I wear foundation just about every day because of my uneven, reddish skin tone. But sometimes I hate the feeling of foundation on my face after a long day and when it’s warm and I’ve been sweating. Plus, foundation is kind of pricey so I would like it to last as long as possible so I dug around and found a great foundation alternate for weekends and blazing hot summer days.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer

How much it costs: $12 (price varies based on retailer)

Where you can buy it: Neutrogena.com and retailers (Walgreens, CVS, Target, etc.)

What I like about it: It really is a good alternate to foundation. It’s light on the skin and dries really fast so you can see the coverage right away. Plus, spreads really well on the skin and looks pretty natural out in the sun. You can still apply blush and powder over it but on a hot summer day (which we won’t be having for a while) it feels really nice and not heavy at all. Plus it has SPF 20 and is oil-free, two things I like a lot.

What I don’t like about it: So while it is light, the tint isn’t very strong which means if you need a lot of coverage it might not give you the results you want. I use this still over my Clinique Super City Block and it’s fine but it’s moreso for a day of errands around your neighborhood or running downtown for something quick, not red carpet. And, even with a cap, the first little pump of product is usually dry and crusty, which is kind of annoying and a little bit of a waste. Oh also, if you have under eye circles, this won’t be the best coverage either (I found), so feel free to add Smashbox’s Under Eye Brightener as a base or your regular foundation and you’ll be fine.

My parents always said I was blessed with naturally pinky-red skin. Which means I always look like I’m blushing. They find it endearing, I don’t. So to cover my rosacea and redness, I rely heavily on my foundation to balance my skin tone. But because I am a little more liberal with the foundation on the cheeks, I discovered makeup primers to help foundation last on key parts of the skin and ever since I tried it, I’m a devout primer lady.

I used to use Smashbox’s Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer and while I liked it, I found out NARS also had a primer so I gave it a try and I haven’t gone back to Smashbox yet. And here’s why….

NARS Makeup Primer with SPF 20

How much it costs: $33

Where you can buy it: NARS retailers (Nordstrom, Macy’s, etc.)

What I like about it: First, it has SPF. I know, I layer SPF on my face from multiple products, but the fact that it has it in case I shake up my makeup routine one day, that is a little piece of mind. The SPF is also effective against UVA/UVB rays and is oil-free, which is super important to me and my sensitive skin. I also love that it is more of a cream too (compared to Smashbox) and it absorbs really well into the skin while reducing redness. Usually I’ll apply this to my cheeks (where I need the most makeup coverage) and then put on my eye makeup while this absorbs before moving to my foundation. Also, I know it’s a little pricey but honestly, this stuff LASTS. I’ve had a tube for more than a year because it spreads really well and you don’t need a lot of it. A thin layer over the skin is more than enough.

What I don’t like about it: The primer color is white (compared to Smashbox’s variety of colors based on skin type) so I really have to be careful not to accidentally put too much on otherwise it looks like I have white cheeks, but again because it absorbs so well, it’s not a huge deal. Also, it can feel a little greasy on the skin when you apply too much so that’s another thing to be aware of.

Overall though, after using Smashbox’s primer and NARS, I’ll stick with NARS. I prefer the moreso creamy base and have had better results with my foundation over this primer. Plus it’s similar in price to the Smashbox product so you break even that way too.

Do you use a primer? If so what one do you like and if not, why? Just curious :)