Celebrity Makeup Artists Covet This $15 Drugstore Primer
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Celebrity Makeup Artists Covet This $15 Drugstore Primer
Whether it's due to oily skin or sweaty temps, makeup has a tendency to slip and slide throughout the day. That's why a good makeup primer is truly necessary if you want your foundation, concealer, blush and eyeshadow to stay put for hours. Primers contain "smoothing ingredients that create a silky-feeling canvas for makeup, helping it to go on evenly," explains Birnur Aral, Ph.D., director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. Plus, applying primer is easy: Just use your fingers to apply a pea-size amount and blend it on.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it gets better. There's a ton of drugstore primers out there with just as quality formulas— today's most affordable primers can also brighten, hydrate, smooth fine lines, minimize pores, mattify and so much more. Based on GH Beauty Lab testing and reviews vetted by the GH beauty editors, here are the best drugstore primers for long-lasting makeup, including the best face primers for oily skin, dry skin, combination skin and more.
Our top picks:
Read on for our complete guide to the best drugstore primers, including how to shop for your skin type. Build out your beauty routine with our tips on how to minimize pores and the best dark spot correctors.
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1) Airbrush Away Primer
No7
walmart.com
$19.98
Prep your skin for a flawless finish with this Good Housekeeping Seal holder. It scored well across a few categories in GH Beauty Lab primer testing, including leaving skin looking healthier and smoother. We also name it the best drugstore primer for wrinkles: Many users agreed with the claim that it softened the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles just after five days of use. It's made hypoallergenic, which makes it a great pick for sensitive skin types, too.
• Skin type: All, including mature and sensitive
• Size: 1 fl ozNo7 - 3/14
2) Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
Maybelline New York
amazon.com
$10.92
Online reviewers and bloggers rave about this inexpensive primer from Maybelline, claiming it really does leave your face feeling baby-smooth. With 56,000 ratings, a majority of reviewers agree that it helps minimize pores. "I was amazed at how it minimizes the size of my large pores and how incredibly silky smooth it glides on my face," an Amazon reviewer reports. "I have now replaced using expensive primers."
• Skin type: Oily, acne-prone
• Size: 0.67 fl ozMaybelline - 4/14
3) Acne Fighting Putty Primer
e.l.f. Cosmetics
ulta.com
$9.00
Touted by many GH product experts, this viral putty primer feels hydrating on skin. Its balm formula blends into a creamy smooth consistency on skin. One GH editor says it looked brightening underneath natural makeup looks. "I love this for more pared-down days because it lets my sensitive skin breathe while laying a light, mattified base for makeup."
• Skin type: Sensitive, acne-prone
• Size: 0.74 fl oze.l.f. Cosmetics - 5/14
4) Master Prime Primer
Maybelline New York
amazon.com
$8.98
Several reviewers compare this Maybelline primer to more high-end versions, saying it makes the skin feel "soft and silky" and doesn't feel tacky or heavy. The formula feels more like a lotion and works to blur imperfections like pores, fine lines and redness. "This one actually covers my large pores and smooths them over," a reviewer enthused. "The effect and finish is beautiful! I will be buying this again and again."
• Skin type: Acne-prone
• Size: 1 fl ozMaybelline - 6/14
5) Prime+ Studio Hydrating +Skin Refreshing Primer
Essence
ulta.com
$4.99
The primer offers a lotion consistency (a major plus for those who prefer skincare-like primers), and it doesn't feel slick on the hands or face when applied to skin. Editorial Assistant Adrianna Freedman uses this primer on her dry skin. "It honestly feels like a hydrating moisturizer, and I actually like the way makeup sits on it after applying," she says.
• Skin type: Dry
• Size: 1.01 fl ozEssence - 7/14
6) PhotoReady Primer
Revlon
amazon.com
$29.95
Amazon reviewers say this Revlon primer is also excellent at reducing the appearance of pores while keeping your makeup in place. Users like that it's not too drying and can be used on any skin type." This primer keeps my concealer or foundation or powder on all day ... even after 10 hours," a fan marvels. "My pores are basically hidden when I wear it." Note that some reviewers complain that the pump mechanism won't dispense the last bits of the product.
• Skin type: All skin types, including acne-prone
• Size: 0.91 fl ozRevlon - 8/14
7) Shine Killer Face Primer
NYX Professional Makeup
walmart.com
$10.96
Sheriff's favorite drugstore primer is this unique formula by NYX Professional Makeup. "This one works amazing for a fraction of the price of higher-end brands, and helps to control oil and keep makeup locked on," she says. The brand also claims that the anti-shine matte primer creates a barrier from outside pollutants.
• Skin type: Oily
• Size: 0.67 fl ozNYX - 9/14
8) MaxGlow Hydrating Face Serum + Primer
Aveeno
amazon.com
$20.19
GH Beauty Lab testers loved Aveeno's hybrid formula so much that it won a GH Beauty Award for giving the skin a "luminous" look. It's a serum and primer in one, softening skin with natural oils, vitamins and kiwifruit water. It's a good choice for those looking for a dewy finish.
• Skin type: Sensitive, dry
• Size: 1.5 fl ozAveeno - 10/14
9) Stay Matte Primer
Rimmel
amazon.com
$5.97
Rimmel's bargain primer, which has thousands of rave reviews on Amazon, is perfect for mattifying oily spots on combination skin. The brand claims the primer is oil-free and keeps your makeup on for up to eight hours. Those with acne-prone skin say they didn't notice any breakouts from the product. "This actually works!" a reviewer notes. "It does a fantastic job at keeping my face matte and I have a super oily T-zone."
• Skin type: Combination, oily
• Size: 1 fl ozRimmel - 11/14
10) Simply Ageless Makeup Primer
COVERGIRL
amazon.com
$11.89
The light primer from CoverGirl claims to fight signs of aging, plus hydrate your skin to make it appear younger, and has more than 24,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Reviewers describe the formula as creamy, easy on the skin, and feeling almost like moisturizer. "I am in my late 50s, and I've had people tell me they think I am in my late 30s since using this!" a reviewer marvels.
• Skin type: Mature
• Size: 1 fl ozCovergirl - 12/14
11) Tone Adjusting Face Primer
e.l.f. Cosmetics
amazon.com
$6.00
Don't let the color intimidate you — the sheer green hue of this e.l.f. primer helps to even skin's tone and minimize redness. (Don't worry, the green disappears on skin!). One reviewer says the formula "applies like liquid silk and dries to an almost powdery finish." Note that some reviewers wished the bottle included more product.
• Skin type: Sensitive, acne-prone
• Size: 0.47 fl oze.l.f. Cosmetics - 13/14
12) Healthy Skin Radiant Booster Primer & Serum
Neutrogena
amazon.com
$14.99
Neutrogena's glow-enhancing primer is formulated without silicone, which can be pore-clogging for some complexions. "This has a slight hint of neutral gleam that leaves skin looking luminous," says GH Beauty Director April Franzino. "I also like that it contains skincare ingredients like peptides and vitamin E for skincare benefits."
• Skin type: All skin types
• Size: 1 fl ozNeutrogena - 14/14
13) Lash Blast Amplify Eyelash Mascara Primer
COVERGIRL
walmart.com
$6.38
There are primers created especially for lashes, too, like CoverGirl's, from the GH Beauty Lab top-tested Lash Blast collection, made to be applied before mascara for an even bigger boost. "Makes a HUGE difference in your eyelashes' length ... I can never use mascara alone again," an Amazon reviewer says.
• Skin type: All skin types
• Size: 0.44 fl ozCovergirl
