“It’s a crime not to prime.” Something of an outdated maxim often chalked up to the beauty industry trying to sell us yet another step in an already lengthy skincare and makeup routine, if it is indeed a crime not to prime, well, lock me up. On the few occasions I have deigned to use a primer, it’s typically with the intent of increasing the staying power of my makeup on my oily combination skin, with the primer basically playing the role of a skin-friendly foundation adhesive. With that in mind, they’ve tended to err on the matte side of things.
Related: Achieve Lightweight, Glowy Coverage With These Serum Foundations
However, a recent foray into the world of illuminating primers has been something of a revelation, with my makeup not only lasting longer but also giving me an enviably glowy finish. While a good skincare routine is still key to creating a smooth, hydrated, moisturised canvas for makeup to sit on, an illuminating primer comes in clutch when trying to achieve a luminescent, lit-from-within look.
The right illuminating primer not only helps your makeup last longer and creates the appearance of smoother skin, but also imparts a radiant finish. This is achieved by the use of light-reflecting pigments such as mica, which deliver a luminescent glow while bouncing light off your face, which diffuses the appearance of fine lines. Some of the best illuminating primers can even be worn on their own for a glowy makeup-free look.
Related: Conceal Literally Anything With These Full Coverage Foundation Formulas
Without further ado, the best illuminating primers to help you achieve that healthy lit-from-within glow.
1. Mecca Max Bring On Bright Illuminating Primer
A hydrating, illuminating formula, the Mecca Max Bring On Bright Illuminating Primer uses grape seed oil to deliver a dewy base, while mica pigments reflect light and give off a subtle radiant glow with just the faintest hint of shimmer.
Price: $25AUD
2. Glossier Futuredew
Another serum-like formula, Glossier Futuredew is an oil-serum hybrid that sees a quartet of plant oils (jojoba, grapeseed, evening primrose, and rosehip) meet squalane and brightening plant-based extracts to create a dewy base, while light-reflecting minerals add an instant glow. Glossier Futuredew delivers more of a dewy, hydrated glow than a shimmery glow, making it well-suited to those desirous of a more natural, clean girl aesthetic look.
Price: $50AUD
3. Mecca Cosmetica In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF30
While not technically a primer, the Mecca Cosmetica In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF30 is ideal for those who want a truly luminescent, shimmery base. Enriched with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and vitamin E, this illuminating serum delivers a welcome hit of hydration and moisture while mica gives a shimmery, luminescent finish. The formula sinks into the skin quickly and creates a glowy base for foundation, with the In A Good Light Illuminating Drops SPF30 able to be used on their own, as a primer, or mixed into your foundation or skin tint. The formula comes in four shades, each of which is designed to work across several skin tones.
Price: $45AUD
4. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
The Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is the original illuminating primer and the benchmark by which we judge others in the category. The formula is available in twelve different shades and is inspired by Hollywood lighting. It works threefold to blur the appearance of lines and pores, brighten the skin with consistent use, and deliver an instant hydrated glow. It provides very sheer coverage, working to slightly even out skin tone and provide a smooth base for foundation.
Price: $70AUD
5. Revlon Glow Filter
The success of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter has spawned dozens of copycat formulas (hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!), some of which are even better than the OG. The Revlon Glow Filter is one such formula, providing super sheer coverage and skin blurring effect with a dew finish. Squalane keeps the skin feeling supple while light-reflecting pigments impart a healthy glow, with the formula able to be used on its own or under foundation. The formula comes in four shades, each of which works across a few different skin tones.
Price: $34.95AUD
6. Holme Beauty Base Primer
The Holme Beauty Base Primer is such an underrated product in the illuminating primer category. Combining skincare ingredients with makeup, it contains niacinamide, kakadu plum, jojoba and hemp seed oils, and vitamin E to nourish the skin and improve skin tone with consistent use, while light-reflecting pigments deliver a lit-from-within glow. It’s available in five shades and provides sheer coverage with a luminous finish. The consistency of the Holme Beauty Base Primer feels comfortable on the skin, with the lightweight serum-like formula easy to wear all day. We also like to use a shade lighter as a highlighter and a shade darker as a bronzer.
Price: $70AUD
7. E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
The E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter is often touted as a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. It’s got the same squalane and finely milled powder, as well as hyaluronic acid to provide hydration. That said, the E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter is thicker than its inspiration, providing more coverage, slightly more radiance, and a truly flawless finish. It can be worn on its own or under foundation; if opting for the latter, we’d recommend using a smaller amount to avoid a heavy feeling.
Price: $29AUD
8. Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer
For something more subtle, the Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer is the way to go. The water-gel formula provides a dewy glow that’s hydrated and natural, smoothening the skin and diffusing pores to creating a flawless base for makeup. It has light-reflecting pearl pigments which add a delicate sheen, however it’s a primer rather than a filter-style product and doesn’t have any tint or coverage.
Price: $55AUD
9. Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer
Another formula that offers more of a dewy, hydrated finish rather than a shimmery one, the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer combines hydrating glycerin with squalane and a skin perfecting complex to create a base that allows makeup to adhere to and last longer.
Price: $76AUD
Words by Arabella Johnson
