5 Best Makeup Primers 2019

After 17 hours of research evaluating 95 products, we picked Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer as our top choice.

Makeup primer is often forgotton or seen as an unnecessary step during your makeup routine. But if you want your makeup to look flawless (and last all day), it should be the first thing you're putting on after your moisturizer.

You're probably wondering:

What does face primer do? Primer fills in englarged pores and wrinkles, smooths uneven skin, and disguises redness. Enlarged pores and fine lines can make anyone feel self-conscious about their appearance. According to The Dermatology Review, you could use expensive serums, get laser peels, or Microdermabrasion. Or, you could simply use a good makeup primer.

These days, face primers vary from matte to dewy finishes, light to heavy consistencies and more afforable options to designer brands. There are literally hundreds to choose from. Feeling overwhelmed yet?

The good news is:

We wanted to make things easier for you. We spent hours testing and researching hundreds of makeup primers for your skin. The result? An honest list of the 5 best makeup primers to give you flawless skin. Finally, the struggle to find the perfect primer is over. We even went a step further and categorized them based on what you might be looking for specifically. From drugstore to designer, these are the best makeup primers out there, and they will soon be your new BFF.

What's a good primer without a good foundation? Be sure to check out our list of the best foundations. And, don't forget to take it all off at the end of the day with a makeup remover and face wash.

Now, on to the list.

Best Primer for Oily Skin

3. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

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4.32 Faveable Rating

Why People Love it

It goes on so velvetty and smooth; feels like satin
Holds makeup in place for up to 8 hours
Leaves behind a dewy, matte finish

ProsCons

An oil-free primer with a silky, airy texture that leaves a smooth canvas for makeup, while reducing the look of redness, pores, and wrinkles. Keeps makeup looking fresh for up to 8 hours, no matter how oily your skin may be.

Not for those with dry skin.

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Details

Who's it for? This makeup primer is ideal for most skin types, even sensitive, blemish-prone skin. Because this formula is oil-free, it's the best choice for those of you with oily skin.

What it does: The words “mineral” and “paraben-free” caught our attention immediately on this primer. This silky primer not only makes your makeup last, but also conceals redness, minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, and provides SPF 15. Now, that's impressive. The velvetty formula feels like satin on your skin and leaves behind a dewy, oil-free glow. Fair warning though, if you don't have oily skin, this may dry your skin out. But if you do have super oily skin, your natural oils will mix with this primer to make your skin look natural and beautiful.

Price: Unfortunately, the price of this makeup primer is on the higher end. The standard 1-ounce bottle is $54, ouch. The good news is, Hourglass offers two additional sizes. The .31 ounce bottle is only $19, which is great if you want to try this stuff out. And, the 2-ounce bottle is $75, which saves you money in the long run.

Our favorite products are the ones where a little goes a long way (mostly because it saves us money). And the Veil Mineral Primer is another one of those life savers. Only a small amount is needed for each use, making the bottle last for quite a long time.

Learn more:Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer »

5 Best Makeup Primers