Primer — what is it for?
Primer is the layer between skincare and makeup. It smooths pores and fine lines, controls oil and gives foundation something to grip, so your base lasts hours longer and doesn't slide or separate during the day.
Best-selling and most-searched cosmetics with current retail prices, a guide to what each product does, and live beauty company share prices.
Official brand and major-retailer list prices in USD. Local pricing, taxes and promotions vary by country and retailer.
| Product | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
Airbrush Flawless Foundation Charlotte Tilbury — Full-coverage, transfer-proof base | $49.00 |
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush Rare Beauty — The most-searched blush on TikTok | $25.00 |
Cloud Paint Glossier — Gel-cream blush, buildable | $22.00 |
Radiant Creamy Concealer NARS — Cult under-eye concealer | $34.00 |
Shape Tape Concealer Tarte — Best-selling US concealer | $32.00 |
Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation Fenty Beauty — 50 shades, oil-control | $41.00 |
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation Estée Lauder — 24-hour wear classic | $52.00 |
Hydrating Camo Concealer e.l.f. Cosmetics — Budget dupe best-seller | $7.00 |
Halo Glow Liquid Filter e.l.f. Cosmetics — Viral glow booster | $16.00 |
Setting Powder Loose Laura Mercier — Translucent baking powder | $45.00 |
All Nighter Setting Spray Urban Decay — 16-hour makeup lock | $38.00 |
Sky High Mascara Maybelline — World's most-searched mascara | $13.00 |
Better Than Sex Mascara Too Faced — Volumising classic | $30.00 |
Lash Sensational Mascara Maybelline — Fan-effect drugstore hit | $12.00 |
Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette Urban Decay — Warm neutral palette | $54.00 |
Soft Glam II Palette Anastasia Beverly Hills — Wedding / event palette | $65.00 |
Brow Wiz Pencil Anastasia Beverly Hills — Ultra-slim brow definer | $26.00 |
Tattoo Liner Kat Von D / KVD Beauty — Precision liquid eyeliner | $27.00 |
Lip Glow Oil Dior — The most-searched lip oil worldwide | $40.00 |
Lip Sleeping Mask Laneige — Overnight lip treatment | $24.00 |
Lip Glowy Balm Laneige — Everyday tinted balm | $19.00 |
Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Maybelline — 16-hour matte wear | $11.00 |
Rouge Dior Refillable Lipstick Dior — Luxury refillable bullet | $49.00 |
Ruby Woo Retro Matte Lipstick MAC — Iconic blue-red matte | $26.00 |
Lip Liner Pencil MAC — Shape and stop feathering | $24.00 |
Cheek Heat Blush Maybelline — Affordable gel blush | $11.00 |
Hoola Bronzer Benefit — Matte contour bronzer | $36.00 |
Liquid Halo Highlighter Rare Beauty — Liquid highlighter | $27.00 |
Contour Stick Fenty Beauty (Match Stix) — Cream sculpt stick | $27.00 |
Hydro Grip Primer Milk Makeup — Gel primer for grip | $38.00 |
Porefessional Primer Benefit — Pore-blurring base | $35.00 |
Ultra Facial Cream Kiehl's — Pre-makeup moisturiser | $40.00 |
Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 Supergoop! — Invisible makeup-gripping SPF | $40.00 |
Micellar Cleansing Water Garnier — Most-sold makeup remover | $9.00 |
Beautyblender Original Sponge Beautyblender — Blending sponge standard | $22.00 |
Complexion Brush Set Real Techniques — Best-value brush set | $25.00 |
Eyelash Curler Shu Uemura — Cult curler | $25.00 |
Airwrap-style Hot Brush Revlon One-Step — Top-searched styling tool | $45.00 |
Live share prices of the companies behind these brands — updated every 30 seconds.
| Company | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
L'Oréal S.A. OR.PA | — | — |
The Estée Lauder Companies EL | — | — |
LVMH MC.PA | — | — |
Ulta Beauty ULTA | — | — |
Coty Inc. COTY | — | — |
e.l.f. Beauty ELF | — | — |
Inter Parfums IPAR | — | — |
Beiersdorf AG BEI.DE | — | — |
Unilever PLC UL | — | — |
Procter & Gamble PG | — | — |
Kenvue Inc. KVUE | — | — |
Shiseido Company 4911.T | — | — |
Kosé Corporation 4922.T | — | — |
Amorepacific 090430.KS | — | — |
The Honest Company HNST | — | — |
Olaplex Holdings OLPX | — | — |
A plain-English guide to every step of a makeup routine — what each item is, what it is used for, and when you actually need it.
Primer is the layer between skincare and makeup. It smooths pores and fine lines, controls oil and gives foundation something to grip, so your base lasts hours longer and doesn't slide or separate during the day.
Foundation evens out skin tone and covers redness, dark spots and blemishes. Choose light coverage for daily wear, medium to full for photos or events, and always match the shade to your jawline in daylight.
Concealer is thicker and more pigmented than foundation. Use one shade lighter under the eyes to brighten, and your exact shade on spots. Apply after foundation so you don't wipe it away, and set with a light powder.
Loose or pressed powder absorbs excess oil and locks cream products in place. Translucent powder works on all skin tones; use it only where you get shiny (T-zone) to avoid a flat, dry-looking finish.
Blush puts colour and life back into the face after foundation. Cream and liquid blush look natural on dry skin, powder blush lasts longer on oily skin. Apply on the apples of the cheeks and blend upward.
Bronzer adds warmth as if you'd been in the sun; contour is a cooler-toned shadow that sculpts and defines cheekbones, jaw and nose. Bronzer goes where the sun hits, contour goes in the hollows.
Highlighter reflects light on the high points of the face: cheekbones, brow bone, nose bridge and cupid's bow. Liquid highlighter reads dewy and skin-like; powder highlighter gives a stronger, more visible glow.
Eyeshadow adds depth and colour to the lids. A neutral palette with a light base, a mid-tone transition shade and a dark crease shade will cover 90% of looks. Always use an eye primer if you have oily lids.
Eyeliner defines the lash line. Pencil is easiest and smudgeable, gel is long-wearing and workable, liquid gives the sharpest wing. Waterproof formulas are best for the waterline and for hot or humid days.
Mascara darkens, lengthens and volumises the lashes and instantly opens the eye. Curl the lashes first, wiggle the brush at the roots, and replace your mascara every 3 months to avoid eye infections.
Brows frame the whole face. A fine pencil draws hair-like strokes into sparse spots, powder softly fills the body of the brow, and a clear or tinted gel keeps everything brushed up and in place all day.
Matte lipstick lasts the longest but can be drying; satin and cream finishes are comfortable for everyday use; gloss and lip oils add shine and light hydration; balm and overnight lip masks repair dry, cracked lips.
A setting spray melts powder and cream layers into one skin-like finish and stops transfer. Hold it 20-25 cm away, spray in an X and a T, and let it dry naturally without touching your face.
Never sleep in makeup. Micellar water or a cleansing balm dissolves foundation, sunscreen and waterproof mascara, then a gentle cleanser removes the residue. This double-cleanse prevents breakouts and clogged pores.
SPF is the single most effective anti-ageing product. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30-50 as the last skincare step; modern invisible gel formulas dry down fast and won't pill under foundation.
A damp sponge presses product into the skin for a natural finish; dense brushes build coverage; fluffy brushes blend. Wash brushes and sponges weekly with mild soap — dirty tools cause both breakouts and patchy makeup.
Product prices are indicative retail list prices collected from brand and retailer sites and are for information only. Stock quotes are delayed and are not investment advice.