“Water-based primers are best for dry and dehydrated skin — they will last longer and look better on dry skin,” says Dorman. “Whereas silicone-based primers look better on oily skin, as the silicone creates a layer that keeps the oil from breaking through.”
Silicone primers will help your makeup last longer, diminish the appearance of pores, and balance redness, while providing hydration. They provide a quick fix for wrinkles and fine lines, and still allow your skin to absorb all the nutrients you apply to it.
Well, silicone can actually fill in those creases and crevices in the skin. Plus, it can blur large pores, fine lines and conceal wrinkles leading to a smoother finish. Silicone also forms a barrier over your skin due to its large molecule size. As a result, it locks in moisture, preventing dehydrated, dry skin.
Silicones tend to get a bad rep because the name itself implies synthetic and unnatural, but we've got news for you: Most things you put on your skin, hair, and nails are mostly likely "unnatural." Primers containing silicone do make your makeup look better and last longer, and they are especially useful if a blurred, ...
“Water-based primers are best for dry and dehydrated skin — they will last longer and look better on dry skin,” says Dorman. “Whereas silicone-based primers look better on oily skin, as the silicone creates a layer that keeps the oil from breaking through.”
Silicone clogs your pores
It traps everything like bacteria, impurities, dirt, and sebum in your skin by forming a barrier on the skin. Silicone also causes pores to enlarge, and can also encourage blackheads and acne to form. It can affect the natural process of sweating which can lead to blemishes forming.
If you're prone to breakouts, a water-based foundation will be the most gentle on your skin. This is also a great option for dry skin because these formulas tend to be nourishing and packed with skin-loving ingredients to help maintain a moisturized look.
These foundations are great for mattifying and controlling shine — it's like having a primer built into your foundation. Because of their mattifying effect, silicone-based primers are good for oily skin. They prolong the longevity of your makeup and protect your skin from outside elements.
Find a Face Primer for Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, wearing a hydrating primer under your foundation is a must. Primers don't just help makeup stay in place, they also help create a smooth canvas for your makeup application and add an extra layer of moisture.
Now it's time to answer the age-old question—should you apply primer or moisturizer first? The truth is, you should always apply moisturizer before reaching for primer (seriously, always)! As we mentioned above, the purpose of a moisturizer is to lock your skin with long-lasting moisture to keep dryness at bay.
What Is a Silicone-Based Primer? A silicone primer is one that's formulated with silicone; it's as simple as that. The alternative is a water-based primer. Like all good makeup primers, silicone-based primers help create a smooth canvas for applying makeup while increasing how long your look wears.
Silicone-based primers are the best to use for aging skin because of its smoothing effect. Each formula has a milky-smooth feel that leaves your faces feeling like silk once it's applied.
"Primers (tube or pump) are good for about three years—because of air-tight packaging the product stays very clean."
Using a silicone based primer with a water based foundation is not recommended. What is this? Silicone repels water and using these two different bases together can cause the foundation to crumble and separate. In fact, silicone based primers create a barrier that might not let the foundation sit properly on the skin.
If you're looking to have a soft base for your foundation or makeup, MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip Primer is a great water-based facial product to use. Here are its other wonderful features. MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip Primer contains hemp-derived cannabis seed extract. And for all-day hydration, check out its blue agave extract.
WHAT IT DOES: This is a basic, fragrance-free silicone-based primer designed to minimize the appearance of pores. You apply this product after moisturizer/sunscreen but before foundation. You can wear it alone or under makeup.
While the barrier silicone creates can lock in moisture on the skin's surface, the ingredient doesn't actually moisturize your skin. In fact, there aren't any proven long-term benefits of using silicones.
“Topically applied silicones are generally considered safe. Any claims that silicones can be problematic or dangerous for the skin when used topically have not been substantiated with scientific research,” says Shah. “Silicone is both hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and not known to sensitize the skin.”
Silicone-free face primers will work very well for you if you have dry skin, or overly sensitive skin that gets irritated by just about everything. Water-based silicone-free face primers are ideal for hydrating the skin and, at the same time, giving you a satin-smooth look.
The skincare prep is key for dry skin
"Start with a hydrating gel, and then follow with a rich day cream," says Casu. "You could also apply a few drops of face oil to seal it all in. It'll help to get rid of particularly dry areas," he says.
So why does your makeup look dry and bad? The answer is simple! It's all in the application process and the combination of products you are using. Applying a full coverage foundation on dehydrated skin or using the wrong primer can make your foundation look flaky.