Just like you prime your walls before painting them, priming your face creates a smooth, absorbent canvas just waiting for your go-to beauty routine. Face primer, which goes on right after your moisturizer and right before your first makeup product, helps smooth out fine lines, even out skin tone, and minimize pores so that your makeup stays put and looks fresh for hours on end. 

But unlike your basic paint primer, face primers come in a wide variety of textures, benefits, and application styles. Depending on your skin type and makeup preferences (a full face versus a light, natural look), the best face primer for you might now work for someone else. We put 38 top-rated and Internet-loved face primers to the test, ranking them on everything from application to texture to durability. After hours of testing according to our rigorous beauty editor standards, these are the best face primers for smooth, long-lasting makeup. 

Best Face Primer Overall

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

Consider Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer your secret weapon for creating a smooth, long-lasting look. While all primers act as a base for makeup, this one bridges the gap between skincare and makeup. Hemp-derived cannabis seed extract and blue agave help condition skin to leave you looking naturally more radiant, and hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate without making you look greasy — making it great to wear not only under makeup but also on its own as a moisturizer for your natural skin days. 

Milk Makeup has become a favorite among many beauty lovers for its vegan and cruelty-free formulas. This primer is a holy grail product for so many makeup artists and influencers (as well as myself), so it’s no surprise that our testers fell in love with it, too. "My face looks amazingly smooth and has just the right balance of moisture," our tester raves. "Just a pea-sized amount went a long way, and my foundation blended perfectly over top.”

Size: 1.52 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Blue agave, Hyaluronic acid, Hemp-derived cannabis seed extract 

Best Budget

E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  4/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

This face primer from e.l.f. Cosmetics impressed us with its smooth, buttery texture — once we got it out of the jar, that is. We initially had a hard time getting the putty out of the jar, but it was smooth sailing from there. It spread on the face “like butter,” according to one tester who applauded its smooth, velvety texture. Despite the butter-like comparisons, the face primer achieves a lightweight, airy feel that’s a little unexpected and 100 percent appreciated. Even when we skipped our moisturizer, we felt the Poreless Putty Primer was hydrating enough to keep us dewy and fresh (that’s probably thanks to the squalane, a key hydrating ingredient). Our makeup had a consistent satin finish that stayed matte for hours and minimized the appearance of pores with ease.

Size: .74 fl oz.｜Skin Type: All｜Key Ingredients: Squalane

Best Splurge

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  4/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

As the name hints at, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer casts a luminous veil over your skin, hiding any redness and blurring the appearance of pores and fine lines. The luxurious formula has a cloud-like texture that quickly sinks into your skin and creates a hydrated, smooth base for your foundation. It also contains SPF 15, which is great, but make sure to use an SPF of at least 30 under the primer to be fully protected. 

Despite normally struggling with cakey-ness around her smile lines, our tester had no issues when using this primer under her foundation. "My foundation has no cracks or patchiness," she says, adding that as the day went on her complexion remained velvety. On top of the formula inside, the packaging is so pretty you’ll want to display it front and center on your vanity, too. 

Note: Our tester originally applied too much of the product, which left her with a slight white cast. On her second attempt, she used three small pumps to cover her whole face and was able to achieve the perfect base.

Size: 1.01 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide

Best Smoothing

Tarte Cosmetics Poreless Mattifying Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

Struggle with the appearance of large pores? Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer smoothes out the look of your skin in seconds, mattifying your face and making an excellent base for makeup. Our tester loves how the silky formula glides onto skin. “I couldn’t even feel it on my face!” she says. 

Containing nutrient-rich ingredients — like avocado, echinacea root, and rosemary leaf extract — this primer works well with foundation to create a smooth, flawless complexion. We also love that it’s waterproof, so you can take your look to the beach or pool without it becoming a melted mess.

If you’re looking for a primer with major longevity, this is the one to grab because it can make your foundation last for up to 12 hours, shine-free. “This primer is a game changer,” our teaser says. “I'm going to include it in my makeup routine everyday.”

Size: 0.75 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Avocado, Echinacea root, Rosemary leaf extract

Best for Large Pores

Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Face Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  4/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

You can say goodbye to your pores when you apply Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer. This primer will instantly blur your skin, and although you can’t actually erase pores, it softens their appearance and leaves your skin looking airbrushed. With ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter extract, and hyaluronic acid, it creates what our tester describes as a “silky, lightweight formula” that applies so smoothly. While the natural tint skews light, it blends well on every skin tone. Talk about pore-fection!

Size: 0.75 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, Shea butter extract, Hyaluronic acid

Best Mattifying

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

This primer is a blurring filter in a bottle. A great pick for those who tend to get shiny, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer instantly absorbs any oils without leaving your complexion looking dry. The lightweight formula mattifies skin and makes a flawless base for any makeup application. Though it initially dispenses white, it immediately becomes translucent when it comes in contact with skin, and disappears as it’s blended — which our tester says is extremely easy to do. “Sometimes primers can feel really stiff, especially when they are matte, but this one only required two pumps and was easy to spread,” she says.

Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Types Normal, Combination, and Oily｜Key Ingredients: Blue agave extract

Best Illuminating

MAC Studio Radiance Illuminating Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

The secret to achieving dewy, glowing skin starts with your skincare, but the primer you use also plays a big role. If a radiant complexion is your makeup goal, there’s no better way to prep your skin than with MAC Studio Radiance Illuminating Primer. Made with hyaluronic acid, olive oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E, it helps to revitalize your skin and give it a golden hour glow all day long. Our tester raves about its silky smooth, hydrating texture. “I would recommend this to all my friends as a must-have,” our tester says. “It feels wonderful on my face and keeps my foundation radiant and natural looking.”

Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Types Normal, Dry, and Combination ｜Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Olive oil, Jojoba oil, Vitamin E oil

Best Vegan

NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Smoothing Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

Want smooth, plump skin? NYX Professional Makeup The Marshmellow Smoothing Primer works to soften the appearance of pores, fine lines, and uneven skin texture, while also extending the wear of your makeup. The unique, fluffy texture reminds us of a marshmallow and helps hydrate the skin, leaving your complexion hydrated and makeup-ready. Our tester explains that her foundation has never applied better, saying “the whipped, cream-like consistency makes my foundation apply smoothly ,and diminishes the appearance of pores.” Just be sure to pair it with a water-based foundation (like Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation), otherwise makeup can become congealed and start to pill.

Size: 1.01 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Marshmallow root extract

Best for Oily Skin

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  4/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

Dealing with excess oil throughout the day? If so, this primer from Smashbox is for you. Lightweight and oil-free, it works to reduce shine, minimizes the appearance of fine lines and pores, and protects skin from environmental stressors like pollution. The silicone-based formula is clear and invisibly glides over the skin, creating a photo-ready finish that keeps your complexion smooth and makeup intact all day. While it does work impeccably well for those with oily skin, be wary if your skin is also sensitive as it’s been known to sometimes cause breakouts.

Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Types Oily ｜Ingredients: Vitamins A and E

Best for Dry Skin

Too Faced Hangover Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don’t Love

Just like a tall glass of water after a long night out, Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer revives your skin, making it feel instantly hydrated. Formulated with coconut water and probiotics, it works to lock in moisture and brighten your skin, helping you look and feel more refreshed. “The lightweight, moisturizing formula is easy to blend into the skin,” our tester shares. “It doesn’t feel sticky or glue-like like some other primers.” One thing to note: The primer does have a slight coconut scent (due to the coconut water in the formula), so if you have a coconut allergy it’s best to avoid this pick.

Size: 1.35 fl oz.｜Skin Types Dry and Combination｜Ingredients: Coconut water and Probiotics

Best with Sun Protection

Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  4/5

What We LoveWhat We Don't Love

We love the combination of primer and SPF, especially for hot summer months when you’re minimizing your skincare and beauty routines. “The primer felt like a light moisturizer and immediately showed on the skin as dewy,” our tester said. Skin felt (and looked) plump and hydrated, and we experienced exactly zero pilling when we started layering on products. Looks-wise, our skin looked smooth and even-textured, even on our dry T-zone areas where we’re prone to flakiness. 

While we visually loved the primer and its effect on our makeup routine, we’d be hesitant to use this as a substitute for SPF. To fully protect your face (and neck!), you’d need to apply quite a lot of this face primer, so you’d run through it quickly. We’d save this for summer months when you just can’t even with a full skincare and makeup routine (and as always, make sure to reapply your SPF every two hours).

Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Ingredients: Broad-spectrum SPF 50, Vitamins C and E, Hyaluronic acid

Best Balm

Tatcha The Silk Canvas Face Primer

Our Ratings

• Application

  4/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Look

  5/5

What We LoveWhat We Don't Love

This rich balm just feels luxurious as it spreads onto your skin, leaving just a trace of smooth, silky primer in its wake. This face primer is a pressed balm, and one scoop was easily enough to spread across our faces (pro tip: the heat from your hands helps melt this primer just a tad, so we actually appreciated that it didn’t come with an applicator). Our skin felt hydrated and oh-so-touchable, and our tester (a professional makeup artist, by the way) noted that her skin looked “smooth, even, and flawless” afterward. We’ve heard from others that this balm leaves a white cast; while we didn’t experience that in our testing, it’s worth mentioning.

Size: 0.7 oz.｜Skin Types All｜Ingredients: Squalane, Silk extract

Other Options You Might Like

In our original testing, we adored the Everything Primer Matte for its shine control and clean formula (read: no silicones, synthetic fragrances, or dyes). Another major plus: It was designed with blemish-prone skin in mind, so you could even apply it on top of your makeup throughout the day to soak up excess oil.

Our Testing Process

To start, we researched the top-rated primers on the market. After conducting some online investigation, we were able to come up with a list of 38 top-rated primers. Our testers then tried out each formula and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5 in three most categories: Application, feel, and overall appearance under makeup. Once all the testers provided their feedback, we were able to pull together the results and narrow down the list to the 10 best primers. 

What to Keep in Mind

Finish

Primers come in many different finishes, so it is important to keep your skin’s needs and overall desired look in mind when selecting one. First, it’s important to take your skin type into account. For those with oily skin, mattifying primers (like Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer) are a great option as they absorb excess oil while still delivering a flawless base for foundation application. If you struggle with dryness, a hydrating or illuminating primer (like MAC Studio Radiance Illuminating Primer) is the way to go because they usually contain ingredients that keep moisture locked in throughout the day.

Ingredients

In such a saturated market, primer ingredients can get lost in all the noise. A lot of formulations are silicone-based, consisting of cyclomethicone or dimethicone which aim to help smooth the surface of your skin. Water-based primers are made primarily of water or glycerin, leaving your skin hydrated and with a natural finish. That said, it’s important to look beyond whether a product is water- or silicone-based, and look for high quality ingredients that can improve your skin. “My favorite primers contain skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or sqaulane, and are lightweight enough so I can apply my makeup products without a worry,” shares Brittany Lo, professional makeup artist and founder of Beia Beauty. One of our favorite makeup-skincare hybrid picks is our best overall winner Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

Foundation 

When choosing your primer, you also need to keep your foundation in mind. You can’t mix a silicone-based primer with a water-based foundation or vice versa. Doing so will cause the product to coagulate and pill on your skin — and no one wants that. Finding a primer that is compatible with your makeup products is crucial to prepping your skin. For a good water-based primer try NYX Professional Makeup The Marshmellow Smoothing Primer; and as for silicone-based, try Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth and Blur Oil Free Foundation Primer.

Your Questions, Answered

What does face primer do? 

According to Lo, “face primers help smooth out the skin and fill in any fine lines or dry spots to help makeup lie evenly on your skin.” Primers also work to extend the longevity of your makeup, keeping all your products in place and enhancing the overall appearance of your final look. They can also have added skincare benefits, which can help target any skin concerns like dryness or large pores. 

How do you apply face primer? 

Primer should be the last step of your skincare routine and first step of your makeup routine — essentially bridging the gap between makeup and skincare. Primer can be applied with a brush, fingers, or makeup sponge depending on your preference. Note that when using a sponge, your primer may not apply as concentrated as you need, so Lo recommends applying primer with a brush and then using your fingertips to smooth it out. Doing so avoids applying too much, which could cause some piling. Pro tip: Make sure your primer is fully dry before applying your foundation to avoid any pilling. 

Can you use face primer on the eyes? 

“Since eyelids tend to get oily, you could get away with using a face primer for oily skin on your lids. However, I compare face primer and eyeshadow primers to face cream and eye cream - you can use them interchangeably, but you will not get the most out of them,” advises Lo.

What Is InStyle Picks?

Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it's really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle picks are products we love, and we've put them to the test to be sure you will too.

Why Shop With Us

Amanda Rosenthal is a commerce writer for InStyle. Amanda has experience researching and testing different makeup products and has tried tons of different primers. With additional knowledge from professional makeup artists and first-hand experience trying out numerous primers, she rounded up the top picks for this story. Amanda has tried out tons of different primers including ones from this story like the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Pro Balm Face Primer, and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. 

Want more product recommendations? From best-in-class concealer to the black pants you need for work, check out all of our InStyle Picks content.