I'm a Beauty Writer—These Are the 10 Best Face Primers I've Tested

Best Overall

Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer

$39 $34 at Amazon $39 at Sephora $39 at Ulta

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Spray was the first high-end makeup product I ever tried (and loved!) as a beauty newbie, so I was curious to see whether its counterpart primer would measure up. Spoiler alert: it did, and then some. This silky smooth, vegan, and cruelty-free formula spread like a dream—even when I forgot to apply moisturizer to my combination skin ahead of time. It absorbed into my skin with remarkable speed, leaving zero residue behind while providing a much-needed boost of hydration. Most importantly, this primer helped my base makeup stay in place all day without that dreaded “weighed down” feeling.

Editor’s Tip: Other than clicking “add to cart,” I suggest using just a tiny bit of this primer, as a little goes a long way. Start with a pea-sized amount in the center of the face, then spread outwards and up—the facial massage you’ll enjoy is just a bonus.

Formula: Gel｜Base: Water | Key Ingredients: Glycerin, litchi chenensis pericarp extract｜Size: 1 oz

Best Budget

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love

View on Ulta $8 at Amazon $8 at Ulta

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: For anyone who may feel a bit wary of drugstore primers, Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer will likely change your tune. Beyond locking my makeup in place for the duration of an uncommonly warm fall day, the ultrasmooth formula felt like it was literally paving over my pores, leaving Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Spray in its wake. The matte finish also lent my makeup a more elevated look than normal, which was an unexpected plus. It did feel a bit like a film was sitting on top of my skin, though, so those who prefer more lightweight makeup products may want to look elsewhere.

Editor’s Tip: While this gel's smoothness is a definite pro, it can make applying additional makeup a bit difficult. Try spritzing a quick burst of setting spray after this primer (but before the rest of your makeup) to help base products adhere to your face more effectively.

Formula: Gel｜Base: Silicone | Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, bitter cherry extract｜Size: 0.67 oz

Best for Sensitive Skin

Too Faced Hangover Primer

$42 $36 at Amazon $42 $20 at Nordstrom $42 at Ulta

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: Anyone else’s skin break out just from looking at it the wrong way? This prettily packaged primer from Too Faced should fix that problem. Formulated with a soothing combo of coconut water, probiotics, and a trio of olive tree extracts, this popular pick provides intense hydration to plump up Maria I. Rincon Djuro, KIKO Milano makeup artist while leaving behind a glowy, radiant finish—sans acne, irritation, or breakouts. While this primer may not be hardy enough for heavy-duty makeup, it’s my personal favorite to prep the skin for more natural looks. Get ready to look like you got a full eight hours of quality sleep (even if you just caught a few winks after a fun night out).

Editor’s Tip: For especially dull, tired skin, warm two pumps of this lightweight cream between your palms and press it onto your skin over makeup. One Saturday morning after one too many margs the night before, this trick transformed my dehydrated complexion from drab to dreamy—it feels just like a second moisturizer.

Formula: Cream｜Base: Water | Key Ingredients: Coconut water, probiotics, trio of olive tree extracts｜Size: 1.35 oz

Best Skin Smoothing

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

$34 $29 at Amazon $55 $16 at Nordstrom $55 $34 at Ulta

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: True to its name, this Smashbox primer creates a silky base for the rest of your makeup to apply smoothly and uses vitamins A and E to protect skin from environmental stressors and pollutants. The thicker-than-average gel practically glided over my pores and even camouflaged the fine lines under my eyes better than certain eye creams in my beauty arsenal. While I was impressed by the soft, even feel this pick gave my complexion, keep in mind that it does feel a bit heavier and more occlusive than other options on this list.

Editor’s Tip: Because this primer isn’t exactly lightweight, I would save it for special occasions when you need to look your very best (or, more aptly, when you need that photo finish!).

Formula: Gel｜Base: Silicone | Key Ingredients: Grape seed, kola seed, and green tea extracts｜Size: 1 oz

Best Glow Effect

Refy Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer with Niacinamide

$34 $22 at Sephora View on Refybeauty.com

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: Sometimes you want that healthy, post-workout glow without actually working up a sweat…which is where this dewy primer from Refy comes in. Uniquely formulated as a serum, it contains skin-loving ingredients niacinamide and glycerin—both of which brighten and hydrate your face while actively reducing redness. The product applies uniquely, too—from a facial roller applicator attached to the main tube. While I appreciate the innovative design, the execution is slightly off. The product doesn’t absorb well on its own, so I ended up having to massage most of it into my skin manually. Still, this felt like a small price to pay for the I-woke-up-like-this glow this primer left behind.

Editor’s Tip: If you choose to use the roller applicator exclusively, try to squeeze the tube only slightly—less is more to help the product spread better. Make sure to wipe the roller down after each use to stay hygienic and avoid breakouts.

Formula: Serum｜Base: Silicone | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin｜Size: 1.4 oz

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ONE/SIZE Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer

$34 $18 at Sephora View on Onesizebeauty.com $34 $18 at Kohls.com

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: For those of us not genetically blessed with small pores (cue sad trombone sounds), One/Size Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer is here to help. Its formula is on the lighter side for silicone-based primers, and the blurring effect it gave my complexion while simultaneously controlling shine and providing hydration was seriously impressive. It allowed my makeup to apply without the usual patchiness near my nose area, which I appreciated. Do note that the scent of this product is a bit chemical-y upon application—though it quickly dissipates, those with sensitive noses may want to select another option.

Editor’s Tip: While this primer does a great job of filling in pores on its own, if you’re looking for more coverage, makeup artist Patrick Starr (creator of One/Size) suggests using a setting powder on top to take your look from an ‘A’ to ‘A+’!

Formula: Putty｜Base: Silicone | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, witch hazel, glycerin｜Size: 1.18 oz

Best Skin Smoothing

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

$38 at Amazon $38 $20 at Sephora View on Milkmakeup.com

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: It's never fun to look in the mirror halfway through the workday and notice half of the makeup you applied that morning has melted away. This popular editor-loved gel formula will keep your look looking fresh all day while your skin remains hydrated and flake-free underneath. When I say my makeup did not budge while wearing this primer, I mean it—at the end of a long Monday in Manhattan, I was amazed to find that my foundation and blush looked just as good (if not somehow better) than when I left the house. My concealer was a bit patchy when applied over it, but a spitz of hydrating setting spray to blend would have provided an easy fix.

Editor’s Tip: Because this product is so long-wearing (and a bit on the sticky side), make sure to follow up with an effective cleansing routine, such as double cleansing.

Formula: Gel｜Key Ingredients: Blue agave, hyaluronic acid, hemp-derived cannabis seed extract｜Size: 1.52 oz

Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer at Amazon

Lawless Skin-Plumping Perfecting Cream

$52 at Amazon $22 at Sephora View on Lawlessbeauty.com

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: In the colder months, it’s especially important to keep our complexions—especially In the colder months, it’s especially important to keep our complexions—especially—nourished and hydrated. Enter this pick from Lawless Beauty, uniquely formulated as a moisturizer and primer-in-one. The oil- and fragrance-free cream earns major aesthetic points for looking like a pink, fluffy cloud in a jar but earns its top-tier status for how easily it spreads and the way it plumps up fine lines. One thing to note about this pick is that it’s not the best for makeup longevity, as its dewy quality made the rest of my products “slide off” by the end of the day. However, for more natural or short-term looks, it’s a true winner.

Editor’s Tip: I have two tips—one, wait at least one minute after finishing your skin care routine to apply the primer and an additional minute afterward before applying other base makeup—the product is prone to pilling otherwise. The second is always to wash your hands if you’re scooping the primer from the jar with your fingers to prevent the spread of bacteria. It does come with a tiny applicator spoon, but this is easy to lose.

Formula: Cream｜Base: Water | Key Ingredients: Octapeptide-3, Hexapeptide-8｜Size: 1.7 oz

Maria I. Rincon Djuro

Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Airbrush Primer

$58 at Amazon $58 $24 at Nordstrom $58 $24 at Sephora

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: Confession time: Before testing primers for this story, sometimes I would scoot by on busy mornings with SPF (which is still important!) as my makeup base. However, using this primer from Hourglass has made me rethink my routine. This ultrasmooth cream partially composed of moisturizing shea butter is a step you don’t want to miss, given the way it erases fine lines and provides a matte, silky finish. It was a bit heavier than I usually like to go—for a bit, it felt like a film on top of my skin—but the feeling dissipated throughout the day. I was initially worried the occlusive feel would lead to clogged pores, but it ultimately played nicely with my makeup and skin.

Editor’s Tip: If this primer's look is a bit too matte for your taste, try layering a dewy foundation or highlighter Glycerin, litchi chenensis pericarp extract｜.

Formula: Cream｜Base: Silicone | Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, shea butter｜Size: 1.01 oz

Best for Dry Skin

Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer

$48 $41 at Amazon $48 at Ulta $25 at Sephora

The 15 Best Affordable Skin Care Brands Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet Editors Love: Refy Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer with Niacinamide at Sephora can be an uphill battle, and the last thing you want is for your primer to make things worse—which is why this pick from Dr. Brandt Skincare is such a game changer. Smooth and almost putty-like in consistency, the salicylic acid-derived formula feels airy and lightweight on the skin, achieving the impressive feat of prepping the face for makeup and blurring pores without clogging them. As someone who struggles with comedonal acne, I can confirm that this pick did not exacerbate my existing breakout and actually made my complexion look calmer and more even-toned. Don’t be scared by the peachy hue, either—this primer quickly blends into both fair and darker skin tones, leaving the complexion better than before.

Editor’s Tip: Because this pick isn’t the most hydrating on the list, make sure to use a solid moisturizer beforehand and a dewy setting spray afterward—your skin (and acne) will thank you for the extra dose of hydration.

Formula: Putty｜Base: Water | Key Ingredients: Red clover flower extract, derivative of salicylic acid｜Size: 1 oz