We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping People Tested The 10 Best Face Primers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer was the crowd favorite By Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with two years of experience in the digital media industry. Her expertise lies in the realm of fashion and beauty, where she covers the best products that your wardrobe and makeup vanity need like the best lip oils, boyfriend jeans, workout sets, ballet flats, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 8, 2024 03:04PM EST In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Things to Consider How We Tested FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? People/Jessica Juliao Have you ever wondered what gives celebrities that airbrushed, impossibly perfect-looking skin in pictures (besides retouching)? The answer is actually pretty simple: it’s a face primer. Primers are a surefire way to not only smooth the texture and tone of your skin, but lock your makeup in for an all-day stay that will keep your foundation, concealer, powder, and more right where you applied it that morning. Red carpet regulars like Selena Gomez accredit their effortlessly smooth and glassy skin — even under the camera flashes — to the skillful use of a primer that perfects those pores. “I personally think of primer as an extension of your skin care routine that can, in some cases, aid with your makeup application or desired final look,” says Katie Mellinger, celebrity makeup artist to the likes of Emma Watson and Aubrey Plaza. This step in the process bridges the gap between skincare and makeup, sealing in the nourishment from your serums and moisturizers and prepping your skin for a flawless canvas that will hold your makeup in place throughout the day. We put 31 popular face primers through a series of tests to discover which products erased their pores and kept their makeup in place. By the end, 10 products were deemed worthy of the PEOPLE tested seal of approval, with brands ranging from Charlotte Tilbury to NYX. Without further ado, these are the very best face primers that PEOPLE tested. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer (See Price) Jump to Review Best Budget: e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Investment: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer at Amazon ($58) Jump to Review Best Pore-Minimizing: Tarte Cosmetics Poreless Mattifying Primer at Sephora ($34) Jump to Review Best for Oily Skin: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer at Sephora ($20) Jump to Review Best for Dry Skin: Too Faced Hangover Primer at Target ($42) Jump to Review Best Smoothing: NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Smoothing Primer at Amazon ($13) Jump to Review Best with Natural Ingredients: Honest Beauty Everything Primer Matte at Amazon (See Price) Jump to Review Best Illuminating: Youthforia Pregame Primer at Ulta ($38) Jump to Review Best with SPF: Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 at Nordstrom ($55) Jump to Review Best Overall Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer Sephora View on Sephora View On Milkmakeup.com $20 View On Kohls.com $20 Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros The formula blended well with our foundation and made makeup application smoother The primer gripped our makeup strongly enough to provide up to 12 hours of wear Its nutrient-packed formula helped this primer to not only even our tone and texture, but hydrate our skin, as well Cons It has a gel-like consistency, which some shoppers may not prefer When searching for the perfect face primer, the ideal formula is one that is thin enough to layer under makeup, evens your texture, moisturizes your skin, and holds your makeup in place throughout the day. The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer is the summation of all of these, earning the title of our best overall pick. The clear, gel-like liquid primer hydrated and smoothed our skin while leaving us with a radiant glow — a fantastic base for our makeup or a "skin, but better" look when worn on its own. Our skin both looked and felt beyond smooth after applying a thin layer of this primer, retaining just the right amount of moisture without being so dewy that our makeup could slip. We were dually impressed by how effortlessly our foundation blended on top of our primed skin, leaving our complexions looking more even in terms of texture and tone. To put it simply, our skin looked flawless. This primer’s plant and mineral-based formula includes blue agave extract for makeup preservation, hyaluronic acid and hemp-derived cannabis seed extract for a smoothing effect, and niacinamide and aloe water to moisturize the skin. While we loved the cooling gel formula of this product, we know that this texture may not be every shopper's cup of tea. So if you prefer a creamy primer over a gel, we suggest you keep scrolling — though the Hydro Grip is worth trying no matter your typical preference (this product might just have the star power to change it). Scoring a perfect five stars across every category of our testing — from application to feel to look — this primer seriously deserves a space in your makeup collection. We never knew buttery smooth skin could be so attainable. Size: 1.52 oz. | Finish: Radiant | Skin Type: All | Base: Water People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best Budget e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer Ulta View On Amazon $10 View On Target $10 View On Walmart $10 Our Ratings Application 4/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros We thought this primer's performance far outshined its budget-friendly price The formula was both smoothing and hydrating on our skin, prepping our complexions beautifully for makeup Its putty consistency effectively minimized the appearance of our pores without clogging them Cons It's a little hard to get the putty out of the container without a tool (especially if you have longer nails) We love a great beauty product at an affordable price, especially when the quality far surpasses its price. The e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer is the perfect example of this, ranking highly for its performance across all of our tests. The formula scored a perfect five stars for the way the product feels and looks on our skin, seemingly melting into our complexions with a soothing feel. We can attribute this calming, texture-smoothing quality to one of the product's key ingredients, squalane, which is a natural hydrator that locks in your skin's moisture, preserving your natural glow while adding a touch more. We soon found that this primer worked especially well with silicone-based makeup, minimizing the appearance of our pores and leaving us with a satin finish for our foundation and concealer to sit atop. The only qualm that we had with this primer was that it lacked an applicator to extract the putty, since its jar packaging made it hard to get a clean scoop (especially if we had longer nails). Other than this, we wouldn't change a thing — with its drugstore price and high-end results, we’d say that this primer is a must-try. Size: 0.74 oz. | Finish: Satin | Skin Type: All | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Tamara Staples Best Investment Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer Sephora View On Amazon $58 View On Nordstrom $24 View On Sephora $24 Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 4/5 Look 5/5 Pros A little goes a long way with this formula, so you can prolong the life of your expensive primer We saw a visible change in the evenness of our skin tones after a single application This primer does double time as a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 as well Cons We felt like this primer made our skin feel a bit drier than usual under our makeup If we’re gonna splurge on a beauty product, we want it to do what it says (and then some). And we're here to say that the Veil Mineral Primer from Hourglass delivers. With just a few small pumps of the product, this primer not only evens any redness in the skin, but it also minimizes the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and fine lines, and provides a solid base for foundation. Not only will your skin appear smoother than ever, but this primer also contains SPF 15 for a little extra sun protection. After applying a single pump of this primer we noticed how very smoothly our foundations glided on our faces, even our “problem areas” with a bit more texture and fine lines. We awarded this product a five-star ratings across several areas of the test, praising the way this primer complimented our makeup and sat on our skin. However, if we're being a little nitpicky, we do wish there was a bit more of a hydrating component to this primer. For an extra jolt of hydration, we recommend using your favorite facial moisturizer as a solid base, then going in with the Hourglass primer and sealing the deal with your favorite makeup products. But this isn't to say that the product is too drying for everyone — in fact, this could be the product that people who have oily skin or live in hot climates have been searching for. Since the formula controls sebum a bit more effectively than others, this could be just the thing you need when your skin's a bit oily or you're about to spend the day in the sun (just make sure you use some SPF, too). Size: 1.1 oz. | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: All | Base: Silicone People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best Pore-Minimizing Tarte Cosmetics Poreless Mattifying Primer Amazon View On Sephora $34 View On Ulta $34 View On QVC $32 Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros Thanks to its creamy formula, this primer was super easy to blend into our skin For being a mattifying primer, this product was both incredibly smoothing and hydrating on our skin Its tried-and-true waterproof capabilities are great for preventing makeup from sweating off on hot days Cons This pick is a little pricier than some of the others on our list Perfect for a no-makeup makeup look or as a solid base for airbrushed-looking foundation, the Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer is a product that will have you wondering where your pores went. This primer is specially formulated with optical matte-blur technology, which smoothed out any of our textural imperfections and erased unnecessary shine from our faces. To make matters even better, this formula is also waterproof, so we don't have to sweat (pun intended) those hot summer days when we still want to wear a little makeup. Simply swipe on, smooth out, and put your best face forward. Though we could liken its consistency to that of clear Vaseline, it wasn't too oily and felt perfectly hydrating on our skin. This helped our makeup glide on so evenly that we suddenly lost sight of our pores — the other testers ended up complimenting our skin all day. With over one fluid ounce of product, this primer is sure to last you a long time — but that amount and quality racks up quite a charge. The price tag may feel steep to some, but the pore-defeating and ultra-smoothing results certainly justify the cost. We've officially found an everyday staple. Size: 1.01 oz | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: All | Base: Silicone People / Jessica Juliao Byrdie/leticia almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best for Oily Skin Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer Sephora View On Sephora $20 View On Ulta $36 View On Fentybeauty.com Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros Despite being heavy-duty when it comes to oil control, this primer felt super lightweight on our skin The formula was effectively mattifying without stripping our skin of hydration We noticed that our complexions appeared to be more even-toned after using this primer Cons Since the formula is engineered for oilier skin, this may be too drying (or too matte) on dry to normal skin types Your skin’s natural production of oil throughout the day can lead to the separation of your makeup — especially if you have oily skin. A way to control this is with a mattifying primer, and the one that we found to be the most effective for naturally glowy skin was the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer. This primer is specifically targeted for people with combination-to-oily skin, as the product will control your natural shine and keep your makeup from sliding around. We were particularly impressed by how lightweight and hydrating this primer was, given its matte formula. Oftentimes primers can feel stiff when its goal is to mattify the skin, but this airy formula provided just the right amount of shine control without stripping our skin of its natural moisture. One thing we were hesitant about was the light color of the product (the only shade it's offered in), but we were pleasantly surprised by how translucent the formula ended up being when we rubbed it in. It even ended up balancing our complexions thanks so its infusion of blurring powder, which was a total win in our book. Because this primer is meant for combination to oily skin, it could potentially be too matte for wearers with normal to dry skin. But for the population with naturally dewy skin, this is the perfect contender for days when you need your makeup to be long-wearing and your shine kept under control. Size: 1 oz. | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida The 14 Best Face Moisturizers for Oily Skin, Tested and Reviewed Best for Dry Skin Too Faced Hangover Primer Ulta View On Target $42 View On Nordstrom $16 View On Sephora $18 Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros Formulated with a hydrating concoction of coconut water and probiotics, this primer felt like a drink of water for our dry skin Despite packing a moisturizing punch, this primer felt lightweight under our makeup Its water-based formula makes this primer super blendable (and very friendly with water-based makeup) Cons The primer is scented, so people with sensitive skin should carefully look at the list of ingredients before trying it out On the other hand, many people experience dryness in their skin naturally or during colder times of the year. This requires a different type of primer that will hold makeup in place all day. The Too Faced Hangover Primer is the product you’ll want to reach for if your skin falls in the normal to dry category, as the nourishing formula is pumped with coconut water and probiotics to boost the skin’s hydration levels and elasticity. These two ingredients are like a drink of water to thirsty skin, illuminating the barrier for a lit-from-within glow once foundation is applied. We appreciated how easy it was to apply this liquid primer, needing only one pump of the product to cover the entirety of our faces. Once worked into the skin, we were able to take in how comfortable the primer felt both before and after makeup application, likening it to a lightweight moisturizer instead of a "sticky" primer. We also liked that we could pump this one into our hands, as it seems to cut down on the chance of dispensing too much and wasting product. While there were next to no issues to be had with this primer, we did wish that it contained a bit of SPF — however, this is hard to find in the primer space in general. Another thing to note is its coconut scent, as this kind of fragrance could either smell like a tropical vacation to you or give you an instant headache. Regardless of scent or SPF, this primer has all of the hydrating and staying power that you may not have known your makeup routine needed. Size: 1.35 oz. | Finish: Radiant | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida These Are the 11 Best Face Oils That We’ve Tested in 2024 Best Smoothing NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Smoothing Primer Ulta View On Amazon $13 View On Target $17 View On Walmart $17 Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros As per the name, this airy primer did a great job at smoothing our complexions and pores Infused with marshmallow root, its formula was incredibly hydrating to our dry skin Our skin looked and felt smoother after we applied this primer Cons We noticed that it feels a bit sticky while it's drying, so you'll need to wait until it's completely dry to move onto foundation or tinted moisturizer If smooth skin is what you’re after (let’s face it, who isn’t), then the Marshmellow Smoothing Primer from NYX could be your new secret to buttery skin. This whipped cream-like primer is dispensed out of a pump and is meant to be applied with a sponge, but it works just fine with your fingers, too. The product is described as a 10-in-1 primer, promising to smooth, moisturize, extend makeup longevity for up to 16 hours, hydrate, soothe, even the skin tone, minimize pre-existing texture, blur fine lines, provide a blurred finish, and keep your makeup looking freshly-applied all day long. And after earning a perfect score, with five out of five stars in every testing category, it’s safe to say that this primer was able to meet most of those claims. We were impressed by how nicely the product laid under our foundation, leaving no residue behind and smoothing over our uneven skin texture and pores. Adding to its list of perks, its vegan formula is fortified with marshmallow root extract, which is a soothing agent that not only glosses over the skin for flawless makeup, but softens with continuous use, as well. The only thing that we could critique about this primer was that it took a touch longer than most to dry and felt sticky during this time, but eventually the formula settled and took to our foundation beautifully. So if you’re in a hurry, this product may add a little more time to your clock — but if you’re looking for a low-cost, high-value primer that erases your imperfections, then this could be the perfect contender. Size: 1.01 oz. | Finish: Radiant | Skin Type: All | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida The 19 Best Peptide Serums of 2024, According to Dermatologists Best with Natural Ingredients Honest Beauty Everything Primer Matte Amazon View On Amazon View On Ctchealth.ca Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros We loved that this primer had some serious shine-controlling abilities Despite being a mattifying primer, we were still able to achieve the look of natural-looking skin We appreciated that the formula is free of parabens, silicones, and phthalates Cons This one wasn't completely pore-erasing, if you're going for maximum minimization As the average consumer becomes more well-versed with the quality of their products, both in performance and ingredients, there is a heightened demand for cleaner beauty products. The Honest Beauty Everything Primer is a consciously-made product that mattifies, blurs, and prepares the skin for makeup while steering clear of harmful ingredients like parabens, silicones, phthalates, and more. We likened this primer to a moisturizer because of its creamy consistency, which made this a comfortable product to apply and let dry down (which it did quite quickly). Because it's a matte primer, this product definitely did away with our natural shine — which we'd want in some instances, but not all the time. We also liked the pump packaging on this product, which ensures that just the right amount of product is distributed so that no precious primer goes to waste. Staying true to its natural essence, the Honest Beauty primer was able to deliver softer-looking results than some of the others we tested — skin that looked like ours, just smoother and less shiny. However, one thing of note was that while the primer made our pores appear smaller, they were still somewhat noticeable. But if you're after he natural look, just with a bit of makeup staying power, then this could be the perfect primer for you. If you’re a natural glam lover through and through (when it comes to ingredients and finish), then you’ll love this pick from Honest. Size: 1 oz. | Finish: Matte | Skin Type: All | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida The 18 Best Self-Tanners of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Illuminating Youthforia Pregame Primer Credo Beauty View On Ulta $38 View On Youthforia.co View On Credo Beauty Our Ratings Application 4.5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 5/5 Pros This pearlescent formula infused an extra bit of shine under our makeup (without making us look oily) Its botanical formula worked overtime as a skincare step, too, adding an extra dose of hydration to our makeup-prepped skin Its light-filtering and pollution-protecting technology served as a barrier on our skin Cons It has a slight oatmeal scent, which some shoppers may not prefer Glowy skin is the name of the game when it comes to modern beauty, so if your skin needs an extra boost of luminosity, then you might as well start at the base — with the right primer. The Youthforia Pregame Primer is unique because it’s a multi-use product that can be used alone as skincare, or as an emollient makeup product. It can also be mixed with your concealer or foundation for a sheer finish and you can even sleep in it (yes, you heard us right, you can actually sleep in this… and wake up with your skin looking better than the night before). The smoothing formula grips makeup in place for all-day wear while simultaneously locking in moisture and the nurturing benefits of the brand’s signature Skin Save and Blueshield complexes, which are made from natural ingredients that reduce redness, protect the skin from pollutants and control the production of sebum (or oil). You can also use this primer on the height of your cheekbones or swipe it along your collarbones — simply anywhere you'd like to add a bit of radiance. We fell for the luminous glow that this primer gave us, which is something we'll yearn reach for during the cooler months when our hydration levels and allover glow take a turn. One aspect to note is the scent, which we thought reminded us of oatmeal, which could be a deciding factor for some interested shoppers. While it was pleasant to us, it’s worth knowing before adding to cart. For a glow that can’t be beat and a formula so good that it can be slept in, Youthforia’s Pregame Primer has your back. Size: 1 oz. | Finish: (Extra) radiant | Skin Type: All | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best with SPF Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 Sephora View On Nordstrom $55 View On Sephora $55 View On Charlottetilbury.com Our Ratings Application 5/5 Feel 5/5 Look 4/5 Pros Backed with SPF 50, this primer was not only perfecting, but it also protected our skin in the sun We didn't experience any flashback with this red carpet-ready formula Its hydrating properties left our skin feeling pampered underneath our makeup Cons Because of its high price and smaller fluid ounce count, it may seem like a small amount for the price Protecting your skin from the sun is essentially a cardinal rule of beauty — which is why a primer like the Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer, packed with SPF 50, is the perfect product to start off your morning makeup routine. Smooth as butter and full of hydration, this formula applies like a moisturizer and gives the skin a solid glow to build upon with foundation and concealer. Once applied, this product made our skin feel plump and hydrated, and the feeling translated in the mirror, too. Our skin looked bouncy without harboring too much shine, and we adored the fact that there was SPF in the formula (and a high level of it, at that). The benefit-packed formula includes an urban pollution defense complex plus UVA and UVB sun filters to protect your skin and is supplemented with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to further boost the skin’s overall health. Our skin experienced a bit of plumping from the airbrush polymers that are infused into the formula, which was a welcome side effect. While this is most definitely a go-to product for many beauty lovers, it may feel like a bit of an investment for a small(er) amount of product to some consumers. Quality primers with supercharged SPF can be hard to come by, which is why we felt that this primer was worth the investment — but ultimately, that’s up to you to decide. Size: 1 oz. | Finish: Radiant | Skin Type: Oily, combination, normal | Base: Water People / Jessica Juliao People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida The 12 Best Sunscreens from Neutrogena, Supergoop, and More, Tested on the Beach Things to Consider Before Buying a Face Primer Finish The way you want your skin to look throughout the day, whether that be radiant, matte or dewy (or anything in between) has a lot to do with your base product. The type of finish your primer can provide will set the look for your glam — giving you a healthy glow or tactfully controlling shine in naturally oily areas, like the T-zone. The primer you’re eyeing will often advertise which type of finish it will give you, so it’s important to double check the details of your pick beforehand to make sure you’re buying a formula that's glowy (think Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip Primer), matte (i.e. the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer) or pore-minimizing formula (enter: Tarte's Poreless Mattifying Primer). And, then match it with a suitable setting spray, if you're using one. Skin Type Your skin is an important factor to consider as you look for primer that works best for you, as some are specifically made for different textures and types, like oily, combination, or dry. Oftentimes primers will be infused with skincare elements, like hydration-boosting agents, natural ingredients that promote skin barrier nourishment, and more — making this a great option for those with dry skin. There also are primers that are specifically made for those with oily skin, usually providing a matte finish and an extra boost when it comes to oil control. Typically, most primers can be used on all skin types, but if you have normal to dry skin, a radiant-finish primer could be your best friend, and if you err on the side of oily skin, you could try out a matte primer to spot-treat slick areas before applying makeup. Those with oily skin can apply a quality toner or another oil-absorbing product as part of their skincare routine, before primer application. Silicone vs. Water-based Aside from using quality ingredients, it’s important to make sure that the base of your primer aligns with the base of your face makeup, as well. “If the foundation you use has silicone in it, then it's usually best to use a primer with silicone in it, as well,” says Mellinger. “You want to avoid using a water-based foundation with a silicone primer as the silicone can cause the foundation to separate.” She adds that it’s also a good idea to pair water-based primers with water-based foundations, so it’s worth the extra minute it takes to check your foundation’s ingredients before adding a compatible primer to your cart. This will ensure that the product will not only grip your makeup in place, but put your best skin forward, as well. Price As with most things, price is typically a factor that is top of mind for many shoppers. You can find quality primers within any budget (or lack thereof), it just depends where you look. For example, one of our favorites (and the winner of “best budget”) is the e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer. This is a crowd favorite and exemplifies that sometimes a product with a low price tag can outperform some of the more costly options. On the other hand, if you want to invest a little more in a high-end primer that you know will deliver stunning results, then the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer could be your perfect primer. The amount you’re willing to spend will look different for everyone, but the results should always be the smooth, poreless end product that the primer promises. How We Tested We started out this test by coming into the beauty lab barefaced and moisturizer-free. Each of us then applied the same moisturizer (to keep things consistent) and chose a primer that had a similar base to our personal foundation that we had brought in themselves — meaning we matched a silicone-based primer to a silicone-based foundation and vice versa for water-based products. We each used a pea-sized amount of each primer, warming up the product between our fingertips and working it into our skin, starting at the center of the face and moving outwards. We let each primer dry for a couple of minutes and then evaluated each product on the attributes below, rating each category from one to five (five being the best). Application: The first step in the process was the application of the product, which we looked at with a critical eye. We noted whether or not the primer blended smoothly onto our skin, leaving us with a shine-controlled visage with minimal dry time, or clung to our dry patches and looked clumpy or chalky. We observed carefully if the product pilled on top of our moisturizer or laid flat, like it should. Feel: We then recorded how our skin felt once the primer had a chance to sit. Whether or not the product had an even consistency on our skin played a huge factor in the way we rated each primer, as this would be the base for our entire day's makeup. A good primer would feel featherlight, spread evenly across our skin (even over texture, ideally smoothing it in the process), and dries without leaving a tacky or greasy residue.Look: What makes a good primer is the way it looks under your makeup — and if it's really great, it makes your skin look smooth enough to wear on its own. Our favorite primers were able to go unnoticed under our foundation while minimizing the appearance of our pores, cancelling out redness, and evening our skin texture. We noted whether or not our products were able to achieve "our skin, but better" results and if they were able to keep our makeup in place throughout the day (the real test of a good primer). Frequently Asked Questions Why do you need a face primer? Face primer will do several things for your makeup — control shine, keep your foundation in place all day, and nurture the skin in the process. “[Face] primer is there to help with the final effect of the makeup on the skin, so the type of primer is all relative to whatever issue you might have,” says Mellinger.In short, the primer you choose will either mattify the high-shine areas of your face (like the T-zone, if you have oily skin) or add a bit of radiance if you have dry skin and want to hydrate your skin while simultaneously prolonging your makeup. Primers are also great for evening skin texture and minimizing the appearance of pores, which helps create a smoother canvas for your foundation application. What ingredients should I look for in a primer? After you identify which type of skin you have, you can move forward with the quest for quality ingredients. “If you need extra hydration, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, algae extract, niacinamide,” shares Kristee Liu, makeup artist to Brenda Song. “If you need help to control excess oil, look for ingredients like salicylic acid, witch hazel, tea tree oil.” But since everyone’s skin can take differently to every ingredient, it’s important to do a patch test on a small area of the skin first.Alternatively, there are definitely certain ingredients to steer clear of in your search, as well. Liu recommends staying far away from the products that include parabens, paraffin, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, and formaldehyde, to start. One of the most natural ingredient-packed products on this list is, you guessed it, the Everything Primer from Honest Beauty, which is specifically formulated without these harmful ingredients — a great place to start if you want your base to be both product-staying and nourishing to the skin. How do you apply face primer? “Primer should be the last step of the skincare routine, right before your makeup application,” Liu advises. “Use a foundation brush or a wet makeup sponge to apply. Make sure the primer has time to set (about a minute or two) before applying makeup over it.” The artist reminds us to only use a small amount (and only on the few areas that you need it — you don’t need to apply it like a moisturizer), because a little goes a long way. Should I buy primer with SPF? SPF should be included wherever possible in your makeup routine in order to protect the skin barrier from cancer-causing UV rays, so starting at the base with your primer is a great place to squeeze in some sun protection if you can. While it’s fully acceptable to use an SPF-infused moisturizer first and a regular primer second, you can knock both out in one go with an SPF-rich primer like the Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer, which is fortified with SPF 50, or the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, with a lower dosage of SPF 15. To make a long story short, if you can grab one with SPF, do it. Why Trust PEOPLE? Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer at PEOPLE, covering beauty, fashion, home and lifestyle products. She has previously written commerce content for Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, and Southern Living. For this article, she consulted our testing results and compared the features, benefits, and uses of some of the most popular face primers. She compared these primers based on factors like value, look and feel, coverage, ease of application, hydration and elasticity, and moisture resistance. For additional insight on how to select the best face primer, Brascia spoke with celebrity makeup artists with years of experience doing red carpet glam to divulge the secrets to celebrity skin. Meet Our Experts Katie Mellinger is a celebrity makeup artist based between New York and Los Angeles, beautifying the likes of Emma Watson, Aubrey Plaza, Sofia Coppola, and more. Kristee Liu is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist who kickstarted her career as Cher's personal MUA. Her work has been most recently seen on actress Brenda Song and Disney veteran Jodi Benson. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. The 13 Best Night Creams of 2024, Tested and Reviewed