Best Face Primers of 2025
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Face primers are a must-have in any makeup routine. These products work as a base layer for foundation, helping it to stay put for longer periods of time. Primers can also help to smooth out skin texture, reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines, and provide a more even canvas for makeup application. There are a variety of face primers available on the market, each with different benefits and formulations to suit different skin types and concerns. Whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin, there is a face primer out there to help you achieve a flawless, long-lasting makeup look.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 10 Face Primers
e.l.f. Power Grip Hydrating Face Primer
The e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is a gel-based face primer that effectively grips your makeup while providing a smooth, natural finish. Suitable for all skin types and tones, this primer goes on clear and is non-comedogenic, ensuring it won't clog your pores. Infused with Hyaluronic Acid, it hydrates your skin, helping to create a plump and healthy complexion. By applying this primer before your makeup, you will achieve a flawless base while enjoying the added moisture.
Rimmel Fix & Perfect Makeup Primer, 30ml
The Rimmel Makeup Primer is designed to minimise flaws and imperfections, helping you achieve a flawless complexion. Its oil-free formula ensures a non-greasy feel, providing comfort throughout your day. You will appreciate how it smooths over pores and enhances your natural radiance, making your skin look fresh and vibrant. This primer is perfect for those who want a smooth base for makeup application while enjoying a lightweight texture.
Max Factor Miracle Prep Hydrating Primer with Niacinamide
The Max Factor Miracle Prep Primer is a nourishing and hydrating product designed to enhance your skin's radiance. Enriched with niacinamide and Vitamin E, this primer provides essential nutrients that help keep your skin healthy and glowing. As you use it, you will notice a gradual increase in your skin's luminosity, making it perfect for achieving a vibrant look. Additionally, it primes the skin for make-up application, creating a smooth base that not only helps set your foundation but also extends its wear throughout the day.
Maybelline Baby Skin Matte Pore Eraser Primer
The Maybelline Baby Skin Primer offers a matte finish that leaves your skin feeling fresh and soft. Its unique gel texture helps to instantly vanish the appearance of pores, giving you a smooth base for makeup application. You will appreciate how lightweight the formula feels on your skin, making it comfortable for all-day wear. Additionally, the product provides a protective layer, ensuring your skin remains safeguarded throughout the day.
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Primer for Pores
The Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer is designed to enhance your make-up experience. It helps your foundation last up to eight hours, ensuring you look fresh all day. The formula works to minimise flaws by shrinking pores and evening out your skin tone, giving you a smoother appearance. With its day-proof properties, you can enjoy your glowing make-up regardless of the weather. Additionally, this primer offers a matte finish without over-drying your skin, keeping it hydrated and comfortable throughout the day.
e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer for Flawless Makeup
The e.l.f. Hydrating Primer is designed to create a smooth and flawless base for your makeup, ensuring it lasts longer throughout the day. Its hydrating formula, enriched with grape and vitamins A, C, and E, helps to boost your complexion while keeping your skin moisturised. This primer is particularly beneficial for those with acne-prone, combination, or oily skin, providing a perfect canvas without clogging pores. When paired with e.l.f.'s Flawless Finish Foundation or Camo Concealer, you can achieve a beautiful satin finish that lasts all day.
Barry M Flawless Primer with Vitamin E
The Barry M Flawless Primer is a smoothing and pore minimising base that helps you achieve a flawless complexion. As part of the Barry M Cosmetics Flawless Range, this primer is designed to create a smooth canvas for your makeup. It is free from animal testing, making it a cruelty-free choice for conscious consumers. Additionally, it contains Vitamin E, which nourishes your skin and may enhance your makeup's longevity, giving you that polished look you desire.
W7 Prime Magic Face Primer for Flawless Skin
The W7 Prime Magic Primer is a versatile makeup base designed to help you achieve a flawless look. Its pore-minimizing feature glides over your skin, reducing the appearance of blemishes and imperfections for a smooth surface. The clear, light formula makes for easy application, allowing your makeup to stay in place and look great for longer. By using this primer, you can enjoy a shine-free complexion while reducing fine lines, making it an essential part of your makeup routine.
NYX Marshmellow Primer for Smooth Skin
The NYX Marshmellow Primer is a versatile makeup base that offers a soothing and smoothing effect for your skin. Its soft whipped texture, enriched with marshmallow root and rejuvenating B12 vitamin, provides immediate hydration and softness. You can enjoy a soft-focus finish that enhances your complexion while also extending makeup wear for up to 16 hours. This silicone-free vegan formula is suitable for all skin tones, allowing you to apply it alone or under foundation for a flawless look.
Rimmel Lasting Matte Primer for Shine Control
The Rimmel Lasting Matte Primer is designed to instantly mattify your skin, helping you achieve a shine-free look. It effectively controls shine for up to 9 hours, so you can feel confident throughout the day. In addition to this, it smooths the appearance of your skin, creating an ideal canvas for makeup application. Moreover, this primer extends the wear of your makeup for up to 9 hours, ensuring your look stays fresh and vibrant. Enjoy long-lasting results with this fantastic primer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does primer do for your face?
"Primer creates a smooth canvas for your makeup," says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg. "It also keeps your makeup in place, keeps it from moving, [and] can keep it matte or luminous," depending on the formula and your skin. Not only does it give you an even base, it also helps lock everything else in.
2. Are primers good for your skin?
A primer can smooth the surface of skin with larger pores and prevent the creation of points across the T-zone from foundation. The right primer can provide an additional bit of matting or hydration to skin which is oily or too dry (but rarely both at the same time). Primers can improve the appearance of the base.
During our face primer research, we found 247 face primer products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 917,382 customer reviews through our big data system to write the face primers list. We found that most customers choose face primers with an average price of £7.24.
The face primers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of face primers, including e.l.f., Rimmel, Max Factor, Maybelline, Barry M.
Charlotte Powell is a dermatologist and a licensed cosmetologist from Westminster, London. However, she was first a cosmetologist from London Beauty Training School. According to Charlotte, she needed better insight into the human skin, hence the dermatology degree. Long before she acquired her degree, she wrote and edited articles, eBooks, and editorials for companies and websites. Charlotte combines her skill and knowledge in providing DIY Beauty tips amongst other fashion related topics.