Contents
From fan favorites to under-the-radar gems.
Primer is a polarizing step in makeup routines. In my experience, people either feel that it’s a necessity for long-lasting makeup and a perfect complexion, or that it’s a totally superfluous product that is mostly marketing. I used to be in the former category, but I’ve crossed to the other side; I credit the latter to the worsening heat of global warming and increasingly innovative formulas.
As a beauty editor, I test as many products as I can and have a couple of my own go-tos, but the heat of the season demands a literal reset or expansion. That’s why I tapped my colleagues and fellow editors—some of the only people with a mental beauty rolodex that rivals mine—for their go-to makeup primers.
Editor-Approved Primers
- Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, $38; amazon.com Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum, $32; amazon.com Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30, $50; amazon.com Dr. Brandt Pore Refiner Primer, $45 (Originally $48); amazon.com Indie Lee Daily SPF Primer, $46; nordstrom.com One/Size Secure the Sweat Waterproof Mattifying Primer, $34; sephora.com
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
$38 at Amazon
The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer gets so much hype that it’s almost redundant to recommend it, but I have to because it really is magic. It’s thin, clear, and has a kind of sticky touch and texture on your face—but that is all part of the sorcery that gets your makeup to adhere to your skin like wallpaper. The Milk primer is my safety blanket—when I have it on, I know not even Hephaestus could make it melt. The spackle-like formula’s finish is also impressive; it creates a second skin that obscures dips, texture issues, and pores. — Tamim Alnuweiri, Senior Beauty Commerce Writer
Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum
$32 at Amazon
Why does the Laneige Lip Mask get all the accolades when this gorgeous, dewy primer exists? The glowy base it provides my skin makes me feel cherubic and is stunning on its own or under makeup. I have combination skin, which means makeup slips easily off the oily areas while sticking in unsightly clumps around the dry parts. Ever since I started using the primer about four months ago, it practically glues makeup to my face all day without feeling too heavy or drying out my complexion. — Irene Richardson, Commerce Writer
Glo Skin Beauty Oil-Free Tinted Primer SPF 30
$50 at Amazon
I’m turning 30 in a few months, and between that and the blistering heat we’ve had this summer, SPF is pretty much my one and only priority these days. Glo Skin Beauty’s Tinted Primer is the only primer I’ve used in the last few months because it checks all of my boxes. It has SPF 30, it gives me a subtle of tone-evening color, and it’s oil-free, which is perfect for the in-between life stage I’m in. (I still get breakouts, but I’m also starting to see more pronounced fine lines.) This primer doesn’t make me break out like some other formulas, and even though it gives me coverage on its own, I can still apply foundation, sans pilling. — Christina Oehler, Senior Beauty Commerce Editor
Dr. Brandt Pore Refiner Primer
Orig. $48 $45 at Amazon
Every time I wear this velvety primer, I can’t help but admire how good my skin looks; my pores are minimized, skin is mattified, and imperfections are seamlessly blurred. I typically use it as a base layer beneath foundation and concealer to keep liquid formulas in place, but its slight tint is substantial enough to provide coverage on its own when I don’t feel like wearing much makeup. I’ve been using this primer for over a year, and actually keep a separate tube in my travel bag to make sure I always have the formula on hand. — Zarah Kavarana, Associate Editorial Director
Indie Lee Daily SPF Primer
$46 at Nordstrom
I have really dry skin, but a lot of hydrating primers just tend to make me look greasy. This primer moisturizes my skin and masks dry patches while also blurring my pores and keeping excess shine at bay on humid summer days. I also love that it includes SPF with no white cast, something I have to look out for since I have a darker skin tone! I honestly threw out all my other primers once I started using this one. It's lightweight and makeup sits on top of it nicely without looking cakey. — Neha Tandon, Commerce Editor
One/Size Secure the Sweat Waterproof Mattifying Primer
Buy Now for $34
Summer is my least favorite season, particularly because I am a massive sweater, which doesn’t help when it comes to long-lasting makeup. This primer from One/Size has been my go-to for several months now. I apply it on my oily areas like my forehead, nose, and chin (the rest of my skin is extremely dry). This not only helps my makeup last for well over six hours, but it also blurs pores and doesn’t leave behind any sticky residue. I use it in tandem with the brand’s finishing spray and my makeup stays practically budge-proof, even in extremely hot temperatures. — Ali Faccenda, Shopping Writer