News Flash: Face Primers Actually Make A Big Difference In Your Makeup (2024)

"This moisturizer and face primer in one absorbs quickly into the skin and looks great under almost every foundation," says makeup artistGisela Fernandez. "Niacinamide plumps the skin while hyaluronic acid delivers long-lasting hydration. This amazing product prevents foundation from settling into fine lines, dry patches, and pores."

This tan lotion has a ton of light-reflecting mica particles, giving you a radiant complexion the second you swipe it on. It also has slight blurring properties, so you can use it alone if you prefer a no-makeup makeup look, too.

"I love the Becca Priming Filter," says makeup artistTobi Henney. "It gives my clients the most gorgeous glow to their skin." This priming lotion ispacked with light-reflecting particles that make your skin glow—but is completely formulated without skin-irritating parabens, pthalates, and sulfates.

It primes your skin, it sets your makeup, and it refreshes your look throughout the day... Is there anything this spray can't do? Before use, just make sure you give it a good shake to incorporate the tiny shimmer flakes into the hydrating base.

"For my oily skin, I love using this primer from Benefit because I can actually see my pores disappearing as I’m applying it," says makeup artistAnum Siraj. "It’s also extremely lightweight, so I don’t feel any extra heaviness on my face before adding my foundation." It also helps you look matte (not greasy) all day long.

Get an Instagram filter look IRL with this blurring and moisturizingface primer. The blend if silicones even out the surface of your skin without adding any coverage, and the coconut-derived hydrators keep your skin supple.

"I have dry, acne-prone skin and rely on primer to give me an even base and to mattify my larger pores," says Gasparian. "This moisture-rich primer is great for dry skin because it hydrates, brightens, and provides a dewy-looking finish."

If you're dealing with a ruddy complexion, you know that the redness can easily seep through your foundation, especially if you prefer something with light to medium coverage. Instead, start with this green-tinted primer to color-correct your redness before you go in with your base of choice(I promise it won't make you look green!).

“I’m currently obsessed with the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer," saysMaddie North, a celebrity makeup artist. "You only have to use a tiny amount, and it feels like velvet, which all of my clients love—no one wants to feel like their makeup is caked on." The mineral formula is lightweight and oil-free, keeping combo skin types happy.

As far as the green beauty market has come, it can still be tricky to find all-natural primers. This brightening version from Ilia is so good (it smoothes, moisturizes, and adds radiance), you won't even know it free of silicone,

Gasparian recommends this color-correcting primer for people with uneven skin texture. "It’s super lightweight, and great for blurring imperfections and bumpsbefore applying makeup," she says.

Since its launch,Rihanna's line has always been skin-tone inclusive—but now they're expanding that to include all skin types, too. Enter thisprimer for oily skin, which uses blue agave extract to keep skin matte all day long.

"My number one is always Smashbox Photo Finish Primer," says makeup artistRiva Bruck. "It makes pores vanish, gets rid of shine, and holds makeup in place. For me it’s a must-have all the time." For a primer with SPF, their Protect iteration provides an extra sun barrier on top of yourfavorite moisturizer with SPF.

"It’s pricey, but so worth it if you need an extra boost of hydration like me," says makeup artist Leticia Avrith. The gold-flecked gel formula keeps foundation looking smooth and dewy all day, instead of cracking around fine lines and wrinkles.