11 Best Primers for a Flawless Makeup Look
Updated: Dec. 01, 2022Consider face primer your secret weapon for longer-lasting makeup and a smooth complexion.
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The key to flawless makeup
We’ve all been there: A few hours after putting on a face full of makeup, we catch a glimpse of ourselves in a mirror and discover our formally flawless face is flaky, cakey, and smeared. It’s certainly less than ideal. After all, if you’ve gone to the trouble of learning how to apply foundation, the last thing you want is for it to look cakey or to slide right off your skin. That’s where primer comes in. The best primer can seriously change your makeup game.
Applying this miracle product before you put on one of the best foundations and best concealers can ensure your makeup glides on smoothly and stays put. “Primer can help even out the texture of your skin, control oil or dryness, and help makeup grip to the skin so it lasts all day,” says Jamie Greenberg, a Los Angeles–based celebrity makeup artist. Sounds pretty great, right?
You can wear primer every day under your makeup, but you may not need to. “I do not think a traditional primer is necessary for everyday use. If your skin is hydrated, exfoliated, and your products are packed with nourishing, skin-loving ingredients, then you most likely will not need one because your products will sit well on the skin,” says Stevie Rose, a professional makeup artist and the director of education for beauty brand Saie. “With that said, I definitely do recommend a primer for special occasions where you have more time to spend on your routine and you need your makeup to last longer.”
Tips for applying primer
Before you can apply primer, you need to find the best primer for your skin. “Look for one that addresses your skin issues,” says Beck Wainner, a celebrity makeup artist in Nashville. “If you’re oily in the T–zone, you may look for a mattifying primer. Or there are options that can address large pores, textured skin, and redness.”
So, what’s the best way to apply it? You’ll want to smooth primer onto your skin after your normal skin care routine but before you apply face makeup,” says Manuel Espinoza, a makeup artist with StyleSeat, a website for booking a local makeup artist. You need about a dime-sized amount for your entire face and can either use your fingers or a makeup sponge to spread it.
Armed with that info, you’re now ready for the fun part: shopping. Whether you like to buy products one at a time or make a big list for savings events (we’re looking at you, spring Sephora sale), a primer is definitely something worth adding to your cart. We’ve done the hard work for you, consulting with top makeup artists and sorting through hundreds of products to find the ones with lots of five-star ratings and amazing user reviews. Scroll through to check out the best primers on the market.
The best primer for you
Best overall: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer
Best multitasker: MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Primer and Setting Spray
Best for blurring pores: Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer
Best value: Elf Hydrating Face Primer
Best for oily skin: It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better Makeup Primer+
Best for staying power: Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer
Best lightweight formula: Tatcha the Liquid Silk Canvas Featherweight Protective Primer
Best editor-tested: Elf Poreless Putty Primer
Best dewy finish: Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter
Best matte finish: Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Face Primer
Best for dry skin: Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Hydrating
Best overall
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer
Who doesn’t want makeup tips from professionals? Well, Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer was recommended to us by multiple makeup artists. “It’s one of my absolute favorites,” says Wainner. “It helps your skin look smoother while gripping the makeup you put on for a long-wear finish.” The gel formula goes on smoothly and contains hyaluronic acid to infuse moisture into the skin.
Pros
What we like about the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer
- Long-lasting finish
- Hydrates skin
- Smooth, gel formula
- Vegan
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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Slightly sticky feel until it dries
Best multitasker
MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Primer and Setting Spray
Nothing beats a two-in-one product. Spritz on MAC’s Prep and Prime Fix+ before applying makeup to prime skin. Then, once you finish putting the rest of your products on, give your face another mist to set your makeup.
“I love this for hot days,” says Sara Lau, a makeup artist in Vancouver, Canada. The reason: It helps keep your makeup pristine, even if you sweat. Just make sure you apply sweatproof makeup on top of it. Here’s another trick: To apply spray formulas, hold the bottle a foot away from your face and spritz evenly.
Pros
What we like about the MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Primer and Setting Spray
- Can be used as a primer and setting spray
- Adds a dewy finish
- Lightweight
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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Spray formulas sometimes take a bit longer to dry
Best for blurring pores
Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer
This gel formula from Selena Gomez’s beauty line is lightweight enough that it doesn’t feel heavy when it goes on but substantial enough to make large pores invisible. “It’s hydrating and works to blur the signs of pores and fine lines,” says Espinoza, who counts this product as one of his favorites. “It also includes key ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and vitamin E, that all work to soothe, hydrate, and protect your skin.”
Pro tip: To keep your complexion looking flawless, dust your face with one of the best setting powders after you finish applying your foundation and concealer.
Pros
What we like about the Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer
- Diminishes the appearance of pores
- Matte finish
- Hydrating formula
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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The pump only dispenses a little at a time, so you may need multiple pumps
Best value
Elf Hydrating Face Primer
Great makeup doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. From moisturizers with SPF to the best makeup brushes, there are plenty of affordable products out there—and the same is true when it comes to finding the best primer. Enter Elf Hydrating Face Primer. This hydrating option has over 12,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. Verified reviewer, Lacy, says she likes that “when you apply your foundation over it, you can see how much smoother [your skin] is.” As an added bonus, the primer contains vitamins A, C, and E.
Pros
What we like about the Elf Hydrating Face Primer
- Affordable price point
- Designed with all skin types in mind
- Hydrating
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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Takes a few minutes to completely dry on your skin
Best for oily skin
It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better Makeup Primer+
If your skin produces a lot of oil, you’ve probably spent lots of time looking for things like the best foundations for oily skin and the best moisturizers for oily skin. Since adding more oil is a no-go, this It Cosmetics oil-free primer is an ideal pick. But just because it’s oil-free doesn’t mean it won’t hydrate your skin—which is a good thing. See, when your skin is oily and you deprive it of moisture, your oil glands will produce even more oil to make up for it.
With nearly 300 five-star reviews on Sephora, you really can’t go wrong with this one. One oily-skinned reviewer even noted that it helped blur her acne scars.
Pros
What we like about the It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better Makeup Primer+
- Oil-free
- Reduces the appearance of dry patches and uneven texture
- Contains glycerin to moisturize
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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On the pricier side
Best for staying power
Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer
Both professionals and reviewers love Dior’s Backstage primer, which can also be used on your body to smooth the look of pores and wrinkles. “It’s used backstage at fashion shows because it’s been tried and tested to keep makeup looking good for long periods of time and in stressful environments,” says Lau. “It also keeps your skin looking smooth, blurred, hydrated, and natural.”
Most of the five-star reviewers praise how long it makes their makeup last, with one saying that her makeup doesn’t “roll off” when she uses it. And as long as you know how to apply concealer, you won’t have to worry about blemishes and dark circles becoming visible during the day.
Pros
What we like about the Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer
- Helps makeup last longer
- Blurs imperfections
- Used by the pros
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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Small bottle spout can be frustrating
Best lightweight formula
Tatcha the Liquid Silk Canvas Featherweight Protective Primer
“This liquid primer is weightless,” says Espinoza. “But that’s not all. It’s made with a unique blend of botanical extracts that works to prevent breakouts and helps skin look luminous.” Made with silk powder, Tatcha’s Liquid Silk Canvas feels light and airy on the face. Best of all, Tatcha is a clean beauty brand, so you know the products are free of bad-for-you ingredients.
Pros
What we like about Tatcha the Liquid Silk Canvas Featherweight Protective Primer
- Feels light on your skin
- Reduces the appearance of redness and dullness
- Clean beauty brand
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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One of the more expensive primers
Best dewy finish
Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter
“Personally, I prefer a more natural, radiant look, so I stay away from mattifying primers that over-absorb oil and dull the complexion,” says Rose. “So I always look for something that’s lightweight, hydrating, and that provides me with that glassy skin effect that I love so much.”
To achieve that “glassy skin effect,” the Saie Glowy Super Gel Highlighter gets the job done—and can be used in many ways, so you really get a good bang for your buck. Made from 75 percent water, it goes on before your makeup to give you a dewy look and help products last longer. It also acts as a highlighter when dabbed onto cheekbones, making them pop after applying the best blush for your skin tone.
Pros
What we like about the Saie Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter
- Vitamin-rich ingredients give skin a dewy finish
- Can also be used as a highlighter
- Free of silicones
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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Comes in two shades, which will work for most but not all
Best editor-tested
Elf Poreless Putty Primer
An Internet favorite, Elf Poreless Putty Primer wins for its affordable price point and full coverage protection. It boasts an impressive 26,000 ratings on Amazon, so we put this primer to the test to see how it holds up to sweat, wind, and all-day wear. Upon first use, we’re impressed with how smoothly it glides onto skin and mixes with full-coverage foundation, bronzer, and blush. But what keeps us coming back is the long-lasting formula that protects makeup from becoming an oily mess due to sweat and all-day wear. Plus, it contains squalene, making it feel more like skin care than makeup.
Pros
What we like about Elf Poreless Putty Primer:
- Silky, smooth texture and finish
- Reduces the appearance of pores
- Contains squalene for optimal hydration
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy:
- Just like a moisturizer, this primer needs to be thoroughly rubbed into skin for best results
Best matte finish
Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Face Primer
Whether your skin has a tendency to get greasy as the day goes on or you prefer a more velvety complexion, Smashbox’s Photo Finish Control Mattifying Primer is definitely worth your consideration. It contains zinc and salicylic acid to mop up oil and has over 250 five-star reviews on Sephora. One reviewer even noted she wears it on days she doesn’t put on foundation to give her bare skin a matte look.
Pros
What we like about the Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Face Primer
- Gives skin a matte finish
- Oil-absorbing
- Helps makeup last longer
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
- May be too mattifying for those with dry skin
- Salicylic acid may irritate skin that’s prone to redness
Best for dry skin
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating
Sure, Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Primer does all the things you want a primer to do—smooths skin, keeps makeup from wearing off, and evens out skin texture—but it also hydrates the heck out of your complexion. It contains olive extract to lock in the hydration your skin already has and glycerin to infuse even more moisture into your face.
Several of the nearly 900 five-star reviewers note how silky their dry skin felt after using it. Keep the well-hydrated look going by topping the primer with one of the best foundations for dry skin.
Pros
What we like about the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating
- Creamy, sulfate-free formula
- Moisturizes skin
- Long-lasting finish
Cons
Consider these factors before you buy
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Slightly thicker formula can feel tacky until it dries
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Sources:
- Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles
- Stevie Rose, professional makeup artist and director of education for Saie
- Beck Wainner, celebrity makeup artist in Nashville
- Manuel Espinoza, makeup artist with StyleSeat
- Sara Lau, makeup artist in Vancouver, Canada
