Primer? Serum? Illuminator? What is worth buying and how do I use it?

[clemettethecoalitionbreaker]

Inpsired by the other thread, could someone please explain what these things do? I am a devotee of the all in one powder foundation on top of a slather of moisturiser (read lazy) but I keep reading that my skin will look better if I use all of the above.
So what do I do? And if I "need" a product are there any decent ones for about a tenner??

Serum - goes on clean skin, under moisturiser. Usually has more concentrated moisturising/anti-aging/anti-oxidant ingredients.

Primer - goes on top of moisturiser, before foundation. Provides a 'base' for foundation, usually makes foundation last longer. Often contains silicone, which makes your skin feel velvety but probably has little skincare benefit. Some primers are colour-correcting (e.g green to cancel redness, pink to correct sallow skin), some soak up oil to keep your makeup matte and in place, some contain illuminators to make you glow.

Illuminators - These you can either :

• mix with foundation and apply all over
• apply under foundation
• apply on top of foundation You can apply these only where the light hits your face (top of cheekbones, inner corner of eye, temple) or lightly all over your face, depending on the effect you want.

I use a serum (either a Neutrogena retinol one, or Trilogy Rosehip Oil) and a primer (either Clarins or Laurer Mercier) but don't usually bother with Illuminator as I'm quite shiny enough thank you.

Thank you very much.
It sounds like it might take a while to put a "face on" though!
It's all a bit of a mystery to me...

avon magix primer

makes skin dead smooth and makeup stays on longer

£10

the avon primer is on offer at the mo,,, 2 for £10.00 on there website

Primer is definitely worth the effort. It helps the mineral foundation adhere and blend, and just gives a better finish.

Brilliant - thank you.

Clarins Serum - Ultra Firming Tightening Botanical Lift - around £40 - is best product I've ever used. Does what it says on the 'tin' and worth every penny.

MSB - is this a progressive cream that works by altering the skin, or it is one that gives immediate cosmetic effect, then washes off?

the ALDI serum recently came out top in tests carried out in the sunday mirror

Hi Fellatio, it is both as far as I recall from saleperson's blurb. IME it works a bit like Clarins beauty flash balm, but apparently it does also improve skin tone / tyexture with regular use. I am a bit of a sloppy skincare user, but when I have time remember to use it, it definitely makes me look less grim in the mornings.

I'm put off primers, illuminators etc as I dont want to layer up my skin too much

you could feasibly have
miosturiser (assming theres an SPF in it)
primer
foundation
illuminator
on top

I do use Beauty flash balm on nights out-
makes a huge difference

Do you use the flash alm under foundation?
I think I am puzzled by how anything could make you look brighter once you put foundation on top of it. Or maybe it is just me make up technique that just makes me look at little mask like whenever I make the effort to wear foundation...

PS That gal is selling on ebay for 2.49 at the moment.