We've all experienced it: You dedicate time and effort to creating a makeup look that makes you feel confident and attractive, only to witness its untimely demise after you push it to the limit. No matter how many makeup wipes, oil-blotting sheets, or powders you use in hopes of rescuing your makeup, there's always a chance it won't last. If these circumstances sound familiar, it might be time to invest in a product that can rescue your makeup before you even apply concealer or foundation. I'm talking about a face primer.

And who better to guide us on how to get the most out of a face primer than an industry expert? I asked KVD Beauty Global Veritas Artistry Ambassador and celebrity makeup artist Anthony Nguyen to share his tips and tricks for using face primers to create camera-ready makeup looks. Nguyen's work can be spotted on the stage and the red carpet as his clientele includes Rita Ora, Adele, Gwen Stefani, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Nas X. So break out your notebooks! It's time for a crash course on face primers.

The Benefits of Using a Face Primer

According to Nguyen, face primers allow for smoother makeup application and help promote the longevity of your makeup when applied correctly. Put simply, you should be applying your primer anywhere you notice your makeup shifting or sliding throughout a day's wear. "You can apply primer to certain areas of your face where the skin tends to be more oily, such as the T-zone, or you can apply it all over your face," explains Nguyen. Who wants to waste your favorite blushes, foundations, and concealers when you can trust they'll stay put with a little help from a great primer?

Face primer is truly the "glue" that holds your entire makeup look together and keeps you from having to reapply products, so knowing when to apply the primer can also affect the final result of your makeup look. Nguyen recommends using face primer only after you apply your favorite moisturizer—think of primer as the base on which you'll build the rest of your makeup on.

Applying the Product

Nguyen's top primer trick for application? Correctly identify what primer will best cater to your skin type. Depending on your skin type, a primer can help reduce or even erase dryness, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and other pesky imperfections that can alter the look of your complexion. Some primers can also help those with oily skin. Primer is truly a miracle product in that it not only helps create your makeup look but also helps ensure longer wear. As you try different primers, pay special attention to how your primer of choice responds to your makeup lineup. If it's pilling or clumping beneath your base, reconsider your application process (using your hands versus a brush) and the product's formula.

Primer can make a big difference in the final result—trust me. Ready to upgrade your makeup application game with Nguyen's help? Read on to discover his favorite primer, plus the ones Who What Wear beauty editors recommend. You'll want to get your hands on one before you reach for your makeup again.

Face Primers That Will Upgrade Your Makeup Game

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Like every single other human I know, I am completely obsessed with Adele—her personality, her music, and, being the beauty-obsessed human that I am, her quintessential makeup vibe. Think full, fluttery lashes, buttery lips, a glowing, perfectly sculpted complexion, and perhaps most famous of all: that signature winged eyeliner. Basically, if I could become any celebrity for a day and copy their exact beauty aesthetic, it’d be Adele’s. Can you blame me?!

Of course, since this isn’t Freaky Friday, I can’t actually switch bodies with the singer. That said, I am so lucky to have access to the amazing artists who have helped curate her look over the years. Enter celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Michael Ashton who’s credited for creating that aforementioned signature beauty look Adele's become globally known for.

"My work with Adele spanned over 13 years—starting just before the release of her first album 19 and continuing through 21, 25, numerous iconic television appearances, award show red carpets, and several world tours,” he shares. "After being introduced through a mutual friend in 2007, I popped over to her house to trim her fringe, and she asked if I could do a quick bit of eyeliner for her before she went to meet friends—the eyeliner obviously got the seal of approval and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Since I adore Adele, Ashton, and his amazing artistry, (and because the singer’s birthday is just around the corner on May 5th!) I couldn’t resist asking Ashton to share his best tips, tricks, and product selects for those of us who want to channel Adele’s iconic beauty aesthetic at home. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.

Tip #1: Prioritize Your Skin Prep

"Skin prep and skincare is key!" says Ashton right off the bat. "I’m a huge fan of facial oils and balms that really nourish the skin so it is hydrated and doesn’t lose elasticity. Spending extra time using the right skincare before complexion products like foundation and concealer will really amplify your natural radiance. I’m a huge fan of brands like Decléor and Caudalíe as well as more accessible drug store brands including Embryolisse, CeraVe, RoC, and La Roche-Posay."

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Tip #2: Product Cocktail Your Way to the Perfect Eyeliner Application

"Product cocktailing is key to achieving the intensity and opaqueness of Adele's signature eyeliner look," says Ashton. "Always start by outlining the shape of the liner, working from the inner to the outer corner of the eye with a black gel liner. Then, work the product right into the root of the lashes and then build thickness gradually. Once you've finished creating the desired shape, use a waterproof liquid liner with a precision tip to intensify and refine the line, finishing by winging the end of the liner last upwards at a 45-degree angle. I love the below products from Chanel and MAC Cosmetics—they're the perfect power couple!"

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Tip #3: Don't Expect Perfection On Your First Try

"If you make any mistakes, use a super-fine cotton tip dipped in micellar water to gently clean up without disturbing the rest of the makeup," Ashton instructs. 

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Tip #4: Add Falsies for More Drama

"If you want to add even more drama to Adele's iconic look, I always like to use customized lashes, cutting of the inner third of the lash strip to give the eye shape a more youthful, lifted, and elongated look," Ashton notes. "Red Cherry and Stilazzi have fantastic styles to choose from and Duo Lash Glue in Black allows for a seamless application that gives added color density to the base of the lash."

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Tip #5: Don't Forget to Contour and Highlight Your Face

"Contouring and highlighting the face is the ultimate way to create true, three-dimensional polish," shares Ashton. "Contouring is another step where cocktailing your products really helps to enhance your skin with lots of beautiful depth. I always start by using a creamy contour stick in a deep-brown shade, applying the product first to the back of my hand and then buffing it into the skin using a natural hair foundation brush. Start right underneath the cheekbone toward the center of the face and move through the temples and around the hairline. To finish, trace it lightly down each side of the nose."

"The second stage is to go back over using a powder and an angled blusher brush in a circular buffing motion to set and soften your work. I have a palette of contour colors, which are a mixture of matte shadows, blushes, and bronzers as well as some with soft reflective finishes. I like to mix them together depending on the finish I’m wanting to achieve. That said, to achieve added dimension at home, I recommend using Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Contour Wand to begin and follow up with Smashbox's Contour Palette."

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Tip #6: Apply Your Lipstick First, Lip Liner Second

"Lashes and liner is a timeless classic that pairs just as well with both a neutral shade or bold pop of color on the lips," Ashton concludes. "Apply lipstick directly from the bullet for maximum payoff and then go back in using a lip liner to shape and define the edge of the lip. MAC's Lip Pencil in Boldly Bare is an absolute makeup kit must-have for creating the illusion of a full and defined pout, without being too obvious, and when it comes to lip color, Valdé Beauty's Lipsticks are my go-to. They're housed in the most beautiful refillable armor, and the formula gives instant, long-lasting payoff. The shades Mercy and Truth are the perfect flattering neutral shades for any skin tone."

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5 More Beauty Essentials Ashton Always Keeps in His Kit

Next: I'm a Hair Color Monogamist, But These Spring Trends Are So Good I'm Cheating

You've got to hand it to Adele. Even when singing songs about heartbreak, she knows how to keep up the glam. In her latest track "Easy On Me," which is the first to be released in five years, we see her appearing in a vinyl trench coat, a roll-neck, wide-leg trousers and loads of great chunky jewellery and with a knockout blow-dry. While the video starts in black and white, it eventually goes to full colour, which gives us a look at the whole outfit, which is a gorgeous autumnal maroon. The matching deep-red nails and her signature eyeliner complete the look. 

Recently, Adele's appeared on both the covers of U.S. and British Vogue, in Valentino Haute Couture and Vivienne Westwood respectively. According to Lyst, the global shopping platform, after the covers were revealed, searches for Vivienne Westwood’s corsets "similar to the custom one she wears in the British edition jumped 73% week-on-week." Valentino also saw a spike in searches for its dresses. With that in mind, we predict a huge scramble for vinyl trench coats, matching roll-necks and tips for how to get the perfect blow-dry and eyeliner flick à la Adele. Keep scrolling to shop similar pieces. 

Shop a Similar Look to Adele

Next up, these are the biggest autumn/winter 2021 fashion trends to know. 

Opening Image: Getty Images

Fair play to Adele, she doesn't often use social media or post much about her life, but when she does, boy, do we notice. Just a mere six hours ago, the singer shared a picture celebrating her birthday (it was yesterday) and wore one of the coolest dresses we've seen in a while—definitely a summer 2020 trend. A little bit of investigation led us to discover that the mini puff-sleeved frock is by lesser-known designer brand Elzinga.

While Adele opted for an LBD, the brand is actually packed full of bold colors, from sunset oranges to pinks and lime greens. It's unsurprising when you consider the origins of the label. It was created by Amsterdam-based musician and performer Lieselot Elzinga, and the line is inspired by live performances.

The trademark silhouettes incorporate voluminous styling with puff sleeves on dresses and blouses, tapered-leg trousers, and oversize poplin shirts with big pussy-bow details. While Adele might not have posted anything in nearly five months, she's already made an impact on our wardrobes. That, dear reader, is how you do it. Keep scrolling to see Adele's look, shop her dress, and then see the full Elzinga line. 

Shop Similar Dresses

Shop More by Elzinga

Next up, the It bags of summer 2005 and their 2020 equivalents. 

Fair play to Adele, she doesn't often use social media and post much about her life, but when she does, boy, do we notice. Just a mere six hours ago, the singer shared a picture celebrating her birthday (it was yesterday) and wore one of the coolest dresses we've seen in a while—definitely a spring/summer 2020 trend. A little bit of investigation led us to discover that the mini puff-sleeved frock is by lesser-known designer brand Elzinga.

While Adele opted for an LBD, the brand is actually packed full of bold colours from sunset oranges to pinks and lime greens. It's unsurprising when you consider the origins of the label—it was created by Amsterdam-based musician and performer Lieselot Elzinga and the line is inspired by live performances.

The trademark silhouettes incorporate voluminous styling with puff sleeves on dresses and blouses, tapered-leg trousers and oversize poplin shirts with big pussy-bows. While Adele might not have posted anything in nearly five months, she's already made an impact on our wardrobes. That, dear reader, is how you do it. Keep scrolling to see Adele's look, shop her dress and then see the full Elzinga line. 

SHOP ADELE'S DRESS

SHOP SIMILAR:

SHOP THE ELZINGA RANGE

Next up, the biggest spring/summer 2020 fashion trends you need to know. 

Raise your hand if you've missed Adele. Yep, that's just about everyone. The singer has been lying very low recently—she's skipped out on red carpets and hasn't posted on Instagram since January. But here's the good news: She made a mini Insta comeback in epic fashion. Adele posted a photo of what she wore to officiate a wedding, and she looked downright angelic.

"Seeing as the cat's out the bag," Adele captioned her photo, "I married two of my best friends in January. You know me any excuse to dress up." She wore a dramatic caped dress for the occasion, and we'd expect nothing less from her. Read on to see her look. 

The Brit Awards are never short of a controversy or four—whether sartorial or on-stage. And last night's event in London was no different: Among the many outfits on display some courted chatter and caused debates, but we've sifted through the bunch to bring you the best edit of ensembles you need to check out. 

Three trends appeared to rule this particular red carpet. First up, the classic Brit Awards contingent who like to flash a lotta flesh—thighs being particularly prioritised for exposure. Next was the opposing crowd, who decided that to be completely covered up in swathes or tents of fabric would be the best option on a chilly night. Last, but not least, quite a few of the best dressed ladies hinted towards boudoir dressing, slipping into silk slips or simple, slinky gowns.

Scroll down to see the 11 looks we'd dish out an award for…

On Florence Welch: Alexander McQueen clutch bag; Charlotte Olympia shoes.

On Alexa Chung: Preen dress.

We called it! Preen's autumn/winter 2016 dresses looked like they were going to be popular the minute they hit the runway.

Lily Donaldson

Swot up on more of Lily's cool party dressing tips here.

On Tali Lennox: Dolce & Gabbana top and skirt.

Josephine de la Baume and Mark Ronson

Check out the weeklong slip dress plan we're living by right now.

On Adele: Custom-made Giambattista Valli dress.

Anaïs Gallagher

As you can see, platforms are back. Shop the best stacked heels here.

Charlotte Wiggins

Addicted to wearing black? Then you can't miss these new chic black pieces to give your basic a boost.

Related: The Rule-Breaking Looks From the Grammys Wild Red Carpet

On Rihanna: Armani Privé gown; Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.

With her new album finally out, we've spent some time predicting Rihanna's next fashion moves.

Lana Del Rey

Birdy

Which look gets your vote? Let us know in the comments box below…

In the bubble of the fashion world, it's easy to forget that not everyone with a super-covetable wardrobe is a straight-size woman. With the immense popularity (and fashion prowess) of ladies like Kim Kardashian, that's slowly starting to change, but there's still a fairly large distance to make up.

To prove that you can have amazing wardrobe at any size, we're taking a look at eight plus-size celelbrities who regularly kill it. Whether they're on the red carpet or stepping out to buy groceries, their personal style is something to be admired and replicated.

Click through the gallery below to see which plus-size ladies have style we love!  

The size-12 beauty recently made headlines for being the first-ever plus-size model cast in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. When she's not donning bikinis, Lawley looks stunning on the red carpet. The 6'2" model was blessed with height, and she knows how to complement her curves in all the right ways.

Robyn Lawley in M2Malletier 

The Selma director, who is a client of celebrity stylists Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald, achieves the perfect combination of grace and modernity in her red carpet looks. "It’s good for women to just do trial and error, go somewhere and get a whole bunch of things you think you like, go in the dressing room, really focus, and work it out," her styilists revealed to us. "There are some things you’ll find that will surprise you, like, 'Oh wow, I had no idea this would look this good on me.' You’ve got to get out there and take that risk. Try a whole bunch of styles—you’ll surprise yourself."

The curvy size-12 reality star might seem to play second fiddle to her much-talked about older sister, but Khloe can hold her own in a sartorial battle. The 5'10" beauty regularly proves that she really knows how to flatter her figure in fashion-forward looks, without falling victim to trends that don't work for her.

Khloe Kardashian in Bardot skirt, Saint Laurent bag, and Gianvito Rossi pumps

Conventional wisdom might suggest that a cape is never a good idea for a curvier woman, but Melissa McCarthy proves otherwise in this modern look. We love that she takes risk on the carpet and off—and most often, those risks pay off.

Melissa McCarthy in Calvin Klein, with a Rauwolf clutch

The great thing about singer Adele's style is that simply knows what works for her. She's a big fan of wearing the color black, changing it up from time to time by wearing the classic shade in different textures and silhouettes.

Oscar winner Octavia Spencer is another curvy woman who knows exactly what works for her. The designer she gravitates to most is Tadashi Shoji, and her preferred silhouette is a classic A-line dress that hits right above the knee. The look highlights her figure in all the right places.

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji, Rauwolf clutch, and EF Collection jewelry

Queen Latifah is walking proof that not all plus-size women stick to dresses and skirts—her edgy, urban-infused wardrobe features a robust mix of pieces loved by many a street style star, like bomber jackets, leather leggings, and sneakers.

The Australian actress who sky-rocketed to fame after hysterical turns in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect has perhaps the edgiest vibe of any of the other ladies on our list. She never shies away from statement-making pieces on the carpet, regularly reaching for bright colors, architectural silhouettes, and off-beat accessories.

Rebel Wilson in ASOS Curve

Who's YOUR favorite plus-size style star? Sound off in the comments below!