One of the most underrated elements of makeup is the initial prep for the base. Priming your skin is indispensable to having a smooth base for your foundation and concealer. The best primer for your skin will help even out your skin, allowing the makeup to adhere better to your face for a more finished, natural look. If you’re still not convinced on buying one, here are a few things to consider.
Why Use a Primer:
- Helps smoothen your base
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores
- Makeup stays on for longer
- Hydrates the skin
- Prevents patchiness in makeup
- Mattifying formulas help in oil control
To help you pick out the best makeup primer according to your needs, here is a list of our beauty expert’s top recommendations, just for you.
Picking the Best Primer for Your Skin
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1. Pore Minimising Primers
Pore minimizing primers work great to help you reduce your pore size. In short, they will help you create a base for applying makeup on your face to perfection. Here is the best primer for people with large open pores:
Blue Heaven Flawless Makeup Base Primer
Infused with vitamins that provide instant hydration to your skin, the Blue Heaven Studio Perfection Primer is a complete showstopper. Its silicone base helps smoothen out the skin texture, allowing the makeup to adhere better.
What We Love
- It mattifies your skin so your makeup won’t slip or wash out through the day
- Ideal for use with liquid foundations and daily-wear compact powders
- It is a stable primer for your pigmented eyeshadows
- Non-greasy, oil-free formula that keeps your skin fresh
2. Mattifying Primers
Fed up of retouching your makeup frequently because of how oily it is, say hello to mattifying primers! Mattifying primers are your sure shot ticket for eliminating greasiness on your shiny skin for long hours. Checkout the best primer for a matte base:
Lakme Absolute Blur Perfect Primer
If you like your makeup to be flawlessly matte through the day, this Lakme Absolut Blur Perfect Primer is the one for you. Meant to blur out your pores and fine lines, it also adds a touch of brilliance and helps even out your skin tone.
What We Love
- Super smooth formula allows your makeup to blend easily
- Prevents the base from oxidising or changing colour
- Waterproof formula to give you glowing radiance round the clock
- Can be worn without makeup, as a mattifying layer over the moisturiser
3. Illuminating Primers
Illuminating primers contain light reflecting formula which lends a beautiful glow to face. Illuminating primers are best for normal-dry skin as the healthy glow they provide is mostly accompanied by a dewy finish. Here is our take on the best primer for an illuminating glow:
Swiss Beauty Base Highlighting Primer
Ideal for a lightweight, glowy makeup, this Base Highlighting Primer from Swiss Beauty will give your skin the natural no-makeup radiance it requires. Its oil-free tinted formula allows your makeup to blend in more organically, thus preventing the appearance of cakey lines.
What We Love
- Long-lasting formula
- Blurs out blemishes, pores, and fine-lines
- Lends a natural highlighted look
- Available in three shades
- Non-greasy, non-sticky
4. Oil-Free Primers
Best suited for combination to oily skin, oil-free primers reduce the appearance of oily sheen on your face, and prevent the makeup from slipping or fading. Looking for the best primer for oily skin? Check this out:
Insight 3 in 1 Oil Free Primer
Insight Healthy skin is a prerequisite to long-lasting makeup. The INSIGHT 3 in 1 Primer brings together the best of skincare and makeup for you. Its oil-free formula moisturises your face, and forms a protective layer between your skin and makeup.
What We Love
- Lightweight gel
- Blurs out fine lines
- Smoothens out pores and wrinkles to give you the perfect base
- Keeps skin hydrated to prevent the production of excess oil
- Free from alcohol, sulphates, parabens, and added fragrances
5. Lightweight Primers for Smooth Finish
With the amount of layering that goes on your skin, a heavy oil-based or cream-based primer can cause breakouts or oiliness. A lightweight, gel-based formula is the best primer for your skin if you wear makeup for long durations.
Lotus Makeup Ecostay Perfecting Primer
ECOSTAY Insta-Smooth Perfecting Primer by LOTUS Makeup is where your search ends for an nourishing primer. Made with a lightweight gel-based formula, it mattifies your skin and keeps you oil-free all day long.
What We Love
- Vitamin E and antioxidants protect your skin from sun damage
- It helps smoothen your skin by evening out the tone
- Reduces the appearance of open pores, fine-lines, and wrinkles
- Non-comedogenic formula does not irritate sensitive skin
- Does not block pores even with long-wear
6. Hydrating Primers
If you have a dry skin, hydrating primers can help you create a perfect canvas by giving your skin a moisture boost. The best primer will be the one that prevents cracking of your makeup to make it stay longer.
L’Oreal Paris BaseMagique Primer
The L’Oreal Paris BaseMagique Primer works like magic for your makeup. Its lightweight formula helps control shine and gives your face a mattifying finish. It hydrates your skin, while masking wrinkles and open pores, so your base sits flawlessly on your face.
What We Love
- Non-greasy texture
- Suitable for all skin types
- Controls excess oil production
- Prolongs the wear of the foundation
7. Waterproof Primers
If you are someone who wears makeup round the clock, a waterproof primer can do wonders for you. It not only enhances the stay of your makeup, but also keeps it fresh for longer, preventing the need for touchups. Here is the best waterproof primer we found:
Bellina Oil Free Base Primer
Whether you’re going for a natural matte look, or a full-fledged HD makeup, a waterproof pore-minimising primer like the Bellina Face Primer is a must for you. Its oil-free formula is extremely lightweight, and does not make your makeup look cakey, even when worn for long hours.
What We Love
- Smoothen out skin surface
- Mild soothing fragrance
- Non-sticky formula
- Suitable for compacts as well as under eyeshadows
- Adds a subtle glow
List of the Best Primers for Makeup
| Best Primers for Makeup | Price* |
| Blue Heaven Flawless Makeup Base Primer | Rs 195 |
| Lakme Absolute Blur Perfect Primer | Rs 450 |
| Swiss Beauty Base Highlighting Primer | Rs 244 |
| Insight 3 in 1 Oil Free Primer | Rs 240 |
| Lotus Makeup Ecostay Perfecting Primer | Rs 521 |
| L’Oreal Paris BaseMagique Primer | Rs 800 |
| Bellina Oil Free Base Primer | Rs 489 |
