The "best" makeup primer depends on your skin type and the finish you want. The e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is the top overall drugstore choice for locking makeup in place. For high-end, luxury, and targeted skin needs, other standout options perform best based on specific goals.
The Best Makeup Primers
The best makeup primer depends on your specific skin type and desired finish. Top universally acclaimed options include e.l.f. Cosmetics for the best budget-friendly grip, Benefit Cosmetics for blurring pores, and Armani Beauty for a luxurious, smoothing base.
Makeup artists customize their primers based on skin type and the desired finish, but several cult-favorites dominate professional kits. Top picks include Smashbox The Original Photo Finish for blurring pores, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer for long-lasting, water-resistant wear, and e.l.f. Power Grip Primer for a sticky base that locks makeup in place.
The best primers for rosacea are those that feature a sheer green tint to neutralize redness, are formulated with soothing ingredients (like niacinamide or ceramides), and are completely fragrance-free and oil-free to avoid triggering flare-ups.
Choose fragrance-free products, and avoid those that contain skin irritants such as alcohol, camphor, urea and menthol. Reduce facial symptoms with makeup. Some makeup products may help reduce the facial flushing common with rosacea. For example, green-tinted makeup can help cover up the red color.
The best makeup for mature skin with rosacea relies on hydrating, color-correcting, and fragrance-free formulas that neutralize redness without settling into fine lines. Look for lightweight CC creams, serum foundations, and mineral-based powders designed to soothe skin.
Depending on your beauty goals, the "#1" primer varies. The e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is the ultimate best-seller for gripping makeup. For premium smoothing, the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer or Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer are top-rated.
Tip 2: Use a makeup primer for mature skin
Primers help to even out the texture of skin and prevent makeup from sitting in fine lines and wrinkles, making for effortless makeup application and a smooth-looking finish. Primers infused with hydrating ingredients are best for older skin.
The best primer for older skin primarily focuses on deep hydration and blurring fine lines without feeling heavy. Excellent options include the luxurious Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (a hydrating moisturizer-primer hybrid), the smoothing Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, and the drugstore favorite L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer.
Top drugstore primers provide high-end results on a budget. For a sticky base that keeps makeup in place all day, the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer (approx. $11) is the ultimate favorite. For minimizing pores and mattifying, Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (approx. $8) and Rimmel Stay Matte Primer (approx. $7) are unbeatable classics.
The primer you should use will be influenced by your skin's needs and your makeup goals. For a smoothing and pore-blurring look, go for a silicone-based blurring primer. For long-wearing makeup, look for a grippy and tacky primer to keep your look locked in.
The best primer for flawless skin depends on your specific skin type and the finish you want. For a pore-blurring, velvety finish, try Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Primer ($36). For gripping power and hydration, the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer ($38) is a top choice.
The best primers for mature skin at Ulta focus on intense hydration, blurring fine lines, and providing a glowing finish rather than heavy mattification. The most highly recommended options vary depending on your specific needs:
Can you wear a primer without makeup? Again, primers can be used for a variety of reasons. You can use a pore minimizing primer to reduce the appearance of pores, but you can also use primers for oil control, hydration, or evening out the skin tone—so yes, you can absolutely wear a primer without wearing makeup.
The best primer for over 50 is the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer. This highly rated drugstore option is specifically formulated for mature skin. It smooths fine lines and blurs pores with a soft-focus effect and is infused with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and vitamin E.
Wrinkle filler primers are smoothing makeup bases formulated with silicones or optical blurring microspheres. They temporarily "fill" crevices and scatter light, preventing foundation from settling into lines while creating a flawless canvas.
Always apply moisturizer first, let it absorb for 1-2 minutes, and then apply your primer.
Quality Foundations Don't Always Require a Base – Many foundations are formulated for long wear on their own. Less Product, More Breathability – Skipping primer means fewer layers, allowing the skin to breathe. Instead of primer, I focus on proper skincare and product layering for long-lasting, flawless makeup!
Using Too Little Or Too Much Product
Using too little primer may not deliver the long lasting power you desire, while using too much primer may cause foundation to slide instead of staying put on your skin.
Always apply primer before foundation. Think of primer as the bridge between your skincare and makeup. It preps the canvas by smoothing texture, minimizing pores, and helping your foundation grip the skin so it lasts longer.
The best face primer depends entirely on your skin type and the finish you want to achieve. Top picks include the e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer for long-lasting wear, Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base for dry or mature skin, and Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer to minimize pores.
The best makeup primer depends on your specific skin type and desired finish. Top universally acclaimed options include e.l.f. Cosmetics for the best budget-friendly grip, Benefit Cosmetics for blurring pores, and Armani Beauty for a luxurious, smoothing base.
Taking the extra step to prep with one of the best primers for mature skin before getting glam can make a big, hydrating difference. If you're not already a self-identified primer lover, these formulas do way more than help your makeup last all day—they also promote plumper skin, soften fine lines, and boost glow.