Can You Use Moisturizer Instead Of Primer?
Makeup is expressive and experimental. Sure, there are plenty of rules to follow when it comes to applying makeup.
Maybe you want to learn how to do eyeshadow to flatter your eye shape or find the right base products for a flawless complexion.
Thankfully, rules were meant to be broken, and that goes for primers as well.
Primers have been marketed as a superhero product that can completely change the outcome of your makeup look.
The question is, do primers really make a difference?
Can you use moisturizer instead of primer?
You can use most moisturizers in place of a primer. While both products have their pros and cons when it comes to makeup finish, the moisturizer provides the hydration, grip, and smoothing effect needed to prime the face for makeup.
What makes moisturizers and primers different, and is it worth spending money on a primer? Makeup is all about personal preference.
However, if you need help figuring out the perfect way to prep your skin, stick around to find out.
Is Primer Necessary?
What are primers? Makeup primers are a base product that helps your foundation go on more smoothly or provides added benefits.
Primers can mattify the skin, smooth texture on the face, increase the long-lasting staying power of your foundation, and even add glow.
Nowadays, there is a primer for every need and concern.
However, most individuals have also raved that moisturizers can provide the same benefits as a primer.
Some people even use both products to prep the skin. Is that product overload?
Can you live without a primer in your makeup routine? It will depend on your skin type and your skin concerns.
It’s possible that a primer can enhance your foundation’s base and create an extra layer of hydration and smoothness.
Surprisingly enough, moisturizers can do half of the skin prep work for you.
If you have normal to dry skin, chances are you can benefit by replacing your primer with a moisturizer.
It will give you a boost of hydration your skin needs to last 24/7 and smooth out dry patches your makeup would otherwise catch on.
Nowadays, you can find moisturizers that double as a primer.
We’ll introduce you to our favorite later in this article.
If you are not looking for an oil-controlling or smoothing primer, moisturizer-primer hybrids can be a versatile addition to your routine. You will receive the best of both worlds.
To determine whether a primer is necessary for you, it’s essential to understand the different types of primers available. Each can be targeted for a specific skin concern.
As a critical reminder, textured, oily, or blemished skin still needs to be moisturized, regardless of whether you use a primer.
It’s excellent to view primers as products to enhance your makeup application or provide additional benefits you can’t find in a moisturizer.
On the other hand, moisturizer is a staple, and no matter your skin type, you should apply it daily.
Silicone Primers
When you first think of a makeup primer, what usually comes to mind is a silicone primer.
Silicone-based primers feel slippery, glide on the skin with ease, and add a layer between your skin and foundation or concealer, enhancing smoothness and protection.
Silicone primers benefit individuals who struggle with texture.
Silicone primers can be beneficial for those with acne, blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles, large pores, etc.
They work to fill in the gaps, so you have a seamless base to work on.
However, it seems that society has progressed past the need for silicone-based primers.
They feel slippery to the touch and can leave your skin feeling weighed down.
If you don’t pair silicone primers with the proper foundation, they can quickly fade.
Thankfully, other primers on the market cater to acne-prone or mature skin.
If you need a smoothing primer that won’t let your foundation slip away, it’s a good idea to avoid silicone primers.
Moisturizing Primers
Moisturizing primers usually don’t contain silicones and leave the skin feeling hydrated. This option can be great for those with dry skin.
Now, moisturizing primers can also provide various other benefits to your skin.
Some moisturizing primers include shimmer or another ingredient to leave you with a glowy base.
If you love to glisten like the summer sun, this kind of primer will be beneficial. It’s great to add an extra highlight to your makeup look.
Moisturizing primers have room for other ingredients to help your base products grip your skin so they last all day without budging.
They can even be worn alone if you need a no-makeup makeup day. The possibilities are endless.
While moisturizing primers give you way more leeway into customizing your skin prep routine, you’ll likely receive the same benefits from a regular moisturizer.
This lets us conclude that, at the end of the day, it’s all about personal choice.
Gel Moisturizers
Your moisturizer can make all the difference. Gel-based moisturizers are a fantastic product to prep the skin with if you have oily to combination skin.
You will still receive a boost of moisture without feeling like a thick cream is coating your face.
Gel moisturizers are fantastic if you want a gripping effect but without extra hydration.
It will give you just enough moisture to keep your oil at bay, and your foundation will have a tacky base to grab and stick to—another versatile product.
The best part is that gel moisturizers are much lighter on the skin.
They can help you add an extra product to your routine, like sunscreen or a primer.
Even if you have oily or textured skin, you can layer products easily.
Gel moisturizers are a perfect canvas to build on, whether you need extra skin prep or you’re ready to lock in your foundation and other face products.
In addition, it will help create the seamless, smooth finish that you desire.
Moisturizer
Sometimes, nothing can beat a regular, high-quality moisturizer.
No matter your skin type, everyone will see a significant improvement in their face makeup when they prep and prime with moisturizer.
Also, it won’t be an extra expense like a primer.
Most moisturizers these days also have priming benefits within their formulation.
Check out this versatile moisturizer-primer hybrid below.
Suggested: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Face Cream & Primer
This moisturizer from Emryolisse will cater to all skin types.
Even if you are sensitive, it will leave you with a smooth finish, ensuring a flawless makeup application.
Your skin will be plumped, firmed, smoothed, and ready to tackle your base products.
The Lait-Crème Concentré will prime the face, and you’ll be ready to go in five minutes.
It will even look fantastic if you choose to wear it by itself. It can even double as a face mask. You’re 10 minutes away from smooth skin.
Primer Vs Moisturizer – Pros And Cons
Your skin concerns and skin type can help determine whether you can skip a primer and use a moisturizer instead.
Although primers aren’t always necessary, they are great as a supplemental product in your makeup routine.
A moisturizer can give you the same results as a primer.
When you choose the correct moisturizer for your needs and skin type, you will quickly be able to tell it is the perfect product to prep your skin for makeup application.
Primers
Pros:
- Provides supplemental benefits to the skin like mattifying, smoothing, oil control, hydrating, color-correcting, and more
- Adds an extra boost of hydration
- Allows you to customize your skin prep routine
- Can prolong the wear time of your foundation and base products
Cons:
- It can be challenging to work with if your primer and base products contain incompatible ingredients.
- Silicone-based primers can fill in pores, but your foundation can slip or fade away easily.
- In most cases, moisturizing primers are no different from moisturizers.
- Adds an extra layer of product to the skin that can lead to cakey makeup.
Moisturizers
Pros:
- It can offer the same benefits as a makeup primer.
- Moisturizer is already a product you should have in your home, and it will not be an added expense like a primer.
- Everyone should use a moisturizer daily for the best results, regardless of skin type.
- Moisturizer is an affordable and accessible product.
- Most moisturizers can double as a primer anyway because of their formulation.
Cons:
- It can be challenging to target specific skin concerns
- It can be not easy to customize your skincare or makeup prep routine
- A thick cream can lead to a heavy feeling on the skin
Overall, you can’t go wrong with a moisturizer as your only primer before makeup.
In most cases, it’s easy, quick, and less irritating than combining different primers to achieve a perfect skin finish.
Primers can potentially benefit your skin or foundation if you don’t mind an extra layer of product.
You can target specific concerns, but that can also come with a hefty price tag.
If you need an extra hand with makeup, a primer might be the best option.
One thing to keep in mind is that primers can be a hassle to work with for one primary reason: sometimes the ingredients in your foundation will not complement the components in your primer.
This can lead to a patchy or disappointing result.
For example, if you apply a silicone-based primer and then add a water-based foundation on top, you are in for some messy results.
But in general, silicone and water don’t mix, so it wouldn’t make sense to incorporate them into your makeup routine either.
If you want to skip the headaches, using a moisturizer instead of a makeup primer can be much more beneficial.
Then, you don’t have to worry whether or not your foundation will slip off by the end of the day.
Your Makeup With Moisturizer Vs. Primer
Will your makeup differ depending on what product you use to prep the skin?
It sure can. Whether you use a moisturizer, a primer, or both, you may notice a difference between them.
However, you will most likely see the least amount of difference between a moisturizer and a moisturizing primer.
This is because the primary goal of both these products is to ensure the skin is left hydrated and nourished.
Moisturizer + Makeup Application
What should you expect when using a moisturizer instead of a makeup primer?
For starters, you won’t look cakey, and you don’t have to stress about product overload on your face. It’s also a product you most likely already have in your routine.
A moisturizer can also create a smooth and hydrated base.
If you use a regular moisturizer as a primer, your foundation will sit on your skin seamlessly, without clinging to dry patches or textured areas.
If you opt for a gel moisturizer, you can also prolong the life of your foundation and other base products.
Gel moisturizers can offer a tackier base for foundation to stick to, creating a budge-proof base.
Gel moisturizers serve as an excellent base for foundation to adhere to; they also smooth and hydrate textured or blemished areas.
They can also let you skip an extra layer of product in your routine.
Whether it’s formulated to or not, it’s not out of the ordinary to find a moisturizer that also acts as an excellent primer.
Moisturizers can definitely replace primers, especially if you don’t need anything fancy in your makeup routine.
In most cases, moisturizers won’t let your base products slip away.
However, the rest of your products can absorb nicely, and you will notice that the product won’t build up on the skin, which can alleviate problem areas like acne or texture.
Moisturizers are a fantastic tool to prep the skin because they are accessible; you most likely already have and use a moisturizer, which will save you time and money in the long run.
Plus, your makeup application will be flawless and long-lasting.
Primer + Makeup Application
What should you expect when using a primer? Remember, using a primer doesn’t mean skipping the rest of your skincare routine.
It’s a product to supplement, prep, and enhance your makeup.
Sometimes, layering all these products can do more harm than good.
The more products you incorporate into your routine, the more room for an error to occur.
Moisturizing primers can be redundant, and you won’t notice much of a difference.
These types of primers are the ones you should skip unless you have dehydrated skin.
Other primers, when used correctly, can be highly beneficial.
For example, silicone primers can create a poreless and airbrushed look when used with the proper base.
So if you want to look photoshopped in real life, this is one way to do so with ease.
Mattifying or oil-control primers are great for combating makeup breakdown throughout the day so that you can expect a matte, but not flat, finish.
Color-correcting primers can help even out your skin tone if you are dealing with discoloration.
However, beware of mixing and matching primers because they can create the opposite effect.
Also, too much product can increase product buildup and cakiness on your face—no one wants that.
Mixing foundation and primer with opposing ingredients can be a recipe for disaster.
The best primers also come with a high price tag.
However, in most cases, unless you need to target specific concerns, a moisturizer can easily replace your primer.
The best way to figure out the most efficient method is through trial and error.
Makeup is expressive and creative, so make sure to have fun while curating your skin prep routine!
