Heard a client say silicone-based primers are killing long-wear makeup - anyone else split on this?

I was doing a bridal trial yesterday and the bride said she read online that silicone primers break down foundation after 8 hours. I've been using a silicone primer for years and my makeup stays put through 12 hour shifts. But then I thought about it, some of my clients with oily skin do seem to have their makeup slide off faster when I use a silicone base. I've also tried water-based primers on a few girls and the wear time was way longer on them. Is this a real thing or just another internet myth? I'd love to hear what other stylists are seeing on their chairs.

3 comments

3 Comments

logan_mitchell6h agoMost Upvoted

Found the same thing with my oily skin girls. Switched to a water based primer for them and their makeup holds way better through a full day. For my normal to dry clients, silicone still works great. I keep both types in my kit now and just match it to the skin type I'm working with.

jessica7076h ago

Yesss exactly what I've been doing too. I used to just use one primer for everyone thinking it was fine, but once I tried the water based one on my oily clients it was a game changer. Their makeup literally doesn't slide off by lunchtime anymore like it used to. Now I keep both types in my bag too and I just ask what their skin is like before I pick which one to grab.

elliotm575h ago

I get what you're saying @logan_mitchell but there's another piece people miss. Silicone and water based primers actually fight each other if you layer them wrong. Saw a client once who used a silicone primer over a water based moisturizer and her foundation just beaded up. Now I tell people to check the first ingredient on both their primer and moisturizer. If one says dimethicone and the other says water, those two are gonna clash under makeup. You can match skin type perfectly but if your base products don't agree chemically, nothing's gonna stick right.

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