There’s nothing more frustrating than taking the time to apply your make-up in the morning, only to find by lunchtime that it’s turned patchy, faded away or left your T-zone gleaming with shine. That’s where the right primer can transform your beauty routine.
Some primers deliver a mattifying, blurring effect that softens the look of enlarged pores and fine lines while helping to control excess oil throughout the day. Others are designed to create a luminous finish, adding radiance and brightness, or to deeply hydrate and nourish dry patches.
Ultimately, choosing a primer comes down to the finish you’re after, but make-up artist and owner of Sculpted By Aimee, Aimee Connolly, says: “The key is knowing your skin type and understanding the benefits promised from the primer. If your skin’s on the dry side, you’ll want to look for a primer with hydrating and moisturising benefits, whereas if your skin is oily, you may need something that has built-in oil control that mattifies the skin.”
Armed with this knowledge, I went on the hunt to find the best primers for all skin types. If you go for a glowy, luminous look, I found Saie’s glowy super gel (£24, Cultbeauty.co.uk) to really deliver on radiance, so much so, it doubles up as a highlighter. For something more matte, Milk Make-up’s hydro grip (£35, Boots.com) is my go-to when it comes to oil control, so it’s definitely one to consider. Curious to see what else I tested? Keep reading to see my full review.
Read more: Dua Lipa has launched her own skincare line – and it’s backed by a major skincare expert
The best primers for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Milk Make-up pore eclipse mattifying primer: £35, Boots.com
- Best budget buy – 17 vitamin enriched primer: £5, Boots.com
- Best glowy primer – Saie glowy super gel: £24, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best hydrating primer – Vieve super skin nova: £39, Vievebeauty.com
How I tested
Over the course of six weeks, I put dozens of primers to the test to find the best. I wore them under my make-up to see if they could make a difference in staying power, putting each one against the other. My full testing criteria can be found at the end of this guide.
Read more: 12 best moisturisers for acne-prone skin that won’t cause breakouts
Milk Make-up pore eclipse mattifying primer
.png)
Best: primer overall
Size: 40ml
Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, niacinamide
Why we love it
- Instantly blurs large pores
- Mattifies oily spots
- Works well in humid weather
Take note
- Expensive
Milk Make-up’s primers (including its hydro grip) are impressive, and this pore eclipse mattifying primer is one of the best. It has a creamy texture that I like to use on areas of excessive oiliness, such as my forehead, nose and chin. I’d recommend allowing a couple of minutes for it to be dry before applying make-up as usual.
It makes an instant and dramatic difference to visibly larger pores, creates a smooth canvas for foundation and concealer to be applied on top, and keeps my make-up in place for significantly longer than usual. I needed fewer touch-ups throughout the day, and the primer didn’t pill under my favourite liquid, cream, gel or powder products.
Buy now £35, Boots.com
17 vitamin enriched primer
Best: budget primer
Size: 25ml
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, niacinamide and shea butter
Why we love it
- Great price
- Luxurious texture
- Hydrating
Take note
- Rich texture may be too greasy for very oily skin types
If you’re looking for the best budget primer, I’d recommend 17’s vitamin enriched primer. It has a rich texture that’s closer to a balm than a cream, and it feels far more premium than the price tag would suggest.
The shea butter and vitamin E formula make it ideal for dry skin types, but if you have combination skin (like me), I found it worked best when I skipped using any moisturiser first, as this primer felt too heavy otherwise. It has a subtle citrus scent, which is pleasant, but those with sensitive skin may want to exercise caution. My only other gripe is that it spreads more easily when warmed up between your hands.
Buy now £5, Boots.com
Danessa Myricks Beauty universal blurring balm powder
Best: primer for oil control
Size: 18g
Key ingredients: Upsalite, squalane, hyaluronic acid
Why we love it
- Innovative balm-to-powder formula
- Hydrates and doesn’t cling to dry patches
- Extends longevity of makeup
Take note
- Expensive
Danessa Myricks creates some of the most innovative and long-wearing primer formulas on the market. While its tinted blurring balm powder has a legion of fans, its universal shade is another great choice. It’s a solid balm that applies seamlessly to skin and settles down into a powder finish, making it a very effective way to control oiliness, especially around my nose.
My preferred way to apply this product is to swipe the pan with my fingers, rub them together and then smooth over my face (from the centre, with an upwards motion). However, it also came in handy as a setting powder – simply take a fluffy brush and swirl it around the pan and apply it like you would a traditional powder. It’s an easy way to touch up throughout the day.
Buy now £42.5, Sephora.co.uk
Elf power grip primer
Best: viral primer
Size: 24ml
Key ingredients: Niacinamide
Why we love it
- Helps conceal breakouts
Take note
- Has a tacky finish that you need to let dry before applying makeup
Elf’s power grip primer is popular for good reason, and not just because it’s affordable. If, like me, you're prone to angry, red breakouts across the lower half of your face, this primer will prevent your carefully applied concealer from sliding off throughout the day. Elf’s power grip initially feels thick, with a sticky gel texture that needs to be spread across your skin.
I’d recommend giving it a few minutes before going in with your foundation – I usually use this time to fill in my brows. Think of it as a glue for your make-up. Two pumps are plenty, as any more will leave a tacky finish that’s too difficult to work with.
Buy now £11, Boots.com
Saie glowy super gel
Best: glowy primer
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, papaya seed oil, squalane oil
Why we love it
- Multi-purpose
- No glittery finish
Take note
- Oily skin types may find this too dewy
Saie is focused on glow-giving products, and this multi-purpose gel is great if you want a radiant, dewy complexion without your skin looking too wet. It has a lightweight gel texture, is fast-absorbing and doesn’t leave you looking greasy.
I tested the roseglow shade, which has a sheer pink payoff featuring micropearl particles from mica, which give skin a healthy glow without any glitter. I like to wear it two ways: either on the high points of my face as a highlighter, or all over for a luminous complexion beneath my foundation.
Buy now £24, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Vieve super skin nova
Best: hydrating primer
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Beta-glucan, niacinamide, ceramides
Why we love it
- Whipped, delicate texture
- Isn't sticky
- Lasts ages
Take note
- Pricey
Vieve’s portfolio of primers, highlighters and complexion products offers dewy skin in various formats. If you want to have a healthy glow but no glitter, shimmer or stickiness, try the brand’s super skin nova primer.
Upon opening the jar, I was initially sceptical that it would be too balmy for my oily combination skin, but it’s actually a very thin cream with a whipped texture. It has a warm orange hue that dissipates onto skin and leaves a subtle radiance behind, without emphasising texture or pores. I’ve found myself reaching for this product on repeat.
Buy now £39, Vievebeauty.com
Shiseido revitalessence skin glow primer
Best: primer for mature skin
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Prebiotics, niacinamide
Why we love it
- Some UV protection
- Adds luminosity
Take note
- Expensive
This elegant formula feels more like a lightweight luxury moisturiser than your typical make-up primer, with a non-sticky, non-greasy creamy texture that adds a luminous but unpigmented glow, making it a great option for mature skin.
I love the addition of SPF25 and UV filters for an added dose of protection (but don’t rely on this in place of your usual suncare), and the velvety finish helped my foundation and concealer sit smoothly, especially around areas with increasing fine lines and enlarged pores on my nose.
Buy now £42, Spacenk.com
No7 airbrush away radiance boosting primer
Best: oil-free primer
Size: 30ml
Key ingredients: Mica
Why we love it
- Oil-free formula
- Brightening
Take note
- Sheer pink payoff that doesn’t flatter areas of redness
No7’s airbrush away radiance boosting primer has a creamy texture and includes mica, which reflects light and gives a brightening, radiant finish.
It’s particularly good if your skin is looking dull or sallow, and you need a quick fix for the day. It dries down very fast, so you don’t need to spend ages rubbing it in, and it didn’t exacerbate my redness-prone cheeks. However, the sheer pink payoff may not flatter areas of redness.
Buy now £17.95, Boots.com
Grown Alchemist skin defense primer
Best: primer for blurring pores
Size: 50ml
Key ingredients: Prebiotic peptides, ashwagandha, reishi mushroom
Why we love it
- Good value for money
- Can be worn without makeup to even out skin tone
Take note
- On the pricier side
- Strong scent may not be for everyone
Grown Alchemist’s skin defense primer has a clever gel formula that mattifies and blurs while evening out skin tone. If you’re looking to add radiance or luminosity to your complexion, this isn’t the primer for you, but it does a great job of blurring areas of enlarged pores.
I found that just a small 5p-size amount creates a smooth, even base to control oil production throughout the day. It has quite a strong botanical scent, but it caused no bother on my acne- and redness-prone complexion.
Buy now £31, Sephora.co.uk
Your questions about primers answered
What is the best primer?
Taking the top spot, Milk Make-up pore eclipse mattifying primer not only immediately improved excess oil production but also made a dramatic difference to the longevity of my make-up. It stood up especially well during hot and humid conditions. Meanwhile, the Danessa Myricks universal blurring balm powder is a unique formula that leaves a velvety-soft finish, so if you have the budget, it’s a luxury option well worth the price tag. However, budget-conscious shoppers, especially those with dry skin, will love the thrifty 17 vitamin enriched primer, thanks to its moisturising and hydrating benefits.
What is a primer, and what does it do?
The main purpose of a primer is to prepare your skin for foundation, creating a smoother canvas for a flawless finish that make-up adheres to for longer. Just like using paint primer on a wall for a smoother finish, or wearing the right underwear to ensure there’s no VPL underneath your new dress, what goes on underneath your make-up can help perfect a look.
What are the benefits of using primer?
Next-generation primer formulas go beyond extending the staying power of your make-up, offering skin-perfecting benefits, too. You’ll find pore-blurring, line-filling, hydration-boosting and radiance-promoting formulations. Some are so good that they may make you want to skip foundation altogether.
How I tested primers
The following testing criteria are what I considered at all times:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Louise Whitbread has been a beauty writer for years and has tested dozens of make-up and skincare products for The Independent. She has consulted experts in the field to glean insight from dermatologists on all things skincare and heard from make-up artists on how best to apply make-up. She’s also delved into the nitty-gritty of formulas and ingredients, identifying which ones to avoid for certain skin concerns. She has applied her years of experience in the field to assess how well primers work. But beyond this, she has a genuine interest in helping others find the products that really work.
Want more recommendations? Read our review of the best setting powders
