Makeup Base: Why It's Essential for Your Beauty Routine

A good makeup base is the step that makes everything after it look better. It smooths your skin, helps foundation go on evenly and keeps your makeup in place all day.

Here's what makeup base does, how to apply it and how to choose the right one for your skin.

What is makeup base?

Makeup base, also called primer, is a lightweight product you apply after skincare and before foundation. It creates a smooth, even surface, so makeup goes on more easily and lasts longer.

Many makeup bases also blur the look of pores, control shine and even out skin tone, giving you a more refined complexion before you've even applied foundation.

Why you need makeup base

• Longer-lasting makeup: primer helps foundation grip, so it's less likely to fade, crease or slide off during the day.
• Smoother-looking skin: it blurs the look of fine lines and pores, giving foundation a smooth surface to sit on.
• Easier blending: on dry patches or uneven texture, primer gives you a smooth, hydrated base, so foundation and concealer blend evenly for a natural finish.
• A more even complexion: it helps disguise redness, dullness and uneven tone. Colour-correcting primers go further, neutralising specific concerns like redness or sallowness.

How to apply makeup base

1. Finish your skincare. Cleanse, moisturise and apply sunscreen, then give it a minute to settle.
2. Use a small amount. A pea-sized amount is enough for your whole face.
3. Smooth it outwards. Start at the centre of your face and work outwards, pressing it gently into areas with visible pores or fine lines.
4. Let it set. Wait about a minute before applying foundation, so the base can grip properly.

Find your HD makeup base

A makeup base takes less than a minute to apply and makes a real difference to how your makeup looks and lasts. Choose the one that suits your skin.

Ultra 4K HD Makeup Base SPF25 PA+++ is an all-in-one base that brightens, moisturises and cares for your skin. It instantly lifts your complexion and helps correct uneven skin tone, dullness and the look of fine lines. It also helps protect against UVA/UVB rays and pollution. Choose it if you want a brighter, more even complexion with skincare benefits built in.

Shop Ultra 4K HD Makeup Base SPF25

Ultra 4K HD Radiant Primer SPF30 PA+++ colour-corrects to suit your skin tone, for a fresh, bare-skin look. It adds hydration and light to the face, reviving dehydrated skin with instant radiance and a more even tone. Choose it if your skin looks dull or dehydrated and you want a radiant finish that keeps makeup flawless all day.

Shop Ultra 4K HD Radiant Primer SPF30

Both bases include SPF and a PA+++ rating, a grade that shows high protection against UVA rays, which contribute to skin ageing. But the thin layer you apply under makeup won't give you the full protection on the label. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen underneath for proper sun protection.