It's a beauty struggle we all know too well—you leave your dorm room this morning looking good... but by the time your last class ends, your bronzer has faded, and your smoky eye has turned into raccoon eyes. Fortunately, there's an easy fix to all this—a good primer both intensifies color and allows your makeup to last all day! Here are our favorites:
1. Neutrogena Shine Control Primer, $13.99, ulta.com
It’s always good to go with an economical primer, especially if it’s your first one. This primer budget-friendly primer is especially great for those with oily skin, as it controls shine and has a refreshing feel to it.
2. Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer, $39, ulta.com
Stress is pretty much a given for collegiettes, and stress can cause breakouts. This Smashbox primer is designed to counter any redness, and even out your skin tone. Application feels soft and smooth, and the primer is strong and durable—basically, we don't have a single bad thing to say about it. About a minute or two after applying, your redness will fade out, creating the perfect base to apply foundation to.
3. Too Faced Primed And Poreless, $30, sephora.com
Many girls want to wear makeup without feeling like they’re wearing makeup, and this primer allows for just that! It’s great for any girl with dry skin, and has a weightless feel.
4. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer, $29, ulta.com
Under-eye concealer can do wonders—especially the morning after a long night out. However, concealer loses its purpose after it starts to crease. With this primer, you can be sure to look well-rested all day, even after an all-nighter.
5. Urban Decay Primer Potion, $20, ulta.com
This one’s a classic. While this product is already quite famous among beauty junkers, it’s still a must have… probably because it makes your eye makeup last so long!
6. Benefit Cosmetics Lemon-Aid Color Correcting Eyelid Primer, $20, sephora.com
Yellow is the opposite of purple on the color wheel, so this product has the potential to neutralize your eyelids. Apply with your fingers or a concealer brush before using shadow or eyeliner.
7. MAC Prep + Prime Lip Base, $16.50, maccosmetics.com
If you're a lipstick junkie, you already know that sometimes, wearing too much lipstick can have a drying effect on your lips. This primer solves that problem! Not only does it serve as the perfect base for any color, it also moisturizes.
8. Bite Beauty Line and Define Lip Primer, $22, sephora.com
This line is truly incredible. All of Bite Beauty's products are made with natural ingredients for quality that’ll please any lipstick lover. Because Bite is so lip-savvy, their lip primer goes on ultra smooth, giving your lipstick maximum durability.
9. Urban Decay Subversion, $22, sephora.com
We all love Urban Decay for their primer potions, so we are bound to love their eyelash primer, Subversion, too. Many collegiettes want fuller lashes but don’t want to wear falsies! Luckily, this primer gives the feel of fuller lashes without the glued-on lashes.
