If you’re not familiar with it, a primer probably seems like an extra, even unnecessary step in your makeup routine—but make no mistake, a primer should be added to your makeup bag, stat. It works to even out your skin tone, masks pores, helps your makeup stay on longer, and creates a barrier between your foundation and your skin. While eating healthy, moisturizing, and staying hydrated can help give you smooth, glowing skin, adding a primer to your daily routine can also help you achieve a truly flawless complexion.
So how does it work and why is moisturizer not a sufficient primer? Where a moisturizer is designed to sink into the skin, a primer creates a layer overtop. This layer fills in fine lines and pores to create a perfectly smooth surface for makeup. The main reason makeup slides off the face is due to the secretion of sweat and oil from the skin. A primer forms a barrier that gives makeup a surface to adhere to. Lightweight, silicone-based primers are ideal for acne-prone or oily skin while primers that contain waxes, lotions, or emollients work well on dry or aging skin.
Here are our top picks.
Smashbox Photo Finish Oil-Free Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing
This non-drying formula locks in makeup and absorbs oil so that your skin stays smooth and shine-free. Its lightweight texture keeps the skin matte while the sweat and humidity-resistant formula is designed to keep makeup intact to reduce the number of touch-ups throughout the day.
Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin
Perfect for all ages and skin types, this powerful product produces youthful-looking skin while increasing its radiance and firmness. Dior’s exclusive bio-mimetic powder complex reduces dark spots and redness and minimizes pores.
Dolce & Gabbana The Primer
Enriched with precious extracts of Gold Silk Sericin, this radiance-enhancing formula perfects, illuminates, and protects skin for a fresh, natural glow and a beautifully smooth, even texture while the SPF30 protects your face from environmental damage.
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional
Quickly minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines and help your makeup stay put with this priming phenomenon. The silky and lightweight formula can be worn under makeup to create a smoother-than-smooth canvas or used throughout the day to tone down shine and touch-up problem areas.
