Dear all,

Do you find your makeup never stays on all day, the wind sweeps it away or that oil build up during the day just makes your makeup almost slide off?

If the answer is yes then read on to find out how to stop this from happening, if no then you are very lucky and I envy you! (also please leave your own personal comments below as to how you get yours to stay put!)

I often get told by clients that makeup always 'slides' off their face and never stays put or true to its colour, some people have skin that can turn makeup very 'blue' on them, the first time I heard this I had no idea what this meant but since then I have discovered what it means and that I too suffer annoyingly from this 'blue makeup syndrome' too!
It basically means that the warmth of your skin can turn eyeshadow/eyeliner/lipstick colours into a colour that has a blue undertone to it, you may apply a pink lipstick or a green eyeshadow but by midday the colour seems to have taken on a bluey hue...unfortunately I am yet to find a cure for this other than to use a decent primer...

A primer is used by makeup artists and now increasingly by the female population at home, in order to:
1) Re-surface the skin by smoothing it out using ingredients such as silica to plump up and fill in any pores or fine lines, plus they contain powders and salicylic acid to soak up excess oil from the skin.
2) they help to create a barrier between skin and foundation which if you suffer from oily skin is very useful as the natural oils from your skin when mixed with your foundation will oxidize the foundation turning it a slightly darker shade
3) they help your makeup to stay put and last longer through out the day, resisting temperature changes and humidity (making them very useful to bridal makeup artists who need the makeup they apply to look perfect through out the whole day)

Primers are widely sold these days and drugstores such as boots and Superdrug sell lots of them, therefore you can have one no matter what budget you are on...
If you are a high street gal and just want to try one out I suggest either:

L'Oreal

STUDIO SECRETS

Smoothing Resurfacing Primer

£14.29

What they say:

A VELVET TOUCH IN RECORD TIME
Inspired by professional make-up, this primer masks wrinkles and uneven textures in the skin, making the complexion incredibly smooth with a velvety touch. Skin feels soft as if resurfaced.

OR:

Boots No7:

Airbrush Away Primer 30ml

They say:

No7 Airbrush Away Primer allows you to flaunt picture-perfect skin this spring. Proven results can be seen in just ten minutes and last for up to eight hours. Apply before foundation for front cover perfection – naturally.

£19.50

And if you want to splurge the top two would be:

Laura Mercier:

£27.00

They say:

Specifically created for oily, sensitive and acne-prone skin types; oil free
Contains high water content and addresses surface dehydration around active blemishes
Oil controlling ingredients ensure long-wear and flawless application
Vitamins A, C, and E act as antioxidants & protect the skin from harmful, aging effects of the environment
Cooling Foundation Primer in the refrigerator is refreshing for the skin and reduces puffiness
Non-comedogenic

OR:

Having worked for Clinique I can guarantee that their Pore Minimizer is fantastic and really smooths out skin surface plus holds foundation all day long

£17.00

They say:

Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector

Instantly refine the look of pores with a natural-looking, long-lasting matte finish. De-shines. Resists sweat and humidity, too. Wear alone, under or over makeup for a flawless look. Invisible coverage.

The only downside to this product is that it is so small and you will go through it quickly!

Anyway I hope this all helps with those of you who struggle to keep your makeup looking flawless all day long, primers really do help, I never go without one and they really do help to hold your makeup in place all day!

And if you struggle specifically with your eye makeup sliding off then their are eyelid primer aswell which are fantastic, I use them alot of brides when there could be tears and the eyes need to stay bright and fresh all day...

Try these two:

Urban Decay Shadow Primer Potion, £12