The 10 Best Face Primers of 2022 - InStyle
We'll let you in on a little secret: Face primer is the key for makeup that lasts longer, applies smoother, and overall looks better. Without primer, your perfect, glowy face beat can turn into a melted, cakey mess in a matter of hours.
With so many different primers out on the market, finding one to suit your skin's needs may feel impossible. Luckily, with the help of our InStyle testers, we tested 38 top-rated formulas to find the best of the best. Keeping application, texture, and overall appearance top of mind, our testers narrowed down the pool to find the 10 best face primers that will keep your makeup looking flawless all day long. Overall, Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer was the clear winner thanks to its lightweight formula, easy application, and added skincare benefits.
Here are the best face primers of 2022, according to InStyle testers.
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Sephora
What We Love: The hydrating formula doubles as a moisturizer.
What We Don't Love: It can leave a sticky residue if you don't wait for it to dry before applying makeup.
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."
Price at time of publish: $36
Size: 1.52 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Blue agave, Hyaluronic acid, Hemp-derived cannabis seed extract
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Amazon
What We Love: Beyond using this as a primer, you can also apply it on top of your makeup to control any unwanted shine.
What We Don't Love: It has a light, natural scent that might be irritating for some.
Honest Beauty Everything Primer Matte proves that you don't have to break the bank to get a quality primer. Formulated without silicones, synthetic fragrances, or dyes, this primer blurs imperfections and controls shine. Because it's designed with blemish-prone skin in mind, it can be applied prior to makeup for long-lasting results or used throughout the day on top of makeup to absorb excess oil. Pro tip: When applying it over makeup, be sure to tap, not rub, the product into skin so your makeup stays flawless. Aside from the formula itself, our tester really loves the pump dispenser because it's easy to control the amount of product that comes out — you won't experience any messy mishaps with this pick.
Price at time of publish: $19
Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Type: All｜Key Ingredients: Micronized bamboo powder
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Sephora
What We Love: This primer is great for mature skin.
What We Don't Love: If you apply too much, it can leave a slight white cast.
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.
Price at time of publish: $56
Size: 1.01 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide
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Sephora
What We Love: With this primer, your foundation can last for up to 12 hours.
What We Don't Love: There's not much product in the bottle, so you'll probably have to repurchase pretty often.
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."
Price at time of publish: $32
Size: 0.75 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Avocado, Echinacea root, Rosemary leaf extract
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Ulta
What We Love: Though the product is slightly tinted, it complements all skin tones.
What We Don't Love: Its matte finish can leave skin looking slightly dry.
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!
Price at time of publish: $29
Size: 0.75 fl oz.｜Skin Types All｜Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, Shea butter extract, Hyaluronic acid
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Sephora
What We Love: While most matte primers are stiff, this was easy to blend.
What We Don't Love: The formula can be drying, so it may not be the best pick for those with dry skin.
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.
Price at time of publish: $35
Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Types Normal, Combination, and Oily｜Key Ingredients: Blue agave extract
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Amazon
What We Love: It leaves your skin looking radiant and plump.
What We Don't Love: It's not great for those with oily skin.
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."
Price at time of publish: $34
Size: 1 fl oz.｜Skin Types Normal, Dry, and Combination ｜Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Olive oil, Jojoba oil, Vitamin E oil
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