TIP: If you are extremely tired and don’t feel like taking off makeup, wash face, put on moisturizer – use Baby Wipes for sensitive skin. It will get most makeup out of your face. Just don’t make this a daily routine.

Great makeup removers:

Whatever makeup remover you use, remember to be very gentle around the eyes to avoid premature wrinkles. I have extremely sensitive eyes. I have tried a lot of makeup removers and most of them sting my eye (though they do the job of removing makeup). Best makeup remover ever is L’oreal Dermo-Expertise Gentle Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover. It comes in a 125 ml bottle. It has 2 phases – one darker which has soft oils and another clear phase. Before each use you have shake it up, so they mix to a homogenous colour. Apply it with cotton pads or balls. If you are wearing long lasting foundation, lip colour, waterproof eyeliner or mascara – this will get everything off.  It is one of the few makeup removers that don’t sting my eyes. It’s about $10 CDN (depending on where you buy it from).

Lancome Bi-facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover also comes in 125 ml bottle and has the same consistency and gives the exact results as the L’oreal one. But its $32.50 CDN. Though I don’t know difference between them, but I see no point spending 3X money on this when L’oreal Dermo-Expertise has the same outcome.

Okay Makeup Removers (for most people):

L’oreal Refreshening Eye Makeup Remover Oil-Free comes in a 125 ml bottle. It does not remove waterproof makeup. It stings my eyes badly. If you have sensitive eyes- stay away from it.

Neutrogena oil-free Eye Makeup remover. It removes makeup but stings my eyes.

Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Oil Free. It removes waterproof makeup but once again stings my eyes.

Clinique Take the day Off Makeup remover. It removes waterproof makeup but stings my eyes.

Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover. It removes waterproof makeup remover but stings my eyes.

Bad Makeup Removers:

Olay mascara + Makeup Remover claims to removes waterproof mascara. It doesn’t remove all of the waterproof mascara. It stings my eyes.

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So I have been chit-chatting for a while. Now I am going to really start talking about makeup in details. Today’s topic is face primers. There are different types of face primers. Some are water based and some are dimethicone based. Primers go after moisturizer and before foundation. So it makes a barrier between skin and foundation. Most primers even out skin tone, smooth out any rough patches or dryness, fill in fine lines and pores. Primers also make the foundation application very smooth and easy. Foundation usually lasts longer when applied over a primer.

High end primers:

My all time favourite primer is Make Up For Ever’s HD primer. It has a non-oily finish so foundation can be applied immediately and it goes beautifully with Make Up For Ever’s HD foundation. It’s great for all types of skin. They have one translucent primer and 6 other coloured ones to correct imperfection, I prefer the translucent one.

My second favourite is Photofinish primer by Smashbox. But it is my favourite only in winter because it makes my face greasy in summer. It is oil-free and gives a velvety finish. The translucent primer has an “original” version and a “light” version for oily skin. There are also colour-correcting primers.

Clarins make Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch. It is a creamy and non-oily primer and best for dry skin. It gives a smooth finish and fills in fine lines and pores.

Clinique makes Pore Minimizer. It comes in two colours- Invisible Light and Invisible Deep. It really does minimize the pores. But it comes in a tiny tube and is pricey for the product.

Budget friendly primers:

Fix and Perfect foundation primer by Rimmel is a great low end primer. It goes in peachy but is invisible once you blend it. It smoothes the skin and hides pore very well. It’s excellent for oily skin. The finish is somewhat like Make Up For Ever’s HD primer, unlike Smashbox’s silky finish.

Last but not the least, Monistat Chaffing Gel. It is an intimate care product and NOT designed as a primer. It cautions to keep out from eyes. So I am NOT responsible if this product harms your face. However, it is the best primer for dry skin in my opinion. It smoothes the skin, fills in fine lines, gives a silky finish – everything that a primer does.