10 Best Makeup-Artist Approved Primers For Powder Foundations (2024)

You can blindly trust these primers to give you the smoothest finish ever.

Reviewed by Savanah Norman, Professional Makeup Artist
Written by Srijita De, MA (English & Literature), Certified Style & Image Consultant
Edited by Srijani Roy Chowdhury, MA (Journalism & Mass Communication), Certified Style & Image Consultant  • 
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.

Primers are heaven-sent, especially when you are into a powder foundation. But all primers are not made equal and so it is essential to know how to pick the best primer for powder foundation before you get to invest in one! The primary task of a primer is to prepare your skin for other makeup products as well as offer a polished finish. It ideally paves the path for the layers of makeup that follow. And only the very best ones do the task as effectively as it needs to be done. That is to say, only a handful of popular face primers fit well with powder foundations. Others can leave your perfect makeup patchy, clumpy, or faded over the course of the day.

As neither skipping a primer before makeup nor using a bad one sounds good to us, we have carefully collected a list of the top 10 primers designed especially for powder foundation right here. We have got options for all skin types and tones, this list can be the answer to your quest. So, dive right in.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best Non-Comedogenic:Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore EraserPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Lightweight:NYX Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer - ClearPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Fragrance-Free:Wet N Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Water-Resistant:Hourglass Veil Mineral PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best For Acne:Loreal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Blendable:Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best For All Skin Tones:Dermablend Professional Poresaver Matte Makeup PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Matte Finish:Sacha Cosmetics Mattifier Face PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Non-Drying:Glo Skin Beauty Face PrimerPrice on AmazonPrice on Walmart
Best Long-Wearing:ProBeautyCo Retexturizing Face PrimerPrice on Amazon

10 Best Primers For Powder Foundation To Enjoy Long-Lasting Makeup – 2024

1. Best Non-Comedogenic:Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

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

Conspicuous pores can ruin an entire makeup look single-handedly. But not if you have this pore-blurring primer packed with skin-conditioning and moisturizing benefits. Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser has a breathable texture that glides smoothly like a moisturizer to leave a soft matte and blurred finish. However, it is not pore-minimizing but conceals them instead to give your makeup a smooth base with its blurring effect. Suitable for dry, oily, and normal skin types, and a good primer for powder foundation, you can also wear it without your regular moisturizer because of the infused hydrating skin care ingredients. The primer contains sour cherry extract, which has skin-lightening benefits to reduce acne scars or dark spots. Check out a reviewer’s experience featured in this video to make an informed decision about your purchase.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 2.01 x 2.76 x 5.62 inches | Weight: 2.08 Ounces

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Instant pore minimizer
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Skin-loving ingredients
  • All-day moisturizing
  • Fragrance-free
  • Suitable for dry skin

Cons

  • T-zone may turn slightly greasy

protip_icon Pro Tip
Apply primer specifically on the T-zone as it is the area that gets oily fastest and breaks the makeup.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has received over 56,466 rave reviews on Amazon, proving it is a mass favorite.

2. Best Lightweight:NYX Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer – Clear

 

4.3
NYX Professional Studio Perfect Primer Image: Nyx

It’s no secret that mineral powder makeup is great for sensitive, aging, and acne-prone skin, so why not use it with a mineral-based primer? Mineral makeup primers form a shield between your skin and the foundation and do a better job at protecting your skin from free radicals than others. This primer, for instance, will smoothen your complexion with a matte finish, and it contains silica to improve skin elasticity and reduce acne and acne-causing inflammation. So, while your makeup routine provides you with a flawless look on the top, the primer will work on the inside to fight acne and anti-aging conditions. This drugstore product is not tested on animals and is a good option for ethically conscious consumers.

Skin Type: All

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Lightweight
  • Cruelty-free
  • Silky formula
  • Extends makeup wear
  • Available in 3 shades

Cons

  • Contains parabens

protip_icon Quick Tip
You can also apply primer on your brows with a spoolie, to keep the hair in place and can also layer it with eyebrow powder and pencil.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

With over 1,885 reviews, this product has become a fan favorite among users.

3. Best Fragrance-Free:Wet N Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer

 

4.2
Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer Image: Wet N Wild

This one will make your dull skin glow through the makeup! Wet N Wild’s Photo Focus Primer contains micro pearl pigments to deliver a stunning dewy skin effect, so you can put your best face forward in all the close-ups. A must-try for normal, dry, combination, and aging skin types, this soft-focus finish photo-prepping primer creates a luminous layer that moisturizes dehydrated skin too. The formula contains vitamin E to nourish and protect the skin from UV damage and free radicals and hydrogenated castor oil to soften and moisturize the skin. Besides, the infused silica produces collagen to fight aging signs and control greasiness and acne. Here’s a video showcasing a tester’s experience to help you know more about this product.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 1.38 x 1.02 x 3.94 inches | Weight: 1.28 Ounces

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Fragrance-free
  • Lightweight formula
  • Dewy finish

Cons

  • Some may find it slightly shiny
Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
Best Non-Comedogenic
NYX Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer - Clear
Best Lightweight
Wet N Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer
Best Fragrance-Free
Skin Type All All All
Dimensions 2.01 x 2.76 x 5.62 inches- 1.38 x 1.02 x 3.94 inches
Weight 2.08 Ounces- 1.28 Ounces
Rating
Reviews56,4661,8855,943
Price$6.98$9.64$5.49

4. Best Water-Resistant:Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

If you are looking for a high-end primer, the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer goes beyond the traditional priming benefits to deliver a picture-perfect canvas. With a premium formula, it preps the skin for makeup while concealing blemishes, reducing redness (rosacea), and minimizing the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and fine lines. A high-performing and sleek primer for oily skin and powder foundation, its cloudy-airy texture is also ideal for sensitive, acne-prone, and blemish-prone skin. Besides priming and caring, this oil control primer also protects the skin from UV damage with its broad-spectrum SPF 15. And if you are wondering if it is safe, this vegan primer is free from harsh chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, fragrances, gluten, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and others. Multiple online reviewers mention that this airbrush primer is so worth the money!

Skin Type: All

Pros

  • Oil-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Silky and luminous finish
  • Non-greasy
  • Water-resistant
  • Extends makeup wear
  • Works with cream and liquid foundation too

Cons

  • Expensive

My Personal Experience

"This mineral primer makes the powder foundation looks amazing on my skin. It effectively minimizes pores and manages excess oil. It even extends the wear of foundation beautifully."


5. Best For Acne:L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer

 

4.2
Loreal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer Image: L'oréal Paris

This anti-aging primer is a  boon for mature skin with its priming, caring, and blurring benefits. If your powder foundation is settling into creases and fine lines, you must try this Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer from a celebrity makeup artist-recommended brand for its radiant, natural-looking, and soft-focus finish. It claims to show a visible difference in your skin’s texture after the first use and blurs pores and lines instantly. The tried-and-tested primer contains a universal rosy formula and a caring serum with eperua falcata bark extract to increase elasticity, lentil seed extract to reduce enlarged pores, and salicylic acid to tackle acne and inflammation.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 0.98 x 1.5 x 4.96 inches | Weight: 1.13 Ounces.

Pros

  • Softens skin
  • Comfortable wear
  • Can be worn alone
  • Improves skin quality

Cons

  • May not be best suited for those with extremely sensitive skin

6. Best Blendable:Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting Primer

 

Here’s a primer that your skin and makeup will love! Give a flawless start to makeup by creating an ultra-smooth canvas for it to stay on and look fresh all day. This primer uses triple blurring complex and light-diffusing technology to blur imperfections, pores, aging lines, and evens-out skin’s texture to offer enhanced features. And it doesn’t stop there; it works overtime to provide skin-caring benefits with silica beads and time-release skin balancing technology that absorbs excess oil, maintains moisture, and controls shine. With 95% of women claiming their skin texture improved after using this primer, the blend also contains long-wear polymers that increase makeup and powder foundation longevity. According to numerous reviews, this product works amazingly to offer exceptional results on mature skin types.

Skin Type: Acne Prone | Product Dimensions: 1.18 x 1.57 x 5.12 inches | Weight: 1.76 Ounces

Pros

  • Oil-free
  • Lightweight
  • Silky texture
  • Blends seamlessly
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Suitable for all skin tone and types

Cons

  • Expensive

7. Best For All Skin Tones:Dermablend Professional Poresaver Matte Makeup Primer

 

Oily skin can be unforgiving when it comes to makeup, which is why it’s imperative to deal with it pre-makeup. This dermatologist-tested face primer for powder foundation has a weightless gel texture that mattifies the skin without drying. It reduces shine and greasiness, while minimizing the appearance of pores to leave your skin ultra-soft and smooth. And the best takeaway— it is sensitive skin-tested, allergy-tested, and it increases makeup longevity for up to 24 hours! This is just the mattifying primer you need to control your skin’s tantrums. Moreover, this high-performing primer is vegan. The formula is also free of toxic chemicals such as parabens, fragrances, triclosan, phthalates, and SLS. Moreover, this clean skin product does not undergo any animal testing rounds and is a good fur-friendly option.

Skin Type: Combination, Oily Sensitive, Normal

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free
  • Irresistibly soft skin
  • Lightweight formula
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Suitable for all skin tones and tones
  • Semi-matte to matte finish

Cons

  • Expensive

My Personal Experience

"This product is great for controlling oil both under makeup and alone. It has a lightweight feel and can help reduce redness, making it an excellent addition for those with sensitive skin. It offers a matte finish throughout the day."


protip_icon Pro Tip
Always apply moisturizer after cleaning your face and before applying primer so it hydrates the skin well and prevents dry patches and cracking of your makeup.

8. Best Matte Finish:Sacha Cosmetics Mattifier Face Primer

 

4
Sacha Cosmetics Mattifier Face Primer Image: Sacha Cosmetics

Greasy T-zones and oily spots can be a nightmare to deal with, which is why we have this natural mattifier and primer on the list. Ideal for combination skin, the primer uses the natural ingredient cornstarch instead of toxic silicones to mattify your skin and control the excess sebum (especially on the T-zones!). Plus, it also reduces shine and blurs pores and aging lines to leave a smooth and picture-perfect canvas to extend your makeup’s longevity. Now, whether you want to use this primer alone or with powder foundation, it ensures one thing – no more greasiness!

Skin Type: Oily

Pros

  • Matte finish
  • Absorbs quickly
  • Glides smoothly
  • Lightweight texture
  • Mattifies without drying

Cons

  • May not be suitable for very oily skin

My Personal Experience

"This primer is a reliable ally for those with oily skin. It offers hydration for the powder foundation to glide on smoothly but does not feel heavy at all. It works well with other products that are used on top of it."


9. Best Non-Drying:Glo Skin Beauty Face Primer

 

4.6
glo skin beauty face primer Image: Glo Skin Beauty

Packed with skin-loving and antioxidant-rich ingredients, Glo Skin Beauty Face Primer will turn your priming experience into a pampering one. The formula contains vitamins C and E to protect your skin from environmental aggressors and UV damage, sandalwood, barley, and camellia oleifera leaf extracts for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It also moisturizes with safflower seed oil and grape seed oil! And as far as the priming is concerned, it fills in the pores and fine lines (in a good and non-comedogenic way) to leave a porcelain-like smooth application base for the powder foundation to stay on all day.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x 5 inches | Weight: 0.11 Ounces

Pros

  • Non-drying
  • Silky-soft finish
  • Translucent texture
  • Ideal for all skin tones
  • Suitable for dry, normal, combination, and oily skin

Cons

  • May not be suitable for very oily skin

10. Best Long-Wearing:ProBeautyCo Retexturizing Face Primer

 

4.2
ProBeautyCo Retexturizing Face Primer Image: Probeautyco Lisher

This primer’s velvety blend is not to be underestimated. It forms a stunning matte coat on the skin with its powder-gel texture and blurs conspicuous aging lines, pores, and imperfections effortlessly. Packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients to pamper your skin while creating a smooth canvas, the formula contains silica to control and absorb the excess shine, oil, and sweat. Besides this, the primer also protects from daily environmental stressors with the infused olive oil.

Skin Type: All,Normal | Product Dimensions: 5.98 x 0.51 x 0.51 inches | Weight: 2.4 Ounces

Pros

  • Long-wear
  • Clear texture
  • Weightless formula
  • Fragrance-free
  • Colorant-free
  • Wear alone or with makeup
  • Suitable for all skin tones and types

Cons

  • Slightly expensive

My Personal Experience

"This primer creates a smooth canvas on the skin, which makes the powder foundation apply beautifully and last throughout the day. The texture is easy to work with. The primer also softens the appearance of my pores. Its inclusion of SPF 20 is a thoughtful touch."


*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

Get, set, prime with the best for a long-lasting makeup experience! There you go, those were the 10 best primers for a powder foundation that you must try. And if you still need assistance while shopping for the right one, we have some tips for you in the buying guide below:

How To Choose The Best Primer For Powder Foundation?

Here are some features you must look out for in the product before buying:

  • Skin type

Besides choosing a suitable product for your skin type, look out for beneficial active ingredients in the product too. After all, what goes on the skin; shows on the skin, right? So, why not choose something healthy? If your skin is oily, pick an oil-free or gel-based primer with non-comedogenic moisturizers, silica beads, sandalwood, etc., for a mattifying and non-drying experience. Silica beads (oil-absorbers) or mineral-based primers are also great for sensitive, blemish, and acne-prone skin. Also, primers with vitamins C and E are ideal for reducing sun damage or for spot treatment. If you have dry skin, opt for water-based primers that keep your skin hydrated.

  • Versatility

Primers offer umpteen benefits than just creating a smooth base for the makeup. They not only smoothen your skin but also blurs out pores, blemishes, redness, acne scars, and aging lines. And, since these skin troubles always show up unannounced, it’s ideal to choose a product that will be able to tackle your skin tantrums when needed.

  • Ingredients to avoid

A multi-purpose primer will act as a skin-protecting shield and a smooth canvas for the makeup all at once. So, naturally, this shield should be free of toxic chemicals. Look out for ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, gluten, and more that can be harmful to your skin. If you have sensitive skin, avoid silicone-based primers to keep the risk of breakouts at bay.

  • Staying power

The longer the primer stays on, so will your makeup! As a matter of fact, an efficient primer increases a makeup’s longevity. So, before choosing one, check the staying power and finish it delivers to determine whether it’s suitable for the power foundation you use.

Infographic: Tips For Applying Primer Before Powder Foundation For The Best Results

Applying primer before powder foundation is a crucial step to prep the skin, smoothen out the texture, and create a barrier between the skin and foundation, ensuring that your makeup stays put all day. However, applying the primer incorrectly can lead to patchiness or uneven makeup. Check out the infographic below for helpful tips.

Tips For Applying Primer Before Powder Foundation (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

The Bottom Line

A good primer can make a massive difference to your makeup and can help provide an even skin tone. So, rather than skipping it because of one bad experience, choose one that suits your skin and your foundation type for the best experience. Nowadays, primers are versatile and provide skin benefits, making them even more essential to use as a pre-makeup in your beauty routine, especially when it comes to powder foundations. The reason is, with a powder-based foundation, there’s a high risk of clogged pores, creasing, or makeup fading within a few hours, but a good primer can prevent it all effortlessly. To help target acne scars, dark spots, or pores, try the Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer works to control oil production and provides sun protection, or you can opt for the NYX Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer to improve skin elasticity and reduce acne and inflammation. Savanah Norman, a professional makeup artist, says, “Another step that will prevent your makeup from looking patchy and flaky is using an exfoliating face scrub to get dead skin cells and dry patches off your face. It will help create a smoother canvas for skin prep, primer then powder foundation.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a primer work with a powder foundation?

Yes, primers are used to even out the skin’s texture and provide a smooth base that works with all kinds of foundations.

Is primer necessary for powder foundation?

No, there is no necessity to use a primer for powder foundation. But, using a primer helps get a smooth, even skin texture for your makeup products.

What do you put on before a powder foundation?

To get the best look, apply a concealer and a moisturizer before applying a powder foundation.

Can I only wear a powder foundation?

Yes, you can wear a powder foundation alone without any other products. However, it does not last very long and the skin may look textured and unsmooth .

How do you make powder foundation not look cakey?

Keep your skin moisturized, apply a good primer, and then apply foundation powder with medium coverage. At last, you can use a setting spray to bind the makeup in place.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Srijita De is a makeup enthusiast who has compiled this list of the best primers for powder foundation after thorough research. The products were chosen by analyzing user reviews and considering factors such as ingredients and quality. She has also prepared a buying guide and offered tips on choosing the right product. These primers will help your powder foundation blend well and last longer.


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