The 10 Best Blurring Primers That You Must Buy In 2023

These primers will help you blur flaws and prep your skin for the perfect makeup look.

By Baishali BhattacharyaBaishali Bhattacharya, Certified Image Consultant, Certified In Makeup Artistry  • 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

The best blurring primer can help your foundation last longer and keep your makeup looking fresh for hours. Blurring primers are vital for getting a beautifully smooth makeup appearance since they help you produce a flawless foundation base. These blurring primers blur fine lines, pores, and creases, which help balance out your skin tone. If you use these products, your skin will also be moisturized, nourished, and protected. We look at the top 10 blurring primers on the market right now in this article. Take a look at them and take your pick!

Top PicksCheck Price
Best Oil-Free: Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best For Wrinkles: Anti-Wrinkle Line BlurFector Instant Wrinkle Blurring PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best Non-Comedogenic: TULA Skincare Face Filter Blurring & Moisturizing PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best Moisturizing: PÜR No Filter Blurring Photography PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best Chemical-Free: Cover FX Blurring Primer
Price on Amazon
Best Water-Based Formula: Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Prime PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best Pore-Blurring: Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best With SPF: Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best Lightweight: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur PrimerPrice on Amazon
Best Light Coverage: NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Pore Filler Blurring PrimerPrice on Amazon

10 Best Blurring Primers Available Right Now

Best Oil-Free:Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer

Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer is an oil-free blurring primer. It is a transparent primer gel that blurs flaws and smoothens your skin while nourishing it with vitamins A and E. This lightweight and oil-free, pore-minimizing formula protects your skin from stress and environmental damage with vitamins and peptides. It also reduces the appearance of fines lines and pores. This video will give you a better insight into the qualities of the product.

Also Recommended By:Byrdie and Beautybay have also listed Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer in their top 10.[1]We Found the 18 Best Blurring Primers for Every Complexion. Byrdie. https://www.byrdie.com/best-blurring-primer[2]7 OF THE BEST BLURRING PRIMERS. BeautyBay. https://www.beautybay.com/edited/best-blurring-primers/


Pros
  • Oil-free
  • Lightweight
  • Long-lasting
  • Vegan
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Fragrance-free
  • Talc-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Suitable for all skin types

Cons

  • Watery formula

protip_icon Pro Tip
Follow your daily skin care routine before applying a blurring primer for optimal results.

Why It’s Worth Buying: The extensive 2,327 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are vouching for this product.
Price at the time of publication: $32.03

Best For Wrinkles:StriVectin Anti-Wrinkle Line BlurFector Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer

StriVectin Line BlurFector Instant Wrinkle Blurring Primer is the best anti-wrinkle primer. It fills and blurs the appearance of deep lines and creases instantly to prevent makeup from settling in them. The optical blurring microspheres in it diffuse light to blur the imperfections and help extend your makeup’s wear time. This lightweight and breathable formula primes the skin for makeup.


Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable formula
  • Reduces the look of wrinkles
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Paraben-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Does not get absorbed well
  • Expensive

Price at the time of publication: $31.2

Best Non-Comedogenic:TULA Skincare Face Filter Blurring & Moisturizing Primer

TULA Skincare Face Filter Blurring & Moisturizing Primer is a soothing face primer. This radiance-enhancing primer is formulated with turmeric that reduces the appearance of redness and chia seeds that even out the skin tone. It also contains prebiotics and probiotics that help your skin retain moisture. The skin-loving ingredients in it smoothen your skin instantly. It locks in hydration and is suitable for oily, normal, combination, sensitive, and mature skin. This moisturizing primer releases glow particles that create a warm-toned and radiant base for your makeup. Click here to check out a detailed personal review of this product.


Pros
  • Moisturizes the skin
  • Lightweight
  • Reduces the appearance of redness
  • Evens out the skin tone
  • Suitable for blemish-prone skin
  • Scented

Cons

  • Has an orange tint

protip_icon Pro Tip
Do not use more than a pea-sized amount because an extra layer can lead to acne breakouts due to clogged pores.

Why It’s Worth Buying: With over 3,453 Amazon acclaimed reviews, this product is sure to find a place in everyone’s shopping bag.
Price at the time of publication: $34.0

Best Moisturizing:PÜR No Filter Blurring Photography Primer

PÜR No Filter Blurring Photography Primer is a moisturizing primer. It is enriched with ginseng, green tea, and vitamin B extracts that boost the natural metabolism of your skin and help rejuvenate it. This skin-perfecting, blurring primer delivers moisture back to the skin and gives it a youthful appearance. It contains prismatic blurring micro-pearls that color-correct any flaws and give a shine-free finish to your skin. It also masks imperfections and boosts radiance.


Pros
  • Moisturizes the skin
  • Offers a youthful appearance
  • Masks imperfections
  • Boosts radiance
  • Rejuvenates the skin
  • Improves the skin’s natural metabolism
  • Paraben-free
  • Gluten-free

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $16.5

Best Chemical-Free:Cover FX Blurring Primer

The Cover FX Blurring Primer is a silky and lightweight formula that blurs the appearance of agingsigns and offers a soft-focus effect. It is enriched with Butterfly Lavender and vitamin E that smoothen fine lines and combat free radicals. You can apply this vegan primer alone and under makeup as a retouching balm.


Pros
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Talc-free
  • No synthetic fragrances
  • Gluten-free
  • Mineral oil-free

Cons

None

protip_icon Pro Tip
If you have oily skin, use a gel-based cleanser and lightweight, matte moisturizer before applying this blurring primer.

Price at the time of publication: $21.5

Best Water-Based Formula:Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Prime Primer

4.3
Maybelline Face Studio Master Prime Primer Image: Maybelline New York

Maybelline New York Face Studio Master Prime Primer is a dermatologist-tested primer. It is formulated with a water-soluble base and active ingredients that blur imperfections and smoothen fine lines. This weightless primer can control oil, prevent sun damage, and even out the skin tone without feeling greasy.


Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Water-based
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Smoothens fine lines
  • Blurs imperfections
  • Non-oily
  • Does not clog pores
  • Moisturizes the skin
  • Suitable for all skin types

Cons

  • May cause breakouts
  • Chemical smell
Price at the time of publication: $7.29


Best Pore-Blurring:Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer

4.3
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer Image: Maybelline New York

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer is the best pore-blurring primer. It smoothens your skin instantly and erases the look of pores, leaving your skin with a soft matte finish. Its lightweight and the breathable formula blends easily within seconds and is suitable for all skin types. Click here to check out this YouTuber’s unbiased review.


Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to blendable
  • Blurs pores
  • Moisturizes the skin
  • Smoothens the skin
  • Suitable for all skin types

Cons

  • l Oily formula
  • l Sticks in pores

Price at the time of publication: $6.98

Best With SPF:Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer

4.3
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Blurring Face Primer Image: Elizabeth Mott

The sweatproof Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer is a K-beauty formulation that is ideal for all skin types and for all ages. It is made from natural ingredients like shea butter that restores the lost moisture and antioxidant-rich plant extracts that soothe the skin. The brightening primer also protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays with its SPF 30. The lightweight formula consists of smoothing agents, which creates a smooth canvas for the makeup and brightens the skin tone. This smoothing primer also minimizes the appearance of fine lines, pores, and dark spots.


Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Non-greasy
  • Combats excess oiliness
  • Softens the appearance
  • Semi-matte finish
  • SPF 30
  • No white cast
  • Hydrating
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

None

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Best Lightweight:Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Primer

4.7
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Primer Image: Yves Saint Laurent

YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer is a lightweight and transparent gel. It uses advanced technology that helps reduce visible pores and even out fine lines. Its line-filling, extra-light formula makes this primer comfortable to wear. It enables the light to come through and render a smooth and luminous complexion.


Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Conceals visible pores
  • Evens out fine lines
  • Imparts a luminous glow

Cons

  • Expensive

Price at the time of publication: $41.21

Best Light Coverage:NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Pore Filler Blurring Primer

3.9

The pore filling primer from NYX Professional Makeup has a blurring formula that fills in the pores, diminishes fine lines, and smoothens the skin surface for a seamless makeup base. It is enriched with vitamin E that hydrates the skin deeply, while smoothening agents in it reduce shine, blur imperfections, smoothen fine lines, and enhance complexion.The lightweight, texture-smoothing formula absorbs quickly without drying out the skin. The lightweight formula is breathable and gives a perfect makeup base that lasts for up to 12 hours.


Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Hydrating
  • Easily blendable
  • Absorbs easily
  • Matte effect
  • Light coverage
  • Long lasting
  • Oil-free
  • Talc-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan

Cons

  • May crease on mature skin

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It is easy to blur dark spots, under-eye dark circles, hyperpigmentation, and other blemishes on the skin. As primer is the very first layer that we apply on the skin before applying other make-up products, you have to select the right blurring primer that can suit your skin type and offer you desired results. Opt for a drugstore primer or high-end primer based on your budget. Here is a buying guide that you can refer to before purchasing blurring primers.

Things To Keep In Mind While Choosing Blurring Primers

  • Ingredients

You can select blurring primers that are lightweight and include moisturizing ingredients such as organic olive oil, vitamin C, Vitamin E, kaolin, witch hazel, tea tree oil, hyaluronic acid, and soybean extract. Make sure to always buy oil-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, talc-free, artificial fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, gluten-free, and cruelty-free primers.

  • Formula

There are a variety of formulas available in blurring primers. If you have sensitive skin, you must go with gel-based face primers as these primers work with all skin types. For dry skin, you must choose cream-based primers that are rich in moisture and have a velvet finish. If you have open pores then you specifically use pore-filling primers. For acne-prone skin, go with silicone-free and water-based face primers. Face primers with an anti-aging formula function similarly to regular primers with the added benefit of being more effective on mature skin.

  • Skin Type

You must select the blurring primer according to your skin type and requirements. For oily and acne-prone skin, you can go with a lightweight and water-based primer. It should be non-comedogenic and must include blemish-fighting ingredients. If you have dry or combination skin, then choose a blurring primer that is rich in hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to boost your skin’s moisture level and improve its texture.

If you are above 40 and have mature skin, you must choose a good quality blurring primer with hyaluronic acid. It will work smoothly on your fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, and patchiness.

  • Color Correction

Choose a blurring primer that contains color-correcting pigments to neutralize any unwanted pigmentation and level out your skin tone. With a color-correcting blurring primer, you can also blur your pores and cater to your under-eye discoloration. You just have to mix and match the color correcting primers as necessary.

Infographic: The Right Way To Use A Primer In Your Makeup Routine

A primer is what you need to add that touch of perfection to your makeup. From keeping your makeup crease-free and long-lasting to making your face appear absolutely flawless, a primer can do it all. This is why you won’t want to miss this step in your makeup routine. The infographic below will help you understand how to use this versatile product the right way. Check it out!

The Right Way To Use A Primer In Your Makeup Routine (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version

Skin imperfections like uneven skin tones and acne spots are common in every skin type. The best blurring primers listed above help hide uneven skin textures and open pores and prepare the skin for a flawless makeup look. They act as a smooth base for the foundation so that you get a makeup look that needs no touch-ups. Some of these products help in boosting collagen production and nourish the skin. They also blur the appearance of fine lines and creases. These blurring products are lightweight, cruelty-free, and vegan. However, some products may cause breakouts. Check out the product reviews to select the best blurring primers that suit your skin type.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of this article, Baishali Bhattacharya, is certified in makeup artistry. She loves to explore various products used in makeup to bring the top picks for the readers. After thorough research and reading many customer reviews online, she curated this list of the best blurring primers. The shortlisted primers are a valuable addition to your makeup regime, and they make the foundation last longer. These also give you a smooth makeup look and are non-comedogenic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a blurring primer work?

A blurring primer reduces the appearance of large pores and blurs them. Also, such primers blend out fine lines and impart a flawless finish to your face.

How do you use pore blurring primers?

Dab a light layer of primer on the center of your face with your finger, then apply it to the rest of the face. Let the primer dry for a few minutes, and then apply the foundation.

Should primer go on before or after moisturizer?

A primer should be applied after the moisturizer. Moisturizer hydrates your skin and preps it for makeup.

How long should you wait to apply primer after moisturizer?

The thickness of the moisturizer determines the time it will take to absorb into the skin. Usually, moisturizers take roughly one minute to completely absorb into the skin, so apply a primer after 60-90 seconds.

Do you apply foundation immediately after primer?

No. Primers with thin textures usually take two to three minutes to dry. So, apply the foundation once your primer completely dries. However, primers with thicker consistency will take longer to get absorbed.


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