Primers can be a real marmite product, you either love them and slot them perfectly into your everyday routine or they can seem pointless and overwhelming. With so many options for everything from adding more radiance to your complexion to protecting from UV rays, primers come in so many forms that it's no wonder that some people don't want to add that extra step into their morning routine, after all, which one do you even start with? And do you actually need a primer...? Primers are a key part to my makeup routine,  I use one everyday and have a couple of favourites that I turn to when my skin needs a little more help. Primers can fulfil a multitude of concerns, their key function is to help your makeup last longer but many can also add radiance, perfect and blur pores and fine lines, mattify oily skin or offer a little more sun protection. Applied after yur moisturiser and before you start the rest of your makeup routine, a primer can change the way your makeup sits on your skin and give a more long-lasting, perfected and glowing finish to any look. To find the perfect primer start by asking what yourself what your main concerns is; do you find that your foundation settles in your pores? Does your skin look a little dull and lack lustre, do you need a little more SPF protection (particularly as the weather gets warmer)? Once you've figured our what you need your primer to do you can start narrowing your search for the perfect one.

For a bronzed radiance...

If you tend to wear an SPF or do not like to tan your face you may find that your face is a few shades lighter than the rest of your body. Not only is this frustrating but it can be challenging to match your face to the rest of your body, especially if you don't want to opt for a full coverage base. TheUrban Decay Bronzing Beauty Balm contains SPF 20 for a bit of added sun protection whilst the gel formula blends into the skin helping to add a healthy glow to the skin that doesn't show as orange or cling to any areas or dry skin. There is a slight luminosity to the formula which helps to enhance the natural glow of your skin but it has no skimmer or glitter so it is perfect for use all over the face. It leaves skin smooth and prepped for foundation or, if you want something super light, this is also beautiful worn alone with a touch of concealer where needed. If your skin is a few shades darker than mine then this is likely to act as more of an overall radiance boosting primer than adding any noticeable colour to your complexion.

For a blurred complexion...

Most of us have noticable pores around our nose and cheek areas, even more of us have those line fine lines that can be a haven for foundation and other liquid products to settle into and emphasise throughout the day. A pore refining primer or one that helps to fill in and smooth the fine lines, such as the YSL Blur Perfecting Primer, will leave a mich smoother and even base for any products you wear on top. The overall effect of this is slightly more matte, it doesn't add a lot of radiance to the skin but it is smoothing and ehlps to make your foundation last that bit longer. The glitter particles are undetectable once applied to the skin and help to further blur the complexion. The texture of this is slightly silicone-like so can feel slightly greasy on the skin.

For sun protection...

We all know that it's always important to protect your skin from the sun but when it starts to get warmer it is even more important. It can be hard to find a product that contains SPF and is comfortable to wear, the Giorgio Armani Maestro UV Skin Defence Primer contains SPF 50 PA++ to protect the skin from UV damage throughout the day. The texture of it is similar to that of the Maestro Fusion Foundation, it requires shaking up before use and is dispensed through a pippette. The water-like white formula is refreshing on the skin, it doesn't leave a greasy residue like many traditional SPF's and provides a smoothed and hydrated base for any other makeup you wish to apply. On warmer days, this worn alone with a little concealer gives a very natural radiance look to the skin.

Primers aren't going to be for everyone, plenty of people never use them, but personally I find them a useful addition to my routine that can help to support my skincare and other makeup to make it look the best it possible can. There are hundreds on the market with brilliant technology that can help to lift sallow skin, hydrate, bronze and mattify. You just need to find the one that works for you.