Best Foundation Primers For $15 or Less

Do you find that when you get home from your day at work, or fun night out with friends your foundation has disappeared and your face is horribly shiny? Face primers can help combat these problems. Face primers, or foundation primers, are applied after your daily moisturizer and before your foundation. They can help control shine, correct discoloration and extend the life of your foundation.

When I started using face primers I tried dozens of brands and ended up with a handful of ones I really liked, and a few I LOVED. I want to share with you what I think are the best foundation primers you can get for $15.00 or less! (In no particular order, they are all great!)

This mineral infused face primer sold online by E.L.F Cosmetics is only $6, and is a great find. It is a clear formula that is a loose gel type product making a small amount go a long way. The finish is very smooth and soft and I have found it fills in lines and pores very well. The Eyes Lips and Face primer is versatile and both controls shine and locks in moisture in dry patches. When using this product I've found it works best if you allow the primer to sit for a few minutes before applying your foundation.

I know, not what it's supposed to be used for but its amazing! I first found out this double use from Make Up Geek (YouTube Beauty Guru) and was skeptical but gave it a try. The gel is clear and goes on velvet smooth, similar to the E.L.F. brand. It has a thicker consistency than most primers and fills in deep wrinkles and pores nicely. The price is very affordable for the quantity your receiving and can be purchased in most drugstores for around $8 and online for as low as $3. It definitely will last you a very long time. This type of primer is also great for oily skin and works well with liquid foundations.

The Mary Kay Oil Mattifier is in a word, wonderful. It is especially great for oily skin, as the name suggests. It helps absorb the oils your skin naturally creates and gives you a great matte finish. If shine control is one of your main goals, I suggest you give this product a try. It is one of the more expensive primers, and costs $15 for a .6 oz tube, but is a great product and works extremely well for some skin types and tones.

The Rimmel brand gives you a wide range of primers for a great value. You receive a full fluid oz tube for only $6 online of most of their brands.The formula is thin, and creamy. Some of their face primers also have an orange tint, which is great for hiding blue and purple discoloring, like the ever present under eye circles. This may not be a good choice for those who suffer from a lot of red spots because it will draw attention to them. The next primer is great for that problem though!

This primer packs 3 great products into one super cool tube. The Physicians formula product has primer, corrector and sun protection in one convenient applicator. I picked mine up at CVS for about $11 and you can find them online for less. Don't forget to look for deals and coupons. The physicians formula product can be purchased in nude, green or highlighter. The nude is neutral and will work for most skin tones, the green works especially well for those with redness, and highlighter is great for added brightness but might worsen already red skin tones. I personally don't care for the applicator that comes attached and worry it may harbor bacteria from being repeatedly placed directly on your skin. A quick fix is to transfer the product to a clean surface (like a makeup palette mixer) and then apply with fingers or a foundation brush.

Depending on the formula you choose a foundation primer can offer skin clearing remedies, tone correcting, concealing, shine control and many more benefits. I encourage you look for a formula that will fit your skins needs and work with not against your choice of foundation. These five primers are a great starting point, and at such low prices keep you from losing to much if it doesn't work out. Every skin type is different, but all can benefit from a great primer.

The Lorea Magic Lumi Light Infusing primer is great for dry or lifeless skin. It makes your skin looking glowing and healthy. It can be found at most drugstores for about $10.00 and will last you several months as a little bit can go a long way. I personally use this primer sparingly on my face and just in the areas I want to highlight or bring a little more life to. It can also be mixed in with your foundation if you want to get a dewier finish out of a matte foundation.

To find out how and when you should be applying your foundation primer, check out this article, How to Apply Foundation Primer.