Beauty Diary: Experts warn against using lube as primer trend
A Sydney dermatologist has spoken out against a viral skincare trend that sees a common sex item used in place of a beauty product.
Face & Body
Don't miss out on the headlines from Face & Body. Followed categories will be added to My News.
How far would you go to achieve a perfectly flawless finish with your make-up?
Many of you use primer to even your complexion and keep your make-up in place. But the perfect base coat may be lying in your underwear drawer if the claims made by several TikTok creators are to be believed.
A bizarre theory that lubricant – usually used to make sex more pleasurable – doubles as an effective primer has earned millions of views on the social media platform.
If the claims are to be believed, lube gives skin a silky smooth texture and is the ideal sticky base to help make-up, rather than sex, last longer.
Many review videos have appeared online, as make-up lovers and beauty junkies rushed to test out the “hack” for themselves.
However, skin experts have been quick to poo-poo the hack, with Sydney dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric telling news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary we should “stay away” from the viral trend.
“Most lubes contain silicones and oil-based products that can be very occlusive on the skin, resulting in clogged pores, breakouts and skin irritation,” she said.
“Many skin primers these days contain active ingredients that are good for the skin such as antioxidants and sunscreen, which lube is obviously lacking.”
Luckily, The Beauty Diary has your back, so here are three primers that will nourish and protect your skin while keeping your face in place.
One/Size Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer
Available at Sephora
Price: $46
Hands down one of the most effective primers I have ever used. To apply, I use my fingers and smooth out across my face and my imperfections have that “blur” to them that make it easier to cover. My foundation doesn’t budge once applied on top – even during the stickiest of summer days. The trick is to move quickly as it dries fast – but it is worth the hassle. It’s my go-to when I know I’m going to be out for hours and can’t reapply make-up.
Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum
Available at Sephora
Price: $42
As much as I love foundation, I tend to choose lighter coverage for during the day, and as a result, I don’t need a super strength primer either. Instead I like to use a “make-up serum”, a new generation base product that gives you a glow designed to radiate through your make-up for a natural look – and the Laneige Glowy Makeup serum is one of the best. It gives a lovely, soft texture and applies a subtle, dewy glowy finish. Underneath a light coverage skin tint or foundation, it’s just sublime. It is also hydrating and keeps powder products like blush and bronzer in place too. Lurve.
Holme Beauty Primer
Available at holmebeauty.com
Price: $65
Holme Beauty is a new Australian brand created by make-up artist Hilary Holmes which launched last month. Currently, the primer is the first and only product by the brand, and you can totally tell Hilary has put her all into it. This is a tinted primer which suits about 60 per cent of skin tones – but there’s two more shade extensions on the way to make the product more inclusive. The tint also makes it a multipurpose primer as you can wear it on its own for light coverage, or under your fave foundation for a fuller look. But the best part is how effective it is. It hydrates, it hides fine lines and imperfections, it makes your own skin look better. It also keeps everything in place and smells amazing. If you want a bit of an all rounder, this is the one – and it’s local too which is always a winner.
This column is not advertorial content. Every review is independent, honest and ad free.
If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram – don’t forget to hashtag #TheBeautyDiary.
Originally published as Beauty Diary: Experts warn against using lube as primer trend