Make up primer and foundation - please recommend me some!

[cuteable]

Im totally clueless when it come to makeup but I want to make more of an effort. So I am looking for a good makup primer and foundation that wont cost the earth! Any recommendations? I have seen a primer on AVON web site but not sure its any good.

My makeup always seems to wear off so by the time I get home it doesnt look like Im wearing any...

I hate the smell of the Avon primer but the Barbra Daly primer from Tesco is the best I have ever tried.

If you can get the right colour match then Avon mineral foundation is fantastic.

Marks place.
I have found out Clarins no longer do the illuminating foundation I used. I am using Estée Lauder BB cream at the mo but I know I'll need more coverage in winter. Any ideas?
Does anyone use powder these days?
What about a compact foundation?

I use Bare Minerals foundation - it's great for my old,dry wizened skin

barbara daly primer at tesco is good - lovely and smooth finish. I use Rimmel stay matte foundation (sparingly) on top of that with a light dust of translucent stay matte powder over my T-zone which gets oily.

Mac do a nice range. I use the prep and prime and then pro-tec (or pro-wear? can't remember the exact name) foundation.

Lovely even coverage without looking too thick, and lasts all day.

I use Estee Lauser Doublewear which I actually don't think is bad at £21 (I think) and don't need a primer with it. The coverage is brilliant and I don't react to it at all which is unusual for me.

I have wasted so much money on foundation that hasn't suited me over the years I don't mind paying it. I wear it every day and it lasts a good 9 months.

I like Clinique city block - not sold as a primer more a skin protector/SPF but works really well as one and has a slight tint so can be worn as a tinted moisturiser on lazy days. About £16 iirc.

If you are looking for lasting makeup on the cheaper end of the scale, I really like Loreal infallible. Gives really good coverage without looking heavy.

Ginvera green tea bb cream is really nice. I usually use Chanel vitalumiere and Laura mercier tinted moisturiser but I'm going to use this instead of both. I had a Sample in a beauty box - lovely.

Primers I have tried a few but always go back to beauty flash balm.

I've just bought YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat.

I went into Debenhams on Sunday, with not a jot of make up on, and I looked like I had been dragged through a hedge backwards. Not so once the YSL girl tried this. No primer, no powder.

It's lovely, feels very light, but with great coverage and really smooths out any imperfections. My foundation usually comes off, but this has lasted all day!

£28.

Second EL Doublewear. Lasts me from 6am to 11pm without touch ups. Great stuff, huge choice of colours, I use it with a £3 pump from Mac which fits the bottle perfectly.

I use Lancome base pro and teint miracle.

V.g. Lasts all day, decent coverage without being too much.

Heard lots of good things about the new YSL foundation, Dior Nudeskin and Bourgois healthy mix so they may be worth trying.

I got lots of samples and wore them for a day and then chose the one that looked the best at the end of it all!