SheFinds emphasizes that this review is not monetized, compensated, or sponsored in any way. This evaluation of the product is strictly based on the expertise of a beauty industry expert.
This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
By now you may already know the enormous benefits of starting your makeup routine with a good primer, but let’s review the facts. Makeup like foundation and concealer can easily streak and smear on your skin. Not to mention: everyone’s skin has natural texture like pores, fine lines, etc. and applying makeup over bare skin often means shining a spotlight on that texture instead of blurring it out.
This is where a quality primer comes in. When applied to your skin, it can do so many wonderful things, like blur texture, add hydration, remove redness, or magnify your skin and help blot out excess oils. When applied to your eyelids, a primer can create an even skin tone (as we age our lids can become prone to discoloration) while prolonging the life of your eyeshadow and eyeliner and helping to make their colors appear even more vibrant.
Sounds like the win-win of makeup products, doesn’t it?
Don’t feel guilty if you haven’t been using a primer up until now. This definitely isn’t one of the more popular and well-known products, like foundation or mascara. But it’s never too late to give your makeup look a fresh new spin. If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to purchasing a primer, try one of these four MUA-approved makeup primers that work on different skin types to “make wrinkles disappear.” These “effective” choices also come in a variety of price points.
Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx No-Filter Primer
Most primers can be purchased for less than $15, but we’re starting our list with a luxury pick that many makeup artists swear by for mature skin. This primer by Peter Thomas Roth is unique in that it promises to blur out fine lines, discoloration, pores, and wrinkles — and many say it actually works. The brand recommends applying the primer to freshly cleansed skin but not applying moisturizer first. You should then wait, expressionless, for five to seven minutes until it fully dries. Then you can feel free to apply the rest of your makeup. A blend of silicates and seaweed extracts are said to be responsible for the tightening effect it creates, plus it’s slightly tinted to help even out your skin tone.
You can purchase this primer here for $42.
e.l.f Power Grip Primer
On the heels of our luxury pick, we give you the ultimate $10 primer by e.l.f. — one that’s super popular because it creates the perfect barrier between your skin and makeup. This is a gel-based primer that is translucent and hydrating, but not so hydrating that it will mess with your foundation or make it streaky. Reviewers say it can feel cooling and a bit sticky, but that you get used to the texture quickly and — best of all — it helps make your makeup stay put for HOURS.
Purchase this primer here.
NYX Professional Makeup Face Primer Bare with Me Cannabis SPF 30
Looking for a primer that contain SPF for added skin protection? That exists, too! And one favorite is this NYX primer with SPF 30 that is infused with Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil for hydration — the perfect solution to dry skin that always flakes when you apply foundation. The create formula is translucent and recommended for normal or dry skin.
You can purchase this primer here for $17.
Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops
Glow Recipe is known for its solid skincare products, so it’s no surprise that its popular primer contains ingredients like beta-hydroxy acids to help reduce oil production while minimizing the look of pores. The result is a mattifying finish that really blots out oil and creates a smooth canvas for foundation and other makeup. This may not be the best choice for dry skin, but it’s excellent for anyone with acne-prone, oily skin. Reviewers even compare it to blotting paper.
Purchase the Glow Recipe primer here for $32.
