My Favorite Makeup Primers for Hot Summer Weather
Wearing makeup in the summer can be quite the balancing act. My routine changes to fit the hotter more humid weather and to fit how my skin reacts to it. I’m oilier in the summer and less likely to want to wear super full coverage foundation. I like a more sheer to medium coverage look. BUT- I also need to make sure it lasts on my oily skin throughout my long work days. A lot of people debate the necessity of a primer as part of a basic makeup routine. I say this simply haven’t found a great primer. I am a bit addicted to trying out not only new foundations, but new primers and as a result I have a fairly decent idea of how certain primers hold up in hot weather. I decided to compile a list of primers that work well for my skin. All of these primers are at varying price points depending on your budget.
From left to right: Cane & Austin Mattifying Primer, $56; Touch en Sol No Poreplem Primer, $18; Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, $54; Milk Hydro Grip Primer, $30; Sunprise Mild Airy Finish Sunscreen SPF 50++, $10; Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer, $52
Cane & Austin Mattifying Primer
I recently started using this primer and so far I have been really loving it. I have been using it not only as my primer but also my sunscreen for my face.The great thing about this primer is that it also functions as skincare. It has a broad spectrum SPF of 50 and provides gentle hydration that helps balance oil production - it doesn’t dry out your skin. It contains Vitamin C and CO-Q10. It also has a slight tint (think medium tone - it doesn’t leave any kind of white cast on the skin) to it and can be worn alone as an SPF. My favorite way to wear this is to apply it and then apply Milk Hydro-Grip Primer over it. It’s been winning combo for me.
*Touch en Sol No Poreplem Primer
I had heard so many influencers rave about this primer and how great it is and I had to see what all the fuss was about. This primer isn’t perfect. It has a lot of silicones in it so I personally wouldn’t pair it with a super matte foundation (the combo will simply dry your skin out and wind up making you even oilier). But with a natural finish, demi matte, or dewy foundation it works well. You only need a bit and it’s best when it’s concentrated on ares with larger pores as opposed to applied all over the face. It gives the skin a nice blurred effect.
*Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
I haven’t used this primer in ages but it is still in my top five of best primers. It has a lovely silky finish to it, helps with oil control and isn’t drying. It also does wonders at keeping makeup in place for long hours. If you don’t want to spend the money on this - because it’s fairly expensive - a fairly good affordable dupe for it is the *NYX Angel Veil Primer. I have used both and while it’s not an exact dupe (due to ingredients) it functions almost exactly the same way as the Hourglass primer. I compared the two in my Drugstore and Affordable Dupes for High End Products post which you can check out here.
I have been obsessed with this primer since I started using a couple of months ago. I’m already on my second bottle so that should tell you how much I like it! It’s hydrating without being greasy or heavy and it does wonders to keep makeup in place on hot days -hence the “grip” in the name. My favorite way to wear this is paired with other primers. Specifically mattifying ones. They work in tandem to make sure not only that my skin doesn’t get too oily but that my skin also stays hydrated. Right now my favorite combo is the Hydro Grip with the Cane & Austin primer. Or if I’m having a light makeup day I will pair it with facial sunscreen.
Sunrprise Mild Airy Finish Sunscreen SPF 50
Okay, so this technically isn’t a primer but it works really well as one. For a good long while I had abandoned all my other primer in lieu of just using this. It’s that good. It helps with oil control, has a soft demi matte finish and makeup sits really nicely on top of it. If you are not a primer person I would highly recommend using this instead. You will get sun protection and a nice base for makeup. On light makeup days I pair it with the Milk Hydro Grip Primer and a sheer to med coverage foundation.
This is another great primer for large pores. I don’t use this all over my face. This primer functions as spot primer. A little goes a long way with this primer and it’s the type of product that if you use too much it actually doesn’t work very well. The instructions say to use a grain of rice sized amount. I take that tiny amount and I apply it to where I have larger pores. This is not a primer I use by itself. It pairs well with Hydro Grip and my sunscreen. Throughout the day as the skin’s oils come through or you start to sweet in the heat, Silk Canvas does a great job of keeping the pores from looking enlarged.
What is your go-to face primer in the summer? Let me know in the comments!
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