Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Found Primers That Make My Skin Glow Before Foundation
16
items Dull, tired-looking skin that swallows every foundation you put on it. Sound familiar? I spent two years cycling through primers that promised radiance and delivered nothing but a greasy forehead. This lineup is what actually worked for someone with ...
Sections
4
Lightweight Glow Primers for Everyday Wear
Hydrating Primers for Dry Winter Skin
Color-Correcting Glow Primers That Fix Uneven Tone
Shimmer and Luminous Primers for Going Out
Lightweight Glow Primers for Everyday Wear
My morning routine used to take forever because I was layering so much to fake a glow. These go on fast, feel like nothing, and make people ask if I just came back from vacation.
Try this if your skin looks flat and lifeless by noon. I put it on before a 10-hour shift and a coworker asked if I got a facial. Lightweight enough that it won't clog your pores if you're acne-prone.
e.l.f. Jelly Pop Dew Primer, 1.01 fl oz
Swap out your heavy silicone primer for this one. My forehead used to get that weird cakey texture by lunch, and this fixed it completely. Perfect for anyone who hates the feeling of wearing primer at all.
NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Smoothing Face
Grabbed this on a whim and now it's a permanent fixture. If you photograph yourself a lot, this one blurs pores and adds light without looking shimmery. Stock up because it sells out more than you'd expect.
Milani Soft Focus Glow Complexion Enhancer Review
Use this when you want glow on a budget and don't want to sacrifice quality. I was skeptical at the price point, then wore it to brunch and got three compliments before the mimosas arrived.
Hard Candy Sheer Envy Serum Primer Color Correct 1 oz
Hydrating Primers for Dry Winter Skin
November through March, my cheeks would flake under every foundation. These primers solved the peeling problem and actually made my base look smoother than bare skin.
Pair this with any dewy foundation and your skin looks like it's been drinking water for a week straight. For anyone whose skin cracks in cold weather, this doubles as sun protection so you skip a step.
CeraVe, Tinted Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF
Keep this in your bag during winter. Before I found it, my foundation would settle into every dry patch around my nose. Two pumps and everything goes on smooth. Wish I'd found it three winters ago.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Grip Primer
Toss this on alone when you're running late and just need to look human. My sister borrowed it once and immediately ordered her own. Works on multiple skin tones, which is harder to find than it should be.
L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Glow Enhancer
Bring this back into your routine if you ditched liquid highlighters years ago. It sits under foundation without sliding around. Saved my look at an outdoor December wedding when everything else would have flaked off.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear® Dewy Highlighter Elixir
Color-Correcting Glow Primers That Fix Uneven Tone
I used to think color-correcting primers were gimmicky until I realized my redness was showing through every foundation. These actually neutralize discoloration AND add radiance.
Get this if redness around your nose and chin ruins your base every single time. I stopped needing full-coverage foundation after adding this step. For anyone tired of looking blotchy by midday, this is the fix.
e.l.f. Tone Adjusting Face Primer, Large, 1.0 fl oz
Switch to this when you want one product handling both correction and smoothing. The lavender shade took my sallow undertone and made it look bright. My mom saw the difference on FaceTime and asked what I did.
NYX Professional Makeup Color Correcting Pro Fix Stick
Snag this for mornings when you want coverage and glow without layering five products. It handles dark spots, redness, and dullness simultaneously. Took me from zombie to polished in about 30 seconds flat.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Perfector Glow Makeup
Use this if city air makes your skin look gray and tired by 3 PM. I commute on the subway and my skin used to look exhausted before I even got to work. This keeps the brightness locked in all day.
Revlon PhotoReady Candid Anti-Pollution Setting Powder
Shimmer and Luminous Primers for Going Out
Weeknight dinners, date nights, any time overhead lighting is about to wash you out. These give that lit-from-within look that makes you skip highlighter entirely.
Ditch powder highlighter and use this as a primer on your cheekbones instead. Under restaurant lighting, it catches light without screaming glitter. Perfect for anyone who wants subtle shimmer, not a disco ball.
Wet n Wild 800 Megaglo makeup stick, 0.21 Ounce
Try this before a night out when you want your skin to do the heavy lifting. I wore it under sheer foundation to a rooftop dinner and someone asked about my skincare routine. That never happens.
FLOWER Beauty Light Illusion Perfecting Powder - Sable
Layer this under primer when your skin needs extra help looking alive. After a long week with barely any sleep, this was the only thing standing between me and looking completely wrecked at Friday happy hour.
Pixi - Glow Tonic Serum Exfoliating Radiance Serum
Grab this for when you want that Korean glass-skin look without a 12-step routine. One layer and you're done. For anyone who keeps seeing that dewy trend online and can't figure out how people achieve it, start here.
essence Glow Like Honey Dewy Primer