Unlock the Secret to Flawless Makeup with the Ultimate Face Primers

While it’s no secret that a key to good makeup is good skin, what about when, despite healthy glowy skin, your makeup slides right off your face or starts to give a blotchy appearance? Prepping your skin before makeup is essential as it sets the smooth base. The question is how? Welcome face primers: used after skincare and before makeup, they even out the skin tone and texture for the smooth application of your foundation, concealer, highlighter, and so much more. 

It may seem one more way for brands to market their products but trust us, a good primer can seriously up your makeup game. Not only does it preps your face, but it also acts as a barrier to which other makeup products adhere too. They extend the wearing hours and give you the confidence to step out hassle-free without any second thoughts about your makeup melting away. Some primers are also loaded with powerful ingredients that they start looking like skin care. 

But choosing a primer that is right for your skin type is as challenging as finding a foundation or concealer. There are tons of face primers at every price point with different claims that makes a choice all more difficult. Some say to keep oil at bay while others promise the wearing time of makeup to uptown 24 hours – everything in between. To help you in this crazy market, we have researched and picked the best face primers for you to ensure a great makeup day. Read on to find out more about them.

Comparing Premium Face Primers 

Thank Me Later Elizabeth Mott Blurring Face Primer — Best Overall

This Thank Me Later Elizabeth Mott Blurring Face Primer has a huge fan following, and we’re not surprised why. It contains excellent ingredients that’ll make you want to thank us later for mentioning it. Curated with plant extracts and shea butter, it lives up to its claims of minimizing fine lines, wrinkles, and blurring pores. This pick is one step ahead and tones the uneven skin while protecting your face from harmful UVA and UVB rays.  

It smoothes out imperfections and leaves your makeup looking flawless and fresh for hours. The primer offers a velvety satin feel on the skin that is so soft to the touch that you yearn to do it again and again. Plus, it’s also cruelty-free, and Leaping Bunny certified. This timeless primer is suitable for all skin types and tones regardless of age, making this product the best overall on our list.

e.l.f Poreless Putty Face Primer —- Best Value

e.l.f is known for launching high-quality, affordable products, and this Putty Face Primer from its line is simply remarkable. It comes in four formulations; poreless, matte, luminous, and acne-fighting. With an impressive formulation range, it is easy to find one that suits your skin needs. The Poreless Putty Face Primer is infused with squalane to boost intense hydration and blurs pores for a flawless complexion. It’s translucent pale pink, but it goes on invisible when blended well. The texture of this creamy primer is so velvety that it glides smoothly onto the skin, creating an even pristine canvas. 

With such an unbeatable price, this pick has our hearts with its long-wearing feature that grips the makeup all day. It’s also cruelty-free, vegan, and clean. So if you have dehydrated, sensitive, or combination skin, this pick is ideal for you as it provides optimal hydration without making the skin feel all greasy and sweaty.

NYX Marshmallow Smoothing Face Primer — Best Drugstore

This NYX Professional Makeup Marshmallow Smoothing Primer is viral on Tiktok, thanks to beauty artists’ latest obsession, and we are happy to jump on this bandwagon too. This pick is famous for its smoothening properties, thanks to marshmallow root extract. Also, it claims 10-in-1 benefits and stands true to its promises. From hydrating to softening, soothing, and unifying skin tone, it does all. As if this was not enough, it also minimizes textures, blurs lines, delivers a soft matte finish, and creates a smooth canvas for your makeup looks.  

This vegan whipped cream-like formula ultimately feels soft on the skin. It is long-lasting and keeps the makeup fresh. It feels a little sticky on application but dries quickly and is suitable for all skin tones. This drugstore primer is hyped for all the right reasons and will be your new go-to primer for creating natural, flawless makeup looks. 

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Face Primer — Best for Dry Skin

If you’re on the market for a dewy finish primer, this Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Face Primer is for you. This classic primer contains blue agave, hemp cannabis seed extract, niacinamide, aloe water, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients provide an intense hydration dose and unify the skin tone for flawless makeup application. It also grips and locks your makeup for long hours without any complexities of fading or transferring. 

Its spray bottle comes in sleek packaging with an apparent greenish tint. But, it is entirely transparent and absorbs quickly into the skin. The gel texture feels cool on the face and offers a long-lasting finish. So if you are dry, dehydrated, or have a normal skin type, this primer will be your new best friend.

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer — Best for Oily Skin

This lightweight, breathable Maybelline New York Instant Pore Eraser Primer is a cult favorite. Its clear gel-liquid formula is fragrance-free and absorbs readily into the skin giving a matte radiant finish. This pick is non-comedogenic and blurs imperfections, literally like a pro.

Not only does this classic primer extend the wearing time of your makeup, but it also prevents it from transferring, giving you a smooth velvety finish all day long. It lives up to its claims of delivering skin that is smooth like a baby and blurs your pores. It’s completely scent-free. Also, being highly affordable, this drugstore primer will work wonders for your makeup.

Buying Guide: Face Primers

With so many makeup primers now available on the market, choosing one that checks all the boxes is hard. Fret not. We’re happy to help you navigate the world of the beauty market and will discuss all the factors you should consider. 

What to Look for 

Here are things you should consider when buying a face primer for yourself: 

Know about your skin

Before purchasing a face primer or any other makeup product, you need to be aware of your skin’s needs. Ask yourself questions about your skin type, concerns, and issues. Once you’ve identified the requirements, the next step is to search the market for a primer that suits your needs. For oily skin, look for labels like “oil-free” or “mortifying.” If it’s dry skin, primers with hydrating elements do wonders. Face primers are also ideal if there are any specific concerns. For example, instant pore erasers or pore minimizer works best for large pores. On the other hand, if dull skin is the issue, try opting for an illuminating primer that adds glow and sheer radiance to your skin. 

Finish 

Primers that offer a matte finish are good for oily skin. On the other hand, luminous, radiant, or dewy finish primers work well with dry to combination types of skin. If you have normal skin, look for ones that offer a natural finish as they add a glow to your skin and prep well for other makeup products. 

Tips to Apply Face Primer 

The art of mastering the application is the key to good makeup. Once you have your favorite primer in your hands, it’s time to divulge head-on learning all about it. Here let’s share a few tips that you can use to ensure creating a flawless canvas. 

• Wash your face thoroughly with your favorite regular cleanser or face wash.  
• Moisturize and wait for a few minutes to settle in. 
• Apply the sunscreen of your choice and let it settle. 
• Squeeze the primer on the back of your hand and use your fingers to warm the product. 
• Dab it all over on your face and gently rub it in. 
• Ensure no part of your face is left uncovered. 
• When done, wait a few minutes for your primer to absorb completely into your skin. 
• Apply foundation and other makeup products and blend them well. 

Frequently Asked Questions