The Best Makeup Primers for Different Skin Types
The best makeup application starts with preparing the skin. After cleansing and moisturizing, using a primer helps foundation and other makeup go on smoothly and last all day. Although many people choose to skip this step, it makes a difference. Makeup primers offer a protective barrier between other products and the skin and give the makeup something to adhere to, ensuring that foundation looks seamlessly blended and not caked on.
Moreover, primer can affect the overall finish of your makeup look. For those who want a velvety finish, a mattifying primer will help keep any shininess at bay. If you embrace the dewy look, however, a hydrating primer will help enhance your natural glow. There are also primers that will simply help balance the complexion, allowing you to create any kind of look.
While the options are endless, they aren't all created equally, and products will work differently for everyone. This is the beauty and essence of makeup. The trick is to find the best primer for your skin type to optimize its performance and help your makeup stay put. Those with dry skin will want a formula that hydrates and plumps, while a primer with a filling effect will help lessen the appearance of those with fine lines and wrinkles. Whether you have oily, dull, dry, sensitive or againg skin, rest assured there is definitely a primer made just for you. Here, discover what primer may work best according to your skin type.
For Oily Skin: Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer
Containing vitamins A & E, this clear primer gel reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores while smoothing skin, correcting dullness and uneven texture, and reducing shine. It's a standby for many thanks to its longwear formula that keeps makeup looking fresh all day.
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Primer, $37, Sephora.
For Dull Skin: Gucci Priming Serum
Gucci’s new primer is a non-sticky, serum-based primer that plumps the skin while giving a soft glow effect. Formulated to act like a second-skin, this product is particularly helpful for giving dull skin a hydrated glow.
Gucci Silk Priming Serum, $59, Gucci.
For Dry Skin: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
This primer delivers moisture-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe water, and powerful antioxidants that visibly hydrate dry skin. It provides a healthier-looking base and dewy finish set to last up to 12-hours post-application.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, $32, Milk.
For Sensitive Skin: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
If you have sensitive and blemish-prone skin, this primer is for you. With SPF 15, this mineral-derived primer offers sun protection while concealing redness and minimizing the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. Plus, it has a truly weightless feel, so you'll never get that cakey feel.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, $54, Ulta.
For Aging Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Primer
The Mother of Makeup formulated a water-based primer that contains a microsphere cosmetic powder that fills in wrinkles and fine lines, correcting their appearance by diffusing light. Additionally, the added hyaluronic acid helps preserve elasticity and tone, supporting youthful-looking skin.
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Primer, $45, Sephora.
For Combination Skin: Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas Primer
Tatcha’s primer leaves the skin feeling smooth as silk, hence the name. It also happens to be the not-so-secret ingredient that helps diminish the look of pores and other imperfections. This versatile, clean beauty option is a great for combination skin thanks to its blurring effect that balances the complexion.
Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas Primer, $52, Sephora.
For Uneven Skintones: Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer
Those who are prone to redness and uneven skintones will like this primer because it can also hide any splotchiness that may come up on other parts of the body, like the décolletage, giving an all-over air brushed finish.
Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer, $36, Sephora
