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.

10 Best Primers For Powder Foundation That Are Must-Try In 2022!

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

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 finish. However, it will not reduce the pore size but conceal them instead to give your makeup a smooth base to look fabulous. Suitable for dry, normal, and oily skin types and a good primer for powder foundation, you can also wear it without your regular moisturizer because of the infused hydrating ingredients. The primer contains sour cherry extract, which has skin-lightening benefits to reduce acne scars or dark spots. This video will help you make an informed decision about your purchase. Pros

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

Cons

T-zone may turn slightly greasy

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

  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’s elasticity and reduces acne and acne-causing inflammation. So, while your makeup routine helps your skin look flawless on the top, the primer will work on the inside to fight acne and anti-aging conditions. Watch this video to get a detailed review of the product. Pros

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

Cons

Contains parabens

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

  This one will make your 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, and combination skin, this photo-prepping primer creates a luminous layer that moisturizes the 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, control greasiness and acne too in this primer that doubles as a tinted moisturizer. Here’s a video to help you know more about this product. Pros

Vegan Cruelty-free Gluten-free Paraben-free Fragrance-free Lightweight formula

Cons

Some may find it slightly shiny

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 ideal for blemish-prone, sensitive, and acne-prone skin too. Besides priming and caring, it also protects the skin from harmful sun rays with broad-spectrum SPF 15. And if you are wondering if it is safe, the primer is vegan and free from harsh chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, fragrances, gluten, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and more. 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

5. Best For Acne:Loreal Paris Age Perfect Blurring Face Primer

  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 for its radiant, natural-looking, and soft-focus natural finish. It claims to show a visible difference in your skin’s texture after the first use and blurs pores and lines instantly. The 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. 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 enhance your overall makeup look. 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. 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! Just the primer you need to control your skin’s tantrums, the formula is also free of toxic chemicals such as parabens, fragrances, triclosan, phthalates, and SLS. 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

8. Best Matte Finish:Sacha Cosmetics Mattifier Face Primer

  Greasy T-zones 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 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! Pros

Matte finish Absorbs quickly Glides smoothly Lightweight texture Mattifies without drying

Cons

May not be suitable for very oily skin

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

  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 vitamin C and E to protect your skin from environmental aggressors and UV damages, sandalwood, barley, and camellia oleifera leaf extracts for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant 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 base for the powder foundation to stay on all day. 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

  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. 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

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 vitamin C and E are ideal for reducing sun damages or for spot treatment.

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.

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 the skin to determine whether it’s suitable for the power foundation you use. A good primer can make a massive difference to your makeup. 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 pre-makeup, especially when it comes to powder foundations. The reason being, 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. So, what are you waiting for? Pick the best primer for powder foundation today!

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Chaitra Krishnan 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. 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.

Hydrating Primers For Dry Skin Water-Based Primers