Adding yet another step to your morning makeup application may seem daunting, but a makeup primer can do wonders for your skin. First and foremost, primers are meant to prep your skin for makeup application, providing a smooth canvas so products like foundation apply easier and last longer. But primer preferences (and benefits) go far beyond that when it comes to your enhancing your beauty routine.
Whether you’re looking for a formula that’ll deliver a matte finish with oil control or want a dewy, lit-from-within glow that also boosts your skin’s hydration levels, this roundup of the best drugstore primers will help you further perfect your morning makeup application.
The Oil Controller
For those that prefer a matte over dewy, Honest Beauty’s Everything Primer will deliver that desired finish for up to eight hours. Made without silicones, the lightweight formula enlists the help of micronized bamboo powder to blur pores and help control oil throughout the day.
The Skin Smoother
Maybelline’s Master Prime collection consists of five different primers, each with a different speciality besides helping your makeup last longer. This particular tube smooths skin, and according to many reviewers, excels at minimizing the appearance of pores.
The Hydrator
NYX’s primer offers an easy way to add more sun protection into your routine. The formula holds an SPF 30. And if you’re worried about primer drying out your skin, know this one is made with cannabis sativa seed oil to soothe and hydrate.
The Gel-Based Wonder
This invisible matte-finish primer actually works to control oil production — without leaving your skin dry and uncomfortable — thanks to the addition of a natural astrigent in its gel-based formula. It can be worn on its own to manage shine or under foundation to help extend the wear of your makeup.
The Glow Getter
This little dropper probably looks a lot like your daily serum — but that’s because it is one. A serum-and-primer in one bottle, this hybrid product provides a boost in hydration via purified hyaluronic acid, which will also leave your skin extra glowy and preppred for makeup application — if you even choose to put it on.
The Neutralizer
As a general rule, green primers typically tackle minimizing redness by neutralizing the color with the green pigment. If you’re looking for a drugstore primer to do the trick before applying foundation, consider COVERGIRL’s lightweight and oil-free formula.
The Multitasker
This multitasking product will allow you to combine your primer, setting spray, and hydrating face mist into one bottle. The In Love with Coco formula handles refreshing makeup and smoothing skin well, all while smelling a little bit like vacation.
The Brightener
New from Milani, this brightening and illuminating primer will create a glowy finish, while delivering skin nourishment, too, through a combination of ingredients like vitamin C, provitamin B5, squalane and jojoba oil.
The Line Smoother
This EWG-verified primer goes the distance by fusing the makeup and skincare categories together. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin b5 and pumpkin seed extract, it immediately smooths fine lines and uneven texture upon application and works to improve your skin’s texture as time goes on. The brand claims you’ll see results in four weeks.
