When it comes to base makeup, I’ve always been firmly in the skin tint camp. While I appreciate the flawless finish of a full-coverage foundation on special occasions, for everyday wear I much prefer something lightweight that lets my skin show through. The trade-off, of course, is that sheer foundation formulas don’t do quite so much heavy lifting when it comes to blurring pores, softening texture or disguising the odd acne scar. Rather than relying on foundation to create the illusion of perfect skin, I’d much rather perfect the canvas underneath and let a lightweight base do the rest—which is why I’ve recently become slightly obsessed with blurring primers.

Think of them as the beauty equivalent of switching your bathroom lighting from harsh overhead bulbs to soft golden lamps. Pores appear less noticeable, fine lines seem softened and uneven texture looks smoother, all before you’ve even reached for your foundation. As someone who rarely wears anything heavier than a skin tint, I’ve found that the right primer allows me to use less makeup overall while still achieving that polished, even finish.