LOOKING BACK ON PHOTOS OF MY TEENAGE SELF, its all so obvious. My eyeshadow was smeared. My efforts at flawless foundation were undermined by sweat. By the end of a fun day out, my makeup would be all gone. I needed primer! Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Makeup primers have been popular tools for makeup artists for a long time now, but in recent years they have become more ubiquitous in the mainstream makeup scene. Thanks to drugstore brands, the products that used to be primarily found only at makeup stores are now showing up at your local Target or Walgreens as well.

What does a good primer do? It will help to make your makeup last through extreme heat conditions, sweat and humidity. It will prepare your skin for makeup application. It will make your face look smooth and flawless by reducing the appearance of enlarged pores, lines and wrinkles. They protect your skin from sun damage — making them essential for your beach bag. A good primer can help the true color of your makeup products shine, and it can make you look perfect even if going for a neutral look. Like we said earlier – they’re essential. Here are five of our faves:

1. L’Oreal Miracle Blur
2. Nuance by Salma Hayek Smooth Start Skin Primer
3. Smashbox Photo Finish
4. Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion
5. Cover Girl + Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer

Are you a primer fanatic? Which is your favorite brand?

Contributing Editor, Patrice Grell Yursik is the creator of Afrobella.com, one of the first blogs to celebrate the beauty of natural hair and ladies of all skin tones and sizes. Affectionately called the Godmother of Brown Beauty Blogging, Patrice takes her readers inside unique beauty, fashion and cultural experiences.