Key ingredients: Evodia Rutecarpa, Avobenzone 2%, Homosalate 6%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 1.6% | Who it’s good for: those with oily skin or dull skin | Finish: glowy.
What are the benefits of using a face primer?
“Face primers can help prep the skin, smooth uneven texture, even the skin tone, and may help makeup last longer,” says Dillon Peña, makeup artist and founder of Leland Francis. When shopping for a primer, keep your skin concerns in mind to get more out of the primer than just grippiness. Oil-prone? Look for a lightweight mattifying or oil-controlling primer that employs ingredients like silica or salicylic acid, says Peña.
People with dry skin should seek creamy, hydrating, or plumping primers formulated with hyaluronic acid or glycerin. If you have redness, Peña suggests opting for a colour-correcting primer with a green tint to help neutralise. (Soothing ingredients like aloe or green tea can also help). Enlarged pores will fare well with a thicker, balm-like, or silicone-based primer that can help smooth the appearance.
How should I apply a face primer?
Makeup artist tip #1? Allow the primer to dry fully for around a minute before you put on your makeup. “The trick with any primer is to make sure it’s applied in a small dime-to-nickel-size amount and fully blended in first [before going in with foundation],” makeup artist Allan Avendaño previously explained. “Applying lightly and sparingly is my go-to rule,” he adds.
Makeup artist Vincent Oquendo also recommends starting small. He previously explained that someone with dehydrated skin who tends to absorb makeup more quickly can handle a quarter-size dollop of primer. In contrast, someone with oily skin should stick to the bare minimum because it sits on the surface longer.
Always apply primer with clean fingers so your makeup absorbs fully and isn’t sullied by outside grime. To keep your makeup from pilling, align your primer and foundation bases — for example, your best bet is to use a water-based primer with a water-based foundation, or a silicone-based primer with a silicone-based foundation.
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best makeup primers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete how we test page.
After something else? Shop the best lash primers and the best eyeshadow primers.
This story originally appeared on Allure.