Enjoy Long-Lasting Makeup With the Best Face Primer

1. e.l.f. Blemish Control Face Primer

This face primer is infused with salicylic acid, vitamin E, and tea tree to help fight and control breakouts while prepping skin for long-lasting makeup. Apply to clean skin, allow 30 seconds for the primer to set, and follow up with your favorite acne-fighting foundation.

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2. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

This replenishing face primer is your instant cure for tired, lackluster skin. It hydrates, smooths, and brightens skin for a dewy, healthy-looking finish. Enjoy all the skin benefits of an eight-hour sleep in a cute and compact bottle. 

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3. Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer

This is a silicon and oil-free, semi-transparent gel primer with a cooling effect that reduces redness, perfectly prepping your skin for flawless makeup. Paeonia albiflora flower and pseudanabaena galeata extracts improve elasticity and texture, while sodium hyaluronate provides serious moisture.

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4. The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer

The Ordinary’s High-Adherence mattifying primer is a lightweight cream that uses advanced adaptive silicones to hydrate and blur. This product reduces the look of pores and imperfections and keeps makeup looking flawless for longer — enjoy your makeup look from morning to night. 

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5. e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer

This skin-perfecting poreless putty primer is infused with squalane to grip makeup for all-day wear and protect skin from moisture loss. The velvety texture glides on effortlessly and smoothes out imperfections for picture-perfect skin.

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6. Saie Glowy Super Gel Illuminating Primer

Welcome to the most glowy, lightweight luminizer that feels like nothing and looks like everything. You can wear this gel primer alone, under your makeup, or mixed with your foundation or tinted SPF for smooth, hydrated skin and long-lasting wear. 

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7. Youthforia Pregame Primer

This protective primer is unlike any other — it’ll quickly become your everyday ritual for hydrated, radiant skin. The emollient formula holds makeup in place and stops moisture from escaping, providing insurance for your luxurious skincare. It has a soft-radiant finish that glides on like silk and sinks like quicksand for a featherweight feel. Plus, it offers protection against modern pollution and irritation-laden makeup formulas.

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8. JUNO & Co Moonshine Hydrating Primer

This luxurious, hydrating, 2-in-1 primer offers moisturizing benefits for all skin types. Infused with 3% avocado oil and hyaluronic acid, this blur primer nourishes skin and erases imperfections while providing a light, breathable barrier for 12 hours or more. Enjoy makeup that lasts longer and visibly smoother skin.

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9. RMS Beauty Re Evolve Radiance Locking Primer

With its radiant, pearlescent finish, this gel-textured primer seals in skincare products, smoothes skin’s surface, and prolongs makeup while creating a natural glowing radiance. The formula contains tightenyl, a natural retinol-alternative known to firm, tone, and smooth skin. You’ll also benefit from vegetable squalane (a moisture-rich, plant-based ingredient that balances oil production while improving skin elasticity) and eggplant fruit extract (which helps improve the skin’s protective barrier).

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10. Yensa Tone Up Primer Essential Glow

Yensa’s Tone Up primer is the perfect first step to achieving a superfood glow. Infused with eight super-powered, skin-loving ingredients, this tinted primer minimizes the appearance of large pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. Plus, the lightweight satin-sheen formula creates an invisible skin-perfecting finish. Wear it alone or under makeup — either way, your skin will thank you. 

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FAQ

What are the best face primers?

While the primers listed above are some of the best on the market, in the end, the best face primer for you depends on your skin type and beauty routine. 

If you’re trying to speed up your morning makeup application, a primer with tint protects your skin and offers light coverage. Primers without fragrance or oils are the best face primers for acne-prone skin, while the best face primers for combination skin and oily skin have a matte finish that controls shine without drying your face. 

We recommend determining your skin type, skin tone, and beauty routine needs before purchasing, but rest assured — there’s a makeup primer out there for you. 

What’s the best face primer for mature skin?

Fine lines and wrinkles are definitely something to consider when making any skincare purchase. For aging skin, makeup often settles into these lines — primers are a great solution to this frustration. 

The best face primer for mature skin minimizes wrinkles and creates a smooth canvas for makeup application. Using a moisturizing primer is also beneficial, as your skin needs extra hydration as it ages. 

Some people’s skin becomes more sensitive as they age. If you’re in that boat, look for gentler skin care products. The best face primers for sensitive skin won’t contain fragrance, sulfates, or essential oils that might irritate (like mint, citrus, and lemongrass).

Are primers good for your skin?

Primers are good (and important) for your skin for a couple reasons. First, primer creates a protective barrier between your skin and makeup, reducing the risk of clogging pores with foundation and other beauty products. Second, primers allow your skin to soak in much-needed hydration and other ingredients that make it healthier and smoother. Primer essentially enables you to reap skincare benefits all day long. 

But your skin will only reap these benefits if you use a suitable primer for your unique skin type and texture. To find out which primer will work best for you, check out product reviews on Flip. Our creators have a wide range of skin types, “trouble spots,” and beauty goals, so it’s easy to find someone whose primer needs match yours.