On a day where you're going to be spending a lot of money on photography, you obviously want to make sure your makeup will last all night long. I, unfortunately, did not win the skin type lottery because if I want my makeup to last through my first cup of coffee, I need to wear a primer & set my base with a powder.

Fortunately, there are some great products out there to help your makeup stay put.

There are a lot of primers on the market right now and if you're not using one, you're missing out! I have zeroed in on more mattifying primers, but there are primers out there to even out your skin tone or to hydrate drier skin. It just takes a little bit of research and a trip your beauty counter of choice to find the perfect one.

This touts to be a water-resistent primer that is fragrance/oil/gluten free. It does work well to keep makeup looking fresh and in place, and it also does a fairly good job with oil-control. It has a smooth texture that when applied helps even out the skin tone. Over all, it's a great primer!

This is my favourite primer for my t-zone. It works so well at preventing shine and giving a smooth finish. This is a tricky primer to apply, though. It's not a product you can slap haphazardly all over the face, it requires a little more effort. First of all, make sure you warm up the product between your fingers before you apply it. It comes off as a very thick cream, but it softens with a little heat. When it comes to applying it, do not rub it in! That's key. For whatever reason, it has a high tendency to ball up when you try to rub it in, so instead, pat it on where you need it! Applied correctly, it effectively keeps the shine away.

Although this primer is not the best product for mattifying my t-zone, I thought I'd mention it because if you have drier skin, you should get a sample of this to try! It's lightweight, hydrating on the skin and it helps your base look smoother.The mild coconut scent is quite refreshing, too. For me, it doesn't help the longevity of makeup as well as mattifying primers do, but I love the fresh and glowy look it gives.

Not everyone will need to use a setting powder, but if you have combination or oily skin, it's something to consider. Setting powders are great to not only set makeup, but  they can also soften the look of any base.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($47 CAD)

A soft, translucent powder that gives the skin a beautiful and smooth finish. It's great for controlling oiliness and leaves a matte (but not dry looking) finish. I wouldn't recommend this for those with dry skin because this talc-free powder can be a bit drying.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in No. 2 ($58 CAD)

This is my favourite pressed powder of the moment. The powder is superfine and it offers a sheer (yet buildable) coverage. It's wonderful for all skin types, even combination/oily. It applies flawlessly over any base (I've tried with bare skin, just concealer, tinted moisturizer and foundation) and it gives a gorgeous soft-focus look. It's also one of the few products I've tried that can be reapplied without complication (i.e. adding layers won't look cakey). The only downside is the fact that it comes in only three shades, but since they're sheer, the shades available will work with a wide range of different skin colours.

Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim Light ($52 CAD) 

The Ambient Powders are not recommended for oil-control, but they do make wonderful finishing powders. Diffused Light is a great powder to set under-eye concealer. It's ultra-fine pale yellow powder reflects light beautifully to brighten dark circles. It's a great way to soften the look of any foundation without adding too much weight.