Our Best Primers & Why They're Worth It

Whether you’ve spent two minutes or two hours on your makeup look, it should stay on. That’s why one of our favorite beauty products is face primer. But the best primers don’t just lock in your look for hours; they have to do something good for your skin, too. Case in point: our award-winning Hydro Grip Primer, which has hydrating ingredients and lends a long-lasting dewy glow as it anchors your makeup. Then came our Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer, which leaves a soft-focus matte finish and blurs pores. And now we’re launching a new one: Cloud Glow Priming Foam, a skincare-packed brightening primer that hydrates and brings out your natural glow.

The question is: Which of these cruelty-free makeup products is right for your makeup routine? Read on to find out.

What does face primer do?

First things first: Why use a face primer at all? Simply put, it’s “like insurance for your complexion,” as Milk Makeup Director of Artistry Sara Wren explains. Even the best foundations can slip and slide if you don’t properly prep them. “A huge complaint I hear from people is that their makeup doesn’t last long enough, or their skin texture bothers them. A great primer, like Hydro Grip, Pore Eclipse, or Cloud Glow, solves both of those issues.” Face primer also creates a barrier between active breakouts and foundation to help blemishes heal up better.

You can use a primer to help hold your shadows in place, too—our Hydro Grip Eye Primer was created specifically for your lids and under eye area.

How do I choose the best face primer for me?

The best face primers help smooth the appearance of your skin’s texture as they set your makeup look for hours. Before you choose a primer, think about the kind of finish you want for your skin. Dewy? Matte? Brightening? A mix of the three on different areas of your face?

All three of our makeup primers boast 12-hour hold, silicone-free formulas, and even offer bonus skincare benefits. Hydro Grip contains blue agave extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and hemp seed extract to hydrate, lock in makeup, and leave a dewy glow. Pore Eclipse has niacinamide, bakuchiol, and lentil extract to even the appearance of skin texture and control shine. Cloud Glow is infused with turmeric, saffron, apricot, and wu-zhu-yu extracts to help brighten, reduce redness, and lock in moisture for a fresh glow.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the formulas.

Shop Now

Hydro Grip Primer

Bestseller, fan fave, Sephora’s top primer pick—whatever you want to call it, Hydro Grip is a Milk Makeup icon and an incredible hydrating primer. Sara loves reaching for Hydro Grip when creating dewy makeup looks that need to last all day long and when skin needs some extra hydration.

The unique grippy effect of this primer comes from blue agave extract, which keeps makeup on lock for up to 12 hours, the makeup artist explains. “I often hear people say that their face ‘eats makeup’ or it’s ‘gone by the end of the day,’” says Sara. “Hydro Grip will always be the one product I recommend to completely change your makeup application.” Although Hydro Grip pairs well with any foundation in your makeup bag, Sara likes to use the face primer with dewy foundations and skin tints because they glide beautifully on top of your skin without any creasing or caking.

When you should use Hydro Grip Primer

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer is best for when you want a glowy finish. The illuminating primer gives skin fresh, healthy-looking moisture as if you just finished your skincare routine—even if it’s the end of a long day.

Hydro Grip Primer: our best primer for dry skin?

Hydro Grip is oil-free and formulated to work well with all skin tones and skin types. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and cannabis seed extract make it our best hydrating primerfor dry skin, but those with acne-prone skin and mature skin, combination skin, or oily skin will enjoy using it too for a complexion that looks as luminous and smooth as glass.

How to use Hydro Grip Primer:

1. Prep.Starting with skincare, especially moisturizer and sunscreen, is essential. “For my normal, dry, and sensitive skin clients, I apply Vegan Milk Moisturizer first, letting it absorb for a couple of minutes,” says Sara.

2. Prime.Now for the face primer. “Using one to two pumps of Hydro Grip, I spread a super-thin layer of primer across my skin—no need to rub it in,” says Sara. Then, let that thin layer dry for at least 60 seconds before applying your complexion products. “This gives the formula time to activate its grip and lock in some hydration,” she adds.

3. Apply makeup.Once the clear primer has set, apply your foundation, tinted moisturizer, skin tint, or concealer. You can also skip base makeup entirely and go straight for your favorite blush, and Hydro Grip will act as a natural-looking highlighter.

4. Set.Finish off your long-wear makeup routine with setting spray. “I love Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray for a glowy boost and to ‘double lock in’ my makeup look,” says Sara.

Shop Now

Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer

Another clear, oil-free option from the Milk Makeup primer lineup to consider is Pore Eclipse. “It’s great for the no-makeup wearer or as part of a men’s grooming routine,” says Sara. Reach for it when you want a super quick matte, seemingly poreless complexion with a boost of nourishing skincare. “I think of it as the last step of the skincare routine and the first step of long-lasting makeup application in one product.”

When you should use Pore Eclipse Primer

“Pore Eclipse is great for those that want a soft ‘filtered’ skin look to help blur texture, fine lines, and large pores, as well as control shine under their makeup,” says Sara. It checks all these boxes while keeping skin fresh and moisturized.

“I love using Pore Eclipse under fuller coverage and mattifying foundations or powders,” says Sara. Pore Eclipse is also amazing as a translucent mattifier under a light-coverage routine, she adds.

Pore Eclipse Primer: our best primer for oily skin?

The shine-free, soft-focus finish makes Pore Eclipse one of the best primers for oily skin and acne-prone complexions. Nourishing niacinamide not only helps banish breakouts but also aids in preventing blemishes. Lentil extract, on the other hand, steps in for mattifying and pore minimizing. And yes, the blurring primer is great for combination skin, mature skin, and even dry skin types too. The lightweight water cream also blends out to be undetectable on all skin tones.

How to Use Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer:

1. Prep.As always, start with your regular skincare routine. The best makeup looks start with a fresh, hydrated base.

2. Prime.After applying moisturizer and SPF, Sara goes directly to layering Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer on top while her skincare products are still damp. “I love to work Pore Eclipse into the skin with my fingers,” she says. “I recommend starting with a pea-size amount and working it throughout the T-zone or oil-prone areas.”

3. Apply makeup. Following Pore Eclipse, “Wait for it to absorb for 60 seconds then go in with concealer, foundation, or powder,” says Sara.

4. Set. For a max matte finish, go in with a spritz of Pore Eclipse Matte Setting Spray or a layer of Pore Eclipse Matte Translucent Powder to block out shine and blur pores.

Shop Now

Cloud Glow Priming Foam

Our newest primer combines the skincare benefits of your favorite serum with 12-hour wear, all in a light-as-air foam that floats over skin. “I’m obsessed with this formula because its delivery system is so fun and unique,” says Sara.

When you should use Cloud Glow Priming Foam

If you love a minimal makeup look and a multitasking product, Cloud Glow is for you. “It’s the perfect gateway primer for people that don’t wear ‘enough’ makeup to use a standard primer and also need their primers to do multiple things at once,” says Sara. “This primer not only helps create a smooth base for makeup, but also contains skincare ingredients to help brighten, reduce redness, boost radiance, and add hydration with one pump.” You can also wear it on no-makeup days to wake up your skin’s glow.

Cloud Glow Priming Foam: our best primer for dull skin

All skin types can get in on Cloud Glow Priming Foam’s brightening benefits, but it’s particularly good for perking up dull or tired skin.

How to use Cloud Glow Priming Foam:

1. Prep. Cloud Glow's hydrating formula can come after your moisturizer prep step, but don't forget your SPF. Sara likes to layer this primer directly over her sunscreen.

2. Prime. "One pump is all you need!" says Sara of the lightweight formula. "I like to pump Cloud Glow into my hands and gently smooth over skin.” Because it’s a foam, you don’t have to worry about missing any spots and ending up with a patchy, uneven base.

4. Refresh you Glow. While this foam primer was made for 12-hour wear, it’s also perfect for refreshing your skin’s radiance throughout the day. “One of my favorite tricks is to take one pump of foam on the back of my hand and use a damp sponge or my fingers to gently press it onto the high points of my face,” says Sara. It’ll make your face look instantly refreshed, like you just went to the spa.

So which Milk face primer is truly right for you? Player’s choice. You can even rotate between these primers depending on whether a matte, dewy, or glowy finish suits your look for the day or what your skin is going through. Keep Hydro Grip around for dry skin days, Pore Eclipse on deck for oily skin days, and Cloud Glow within reach for dull skin days. Alternately, target your T-zone with Pore Eclipse, and add Hydro Grip and Cloud Glow to your cheeks for the ultimate perfecting primer cocktail. Bottom line: Whichever one you’re smoothing on, you can’t go wrong.

Meet the Expert:

Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.