By Brooke Sager
The key to a flawless makeup look that lasts all day comes down to face makeup primer: the must-do prep step before your makeup application.
What does a makeup primer do, you ask? It’s designed to create a smooth canvas for applying foundation, highlighter, bronzer, and blush to your face, while offering an enhanced grip so your makeup stays put longer. Every skin type and texture can reap the benefits of wearing face makeup primer—but it’s super important to select the right formula with ideal ingredients to target your skin’s specific needs.
If you’re on the hunt for the best makeup primer for your skin, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you by pairing some of our high-performance formulas with six of the most common skin types. Get ready for makeup primer to do wonders for your skin and next makeup application!
If you have dry skin
Struggling with dry, tight, or flaky skin? You need a hydrating primer that not only quenches thirsty skin, but works to give you a smooth, even application with your foundation while delivering primo staying power. A gel-based primer is a great option because it glides on silky smooth without that sticky feel.
Our Power Grip Primer is a great makeup prep step that gives dry skin a moisturizing boost while gripping your makeup and giving skin a soft-focus glow. It goes on like a clear serum, delivering a hit of Hyaluronic Acid to your skin for a plump, well-hydrated complexion. Plus, it works great for every skin tone!
If you have oily skin
Oily skin has its own list of challenges when it comes to makeup application. You want a non-greasy formula that blurs out blemishes, helps with oil control, and still has a hold on that gorgeous makeup look you spent hours on.
Our Matte Primer is up for the “no more makeup meltdowns” challenge! This mattifying primer is infused with kaolin and white charcoal to absorb excess oil for a shine-free finish. The lightweight mattifying formula is great for oily skin, working to even out skin texture and glide over imperfections while offering the ultimate grip on makeup.
If you have combination skin
Combination skin can bring about its own set of difficulties when it comes to applying makeup. Some areas of your face (like your T-zone) may be extra oily, while other areas of your face (like your chin and jawline) are dry and flaky. The condition of combination skin can also change with the seasons.
The appearance of larger pores can be the product of combo skin, because excess sebum on the oily sections of your face can clog pores and enlarge them. The solve? A dependable, easy-apply face primer like our Poreless Putty Primer that glides over imperfections and enlarged pores to create a soft-focus canvas while gripping the rest of your makeup routine for smooth skin.
A long-lasting primer that holds onto your makeup for dear life, like our translucent Power Grip Primer, is also a great product to have in your arsenal if you have combo skin. It works its magic to hydrate your skin with Hyaluronic Acid and keep your makeup in place for all-day wear.
If you have acne-prone skin
If you struggle with acne and blemish-prone skin, it may be your first instinct to shy away from piling on more products before your makeup. But the secret to a smooth makeup application that won’t further irritate or inflame your skin? Choose a primer infused with acne-fighting ingredients so that the formula works with you instead of against you.
Our Acne-fighting Primer is designed specially for those with acne-prone skin. It’s formulated with acne-fighting 1.8% Salicylic Acid to help prevent future breakouts and help reduce redness of skin, Zinc to help reduce inflammation, and Kaolin to help control oil and draw out imperfections. This skin-perfecting makeup primer helps you transform your skin into a smooth canvas (with makeup or bare-faced!) while saying buh-bye to blemishes and fighting future breakouts for a flawless, even complexion. Plus, it goes on clear for a natural finish.
If you have enlarged pores
On a mission to conceal large pores? Before you apply foundation and concealer, the right makeup primer is what’s going to make all the difference in blurring imperfections.
The name of our Poreless Putty Primer says it all! The unique formula features a velvety texture that glides effortlessly over the skin, smoothing over imperfections while helping minimize the appearance of pores. This breathable primer won’t suffocate your skin while still helping your makeup application stay put all day for a stunning, poreless effect. #Nofilter needed!
If you have mature skin
Over 40? Don’t skip out on makeup primer—it’s the perfect product to add to your routine to smooth over fine lines, wrinkles, and imperfections to create the perfect canvas for a beautiful complexion.
Mature skin can really benefit and look its best with help from our Poreless Putty Primer. The lightweight formula allows your skin to breathe while still gripping your makeup for all-day wear. Since mature skin can also veer on the dryer side, this formula is a great pick because it’s infused with squalane to help protect skin from moisture loss without settling into your fine lines.
For a little extra glow, our Luminous Primer gives you a soft, radiant base for your makeup application. It’s formulated with Hyaluronic Acid and vegan collagen to help plump and hydrate the skin for a youthful-looking complexion. Pro tip: Feel free to wear it without makeup for subtle luminosity every day.
To find out which e.l.f. face primer is right for your skin, visit our primer finder and fill out a few questions.