. Take care to really get into the crevices, especially the corners of your nose and laughter lines. Finally, after you've applied your primer, you're ready to move on to applying the rest of your make up.

What type of primer is best for my skin type?

Oily skin: When it comes to oily skin, often a mattifying primer is the best choice, as this reduces the shine on the skin before applying your foundation. It may help to keep a matte appearance on the skin throughout the day and a face powder for mature skin will also help keep you shine free.

Dry skin: When it comes to dry skin, the best primer you could choose is a hydrating, illuminating or moisturising primer. These bring moisture back into the skin, meaning your foundation is less likely to become patchy and dry. An illuminating primer will give your skin a glowy, dewy finish.

Combination skin: It's possible for you to mix different primers together for the achieved look, or you may want to apply two different primers to different areas of the face. For example, a mattifying primer around the area of the forehead, laugh lines and chin. An illuminating primer would be great to highlight the cheekbones.

Sensitive skin: Avoid anything with a strong fragrance. Always do a patch test before applying to the face. Shop from brands that specialise in sensitive skin, like No7, Clinique, or La Roche-Posay.

Uneven skin tone: The best CC cream for mature skin, colour correcting or tinted primer is best for uneven skin toneS or pigmentation. If you have areas of redness in your skin, a primer with a green tint will balance out the redness in your skin.

FAQs: Ask an expert

We consulted with Skincare Expert, Alexandra Hayes from Simone Thomas Wellness and Make Up Artist (MUA), Saffron Hughes at FalseEyelashes.co.uk for some answers to our frequently asked questions about the best face primer for mature skin.

Is primer good for wrinkles?

"There are primers for all skin types, including those best suited to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles," Saffron explains. "While there are many different types of primer, they all aim to create the perfect, even canvas for your make up."

"With mature skin, it can be tempting to opt for a heavier, pore-filling primer in the hopes that it will 'fill' fine lines, but layering heavier make up can actually cause make up to become cakey and exaggerate texture. The best-kept secret for youthful skin is hydration. A hydrating primer will smooth out texture on the skin, as well as create that 'glow from within' appearance."

Is primer just the same as moisturiser?

"Primers are formulated using larger molecules and this is so it can sit on top of your skin, as opposed to being absorbed into the pores," says skin expert, Alexandra.

"The best moisturisers are made with small molecules so that they can absorb into and treat the multiple layers of the epidermis, so a primer should be used on top of moisturiser to prepare the skin for make up lasting longer and looking its best."

Surprisingly, even though two products are similar, there can be differences in how they perform. Take the best BB creams and CC creams for example. Knowing the difference between the two will help you make an educated decision on what the best choice for your skin is.

Does primer really make a difference?

"If done correctly, yes!" Saffron, MUA, says. "Moisturiser should be applied before primer and left to fully sink into the skin. You can then go in with whichever type of primer you wish to use, be it pore-filling, hydrating or mattifying.

"A tactic often used by make-up artists is to prime in zones, meaning they will use different primers on their face depending on the skin concern in each area. For example, you may use a mattifying primer on the areas that get the most oily throughout the day and prime with a hydrating primer in the under eye area if they're particularly dry."

"However, it's important to cleanse your skin after wearing your make up" Skincare Expert, Alexandra, advises. "As with all products, at the end of the day make sure you cleanse your skin and don’t go to bed with your make up and primer still on as your complexion won’t thank you!"

Meet the expert:

This article contains expert advice from Skincare Expert, Alexandra Hayes at Simone Thomas Wellness and Make Up Artist, Saffron Hughes at FakeEyelashes.co.uk.

Samantha 'Sam' Price is a Beauty, Fashion & Wellness Products Writer at Yours magazine. In 2021, Sam began her journey as a Storytelling Executive at Closer and heatworld on an internship, creating beauty and fashion content across these brands. It was 2022 when Sam was employed as a Commercial Content Writer writing about Family Life on Yours, Mother & Baby and Spirit & Destiny. Now, she specialises in beauty, fashion and wellness content across many brands.