A good face primer bridges the gap between skincare and makeup. By forming a barrier between the two, a primer locks in moisture and skin-enhancing products while helping cosmetics adhere to the skin better and longer. They also even out the complexion and create a smoother texture to apply makeup by filling in and blurring the appearance of pores, fine lines, and other imperfections while locking makeup in place for hours, extending its wear time by preventing creasing, smudging, and fading over time.
There are many different types of face primers available today. Some have skincare ingredients that help brighten or counteract redness and discoloration, while others have built-in SPF protection. Other formulas moisturize and hydrate the skin while their counterparts mattify by controlling excess oil and shine.
Most primers are safe and effective to use on all skin types, but you may want one that addresses your specific needs.
If you have normal, dry, or mature skin, you may benefit from a hydrating or radiant finish primer. Those with oily, combination, or acne-prone skin would be best served using a mattifying primer for its oil and shine control properties. Some may even want additional environmental, anti-aging, or UV protection, so it is important to read the ingredients and pay attention to the finish of the primer you choose.
Some ingredients to look for that promote hydration are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, and algae extract. For excess oil control, look for salicylic acid, witch hazel, and tea tree oil.
Face primers are typically water or silicone-based. It is best to use a primer that has the same base as your foundation, otherwise, they may be incompatible and potentially cause pilling or coagulation. Generally speaking, however, water-based primers work better on drier skin while silicone-based primers are more suited to oiler skin.
The best way to apply a facial primer is with a flat foundation brush or a damp makeup blender sponge. A little goes a long way, so after all skincare products are applied, start at the center of your face and blend outward. Then let the primer set for a minute or two before applying makeup.
Face primers are safe to use on and around the eyes, but there are primers specifically formulated for use only on the eyelids. Eye primers are designed for making eyeshadow adhere to lids longer without creasing while also providing a more vibrant color payoff. They tend to be thicker in consistency, not silicone-based, and packaged in smaller tubes (as they are used on a smaller area).
Those with oily eyelids would benefit most from using a separate eye primer.
Whether you are a primer novice or looking to up your beauty routine, a good face primer is one of the most noticeable ways to keep your makeup looking professional, polished, and flawless with minimal touch-ups from morning till night.
Here are 10 of the best-selling, highest-reviewed face primers on the market today at price points to fit any budget:
Skindinavia
The Makeup Primer Spray from Skindinavia provides lightweight and breathable total coverage for a flawless canvas base. The unique spray-on design disperses a micro-fine mist that completely covers the face without having to use a brush or sponge.
This vitamin-infused primer instantly evens the skin tone, reduces redness, regulates excess oil, and reduces the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, all while locking in moisture. Over time, the patented water-based formula will improve the quality of the skin. It’s also water-resistant to ensure makeup doesn’t shift, crease, or fade all day.
While this spray is suitable for all skin types, it does provide an extra boost of moisture to dry skin. The brand’s website claims that 83% of users say it’s the best primer they have ever used.
The formula is silicone-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic, plus it’s also available in an oil control formula. The brand is cruelty-free and vegan, to boot.
Too Faced
The Too Faced Hangover Primer is the perfect choice for dry and combination skin types. It’s infused with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients like coconut water, glycerin, and probiotics to help revive and boost radiance to the skin. While it hydrates this primer also smooths and nurtures the skin’s elasticity while locking makeup in place and extending its wear.
The lightweight formula doesn’t feel sticky and dries quickly. It can be worn alone or under makeup, and the formula is both clean and cruelty-free.
Tatcha
The Liquid Silk Canvas: Featherweight Protective Primer by Tatcha is a weightless, multi-tasking, oil-free liquid face primer that protects the skin while creating a flawless finish for better makeup application that lasts longer.
Nourishing silk extracts hydrate the skin and instantly diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines, and imperfections while silk powder allows makeup to glide on more evenly and stay put. The silk powder also minimizes excess shine and creates a soft-focus finish.
Botanicals form a protective barrier between makeup and skin, helping to minimize clogged pores. Natural active ingredients fight environmental stressors, support the skin’s barrier, and combat dullness. Finally, this primer uses pink and gold pearls to brighten and even the skin tone for a healthy-looking radiant complexion.
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer is an oil-free, all-day shine-controlling face primer that improves and extends makeup wear. Suitable for all skin types—especially those with combination to oily skin—this formula provides the ultimate fresh, clean slate that helps makeup blend better and last longer without fading or caking all day.
This white-tinted primer quickly melts (cast-free) into all skin tones and instantly smooths the look of pores and imperfections without feeling dry or tight. A unique blend of blue agave extract and blurring powders create a soft, cushiony finish with a filter-like blurring effect for a soft-focus canvas.
This 100% cruelty-free primer is also available in Hydrating and Instant Retouch finishes.
Charlotte Tilbury
Protect, hydrate, and prime your skin all at once with Charlotte Tilbury’s Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer. This formula protects with SPF 50 and botanical extracts that help neutralize external aggressors as it hydrates for up to 24 hours with hyaluronic acid for plumper, healthy-looking skin.
With airbrush polymers that reduce the appearance of pores and lines, this primer creates a soft-focus filter effect that’s perfect for applying makeup. The weightless formula also has a satin-smooth texture that instantly absorbs invisibly into the skin.
Supercharge, nourish, and condition the skin with this unique “Magic 8” mix of oils and actives. Enriched with vitamins C and E as well, the skin appears brighter and firmer while redness is reduced. This fragrance and cruelty-free find is suitable for all ages, skin types, and skin tones.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
e.l.f. Cosmetics provides a budget-friendly option for a skin-perfecting face primer with the Poreless Putty Primer. This velvet-textured balm seamlessly glides over the skin while minimizing the appearance of pores and imperfections to create a flawless canvas for makeup.
Perfect for all skin types, this formula uses squalane to lock moisture in and help grip makeup in place for all-day wear. It’s also available in Luminous (for a radiant glow) and Matte (for a shine-free complexion) formulations. All e.l.f. skincare products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free and are made without parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.
Benefit Cosmetics
The POREfessional Face Primer is a best-seller from Benefit Cosmetics that offers more than a catchy name. This pro balm face primer has a lightweight, silky texture that melts instantly into the skin to blur pores and soften fine lines with a soft-focus finish.
Although it’s tinted, this primer blends well and compliments all skin tones. It not only creates a super-smooth canvas for even makeup application that stays put all day, but also contains skincare ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter extract, and hyaluronic acid to protect, soothe, and hydrate the complexion.
This is a non-comedogenic primer and can be worn alone or under makeup. It’s available in hydrating and lightweight varieties as well.
Smashbox
Smashbox’s #1 best-selling product is the cult-favorite Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer, and for good reason. Not only does the lightweight, oil-free formula instantly blur pores and fine lines while extending the look and feel of makeup, but it also works to reduce shine by soaking up excess oil.
The silicone-based, clear gel glides onto the skin, leaving a smooth texture and photo-ready finish that keeps makeup intact all day. Vitamins A and E provide protection from environmental stressors, and it’s both vegan and cruelty-free.
Maybelline New York
Another budget-friendly option is the Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer from Maybelline New York. Give your face the perfect makeup base with this lightweight, breathable primer that instantly smooths skin and erases the appearance of pores.
A blend of silicones and polymers creates that baby-soft complexion with a matte finish that prolongs makeup wear. It’s non-comedogenic, suitable for all skin types, and can be worn alone or under makeup.
Giorgio Armani Beauty
The Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer from Giorgio Armani combines skincare and makeup in one product for improved makeup application, extended wear, and total comfort that lasts all day. It immediately enhances the complexion by boosting radiance and delivering hydration.
This lightweight, creamy formula is infused with shea butter, rice bran, and glycerin to glide on, melt in, and prep and smooth the skin’s surface for a professional quality makeup finish. It blurs imperfections while gripping makeup in place with a luminous finish, and is perfect for all skin types and tones.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
