This One Product Is My Secret Weapon for Skin That Glows All Day Long

As junior beauty editor here at Who What Wear UK, I'm always trying to find the secret to getting that glow that we all so desperately want. No beauty trend has remained quite so timeless as luminous skin, and from facial serums to tinted moisturisers and glowy foundations, I've tried my fair share of products over the years to try and emulate that sought-after look.

However, around a year ago, I realised that there was one product that I had been overlooking when it came to creating a glowy base. I'm talking about primer. I don't know about you, but I used to skip primer all together, reluctant to add an extra step into my makeup routine. That being said, my desk was constantly filled with primers that promised a radiant complexion, so one day I decided to give them a go, and I quickly realised what I had been missing out on my whole life.

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(Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK)

Who What Wear UK's junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay wearing an illuminating primer under her makeup.

Not only did these products make my makeup last all day long, but a select few gave me that gorgeous, lit-from-within glow that I had been trying so hard to create. Since my discovery, I've made it my mission to test some of the most popular and highly-rated illuminating primers out there, and trust me when I say I've found some absolute gems. In fact, my collection is getting a little bit out of control.

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(Image credit: @gracelindsay__ for Who What Wear UK)

A collection of junior beauty editor Grace Lindsay's favourite illuminating primers.

Whilst you definitely do not need this many products to make your skin glow, I highly recommend adding just one of these primers to your makeup bag. I've rounded up my top illuminating primers below for you to shop, and I've even asked an industry expert what makes these products so good.

What Does an Illuminating Primer Do?

First things first, what do these products actually do? We all know that general makeup primers work to make your foundation last longer, but why go for an illuminating one?

"An illuminating primer often works to reflect light," explains Mona Baubant, EME pro artist at Rare Beauty. "They can smooth, hydrate and illuminate in one step, and they work to create a radiant base for your makeup that you can use under foundation and concealer for a glowing complexion."

Water-Based vs Silicone Primers

When choosing a primer, it's important to keep the formula in mind if you do want an illuminating finish. Look out for ingredients ending in '-icone', such as dimethicone—these are silicones and are used to prolong makeup wear and smooth skin texture. However, they often result in a mattifying finish, so make sure there aren't too many of them and that they're not the main ingredients.

Ideally, if you do want a glowy or dewy finish, you want a primer that's water-based—look out for 'aqua' as the primary ingredient in the formula.

How to Apply an Illuminating Primer

"I like to apply one to two pumps of the primer to clean and moisturised skin before going in with foundation or concealer," says Baubant. "You can also apply it to your neck and décolletage to give your collarbone a nice glow. If you want an even more radiant complexion, I like to mix in one pump with foundation too."

So, now you know how to use one, take a look at my favourites.

The Best Illuminating Primers, Listed:

1. Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Brightening Primer
2. Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer
3. Vieve Skin Nova Instant Radiance Primer
4. Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Makeup Primer
5. Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser
6. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer
7. Victoria Beckham Beauty VB X Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturiser
8. Guerlain Parure 24K Gold Radiance Booster Primer
9. By Terry Cellularose CC Serum
10. Saie Glowy Super Gel
11. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base

Shop the Best Illuminating Primers:

1. Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Brightening Primer

2. Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer

3. Vieve Skin Nova Instant Radiance Primer

4. Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Makeup Primer

5. Elemis Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser

6. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer

7. Victoria Beckham Beauty VB X Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturiser

8. Guerlain Parure 24K Gold Radiance Booster Primer

9. By Terry Cellularose CC Serum

10. Saie Glowy Super Gel

11. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base

This story was previously published at an earlier date ans has since been updated.

Opening Image: @tylynnnguyen

Grace Lindsay
Junior Beauty Editor

Grace Lindsay is the junior beauty editor at Who What Wear UK. At the age of 18 she decided to train as a makeup artist before going on to study english and media at Goldsmiths University. It was during that time that she explored her love for journalism by interning at a small beauty start-up based in Shoreditch. Since then, she has worked at a number of publications including Marie Claire and Hello!, where her love for all things beauty continued to grow.

As Who What Wear UK's junior beauty editor, she covers everything from the latest hair trends to the stand-out makeup products of the season.