Your skin type, and the perfect primers for it ♡

A lot of times I find people I talk to are never sure of their skin type, and use foundations that don't work well. Using make up for your face that doesn't match well with your skin type can mean your foundation wears off too quickly from using the wrong type, or is drying out your skin. 

This post will help you find out what type your skin is, and the primers to use to give your skin a perfect base for other make up. (I will write a post similar to this for foundation as well - this post is to help you figure out how to create a perfect base for your make up). Also, instead of suggesting specific primers, each skin type will have a generalised idea of what is best for them, so you can then find a primer in your price range to suit you with the knowledge of what's best for your skin.

♡ Figuring Out Your Skin Type ♡

There are 4 basic skin types, not including having acne prone, or sensitive skin. If you have either of these you will have to keep this in mind when purchasing make up. Your skin type mostly refers to how dry or oily your skin is, and on which parts of your face. You could have normal, oily, dry, or combination skin. The best way to determine your skin type is to observe the quality of your skin when you have no products or make up on your face. 

Firstly, make sure not to over wash your face with too many products such as scrubs and soaps. Only use water and a gentle cleanser to remove any products or oils from your skin. After this, wait around one hour so your skin has time to return to it's natural state. Be super careful not to touch or lean on your face with with your hands. After this time, take a tissue and, paying close attention to your forehead and nose, dab your whole face with the tissue. Observing the amount of oil or flaky skin on the tissue will help you figure out what type your skin is.

• If your skin is normal, the tissue should show no flaking skin or oil. Keep in mind that 'normal' skin isn't actually the most common, this just means that you have no excess oil or dry skin.

• Oily skin will show grease on the tissue. You may also have larger pores and 'shiny' looking skin.

• Dry skin may feel tight, or show dead skin flakes on the tissue. Dry skin is often accompanied by small pores.

• Combination skin - the most common - shows different traits of the other skin types. Usually your T-zone (your forehead and nose) will be oily, and the rest of your skin will be normal or dry.

♡ Which Primer Should You Use? ♡

In all primers, it's good to look for a high SPF. This will protect your skin from sun damage which will keep it healthy and prevent it from ageing prematurely. Also, keywords such as 'sweat/water resistant' or 'long lasting' will make sure that your primer won't just come off half way through your day.

♡ Normal Skin

• If you have normal skin, you don't have to be super careful about which primers you use, as there are no real problems you have to cater for. 

• 'Normal' skin means you have no excess oil or dry skin. You may not need a primer to fix any problems, but would like to give yourself a longer lasting and more flawless finish to your foundation. 

• Look for light and creamy primers to make sure it's not too heavy on your skin. You're just looking for a primer that will give your skin a smooth base for foundation. 

• If you prefer a glowing or dewy finish, look for illuminating primers.

• If you prefer a matte finish, look for a mattefying primer.

♡ Oily Skin 

• Look for primers that are oil free and have a shine free finish.

• Oily skin may have large pores, so a pore minimising primer will benefit your skin type if you want an flawless look.

• Mattefying primers will help prevent a 'shine' on your skin that many people will oily skin experience. 

• Avoid illuminating or dewy primers, as they may not work well with your skin type.

♡ Dry Skin 

• Hydrating and moisturising primers will not only improve the general look and condition of dry and flaky skin over time, but will help your foundation glide on smoothly and not cling to dry skin. Using hydrating primers will prevent your foundation from looking patchy.

• Those with dry skin may also suffer from redness. There are many primers to buy with a mint or green tone, this helps to eliminate pink or red tones in your skin. But make sure - as with all other primers - to let them dry completely before you apply foundation.

• Illuminating primers will create a glowing and radiant look, combating matte or patchy skin.

♡ Combination Skin 

• Combination skin is both the most common and the most difficult to deal with, as you may have very dry skin in one area, and very oily in another. 

• If you have enough time in your make up routine and money to spend, you may wish to use multiple primers on different areas of your face.

• Using a primer that targets oily skin on your T-zone, and a normal or dry skin primer on the rest of your face will allow you to create a base more suitable for your skin.

• This may help you, for example, if you have a shine on your forehead and nose, red and flaky skin on your cheeks, and normal skin all over (my personal experience).

• Multi use primers will indicate that they are good for combination skin. If you only have time in your routine to use one primer, these are your best bet.

♡ How To Tell If It Works ♡

If your primer is working, the quality of your skin should be the same over all on your face, with no excess oil or dry skin. Primers are meant to create a long lasting base for your skin, although you may just wish to use them on their own for a quick flawless look. If you want to try out various foundations because you're not sure on what to ask for, ask for samples from your beauty store instead of buying multiple primers and risk not using them.

I hope these tips have helped you figure out your skin type, and how to find the perfect primer for your skin! All information I have collected either through personal experience of my own and others, or various information online from other blogs and websites.