If you’re not wearing primer before applying your foundation … your makeup is simply not complete!

I know Paula Begoun, author of “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me”, snubs primers and thinks that you should only need a good moisturizer, but I bet you a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes that the makeup artist who prepped her for the “CityLine” Show I saw her on surely used a primer.

You can read more of my beef with some of Paula’s views here: I don’t agree with Paula Begoun author of “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me”.

I don’t know too many professional makeup artists who don’t swear by primers because they see what it does for their clients’ skin and as long as a primer helps my skin look flawless … I’ll be the first one to whip out my credit card to buy a tube.

Primers are fantastic and they actually do make a huge difference in not only how easily you apply your makeup by they also make a difference in how smoothly your makeup stays on throughout the day.

I would never dream of applying makeup before an important event without using a primer first (PERIOD!).

Ladies, as we age, anything we can do to hide or conceal fine lines that doesn’t involve pain or disfiguration is good in my book. A product like primers will help prevent makeup from sitting in your fine lines. No gal wants that because makeup that sits in your fine lines screams: look at my wrinkles!

I found two new primers recently, but I wanted to highlight a few other primers that are incredible. I’ve tried a lot of primers and they all work well. That said, I do have a preference for Laura Mercier, NARS Cosmetics and Smashbox.

I’ve found that primers ranged in price between $27-$42 USD and $30-$44 CAD. NARS Cosmetics and Laura Mercier and Smashbox were at the higher end of the spectrum.

7 primers that will help your makeup look flawless:

1)  NARS Cosmetics Primer: I’m late in the game when it comes to NARS makeup and skincare products, but since discovering this line created by the brilliant Frenchman François Nars, I have to say that I’m a devotee.  You’ll only need a small quantity to help you create the perfect canvas for your NARS makeup or any other makeup line. You’ll find NARS Cosmetics at most high end department stores in Canada, the U.K. and the US.

2)  Laura Mercier Foundation Primer: Laura Mercier Foundation Primer is the best-selling primer and it has also been voted by In Style U.K. as “Best Primer” as part of their “2007 In Style Hall of Fame“. It was also voted “2007 Winner Best of Sephora“. You’ll find NARS Cosmetics at most high end department stores in Canada, the U.K. and the US and you’ll also find it at Sephora and on Sephora.com‘s Web site.

3)  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer is the company’s signature product. This silicone-base primer was also voted “2007  and 2008 Winner Best of Sephora“.

You’ll find six different types of primers under this brand:  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (original formula), Photo Finish Color Correcting Color Blend (helps balance skin tone), Photo Finish Correcting Primers (three formulations in three different colours to help correct skin problems), Photo Finish Primer Light (ideal for sensitive and blemish-prone skin). You can purchase Smashbox Photo Finish primers at Sephora stores, on Sephora’s Web site and at a number of pharmacies/drugstores and on shopping channels in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. This is a very popular brand and you should not have problems locating it wherever you live. You’ll also find it at Sephora and on Sephora.com‘s Web site.

4) Tarte Clean Slate Primer: The Tarte primer is a lightweight formula that contains tones for great ingredients. Two ingredients that stand out are the Echinacea root extract, which has an anti-bacterial property that decreases inflammation, rosemary leaf extract that increases circulation and hibiscus flower extract that contains antioxidant properties that help restore the skin’s elasticity. You’ll find the Tarte Clean Slat Primer at Sephora and on Sephora.com‘s Web site.

5)  Lorac AquaPrime^TM: Lorac AquaPrime primer does not use silicone in its formulation (which other brands do use). Instead it’s a water-based makeup primer.

Another twist to the formulation of Lorac AquaPrime^TM primer is the fact that along with not containing any silicone, the formulation is oil-free and fragrance-free. This is a very good option for people with sensitive skin who might react to silicone-base products. You can purchase Lorac AquaPrime primer at Sephora stores and on Sephora.com‘s Web site.

6) Era® Primer Spray: The Era® Primer is the first and only, patented aerosol translucent primer on the market. It only takes a few seconds for you to achieve a flawless canvas for your face, eyelids and lips. Other than feeling like a Hollywood celebrity just before stepping on a red carpet, the Era® Primer allows you to have application upon application of contamination-free ingredients because the products stays sealed at all times.  Era® Primer Spray is sold at a number of stores that carry Classified Cosmetics products. You can consult Classified Cosmetics store finder (on their Web site) to locate a store near you.

7) Prescriptives Magic Illuminating Potion Foundation Primer: Unlike the other formulations, which are either transparent or white, the Magic Illuminating Potion Foundation Primer has more of a translucent finish. Basically, you’ll notice that the product is whitish-pearl in tone with several specks of translucent pinks, yellows and blues. This holographic effect is ideal to correct the appearance of unevenness and mild discolouration.