It's All About the Base...

Primer has become a must-have in recent years, but once upon a time it was reserved for use on the rich and famous and only found in the glitzy make-up kits of Hollywood. Oh, how times have changed, nowadays it's a crime not to prime! So make sure you have this pour perfecting, wrinkle reducing staple in your repertoire. From budget to blowout, there's one to suit everyone's pocket. Here's three of the best!

BUDGET

Garnier 5 Second Perfect Blur

As the name suggests this primer blurs away signs of ageing, wrinkles appear reduced and pores less visible, AND it only takes 5 seconds post application for your face to be makeup ready. Sold yet? I am. It has a lovely creamy velvety texture and glides on beautifully. Not only does this primer blur it also illuminates too which leaves your skin feeling beautifully glowy. It does have a matte finish though so beware if you have slightly dry skin. It has a tendency to cake onto dry patches so you might be well advised to do a little exfoliation before using this product. Use it under your regular foundation or with its sister Garnier BB Cream for pourfect ;) skin. For the price you can't go wrong, (€16:39, Boots Nationwide).

Midrange

Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Protective Base

If like me you tend to be a little ruddy around the cheek area you may do well to consider a colour correcting primer. Unlike most colourless primers the green pigment in Clinique Redness Solution Daily Protective Base Spf15 (€26.00, Boots.ie) counteracts any redness in the skin and prepares the skin for a more even toned flawless finish. It has an extremely lightweight feel and transparent finish due to its velvety silicones. With ingredients such as Oat Extracts and Oat Kernel Oil you skin is soothed and conditioned. The great thing about this primer is that it has an added Spf15 protecting your sensitive skin from the sun's rays and environmental factors.The downside of SPF is that it does not photograph well, so you may not be Instagram ready with this as your base, but as a daily soothing primer which will ensure your skin is well cared for I'd keep it handy in my kit bag.

Blowout

YSL Touché Éclat Blur Perfecting Primer

This is one you will want to save for! I generally don't buy into luxury brands and often feel formulations of other less expensive brands do just as good a job as their counterparts. I will on this occasion however say, if you can afford it, get it. What Yves Saint Laurent don't know about illuminating beauty just isn't worth knowing. This is cult classic Touché Éclat meets blur perfecting primer. It is free from any opaque fillers allowing light to diffuse and illuminate the face. The clear gel fluid is flecked with flat gold pigments which when smoothed over the face are not obvious just beautifully decadent. It creates an amazing blurring and soft focus effect leaving your skin flawless even before foundation. It smells divine, like walking through a rose garden and feels deliciously soft on application.I really can find no cons with this primer and although a luxury brand the price really isn't too bad, well worth the investment (€38.00, Brown Thomas).