As with many things in life, good makeup typically starts with a good foundation . And by foundation, we mean what you put on your skin as part of your routine before even getting to your actual base makeup — like your serum, moisturizer, and, most importantly, primer. It ensures everything that follows goes on smoothly and stays there, so you don't end up wasting all of that time applying your powder, blush, bronzer, and highlighter.
Makeup primers are what makeup artists and beauty influencers alike rely on to smooth uneven texture , keep excessive oil at bay, and keep makeup products from creasing. They come in a variety of finishes, from matte to dewy, and are often packed with skin-loving ingredients that help improve your skin while you wear them. Some face primers even contain a light tint so you can wear them without makeup altogether.
Whether you want a mattifying primer to keep your skin looking fresh or a luminizing primer to attain that dewy glow, read on for professional makeup artists and beauty editors to reveal their go-to makeup primers. Best Makeup Primer Overall Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer ($38) "Not only has this makeup primer gone viral on social media countless times, but it's loved by makeup artists, celebs, and beauty editors alike. It has a radiant finish, and is made with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
If you want your makeup to stay on your face all night long, this is the product for you." — Renee Rodriguez, staff writer and social producer Best Smoothing Makeup Primer Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer ($54) "The Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer is quite unique; it comes in a pot instead of a bottle. The formula is a thick, balm-like consistency, and you use a small disk to scrape your desired amount out of the pot.
What first captured my attention was the incredible scent — the floral notes are pretty enough to be a perfume. The velvety consistency melts into your face the moment you apply it; it's hydrating and sleek without feeling greasy. Even before I apply my foundation, I can see a huge improvement in my complexion.
" — — Macy Williams, former senior editor, shop Best Primer For Oily Skin Lancome La Base Pro Perfecting Makeup Primer ($45) "Lancome La Base Pro Perfecting Makeup Primer is really amazing for people with large, oily pores and has the most divine silky finish. Use an Artis Oval 6 Brush to apply and smooth it over the T-zone along with the center and apple of your cheeks." — Kelli J.
Bartlett , director of artistry at Glamsquad Best Roll-On Makeup Primer Refy Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer ($34) "If you're a dry skin girlie like me, you're going to want to invest in the Refy Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer . Not only does it deliver on its promise to keep my makeup in place all night long, but it's ultra hydrating and doesn't irritate my acne-prone skin. It's a primer/serum hybrid, and I'm obsessed with the way you apply it via a facial roller.
" — RR Best Eyeshadow Primer Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion ($24) "When it comes to eyes, I always turn to Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion. It neutralizes any discoloration on the lids, giving me a perfect canvas to start with and serving as a base layer that allows for easier blending of those layers that follow. It also adds more dimension, which makes eyes appear bigger.
" — Stephanie Flor , makeup artist Best Redness-Reducing Makeup Primer Pop Beauty Face Magnet Primer ($10) "As a pale girl, the red tones in my face always manage to show through my makeup a few hours into the day, but this Pop Beauty Face Magnet Primer is amazing. I apply this before my foundation, and my skin remains neutral all day long. The key ingredient in the formula is licorice root, which is known to eliminate redness with its soothing properties.
The formula is not sticky or gooey; it seamlessly blends into my skin, almost like a lotion. My makeup truly stays on all day long — I never have to do any touch-ups." — MW Best Dewy Makeup Primer Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer ($55) "This Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer gives a really subtle warmth and glow to the skin without making you looking like you have a face full of sparkle or like you've just applied a ton of bronzer.
I'm personally sensitive to the feel of makeup on my skin, but this is weightless and very comfortable. I particularly like it on dull or sallow skin that needs an extra boost of radiance." — Jenny Patinkin , celebrity makeup artist My New CC+ Cream Hydrates Like a Serum but Covers Like a Foundation Best Makeup Primer For Acne-Prone Skin Mehron Skin Prep Pro ($16) "Especially great for those with acne-prone skin, Mehron Skin Prep Pro keeps any oil from breaking through and down your makeup, as well as helps mattify the skin.
Be sure to apply by the hairline to protect your makeup from your hair products." — Merrell Hollis , makeup artist Best Makeup Primer For All Skin Types Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($58) "Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is the best all-around multipurpose primer for dry, oily, or combination skin. It has a high mineral content, which creates a barrier on the skin and is good for anyone with oily skin who has issues with makeup slipping and sliding.
It's also good for anyone with dry, thirsty skin who finds that makeup absorbs or fades over the course of the day." — JP Best Illuminating Makeup Primer Erborian Glow Crème Illuminating Primer ($42) "I have been obsessed with using Erborian Glow Crème Illuminating Primer as a primer lately because it has so many benefits. Perhaps most notable is its ability to leave skin ultra supple and hydrated and its sheer, built-in luminizer, which helps reflect light and gives skin a beautiful glow.
" — Neil Scibelli , makeup artist Best Mattifying Makeup Primer Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer Pore Minimizer ($41) "Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer Pore Minimizer helps to mattify skin and minimize excessive oil for keeping shine at bay. It also works as a filler for a smooth, even texture — it works wonders on large pores and those deep forehead lines." — KB Best Pore-Refining Makeup Primer Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner Cream ($26) "Choosing a mattifying primer is a must for oily skin types and addressing the T-zone problem, and Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner Cream is hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and noncomedogenic.
Massage it into the face right before applying foundation and see the product quickly absorb, tighten pores, and refine skin texture for smooth makeup base results without greasiness. Bonus: it can help limit blemishes for acne-prone skin types." — Francesca Roman , master makeup artist at the Butterfly Studio Salon in NYC Best Hydrating Makeup Primer Benefit The Porefessional Hydrate Face Primer ($35) "My skin freaks out as soon as the cold weather arrives.
It gets dry and flaky, which makes for a cakey disaster when applying foundation. The Benefit The Porefessional Hydrate Face Primer quenches my skin but doesn't leave a greasy, slippery film behind like many other primers do. It absorbs into my face rather than sitting atop it.
I also love that it feels refreshing, as if I'm putting on a face cream. Once I add foundation, it blends right in seamlessly; there's no problem with different formulas being layered over each other." — MW Best Viral Makeup Primer E.
l.f. Cosmetics Luminous Putty Primer ($10) "I feel the combo-skin struggle: sometimes it feels like we can never have something that works for our fussy skin, but the E.
l.f. Cosmetics Luminous Putty Primer is the game changer you've been waiting for.
It hydrates and plumps using a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen that doesn't clog pores or make your skin look greasy halfway through the day." — Samantha Sasso, editor, branded content A Guide to the Best Dyson Hair Tools, According to Our Editors Best Drugstore Makeup Primer Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer ($7) "The clear formula of the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer is very breathable, so you don't feel it on your skin all day. It blurs pores and gives your face a matte finish perfect for applying makeup.
You simply apply it with your fingertips, and you're ready for foundation." — MW — Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez Kristin Granero is a contributing editor for PS Beauty. Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for PS.
She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts..
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