Primer & Skin Prep · Product guide
Hydrating primer
A water- or humectant-led primer that adds moisture before base.
Written by Lamyaa Aissi, professional makeup artist, Casablanca. Part of the Primer & Skin Prep guide.
When to use it
On dry and dehydrated skin, where base would otherwise cling to flaking.
On Moroccan skin, in a Moroccan climate
Useful inland in summer, where the air pulls moisture out fast. On the coast it can be too much under a long-wear base.
The rule that runs through every product on this site: check undertone, not just depth. Most Moroccan skin is olive or golden, and a neutral or pink-based product greys within the hour however precisely the depth matches. And for any long event, set in thin successive passes rather than one heavy layer — accumulated product slides in coastal humidity, while product laid down thinly stays.
What it will not do
Oily skin in humidity. It gives you slide.
The most common mistake
Layering it under a matte long-wear foundation and expecting both to work. They pull in opposite directions.
Questions
What does hydrating primer actually do?
A water- or humectant-led primer that adds moisture before base.
When should I use hydrating primer?
On dry and dehydrated skin, where base would otherwise cling to flaking.
Does hydrating primer work on Moroccan skin tones?
Useful inland in summer, where the air pulls moisture out fast. On the coast it can be too much under a long-wear base.
What is the most common mistake with hydrating primer?
Layering it under a matte long-wear foundation and expecting both to work. They pull in opposite directions.
Part of: Primer & Skin Prep
Preparation is the technique, not the prelude. Most complaints about a foundation are complaints about what was underneath it.
Read the full Primer & Skin Prep guide →
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