Best Oil-Free Face Primers of 2025

Charlotte Powell Avatar
Charlotte Powell
Last Updated: 29 Jan 2025

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Oil-free face primers are a must-have for anyone who wants to achieve a flawless, long-lasting makeup look without clogging their pores or exacerbating oily skin. These primers are designed to smooth out the skin's texture, minimise the appearance of pores, and create a smooth, even base for foundation or other makeup products. They are perfect for those with combination or oily skin, as they help to control excess oil and shine throughout the day, leaving you with a matte finish that lasts for hours. With a variety of formulations available, including those with added skincare benefits, there is an oil-free face primer out there to suit every skin type and concern.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

PHOERA Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer Cover #TOP 1
PHOERA Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer
ftb score rating icon 9.8
e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer for Flawless Skin Cover #TOP 2
e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer for Flawless Skin
ftb score rating icon 9.7
HOPHAT Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer Cover #TOP 3
HOPHAT Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 9 Oil-Free Face Primers

PHOERA Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer

#2pcs 6ml
6 ml (Pack of 1)
PHOERA Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer Cover
2Pcs Makeup Primer For PHOERA All Matte Oil Free Full Coverage Foundation Base Long Lasting Hydrating Smoothing Moisturizing Makeup Base Matte Face Foundation Primer (#2pcs 6ml)

The PHOERA Face Primer is designed to create a flawless base for your makeup, ensuring it lasts from day to night. By minimising pores, wrinkles, and fine lines, it helps even out your skin texture for a smooth finish. The refreshing and non-sticky formula hydrates and moisturises your skin, promoting a healthier appearance. By applying this primer before your foundation, you can enhance the longevity of your makeup and achieve a stunning look for any occasion.

What We Like
Minimises pores and fine lines
Hydrating and non-sticky formula
Long-lasting makeup base
Perfect for various occasions
Enhances skin texture
#TOP 2

e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer for Flawless Skin

85911
Matte
1 Count (Pack of 1)
e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer for Flawless Skin Cover
e.l.f, Matte Putty Primer, Skin Perfecting, Lightweight, Oil-free formula, Mattifies, Absorbs Excess Oil, Fills in Pores and Fine Lines, Soft, Matte Finish, All-Day Wear, 21g

The e.l.f. Matte Putty Primer is designed to deliver a perfect matte finish with its oil-free formula, which includes kaolin and white charcoal. The velvety texture glides effortlessly over your skin, smoothing out imperfections for a flawless, poreless appearance. By applying a thin layer to moisturised skin, you create an ideal base that enhances the grip of your makeup. Additionally, it is easy to carry and perfect for travel, ensuring you can maintain your look wherever you go.

What We Like
Oil-free for a matte finish
Smooths imperfections effectively
Enhances makeup longevity
Convenient travel size
Cruelty-free and vegan

HOPHAT Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer

# Clear
24 ml (Pack of 1)
HOPHAT Matte Oil-Free Makeup Primer Cover
Makeup Powder Primer All Matte Oil Free Full Coverage Foundation Base Long Lasting Hydrating Smoothing Moisturizing Makeup Base Matte Foundation Primer (# Clear)

The HOPHAT Makeup Primer features a lightweight and silky texture that effortlessly glides over your skin, ensuring a smooth and even base for your makeup. It fills in pores and fine lines, helping to create a flawless finish while reducing redness and uneven pigmentation. Enriched with hydrating ingredients, it keeps your skin moisturised and soft, preventing any dryness. Additionally, its oil-controlling properties work to reduce shine, ensuring your makeup remains fresh and lasts throughout the day.

What We Like
Lightweight and silky texture
Hydrating and moisturising
Reduces shine and oil
Creates a flawless finish
#TOP 4

Glamza Phoera Pore Minimizing Face Primer

White
24 ml (Pack of 1)
Glamza Phoera Pore Minimizing Face Primer Cover
Glamza Phoera Matifying Face Primer Pore Minimizing OIl Free Long Lasting Flawless Matte Finish

The Glamza Phoera Primer is designed to create a flawless makeup base that lasts from day to night. It is easy to apply, gliding smoothly onto the skin and blending seamlessly, ensuring an even skin tone. This primer is also cruelty-free and vegan, allowing you to enjoy animal-friendly makeup. Additionally, it provides added vitamins A and E, which help protect your skin from pollutants and fight premature ageing, making it a great choice for maintaining healthy skin.

What We Like
Creates a long-lasting makeup base
Vegan and cruelty-free ingredients
Easy application and blending
Rich in antioxidants and vitamins
Helps fight premature ageing
#TOP 5

Catrice The Mattifier Oil-Control Primer, Vegan and Waterproof

9900000893
Transparent
30 ml (Pack of 1)
Catrice The Mattifier Oil-Control Primer, Vegan and Waterproof Cover
Catrice The Mattifier Oil-Control Primer, Transparent, Nourishing, Long Lasting, Shiny Absorbent, Pore Refining, Primer, Matte, Vegan, Oil-Free, Waterproof (30 ml)

The Catrice The Mattifier Primer is designed to give you a flawless matte finish by absorbing excess oil throughout the day. With its nourishing formula, it is enriched with skin-loving ingredients that help to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. This product also works as a pore refining primer, minimising the appearance of pores for a smoother look. Additionally, its long-lasting wear ensures that your makeup stays put, allowing you to enjoy a fresh look without constant touch-ups.

What We Like
Oil-control for a matte finish
Nourishing, skin-friendly ingredients
Pore minimising effect
Long-lasting makeup wear
Vegan and oil-free formula
#TOP 6

DETVFO Long Lasting Oil-free Face Primer

Anglicolor
Transparent
6 ml (Pack of 1)
DETVFO Long Lasting Oil-free Face Primer Cover
Face Primer, Pore Primer Under Foundation, Oil-control Long Lasting Makeup Foundation Primer, Oil-free Makeup Base for All Skin Types (6ml)

The DETVFO Face Primer is designed to create a protective barrier on your skin, helping to shield it from cosmetics and UV damage. Its refreshing gel texture ensures that your pores remain unclogged while giving your skin a silky, smooth finish. This primer also offers a moisturising effect, allowing your makeup to glide on effortlessly for a flawless look. With its long-lasting formula, you can enjoy a matte finish all day, keeping shine at bay and enhancing your skin's natural beauty.

What We Like
Protects skin from UV damage
Reduces appearance of pores
Hydrating and moisturising formula
Long-lasting matte finish
Non-greasy and refreshing texture

Revolution IRL Pore Blur Primer, Lightweight & Mattifying

1613163
Filter Primer
22 g (Pack of 1)
Revolution IRL Pore Blur Primer, Lightweight & Mattifying Cover
Revolution IRL Pore Blur Filter Primer, Lightweight, Blurring, Mattifying Face 22ml

The Revolution IRL Primer is a lightweight, blurring primer designed to minimise the appearance of pores and fine lines, giving you a flawless base for foundation. Enriched with Vitamin E, its silky smooth formula is oil-free, ensuring a comfortable wear throughout the day. This primer pairs perfectly with the Makeup Revolution IRL Filter Foundation and the IRL All Day Filter Fixing Spray, helping you achieve that sought-after real-life filter effect. Simply apply two pumps to clean skin for a beautifully blurred finish.

What We Like
Minimises pores and fine lines
Oil-free, silky smooth formula
Pairs well with other Revolution products
Cruelty-free and vegan

Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops

2637965
30 ml (Pack of 1)
Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops Cover
Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops - Silicone-Free, Oil-Free - BHA Primer Face Makeup Pore Minimizer - Antioxidant Face Serum for Women - Pore Reducer for Hydrating, Glowing Skin (30ml)

The Glow Recipe Blur Drops serve as a silicone-free blurring primer that instantly smooths your skin for a soft, satin finish. Formulated with salicylic acid, tapioca, rice, and strawberry enzyme, this serum effectively absorbs excess oil while promoting a glowing complexion. Its pore-blurring ingredients work to minimise the appearance of pores, allowing your skin to look clearer. With consistent use, you'll notice refined skin texture over time, making it an essential addition to your skincare routine.

What We Like
Silicone-free and oil-free
Instantly blurs and smooths skin
Reduces appearance of pores
Vegan and cruelty-free
Easy to incorporate into routine
#TOP 9

ONEKLIK PHOERA Oil Control Face Primer

Transparent
18 ml (Pack of 1)
ONEKLIK PHOERA Oil Control Face Primer Cover
ONEKLIK PHOERA Face Primer Make up Primer Makeup Foundation Oil control Lasting Foundation primer base (18 ml)

The ONEKLIK PHOERA Primer is designed to enhance your makeup experience. Its pore minimiser feature helps to fill in and reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, giving you a smoother canvas. The long-lasting formula ensures your makeup remains intact throughout the day. Additionally, this lightweight and oil-free primer effectively controls excess skin oil, allowing for a flawless finish. It also offers protection against environmental pollutants, safeguarding your skin from potential damage.

What We Like
Pore minimisation
Long-lasting wear
Lightweight and oil-free
Protects from pollutants
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why does primer make my face oily?

Specifically, many primers use silicones as their main ingredient in order to help fill in fine lines and pores and make your makeup stay on longer and look better. Unfortunately, those silicones that make primer so great can also make oily skin more prone to irritation and breakouts.

2. Does primer prevent oil?

If you have oily skin, you need a primer formula that can also effectively control excess oil, helping to keep you shine-free as well. A great mattifying primer will provide a flawless base, minimize the appearance of pores, and hydrate skin without clogging your pores or causing excess oil.

Editor's Notes

During our oil-free face primer research, we found 89 oil-free face primer products and shortlisted 9 quality products. We collected and analyzed 251,863 customer reviews through our big data system to write the oil-free face primers list. We found that most customers choose oil-free face primers with an average price of £6.49.

The oil-free face primers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of oil-free face primers, including HOPHAT, e.l.f., Glamza, CATRICE, Junhe. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 342 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Charlotte Powell Avatar

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.