FACE MAKEUP 101

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEL & PUTTY FACE PRIMER

• Face primer has been everyone’s makeup bag must-have lately, and for good reason. It’s a 5-second step that provides a whole host of beauty benefits: A small dollop smoothed onto skin before applying your foundation base creates a smooth, grippy “canvas” for makeup to evenly and flawlessly adhere to.
  
  As you may have guessed, there are quite a few versions of primer out on the market: Solid, textured formulas that come in a compact and more liquid, silkier formulas that come in a tube. What's the best option? Does one provide more benefits than the other? Let’s dig in.

• GEL PRIMER

  Gel primer typically comes in a silky, soft format and is smoothed on using fingers or a makeup sponge. The benefit of gel primer is that the application is completely no-fuss and it leaves a cool, matte finish on skin. The drawback is that it's typically a bit less effective at making makeup last than other formats.

• PUTTY PRIMER

  Putty primer typically comes in a solid format and is smoothed on using a makeup sponge. The benefit of putty primer is its ability to give makeup extra long, smooth wear. The drawbacks are that its thick, bulky application is not intuitive or easy to apply. It often layers on resulting in patchy face makeup. The hard texture creates a sometimes oily finish, and can make skin feel “sweaty” underneath makeup. If the putty in the compact is left out uncovered, it’s a magnet for bacteria and physically hardens, becoming unusable.

• THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: FIT ME PRIMER

  Fit Me Mattifying Primer has a silky yet grippy texture and can be smoothed on using fingers or a makeup sponge. This new primer formula combines all that you need with all that you want. Long-lasting, up to 16-hour wear. Oil-free, fresh-faced, breathable. Hydrating and shine cutting. It’s loaded with Kaolin clay and silica, to safeguard against oil and shine all day long without drying skin out. Plus, it has built-in SPF 20, meaning you get to skip a step in your daily face routine and still keep skin protected.