Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Most Popular Hairstyles of 2021

      The Most Popular Hairstyles of 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last in the Fridge?

    How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last in the Fridge?

    Best practices for dealing with deviled eggs
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See All Home & Garden
    30 Containers for Covered Porches That Will Thrive in the Shade

    30 Containers for Covered Porches That Will Thrive in the Shade

    Some containers have all the sun. These shady planters, though, are having plenty of fun sans sun. We’ve gathered all of our favorite shade-loving containers to inspire your planting this season. If you have a shady yard or want to perk up a shaded spot in your home, at your front door, on your porch, or around your patio, put together a pretty shade-loving container that’s also easy to care for. Plants like caladiums and creeping Jenny will thrive in the shade, and they’ll also add great color and movement to your planters. If you’re looking for the best plants for the shade and great flowers that thrive in shade, also reach for impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vines, mazus, vincas, torenias, violas, petunias, pansies, hellebores (Lenten roses), hostas, astilbes, and trilliums. They look great and will thrive in full to partial shade. Shade-loving flowers aren’t too hard to find. Ask around at your local garden store, and you’ll be able to locate the ingredients and put together any one of these shade-tolerant container ideas. Also, in regards to your container, don’t forget to think vertical. We love pots and planters, but a hanging basket is another great option, as is an elevated planter, which will make a statement and take advantage of any vertical space.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See All Style & Culture
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. Southern Living
  2. fashion beauty
  3. The Best Makeup Primers on the Market, According to Your Skin Type

The Best Makeup Primers on the Market, According to Your Skin Type

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
September 09, 2019
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Best Makeup Primers
Credit: It Cosmetics
In the realm of beauty products, makeup primer isn't a glutton for attention. While mascara, lipstick, and blush are off stealing the show, makeup primer sits quietly in the back, holding everything together even in the toughest of circumstances (hello, summer in the South!). If only there was a makeup primer for life...we'd finally be able to blow dry our hair, stop for coffee, and still get to work early.Makeup primer, at its core, is meant to hold your foundation in place all day—to keep it from slipping off your T-zone, sliding into fine lines, or settling into dry patches. Since we all deal with different skin concerns, from oily skin to dry skin to mature skin, makeup primers need to be designed to do both: keep your makeup in place while paying attention to your unique skin type.  These formulas range from hydrating to mattifying to anti-aging, and there’s even one specifically made for your eyelids. Here are the best makeup primers for every skin concern.
Start Slideshow

1 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best Overall: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+
Credit: It Cosmetics

"Your skin but better" is like music to our makeup-wearing ears. This oil-free makeup primer, though only launched earlier this year, is quickly becoming a cult-classic, thanks to its makeup-gripping formula that locks down your face like nobody's business—all while keeping your skin hydrated and dewy, somehow? We'd like to say it sounds too good to be true, but we tried it. And it fully delivers. 

BUY IT: $39; sephora.com

1 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best for Dry Skin: e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer
Credit: e.l.f.

You'll recognize this drugstore makeup primer as the hydrating sibling of best-selling e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer. For those battling dry skin, it offers a tantalizing deal: Get a smooth, even canvas before applying makeup and keep your foundation from settling into dry patches or dehydrated skin. The formula is infused with grape—as well as Vitamins A, C, & E—to help boost complexion and hydrate your skin. The budget-friendly price doesn't hurt either. 

BUY IT: $6; amazon.com

2 of 7

3 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best for Oily Skin: Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer

Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer
Credit: Sephora

One of the biggest concerns for oily skin is that your makeup will slip off your face before you've even had lunch. (Don't get too down; having naturally oily skin actually benefits in the long run by slowing down the aging process.) Enter: a mattifying, oil-absorbing primer to keep your makeup in place all day. No blotting sheets required!

This formula is a customer-favorite, which can be attributed to its insane ability to keep shine at bay while providing a smooth-as-baby-skin base before you apply your makeup. 

BUY IT: $32; sephora.com

3 of 7

Advertisement

4 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best for Fine Lines: CoverGirl Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation Primer

CoverGirl Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation Primer
Credit: CoverGirl

This makeup primer simultaneously acts as an anti-aging serum. Don't be alarmed: It goes on milky but will dry clear and smooth on skin before applying makeup. The formula is fortified with glycerin for extra hydration, niacinamide to boost your skin barrier and improve appearance of fine lines, and camellia sinensis leaf extract to help protect and improve skin from harmful UV sun damage. Take that, wrinkles! 

BUY IT: $14.99; ulta.com

4 of 7

5 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best for Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Credit: Urban Decay

Eye shadow, for all intents and purposes, is a pretty afterthought that makes your makeup look even better—but we find ourselves looking into the mirror around 3 p.m. and seeing a full-on disaster. Our favorite eye shadow palette has gone rogue. It's slipped, shifted, and creased in all the wrong ways.

That's why when we discovered eye shadow primer, specifically this self-dubbed "potion," it was a total game-changer. It comes in a squeezable tube with a needle-nose tip, and it is subtly tinted beige to color-correct before applying your eye shadow. That favorite palette? It should be shaking in its boots. 

BUY IT: $13; sephora.com

5 of 7

6 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best for Dull Skin: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
Credit: Too Faced

Long days, late nights, and, yes, even hangovers (as the name touts!)...plenty of things can cause dull-looking skin. This primer is just the cold splash of water your face needs when it's looking less than dewy and glowing. Infused with coconut water, probiotics, and skin revivers, the formula locks down your makeup while simultaneously boosting your skin's radiance, promoting healthy elasticity, and hydrating. 

BUY IT: $34; ulta.com

6 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 7

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Best for Textured Skin: Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer

Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer
Credit: Sephora

Textured skin includes everything from uneven skin texture (from acne scarring and such!), large pores, and wrinkles. This primer offers the smoothest, silkiest base for any textured skin type. It blurs pores, smooths fine lines, and creates a velvety layer between your makeup and your skin—which is exactly how it keeps it in place all day. Flawless finish, coming right up. 

BUY IT: $18; sephora.com

7 of 7

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 7 Best Overall: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Makeup Primer+
    2 of 7 Best for Dry Skin: e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer
    3 of 7 Best for Oily Skin: Tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer
    4 of 7 Best for Fine Lines: CoverGirl Simply Ageless Anti-Aging Foundation Primer
    5 of 7 Best for Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
    6 of 7 Best for Dull Skin: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
    7 of 7 Best for Textured Skin: Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer

    Share options

    Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

    Login

    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Sitemap

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    View image

    The Best Makeup Primers on the Market, According to Your Skin Type
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.