When a new product comes onto the market, how can you tell whether it actually does what it is supposed to, or whether it is a waste of money? Research is key, and reviews will generally tell you whether to bother, or to invest your cash elsewhere. When it comes to make up products, there is a constant flow of new and exciting products to look at, and at the moment, it’s making finishing and primer spray.
These sprays have been around for a while, but usually just as a fixing spray, not as a combination with a primer. Lately however, you’ll have see these appearing on the market, with Urban Decay, MAC, and even bargain brand Rimmel producing their own versions. But, can these sprays really prep your face for make up and then keep it there? Well actually yes, provided you buy well.
Make up Fixing Spray/Primer 101
The sole intention of a make up fixing spray is, as the name would suggest, to keep your make up on your face for longer. The primer element is to allow the product to settle on your face much easier, and to give you an even foundation to work with. The ingredients depend on the brand, but some also allow your make up to be waterproofed. It’s really about shopping around.
Do they work? Some do, yes, and again, you need to go for a quality brand. It’s a great idea to ask for testers from local make up counters before you go for it, just to make sure that it actually suits your skin type. People with oily skin are likely to benefit from a fixing spray much more than anyone else. Another use for sprays like this is to ensure that the product doesn’t clog into lines and wrinkles, giving that cakey appearance we all hate so much.
You might be wondering what is in these magic sprays, and again, that totally depends on the brand you go for. Some have a diluted hairspray solution in them, some have a weak version of alcohol in them, and most also have a hydration element to them, to keep your skin soft.
How to Use a Fixing/Primer Spray
If your particular spray is a primer and fixing spray, then you will need to spray it onto your skin prior to doing your make up. Don’t hold the bottle close to your face, and only spray it very lightly – the idea isn’t to have it dripping down your cheeks!
Once you have completed your make up, it’s time to fix it. If you have particularly oily spray, spray a little of the product onto a blender and blot very lightly, ensuring that it doesn’t cause the initial layer to move. For general use however, you need to hold the bottle around 10 inches away from your newly made up face, and then spray in an ‘X’ shape. You should spray twice in each direction, and then one more spray on your T zone, to get into the oiliest part and keep foundation from slipping.
By using a fixing spray, you are giving yourself an extra hour or two of make up coverage, and in most cases, that can be enough to get you through the day or night.
