The 10 Best Drugstore Primers of 2022, All Under $25

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Makeup primers were once positioned simply as a foundation prep step, a way to up the staying power of your base and any other makeup you apply. And indeed, primers are excellent and necessary for that purpose. But it’s time to shatter the misconception that that’s all they can do. The right primer can do so much more, mattifying or brightening, smoothing away the look of lines and wrinkles, and blurring imperfections.

In short, a primer is much more of a necessity than you may think. The other misconception we’d like to do away with is that you have to shell out big bucks for a good primer. The drugstore is a treasure trove of great options, with choices for every skin type and complexion concern (not to mention every area of your face because primers aren’t just for your skin).

Best Overall: Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer
4.9

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What We Like
Non-comedogenic
Fragrance-free
Mattifies skin

What We Don't Like
Can leave a greasy residue

Maybelline's Baby Skin Primer Is Literally the Blur Tool 

Who else recommends it? Cosmopolitan and Buzzfeed both selected the Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser.12

What do buyers say? 83% of 55,000+ Amazon reviewers rated it 4 stars or above.

This universal fan favorite has been dubbed “Photoshop in a bottle” for good reason. The ultra-silky texture works on all skin types, leaving oily skin perfectly mattified and dry skin hydrated and smooth. Apply a few drops on your bare face or mix it straight in with your foundation if you’re looking to streamline your routine; either way, you’ll reap the complexion-perfecting benefits.

Skin Type: All | Size: 0.67 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No 

What Our Testers Say

"After applying the primer to my skin, my entire face felt instantly smooth, soft, and moisturized. Upon close inspection, I could also see that the pores around my nose and cheeks were magically minimized—almost as if I had used the blur tool in FaceTune." — Olivia Hancock, Product Tester

Best Mattifying: Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer

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What We Like

Long-lasting
Lightweight

What We Don't Like
Can be drying

The right primer can work wonders when it comes to keeping skin matte and tamping down sheen all day. This particular shine-controlling option does just that (for up to eight hours, we should add), but without ever feeling too dry or creating a cakey appearance.

Skin Type: Oily, dry | Dosage: Pea size amount | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: No 

Best for Large Pores: COVERGIRL Trublend Base Business Pore Minimizing Skin Primer

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What We Like
Oil-free
Boosts radiance

What We Don't Like
Has fragrance

The bad news? There’s no product or treatment out there that will change the actual size of your pores. The good news? There are ways that you can make them appear smaller, like using a primer such as this one. The oil-free formula smooths away the look of prominent pores and has a subtle lilac tint that delivers overall brightness and generally makes skin look that much better.

Skin Type: All | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for All Skin Types: Revlon Photo ready Perfecting Primer

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What We Like
Versatile variants to address different problems
Oil-free

What We Don't Like
Ingredient list not disclosed

There are three variants of this primer available—Brightening, Perfecting, and Pore Reducing— so you can choose whichever one sounds like the best fit for you. Each has some slightly different features; the Brightening has a pearlescent finish, the Perfecting a tone-enhancing pink tint, while the Pore Reducing also mattifies. But what they all have common is a topnotch ability to smooth skin and keep makeup locked in place.

Skin Type: All | Size: 0.91 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Dry Skin: E.l.f. Jelly Pop Dew Primer

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What We Like
Hydrating
Lightweight

What We Don't Like
Has fragrance

KEY INGREDIENTS

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in the human body. It acts as a cushioning and lubrication agent for our joints, nerves, hair, skin, and eyes. When used in skincare, it acts as a moisture binder, which means that it will attach itself to the water in the cells (while also attracting and holding water from the air) making them plump.

Serum, moisturizer, hydrating primer—consider that your go-to product trifecta if your skin feels perpetually parched. More specifically, make sure it’s this primer, which has an ingredient list that really reads more like skincare than a makeup product. We’re talking a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid, soothing, brightening, and hydrating niacinamide, plus plenty of antioxidants. Bonus points for the refreshing and moisturizing gel texture and the way it leaves your complexion looking naturally dewy and oh-so-fresh.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamins A, C, and E, watermelon extract | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 1.01 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Dull Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Glow Primer & Serum

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Hydrating
Lightweight

What We Don't Like
Some reviewers note receiving unsealed bottles

If your complexion is looking dull, lackluster, and generally blah, consider using this skincare-makeup hybrid. Part serum, part primer, it delivers a big ole dose of hydration via hyaluronic acid (always a surefire way to boost radiance), leaving skin plump, smooth, and refreshed. And per the primer part of things, it also helps keep your makeup on lock.

Key Ingredients: Purified hyaluronic acid concentrate | Skin Type: Dull, dry | Dosage: A few drops | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Oily Skin: BLK/OPL Invisible Oil Blocking Gel Primer

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What We Like
Mattifies skin
Lightweight

What We Don't Like
Smaller size than other options

Those with oily skin are excellent candidates for using a primer; think of it as falling more in the skincare category, another way to help mattify your complexion. This featherweight gel option is especially choice, drying down to an undetectable matte finish and boasting a natural astringent to help stop oil in its tracks. Use it all over or just on areas prone to excess sheen, like your T-zone.

Key Ingredients: Witch hazel | Skin Type: All | Size: 0.42 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best With SPF: NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Cannabis Sativa Daily Moisturizing Primer SPF 30

Courtesy of NYX

What We Like
Non-comedogenic
Generous size
Hydrating
Has SPF

What We Don't Like
Has fragrance

Anyone who’s constantly searching for ways to streamline their morning routine (insert hand-raising emoji here) will appreciate this multi-tasker. Indeed, it acts as a primer to smooth skin and prolong makeup wear but the benefits don’t stop there. Cannabis sativa seed oil works to impart long-lasting hydration while also soothing skin, and there’s also your daily dose of SPF 30 in the mix, too. As our girl Ina Garten would say, how easy is that?

Key Ingredients: Cannabis sativa seed oil, avobenzone, homosalate, homosalate, octisalate, octocryle | Skin Type: All | Dosage: Dimed-size amount | Size: 2.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Best Brightening: Milani Prime Light Strobing & Pore Minimizing Face Primer

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What We Like
Boosts radiance
Lightweight

What We Don't Like
Reviewers note it's not long-lasting

To score that coveted, lit-from-within glow that everyone craves, sure, you could load on tones of highlighter as the final step in your makeup routine. Or, you could start by prepping the skin with this primer and create an even more natural-looking luminescence. Soft focus pigments instantly brighten and revive your complexion; use the formula under makeup or even alone on days when you want more of a bare-faced look.

Dosage: 1 to 2 drops | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Best for Redness: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Prep + Correct Primer

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What We Like
Reduces redness
Lightweight

What We Don't Like
Can be drying

Don’t be freaked by the pale green color of this primer—it’s the secret weapon for minimizing unwanted redness. (Green neutralizes red because the two colors fall opposite one another on the color wheel.) The color-correcting pick is ideal for anyone dealing with rosacea or blemishes, perfecting and evening out your complexion even before you reach for foundation and concealer.

Key Ingredients: Seaweed extract | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No 

Best for Lids: Wet n Wild Photo Focus Eyeshadow Primer

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What We Like
Mattifies skin
Dries clear
Boosts radiance

What We Don't Like
Can get cakey if overused

If you’re constantly dealing with eyeshadow that cakes and creases, consider prepping lids with a shadow primer (this one) beforehand. This mattifying one absorbs oil and acts as a buffer between skin and shadow—be it cream or powder—to keep it looking smooth and even. It dries clear but does also have a subtle brightening effect, never a bad thing in our book.

Skin Type: All | Size: 0.34 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Lips: NYX Professional Makeup Lip Primer

NYX Cosmetics
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What We Like
Hydrating
Long-lasting

What We Don't Like
Has fragrance

Just like a good primer can ensure your foundation stays put, so too can a lip primer help lock lipstick in place. Simply line and fill in your pout with this creamy pencil; it creates the perfect canvas, helping lip color glide on smoothly and preventing it from ever bleeding or feathering. Don’t tell anyone, but it’s our little secret prep step anytime we’re sporting a bold lip.

Skin Type: All | Size: 0.1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Best Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Skin