Best Primer for Face
A good primer ensures long-lasting makeup. That’s why the best makeup primers are absolute favorites among
makeup artists and enthusiasts. They create a proper canvas on which you can experiment with your makeup
skills. Primers blur open pores and hide fine lines and offer a flawless, hydrated and smooth finish. It also acts as
a shield on your skin to protect it from the harsh ingredients infused in makeup products.
Primers are great solutions for oily t-zones as well. They offer great oil control and conceal the visible signs of
aging on your skin. The market is flooded with options. It can be a daunting task to find the right primer for your
skin type. But worry not because we have made it easier for you. Swipe up to explore the 21 makeup primers that
we think are the best!
What Is A Makeup Primer?
The primary purpose of a makeup primer is to prepare your skin and create a smooth base before you put on
makeup. It creates an extra layer between the skin and makeup, evens out your skin, reduces the look of dark
spots, and helps minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It also fills in pores, hydrates the skin, and
allows the makeup to last longer.
However, there is a wide range of primers that address specific skin types and issues
Different Types Of Makeup Primers
● Mattifying Makeup Primers: A mattifying makeup primer is a water-based primer that gives the
skin a mattifying effect. It helps reduce shine on the face and minimizes the
appearance of pores.
● Strobing/Illuminating Makeup Primers: An illuminating makeup primer gives
your face extra shine. It also evens out the skin tone and helps you achieve a
smooth skin surface.
● Color-Correcting Makeup Primers: A color-correcting makeup primer helps
minimize the appearance of dark spots and dark circles.
21 Best Makeup Primers
- . Best Overall: Covergirl Simply Ageless Makeup Primer
The Covergirl Simply Ageless Makeup Primer is a liquid foundation that also works as a primer. It
is formulated with hyaluronic complex and vitamin C that firm and hydrates the skin. The
anti-aging primer will plump up your skin and instantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It
also evens out skin tone and blurs other imperfections.
Suitable for: Mature Skin
Pros
● Lightweight
● Long-lasting
● Pump dispenser
● Cruelty-free
● Easy to use
● Available in multiple shades - Best For Sensitive Skin: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Trusted by makeup artists, the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré evens and smoothes
the skin texture. It brightens the complexion and increases skin suppleness and firmness.
The nourishing formula is enriched with aloe vera, shea butter, beeswax, and soy
proteins. It is a versatile primer that works as a face cream, face mask, and makeup
remover. The primer leaves the skin calm, soft, and smooth. It is suitable for all skin
types, including sensitive skin.
Suitable For: Sensitive Skin
Pros
● Safe for sensitive skin
● Natural ingredients
● Dermatologist-tested
● Travel-friendly - Best For Redness: E.l.f Tone Adjusting Face Primer
If you want to conceal redness and spots that can be seen through the foundation, try out the
e.l.f Tone Adjusting Face Primer. This neutralizing and color-correcting face primer with a subtle
green tint helps minimize redness, evens out the skin tone, and creates a natural-looking matte
base for your makeup.
This primer has a silky and creamy formula suitable for all skin types. It gives you a flawless
complexion and perfect coverage. You can either wear this alone or as a makeup base.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
● Vegan
● Cruelty-free
● Paraben-free
● Phthalate-free
● Hydroquinone-free
● No triclosan and triclocarban - Best For Enlarged Pores: Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer
If oily skin and enlarged pores are a concern, the Benefit POREfessional Face
Primer will be the best choice for you. This lightweight makeup primer helps
minimize the appearance of fine lines and pores to give you silky, smooth skin
before applying makeup. It is infused with a vitamin E derivative that combats free
radicals. In addition, it has an oil-free and translucent formulation and
complements all skin tones.
Suitable For: Oily skin
Pros
● Oil-free formula
● Lightweight - Best Long-Lasting: NYX Professional Makeup The Marshmallow Primer
The Marshmallow Primer by NYX Professional Makeup is a multitasking primer that keeps your makeup intact for
16 hours. It is enriched with marshmallow root extract to smoothen the skin. This primer softens, hydrates,
soothes, evens out the skin, blurs fine lines, adds a soft-focus finish, and keeps makeup fresh. It
has a slightly whipped texture that dries up right after application.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
● Complements all skin tones
● Vegan
● Cruelty-free
● Silicone-free - Best Hydrating: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
Get a perfect dewy makeup base with the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face
Primer. This face primer brightens, smoothens, and hydrates the skin while offering
you a healthy-looking finish. It is infused with coconut water, probiotics, and skin
revivers to boost skin’s radiance, promote elasticity, and hydrate while locking down makeup for
fresher, more extended, and more flawless wear. It creates the perfect makeup base, and you can
also wear it alone for a dewy look.
Suitable For– Dry Skin
Pros
● Boosts radiance
● Promotes skin elasticity
● Paraben-free
● Cruelty-free
● Silicone-free - Best Brightening: Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer
The Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer preps the skin for makeup to glide on and last
longer. It minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines and helps maintain the skin’s
youthful appearance. The primer is formulated with grapefruit extract, green tea, and white tea
extracts. The grapefruit extract promotes luminosity and skin radiance, while green tea and
white tea extracts provide anti-aging effects.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
Long-lasting
● Cruelty-free
● Lightweight
- Best For Shine Control: TATCHA The Silk Canvas
The Silk Canvas face primer by TATCHA instantly diminishes pores, fine
lines, and reduces excess shine. It has a velvety texture and gives a
soft-focus finish to your skin that allows the makeup to glide smoothly. The
formula features silk extracts (rich in amino acids) that retain natural
moisture and hadasei-3 (a blend of green tea, algae, and rice) for smooth
skin. It creates a protective barrier between makeup and skin to minimize
clogged pores that can lead to breakouts. The primer also has anti-aging
properties that reveal a youthful complexion.
The anti-pollution natural active ingredients in the formula fight
environmental stressors and support the skin’s barrier function to act against
future attacks while visibly reducing the appearance of wrinkles and
dullness.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
● Non-comedogenic
● Non-irritating
● Dermatologist-tested
● Cruelty-free
● Paraben-free
● Sulfate-free
● Artificial fragrance-free
● Phthalate-free
● Mineral oil-free
● Free from urea, DEA, or TEA - Best Anti-Wrinkle: StriVectin Line Blurring Primer
The StriVectin Line Blurring Primer is formulated with skin-benefiting ingredients. It contains
blurring microspheres that fill and blur out deep-set wrinkles and improve the skin texture.
The primer has a lightweight and breathable formula that helps prolong makeup wear. It is
developed with the patented NIA-114 technology that helps strengthen the skin barrier.
Suitable For: Mature skin
Pros
● Lightweight
● Breathable
● Non-comedogenic
● Paraben-free
● Vegan - Best Matte Finish: Dr. Brandt Pore Refiner Primer
The Dr. Brandt Pore Refiner Primer will help you achieve flawless,
photo-ready skin. It creates an excellent base for long-lasting makeup
and well-preserved skin. The primer has a velvety formula that absorbs
excess oil, minimizes pores, and blurs fine lines. It is also resistant to
sweat and humidity. This product is a two-in-one pore refiner and
makeup primer that absorbs excess oil and mattifies shine, creating a
smooth, flawless finish with or without makeup. It can be used alone or
for midday touch-ups.
Suitable For: Oily and Combination skin
Pros
● Matte-finish
● Sweat-resistant
● Humidity-resistant
● Lightweight - Dermablend Professional Insta-Grip Jelly Primer
The Dermablend Professional Insta-Grip Jelly Primer has a 3-in-1 hydrating formula that
instantly moisturizes the skin. This lightweight formula gets absorbed quickly, minimizes
the appearance of pores, and provides a smooth canvas for a foundation and concealer.
Its sticky texture makes it last up to 24 hours and feels comfortable on the skin.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
● Long-lasting
● Lightweight
● Easy to use
● Dermatologist-tested
● Allergy-tested
● Non-comedogenic
● Paraben-free
● Phthalate-free
● Sulfate-free
● Triclosan-free
● Silicone-free
● 100% vegan - dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer
The dermalogica Skinperfect Primer will help smoothen fine lines and brighten your skin. It has a velvety formula
containing soy protein that improves skin texture and creates a smoother surface. The primer also contains SPF
to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and has a silky feel to give a “soft focus”
effect.
Suitable For: Mature skin
Pros
● Lightweight
● Sun protection
● Paraben-free
● Gluten-free
● Cruelty-free
- The Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid Primer
Getting a natural and dewy look is now easy with The Ordinary High-Spreadability
Fluid Primer. This primer’s lightweight, serum-like formula spreads quickly and
moisturizes the dry patches, especially around the eyes and nostrils. It is non-oily and
gives a natural dewy look.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
● Lightweight
● Vegan
● Cruelty-free
● Water-free
● Alcohol-free
● Nut-free
● Oil-free
● Silicone-free
● Gluten-free - Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
This makeup primer is a cult classic for a reason. It is different from other traditional formulations and efficiently
conceals imperfections, evens out the skin, and minimizes the look of fine lines and pores. This primer creates a
smooth canvas so that your makeup glides on smoothly and stays put all day long. The lightweight, silky texture
of the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer does not leave any greasy residue after application. In addition, the broad
spectrum of SPF 15 offers sun protection.
Suitable For: All skin types (especially blemish-prone skin)
Pros
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●
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● SPF 15
● Lightweight
● Vegan
● Paraben-free
● Fragrance-free
● Cruelty-free
● Sulfate-free
● Gluten-free
● Phthalate-free
● No nanoparticles
- BECCA Backlight Priming Filter
The BECCA Backlight Priming Filter instantly boosts skin radiance, smoothens, and blurs imperfections. This
illuminating primer improves your skin’s appearance and creates a smooth base before makeup application, and
its Backlight Technology adds a lit-from-within glow. It has a lightweight formula enriched with vitamin E that
makes your skin appear naturally gorgeous. This primer can be worn alone for a luminous glow.
Suitable For: All skin types
Pros
● Lightweight
● Cruelty-free
● Paraben-free
● Sulfate-free
● Gluten-free
● Phthalate-free
● Tinted
