If you ask us, no makeup look is complete without face primer. It makes all the difference in your beauty routine, helping your makeup last all day without fading, caking, or creasing. But not all primers are created equal—so the best primer for you can depend on a few factors, like your skin type and the finish you want. To get the most out of your face primer, you need to know the right kind to use based on your skin type and the correct way to apply it. Keep reading for everything to learn about face primers (and we do mean everything).
What is a face primer?
A face primer is the secret to ensuring your makeup stays in place and your skin looks smooth and blemish-free. It’s the first step in your makeup routine but it has a long-lasting effect: With the right primer, you can guarantee your beauty look will stand the test of time, no matter what the day holds. The right formula creates a smooth canvas, filling in the appearance of fine lines and allowing your makeup application to be effortless and seamless. Even better, you can find a face primer that targets your specific skin concerns. And when you use a skincare-infused primer like our award-winning Hydro Grip Primer, it can also soothe dry skin, absorb oil, create a natural glow, and eliminate redness—all while giving you a flawless finish.
Different types of primers
Choosing the right primer for you depends on the overall makeup look you’re going for, as well as your skin type. Whether you want a dewy glow, soft matte finish, brightening, or extra radiance, there’s a formula for you. We put together a quick-and-easy primer quiz so you can answer a few questions and find your match. But if you want a more detailed breakdown of each of our best face primers, we’ve got you covered.
Hydrating Primer
Our entire community has been loving Hydro Grip Primer since its launch in 2019, and the hype hasn’t died down since. With millions of tags across TikTok for the whole Hydro Grip Fam, viral wear tests of our hydrating primer have likely already popped up on your FYP—showing just how well it works and why it deserves its place in the industry as one of the best primers for dry skin.
Hydro Grip Primer acts as a base layer for the best foundations and all your favorite complexion products, like Hydro Grip Gel Tint. You can use it before applying foundation to create a smooth base, or wear it alone (over your skincare products and SPF) to enhance the natural glow of your skin.
True to its name, a hydrating face primer is formulated with additional skin-nourishing ingredients to give skin a glowy, hydrated finish. It’s completely clear, so it also works on all skin tones. You can use this type of makeup primer on your whole face, but there are also ones created for specific areas, like eyes and lips.
Mattifying Primer
If your skin concerns revolve around reducing shine and control excess oil, you’ll want to invest in a mattifying primer. Our blurring primer, Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer, leaves skin with a soft matte finish and holds makeup for up to eight hours. This lightweight water-based cream contains niacinamide to help minimize the appearance of pores, plus bakuchiol and lentil extract to control shine, absorb excess oil, and even out skin texture. It’s also made with blurring microspheres that give your skin a soft-matte, poreless filtered finish.
Brightening Primer
Brightening primers are designed to give your skin the same lit-from-within glow you’d get from a great skincare routine. Unlike highlighters, they’re shimmer-free and don’t contain any tint; instead, they give a subtle boost of radiance thanks to other ingredients.
When we created our best brightening primer, we wanted to make it an experience unlike any other. That’s how Cloud Glow Foam Brightening Primer was born. This light-as-air foam feels like, yes, a cloud and comes packed with skincare that hydrates for a natural glow.
We formulated it with turmeric and saffron extracts to help brighten and reduce redness, apricot extract to seal in moisture, and wu-zhu-yu to help even skin tone. While it feels light and airy, one pump will help your makeup stay put for up to 12 hours.
Illuminating Primer
So, you want even more glow: That’s where illuminating primer comes in. Think of this type of primer as a blend between your favorite liquid luminizer or highlighter and a makeup primer. When we brainstormed ways to make our best illuminating primer, we knew Hydro Grip was the perfect place to start.
We took all the skincare and grip powers from our award-winning hydrating formula, then packed it with a mix of light-reflecting pearls for a surreal golden-hour glow. The result: Hydro Grip + Glow Primer, an illuminating primer that keeps your makeup locked in for up to 12 hours. It’s basically Hydro Grip in its glow era. Reach for this one when you want surreal glowing skin on its own or under foundation. You can even use a makeup sponge to tap it over the high points of your face (like your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, and cupid’s bow), just like liquid highlighter.
What type of primer to use, depending on your skin type
Hydrating Primer for Combination Skin and Dry Skin
Hydrating primers are full of nourishing ingredients which makes them especially great for mature, combination skin, and dry skin types. We designed the 13x-award-winning Hydro Grip Primer for all skin types, but it’s particularly useful for those with dehydrated skin.
This hydrating primer is also safe for sensitive skin types, but, again, be sure to do a patch test first to make sure you’re good to go before committing to a full face.
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Mattifying Primer for Oily Skin and Combination Skin
If your skin is naturally prone to oiliness and breakouts, or if you have the type of combination skin that gets shiny throughout the day, mattifying primer will be a game-changer in your makeup routine. Our Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer and Pore Eclipse Matte Blur Stick absorb oil and controls shine for a soft matte finish that lasts all day long.
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Brightening or Illuminating Primer for Redness or Dull Skin
For skin that looks less dull and visibly brighter, look no further than brightening and illuminating primers. While both can work for dry or combination skin, these formulas target red spots and lifeless, uneven skin in a way other primers can’t. Products like our Cloud Glow Foam Brightening Primer boast turmeric and saffron extract to boost radiance and reduce redness for a soft, natural glow.
If you want a look that’s even more radiant, try an illuminating primer like our Hydro Grip + Glow Primer. It’s chockfull of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plus light-reflecting pearls for a vibrant, golden-hour glow.
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How to apply primer
Do you put on moisturizer or primer first? The answer to this eternal question is simple: Start with moisturizer. “The best way to use primer is right after skincare,” Sara says. “I love primers that are infused with skincare ingredients, so I think of them as my last step to seal in skincare and prep skin for makeup application.” After your morning skincare routine (and mandatory sunscreen), here’s how to apply primer on your face:
1. Apply one to two pumps of primer evenly on your face, blending it out with your fingertips. “A small amount goes a long way,” Sara points out. “Makeup is all about creating thin layers that blend together seamlessly.” Too much face primer runs the risk of feeling heavy or causing your makeup to cake.
2. Once your primer is on, let it dry for a full minute before applying the rest of your makeup.
3. Add your favorite makeup products on top and rest assured they’ll stay fresh all day. Pro tip: Our primers can also be worn alone to add a dewy, blurring, or brightening effect on bare skin.
And if you need any further proof that face primer is worth it, just check out our primer before-and-after wear tests.
—with additional reporting by Jessica Andrews
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.
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