This blogger's genius recommendation to use ice as a primer will give you the smoothest makeup finish of your life
Achieving a perfectly smooth and airbrushed finish with your foundation is no mean feat - and that's exactly why primers exist.
While primers are designed to create a smooth canvas for your makeup to adhere to, one beauty blogger is convinced she's found an even better (and much cheaper) primer in the form of an ice cube.
As bizarre as it may sound, beauty blogger Ashley Blue DeFrancesco believes that ice is the surprising step your beauty regime has been missing.
In a video she uploaded to her Instagram, Ashley can be seen rubbing an ice cube over her face before applying her favourite foundation and concealer.
Instagram content
"Used ice as a primer again and honestly like....... IT REALLY WORKS," she wrote.
Speaking to Allure about her quirky beauty hack, she explained: "I got the idea because my mom had huge ice cubes in her fridge and I remembered hearing a long time ago that ice shrinks your pores.
"My skin felt tighter and my pores seemed smaller — almost gone — and my makeup went on so smoothly. I definitely think it works."
Interesting...!
Ashley isn't the only person to use ice in her beauty regime. Queer Eye's Karamo Brown posted on Instagram saying: "I use a wash cloth to pick up one ice cube. I then run the ice cube along my entire face until it melts. It does wonders for my complexion, pimples, wrinkles, etc."
While we're all for a simple and purse-friendly beauty hack, there's certainly no evidence to suggest it works so scroll down to check out the best primers...
Best primer for glow
Estee Lauder The Illuminator, £28.50, Selfridges
This luminous primer really brightens for a gorgeously dewy finish (even when you’re feeling your worst).
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Save when you shop for the best primer with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best primer for a subtle sheen
Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow Face Primer, £39, Charlotte Tilbury
This magical stuff works to diffuse light, giving skin an instant glow, while boasting anti-ageing benefits. Wonder Glow Face Primer is very good if you're looking a little tired (read: hungover).
Best primer for doing-it-all
MAC Prep + Prime Fix +, £21, LookFantastic
Very different to a classic primer, this lightweight formula is simply spritzed onto clean skin to leave a hydrated base, and can also be used on top of makeup to fix it in place. Makeup artists swear by it.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best primer for filling in pores
Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer, £29, Boots
A best-seller, this magically blurs the skin to minimise the appearance of pores and leave a smooth surface for foundation. Not just for young skin either, as it covers fine lines like a dream.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Boots discount codes.
Best primer for locking your makeup in place
The Ordinary High Adherence Silicone Primer, £3.90, Boots
If you find your makeup slips down your face come midday, this is the primer for you. The high adherence silicone particles extend the wear of your makeup, keeping it in place all day without drying out your skin.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Boots discount codes.
Best primer drugstore
Elf Mineral Face Primer, £7.50, Feel Unique
Just as effective as some of the more expensive brands, this budget-friendly primer will give you a flawless canvas that combats against excess oil and dryness, blurring any enlarged pores.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Feel Unique discount codes.
Best primer for smoothing
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, £29, Boots
This blend of vitamins A and E, grape seed extract and green tea gives skin a lovely, silky soft surface. Use it on top of makeup too to touch up.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Boots discount codes.
Best primer for a healthy glow
Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisture Balm, £45, LookFantastic
If you're less about a pore-less flaw-less base and more about looking all fresh and glow-y and wonderful, stop right here. Available in 3 shades, we love 'Golden Glow', which adds a hint of healthy bronze.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Getty ImagesBest primer for oily skin
Shiseido Synchro Skin Soft Blurring Primer, £32, Cult Beauty
If you've always dreamed of finding a primer that doesn't clog your pores or leave skin looking shiny, you'll love this water-based formula. As well as blurring pores, it also contains a mattifying peptide that helps to control oil production and a sebum-absorbing powder to reduce shine throughout the day.
Save money when you shop for the best primer with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best primer for dry skin
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer, £42, Feel Unique
A creamy mousse formula designed to blur the appearance of pores and fine lines whilst giving skin a quenching burst of hyaluronic acid. Sound good? Then this is the primer for you. What’s more, it can be used to prime eyes and lips, and is completely colourless. That’s what we call all-in-wonderful.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Feel Unique discount codes.
Best primer for oily skin
Peter Thomas Roth Skin To Die For, £22.95, Beauty Bay
This purple tube of mattifying magic literally feels like silk on your face. Oily-skin girls, rejoice! Skin To Die For will keep your foundation matte for waaaaay longer and without caking your makeup. Yes sir, we tell no lie.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Beauty Bay discount codes.
Best primer for combination skin
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Perfecting Primer, £32, Look Fantastic
One of the primer OGs, Laura Mercier herself never does makeup – on herself or her celebrity clients – without starting with a primer. Now, the brand has refreshed its primer offering with a line-up of five options to cater to all concerns. This one, perfecting, is the updated original in pretty new packaging. It provides a slightly matte, long-lasting base for foundation.
Best primer for blurring pores
Fenty Pro Fil’r Instant Retouch Primer, £24, Boots
Pores are made invisible and excess oil vanished. Fenty Beauty’s primer will keep your foundation looking fresh all day long.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Boots discount codes.
Best primer for banishing dullness
Becca First Light Priming Filter, £15, Cult Beauty
This is a dull skin lifesaver. The lilac tone acts as a brightening filter, neutralising yellow tones to leave the skin gleaming.
Save money when you shop for the best primer with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best primer for a satin finish
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15, £53, Feel Unique
Fill those pores and calm that redness with this multi-purpose miracle. Provides a satin base that still allows the skin to breathe. It's the best of both the skincare and makeup world.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these Feel Unique discount codes.
Best primer for extra SPF
Giorgio Armani Maestro UV Skin Defense Primer SPF 50, 30ml, £42, Look Fantastic
For those concerned an extra layer will throw your skincare regime off balance, this weightless primer is the answer. But don’t be fooled. Despite its power of invisibility, the ultra-light, transparent texture provides broad spectrum SPF 50 protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best primer if you don't like the feel of primers
Illamasqua Matte Veil Primer, £34, LookFantastic
Not only does this primer provide total oil control all day long, it's also super lightweight so you won't feel like you've got another layer of makeup on. Winning.
Save when you shop for the best primer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best primer for lockdown glow
Victoria Beckham Beauty Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer in Golden, £92, Cult Beauty
If anyone knows how to glow, it's VB; just look at her Instagram selfies. Thankfully she's bottled it for anyone suffering lockdown skin. This aesthetically pleasing bottle is packed with a primer that illuminates your skin with a high impact bronze glow and delivers serious long-term skin-enhancing benefits. A unique blend of pearl provides a luminous finish, while powerful and clean active ingredients deeply nourish and renew the skin to boost radiance over time. She developed it with skincare guru Augustinus Bader’s technology so you know it's a win-win.
Save money when you shop for the best primer with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
