These Face Primers Will Make Your Foundation Look Better

• Smoothing

• Pricey

For a face that’s so soft you could just touch it for hours, this cult-favorite primer from Tatcha is your best bet. It blurs out pores and protects the skin from breakouts with a combination of silk and natural extracts.

Size: 0.7 fl. oz.

Sephora rating: 4.1/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “I never thought I would ever love anything under my foundation, but this just blew me away. It is just an amazing product. Even though it was released quite a few years back, this is a hidden gem. Great for dry to combo skin.”

• Hydrating

• Can pill

Sweat, humidity, and the daily wear and tear of regular life can all break down your makeup look throughout the day. This primer makes sure that after you apply your base, it won’t budge an inch.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Sephora rating: 4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “This is the best hydro primer for dry skin; I tried the dupe but it does not compare! If your skin is dry, this one is a must.”

• Beautiful glow

• Some dislike how glittery it is

If your goal is healthy-looking, luminous skin, this primer can get it done. It doubles as a highlighter, but underneath makeup, it will allow your skin to look radiant, dewy, and beautiful.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Shades: 4

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “Honesty a great product! Leaves my skin super glowy, super lightweight, and didn’t cause any breakouts! Definitely recommend."

• Affordable

• Not much product

People with dry skin know that getting makeup to look perfectly dewy all day can be a struggle. This primer contains vitamins C, A, and E for a brightened, hydrated, and overall glowier finish.

Size: 0.47 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Wonderful for everyday use. I work daily and this is my go-to! Affordable and works.”

• Multiple benefits

• Some dislike the tint

This primer is so beautiful that you can wear it alone, and your skin will still look flawless. It blurs, leaves your makeup looking fresh for hours, and smooths out imperfections. Behind the scenes, the ingredients also help treat hyperpigmentation while you wear it.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Keeps my makeup in place for a good eight hours. I get a really oily T-zone, so I use this in conjunction with powder and finishing spray as well, then blot throughout the day. I really like the texture on my skin. It’s very soft and light and creates a nice base for makeup.”

• Has skin care benefits

• Pricey

Why mess with a classic? Bobbi Brown’s priming moisturizer has been on the market for decades, and it’s still a bestseller for good reason. Not only does it include skin-loving ingredients like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, but it also helps your makeup go on smoother and last longer.

Size: 1.7 fl. oz.

Nordstrom rating: 4.8/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I have sensitive skin and always had problems with makeup until I tried Bobbi Brown. For years, I lived in Texas and my skin suffered from the extremes of hot and cold weather, but this product always made my skin feel softer and ready for makeup. I now live in a more moderate climate and still start every day with it. Love the fragrance, the texture, and especially the results."

• Immediately blurs pores

• May not be ideal for very sensitive skin

This drugstore primer went viral last year after TikTokers posted stunning before-and-after photos using the product. As soon as it goes on, it blurs pores and creates a smooth, matte canvas for applying makeup. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid also help your skin look its best even after you’ve washed off the day.

Size: 2.4 oz.

Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I absolutely love this primer. It smells great and is so soft. The feel is cool on the skin. I’ve used a lot of pricier primers for years. It definitely smoothes and soothes my skin. I wear it with foundation and my skin glows all day. A makeup must-have. I’m 48, and it doesn’t crease.”

• Long-lasting glow

• May not be suited for oily skin

MAC’s priming products are fan favorites, since they help your skin look better both with and without makeup. Packed with hyaluronic acid, this primer will add a gorgeous glow to the skin that’s visible even after a full day of wear.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Nordstrom rating: 4.8/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is my new favorite primer. I love how hydrated my skin feels and the canvas it provides for my makeup.’

• Blurring

• Some dislike the scent

A perfectly smooth base will trick anyone into thinking your skin is flawless. With antioxidants and line-filling technology, you’ll barely notice your pores or wrinkles when you have this primer on.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “This is the only thing that kept my fine lines from showing under makeup!”

• Adds a glow

• Pricey

There’s a reason why this product is selling so quickly. While it looks like a foundation, it’s actually a subtly tinted primer that adds a healthy amount of glow to the skin. You can also use it as a highlighter on top of your makeup, or mix it in with your favorite foundation for a dewier look.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Shades: 12

Sephora rating: 4.3/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “Perfect for days when you want to look naturally radiant!”

• Blurring

• Pricey for the size

One of the most popular primers on the market is still the most effective. This product makes pores look nearly invisible when you apply it. It has a matte finish, but still feels comfortable on the skin, and results in a blurred out, super-smooth look.

Size: 0.75 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “I love the smooth look and feel of this product. I wear it both alone or under my foundation.”

• Glowing

• Some dislike the pump

If you’re a skin care junkie, this product is just as much a skin care product as it is a makeup primer. Not only does it make sure your base looks blurred and smoothed out during the day, but while it sits on your skin, it targets inflammation, redness, and dehydration for skin that looks great with or without makeup.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Shades: 4

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Love this. Not sure how I lived without it.”

• Very hydrating

With niacinamide and shea butter, this primer gives intense hydration to dry skin, without clogging pores. Its goal is to give the gift of radiant skin, even when you’re not wearing makeup.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Sephora rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “This is a pretty sold primer. I really liked the packaging of the product and how easy it was to get the primer out. It made my skin really soft and moisturized. I have sensitive skin, and this primer worked well with my skin. I can see myself buying this product in the future.”

• Good for mature skin

• Pricey

You don’t need to apply multiple layers of foundation to mask redness when your primer does half the job. This vegan, mineral-rich formula makes sure your glam really lasts.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “This primer is my holy grail! Yes it is pricey, but I’ve tried many other primers on my maturing skin, and they either cause a reaction/breakouts or makeup doesn’t apply well/rolls on top of it. I have given up trying other brands and will stick with Hourglass that always makes my skin feel soft, smooth, and hydrated. I get a lot of compliments on my natural skin (no fillers or injectables), and this is one of my secrets!”

• Affordable

• Some wish it was more hydrating

If your foundation ends up setting in your laugh lines by the end of the day, this primer will make sure that never happens again. By filling in those lines before you apply your base, you can be sure that when it’s time for your nighttime routine, your foundation will still be in place.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Long-lasting foundations need a good primer base to prevent caking. This product does that. The foundation glides over but is locked in for all-day stay. This primer provides the functionality of higher-end primers for a fraction of the cost.”

• Keeps makeup in place

• Can pill

When dancing is in the cards on a night out, you need a primer that will make sure a bit of sweat won’t melt your makeup off. This primer fills in fine lines, hydrates, and makes sure your foundation will last from morning till night—or the other way around.

Size: 1 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “I’ve tried many brands and types of primers, and I always come back to Urban Decay All-Nighter. It’s always been consistent and delivers results!”

“Primers prep your skin to receive makeup, depending on the primer formula they can add moisture, smooth texture, control oil, and, in some instances, brighten skin,” says Davis. They should be used after your skin care, right before makeup. “Face primers are best used or applied after moisturizer and are the last step before you apply all types of foundation.”

Like skin care, finding the right primer means figuring out what your beauty goals are. “Most primers can be mixed or layered, so creating your own primer cocktails helps you customize and create your prefect skin finish,” says Davis. There are primers that work to control oiliness, add a glow, or brighten dull skin. They can even treat skin care concerns. “Primers that double as skin care work double duty to prefect skin immediately and over time.”

You don’t need to be a makeup artist in training to get a lot out of primers. “Primers really add to any makeup look⁠—they prep skin so your skin and the makeup you apply look better longer,” says Davis. “Face primers are best applied with the fingers, similar to moisturizers. Feeling how much and where the primers are going cuts down on overuse.”