The one product worth splurging on for makeup that lasts all day, according to Audrey Hepburn's makeup artist
If you've got this buy in your beauty kit, you 'don't need anything else'
Just a few weeks back, I found myself sitting in a fancy hotel in London's iconic Covent Garden with the opportunity to interview Audrey Hepburn's makeup artist – that's not a sentence you say every day, is it?
With an impressive star-studded clientele list and decades of experience in the world of beauty, as you can imagine, I had dozens of questions ready to go in my notebook. From her recommendation for the best foundation for mature skin to the best mascaras that will give lashes a fuller appearance, I wanted to ask it all.
Of course, we're talking about none other than Laura Geller, who is also the founder of her own brand, Laura Geller Beauty, meaning she's well-versed in giving makeup advice. So, naturally, I had to ask her the burning question that was at the forefront of my mind – if I could only spend big bucks on one item in my makeup bag, what should it be? And her answer might surprise you...
A bestseller for Laura Geller Beauty, Spackle is a featherweight primer designed to be applied prior to makeup for perfecting skin texture and encouraging long-lasting wear. The hydrating buy has a cream-to-gel texture that smooths pores and fine lines, while moisturising the skin. However, if the hydrating formula is not for you, fear not as there's another 7 primers in this lineup, aiming to brightening, bronzing and deliver sun protection.
Maybelline's Grippy Serum Makeup Primer is a stellar affordable option. Boasting a water-based formula that's equipped with 2% niacinamide, this hydrating and plumping primer has an innovative technology that encourages a tacky, gripping base in as little as 20 seconds. Forget pilling or your makeup going patchy, this buy creates a smooth, blurred complexion.
Bobbi Brown's Face Base+ Moisturiser and Primer is a favourite in the beauty industry for a reason. Enriched with vitamins, this iconic hydrating formula works to moisturise and prime skin for up to 24 hours in one step. Think a smooth base with minimised caking, creasing, flaking and fading – sign us up!
Having done makeup on the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Liza Minnelli and many talented Broadway actors, Laura Geller is undeniably an expert in her field, so I was all ears when it came to her top tips, tricks and recommendations.
As for the former, the makeup artist revealed primer as the one product that is worth splurging on: "Not everybody is taught, from a makeup artist's standpoint, how important [primer] is. It's not hype, it's arsenal. You might think, 'I don't see it; how do I know it's doing something? It makes your makeup lock in longer. And frankly, I think you don't need anything else."
Responding to my follow-up question of whether we should all be adding a primer into our routines, Geller said: "100%. I think a lot of people still think under makeup primer is an extra step because they're already doing moisturiser and serums and oils. Do that [skincare] at night and just use one thing."
As for which primer the makeup artist recommends, naturally she opted for the Laura Geller Beauty Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer – which was inspired by her time working on theater and film makeup. "When I worked on beautiful visionary women, there was a tongue-in-cheek expression they'd say: "I need more than makeup. I hope you have some spackle." Geller recalls.
"Spackle in the States is equivalent to your polyfiller; it's what you put on the walls to smooth the cracks and holes," adds the makeup artist. The apt name makes perfect sense for the featherweight formula inside, which works to minimise pores and fine lines for a natural blurred look.
However, there are many quality primer options on the market, from high-end luxury formulas to amazing drugstore buys. So, if I'm taking advice from Geller herself, then best believe I'm running to my nearest beauty store to get myself a primer.
