Finding the best hydrating primers for your makeup routine can be a game-changer, especially when it comes to achieving a flawless finish with a nice, dewy glow.
Whether you’re dealing with dry patches, combination skin, or the need for oil control, a good hydrating primer is essential for creating everything from a nice, minimal makeup look to an all-out glammed-up look! From high-end primers to those perfect for oily skin, these products can help create a smooth canvas for your base makeup, improve the appearance of pores, and deliver a healthy glow.
Let’s explore my top picks for the best hydrating primer and why a hydrating primer should be a staple in your makeup routine.
What to Look for in a Good Hydrating Primer
When searching for the right primer, there are several things to look at to ensure you achieve the best makeup application possible:
- Hydration and Ingredients: Look for primers infused with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and aloe vera. These bits help keep your skin plump and moisturized, which is especially beneficial for mature skin and dry skin types. The best primers offer it all (check out the ones down below) and work seamlessly with your skincare routine.
- Skin Tone and Texture: A good primer should cater to various skin tones and textures. It should help even out your skin tone and create a smooth base, making it easier for your foundation to glide on and grip with little effort.
- Specific Concerns: Address specific skin concerns such as the appearance of pores, fine lines, and uneven skin texture. Primers that blur imperfections and provide a dewy look can give you a flawless finish if you struggle with any of those things.
- Versatility and Wear: Choose primers that can be worn alone for a natural glow or under makeup for extended wear. Award-winning primers or those recommended by makeup artists (like the ones in this post) are often a safe bet for quality and performance.
By keeping these things in mind, you can pick the right hydrating primer that suits your skin’s specific needs and enhances your overall makeup routine. Don’t worry, we have plenty for you to choose from!
Best Hydrating Primers
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
About the Product: Achieve a flawless makeup application with e.l.f. Power Grip Primer. This hydrating, gel-based primer features hyaluronic acid to keep your skin plump and moisturized. Suitable for all skin types and ensures your makeup stays in place for a natural, long-lasting finish. This non-comedogenic primer is a must-have for the best makeup application, and while it is a good choice for all skin types, it is ideal for combination and oily skin.
This is my absolute favorite gripping primer! It is a hydrating gel that becomes tacky so that whatever you apply on top “grips” to it and stays in place all day. If you struggle with getting a longer wear time with your makeup, you should try this one!
NYX Plump Right Back Plumping Serum & Primer
About the Product: Revitalize your makeup routine with NYX Plump Right Back Plumping Serum & Primer. This lightweight, electrolyte-infused primer serum features hyaluronic acid and vitamins to keep your skin plump, moisturized, and looking energized. Perfect for all skin types, it grips your makeup for a long-lasting, flawless finish while smoothing your skin for even application. This primer will leave you with a smooth canvas that enhances your skin tone and keeps your foundation looking #flawless all day and looks amazing paired with a high-end looking lippie.
This is an another lovely gripping primer, but this one is a thinner consistency with a serum-like feel. If you don’t love super sticky gripping primers but still want some longevity, this is a great choice.
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
About the Product: Rejuvenate your complexion with the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. This hydrating primer boosts skin’s radiance, promotes elasticity, and soothes and smooths your skin for a flawless finish. Perfect for all skin types, it locks down makeup for longer wear, ensuring your look stays fresh and radiant all day. Achieve a smooth canvas, improve the appearance of pores, and enjoy the best makeup application every time with this awesome pick.
This is such a refreshing primer, like a nice tall drink of water for the skin. If your complexion is feeling dull and you’re looking to add some extra moisture, you’ll love this one. It’s iconic for a reason!
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
About the Product: Transform your makeup routine with Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. This multipurpose, oil-free primer evens skin tone, minimizes the appearance of pores, and conceals redness, even rosacea. Its silky, airy texture creates a smooth canvas, allowing foundation to glide on effortlessly and stay fresh looking all day. With broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection (I am a huge fan of that right there) and a formula suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, it ensures a flawless finish that lasts. Achieve the best makeup application and enhance your skin’s specific needs with this high-end primer.
If you want a primer that will not only hydrate the skin but will also create a smooth poreless base, you’re going to love this one. While it is the priciest primer on this list, it is worth the splurge!
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer
About the Product: Enhance your makeup routine with Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer. This weightless primer plumps and smooths skin, instantly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Providing 24-hour hydration, it offers a natural, healthy glow while keeping your makeup vibrant and fresh for up to 12 hours. Ideal for achieving a smooth canvas and flawless results, it’s perfect for all skin types, including mature skin and those with dry patches.
If you’re looking to double up on the moisture before makeup, this is a beautiful primer that will help you achieve that. Skin prep is so important and if you skimp on the moisturizer, this will help you create the perfect base for makeup.
L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion
About the Product: Get yourself some Glow with L’Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion. This hydrating and glowy makeup primer, infused with glycerin and shea butter, delivers all-day hydration and a natural glow. Available in four shades to suit all skin tones, it enhances your skin’s natural radiance, whether worn alone or under foundation. Achieve a healthy, sun-kissed look with this versatile product (works well as a highlighter, too), perfect for creating a luminous effect, improving skin texture, and achieving flawless makeup application. Ideal for those with combination skin, it provides a beautiful dewy finish every time. Pair her with a nice, glowy cream bronzer from the drugstore for an even better look!
Basically, if you want a hydrating yet also illuminating primer, this will be your jam. It’s glowy without looking and feeling greasy.
Milani Skin Quench Hydrating Primer
About the Product: Hydrate and perfect your skin with Milani Skin Quench Hydrating Primer. Infused with ultra-moisturizing hyaluronic acid and coconut water, this creamy primer blurs imperfections and extends makeup wear with a natural finish. Ideal for all skin types, it provides essential hydration, improves skin texture, and makes for a smooth canvas for makeup application. Plus, it’s 100% cruelty-free!
This is a wonderful alternative to the Laura Mercier primer I mentioned above but also helps create a little blurring effect.
NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Smoothing Primer
About the Product: Experience a fun “marshmallow” effect with NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Smoothing Primer. Infused with marshmallow root extract, this vegan, non-comedogenic primer smooths, softens, and hydrates your skin while evening tone and minimizing texture. It blurs lines and adds a soft-focus finish, keeping your makeup fresh and extending wear all day. Perfect for creating a flawless base, this primer is among the best makeup primers, ensuring oil control and delivering a healthy glow for a flawless finish every single time.
I love the sweet scent of this primer, but I really enjoy the finish this gives the skin. It’s hydrating and moisturizing while also creating a soft blurred effect to the skin. It’s very subtle but a fantastic base before makeup.
ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Primer
About the Product: Give your makeup routine a pick-me-up with ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Primer. This lightweight, dermatologist-tested primer hydrates your skin, creating a smooth canvas for flawless makeup application. Infused with hyaluronic acid and coconut water, it supports skin softness and hydration, making it a must-have for achieving a dewy look and perfect makeup routine.
This is also a very refreshing primer, much like the Too Faced. Really freshens up the skin and makes the skin look so healthy!
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer
About the Product: Achieve a flawless finish every time with Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer. This award-winning primer, infused with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, hydrates and plumps skin for up to 72 hours. Its lightweight, breathable formula creates a smooth canvas, blurring imperfections and protecting against environmental damage. Perfect for dry skin types, it delivers a fresh, healthy glow with a dewy finish, ensuring your makeup looks better and lasts longer. There is a reason this primer has been featured on “best hydrating primers” lists for years!
I love that this is a hybrid moisturizer + primer. If you are a minimalist and do not want too many steps in your skin prep, this is a product you will love!
Leave a Reply