Best primer on Reddit
168 reviews from r/Makeup, r/Sephora, r/paint and 25 more subreddits
168 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Urban Decay
4.8
(10)
"I love the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer. I do a thin layer and let it dry before applying eyeshadow and it stays on (and even) like a dream."
"Hands down urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion, the original version."
"Urban Decay Primer Potion is so good."
"Urban Decay Primer Potion is so good that I’ve never even had to look elsewhere."
"Urban Decay has been my holy grain for years."
"Urban Decay and NARS have been my go-to's."
"My favorite is the Urban Decay."
"UD primer with Natasha Denona shadow held up for 9 hrs."
"I used UD Primer Potion. I don’t remember if it still exists."
"Hopefully they still make it: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer."
#2
ELF
4.9
(9)
"I like the elf pink power grip primer. I found it works really well on top of my moisturizer."
"I love elf's power grip primer, I have combination skin and it makes everything look so smooth."
"I personally love the duo of elf poreless putty primer and elf power grip primer."
"ELF putty works really well."
"Seconding elf putty primer in luminous."
"I use ELF liquid poreless putty primer. I really like it."
"I love Elf Power Grip Primer paired with the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray!"
"Elf power grip primer is amazing!"
"You could try the elf gel based power grip primer."
#3
Hourglass
5.0
(8)
"Hourglass mineral veil."
"Hourglass Mineral Veil or Armani Luminous Silk depending on the finish I want."
"Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer."
"I highly recommend the Hourglass powders (I have the Jellyfish palette), they enhance glow."
"Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is amazing."
"The best primer is HG Veil Mineral."
"I love the hourglass vanish primer."
"I personally love the hourglass vanish primer! Yes, it’s so unreasonably expensive, but the blurring, smoothness it’s given me over my eczema and sensitive skin have been worth it to me!"
#4
Milk
4.8
(8)
"Milk Hydro Grip primer if it’s not too much, otherwise Elf Hydro Power Grip primer if you’re on a budget!"
"I use the Milk Mattifying Primer Stick, it’s so good and makeup lasts all day."
"I have combo skin with an oily t zone, so my faves are the Milk Eclipse mattifying primer."
"I use the milk hydrogrip primer with the haus labs and it works well for me!"
"The Milk Primer is an absolute BANGER. one of my fav newer high end primers!"
"The Milk primer helped control my oily face during the hot summer!"
"Milk blur primer for my nose."
"I use the Milk primer and Hourglass powder."
#5
Smashbox
5.0
(7)
"I will sing from the highest peaks that smashbox makes the absolute best primer."
"I live and die by their mattifying primer."
"Smashbox photo finish is very nice."
"If you use water based makeup like the smashbox photo finish primerizer + hydrating primer!"
"My go-to recommendation would be the original smashbox."
"I love Smashbox primers & primerizers."
"I personally use Smashbox one and don’t have issues. It is the only primer I use."
#6
Zinsser
4.4
(7)
"Zinnser cover stain oil base will kill the knots and give it a good base."
"BIN shellac primer. That stuff is the best!"
"Bin shellac, don’t risk it, if that doesn’t do it nothing will!"
"Zinsser cover stain."
"Zinsser Cover Stain."
"Zinsser Odorless Oil Primer is a great option, too."
"I’ve had success with Zinsser Smart Prime followed by Benjamin Moore Advance."
#7
Bobbi Brown
4.8
(6)
"The Bobbi Brown face base is hands down my favorite."
"Bobbi Brown vitamin base is wonderful for my dry skin"
"I use the vitamin enriched face base by Bobbi brown as a moisturizer/ primer combo."
"Also love love love Bobbi Brown face base."
"Bobbi Brown Face Base. New holy grail."
"Bobbi brown vitamin enriched face base for me when I had drier skin."
#8
Kilz
4.0
(7)
"I have come to prefer Kilz3 because I don’t like surprises."
"It’s good stuff. Been using it for many many years."
"Original kilz will work, not kilz 2 or 3 or anything else."
"Killz."
"Kilz."
"Killz original or Zinsser stain blocking primer."
"Kilz. Both are good primers."
#9
Milani
4.5
(6)
"Fantastic! As good as any high end primer I’ve used."
"Milani eye primer is goated for me!"
"The milani eyeshadow primer is great!"
"In the summertime I’ll also use the Milani 'Make It Last' matte finishing spray."
"I am quite oily, and I've found that 'No More Pore Zone' primer by Milani works extremely well for me."
"For drugstore I would recommend Milani."
#10
Nars
4.8
(5)
"NARS hands down"
"I like the nars pro prime in original. Little goes a long way, controls my oil better than other primers I've tried."
"Nars and it’s not even close."
"Nars is the only one that doesn’t feel silicone-like."
"It does wonders for eyeshadow."
#11
MAC
4.6
(5)
"Only ones I’ve used for years is Mac Paint Pot."
"Mac paint pot is my all time favorite! Painterly is good for fair/cooler skin tones, soft ochre for more yellow undertones."
"I just started using Mac Paint Pot and I am really impressed."
"My favourites are Mac mattifine, Refy blur and hydrate and Niod photo fluid."
"I use MAC prep + prime and I’m pretty happy with it."
#12
Elf
4.6
(5)
"Elf primer, not a big fan of elf’s products but their primer is amazing"
"Elf Halo primer/sunscreen works for me. I am in my 70s with roscea. It doesn't break me out."
"I wear ELF Shadow Lock Primer $4 and it is the best primer that I have ever used."
"Elf liquid poreless primer."
"I like elf jelly primer + nyx can’t stop won’t stop mattifying powder."
#13
Tatcha
5.0
(4)
"The ones that work wonderful for me are: Victoria Beckham and Tatcha primers"
"I’m a big long time fan of the Tatcha primer (the bottle, not the putty)."
"Tatcha liquid silk has done wonders for me."
"Tatcha liquid silk primer is my holy grail!"
#14
e.l.f.
4.0
(4)
"I second the liquid poreless putty primer! It’s great for all of those things!"
"One of the best drugstore primers for minimizing pores with a matte to natural finish is e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer."
"For something gentle, you might want to try **e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer**."
"Currently using ELF poreless putty primer. I don’t really think it’s doing much."
#15
Benefit
5.0
(3)
"Benefit porefessional has been my holy grail primer! It works wonders for icepick scars and small boxcars."
"Pore filling and oil control: benefit POREfessional, rare beauty pore diffusing primer."
"My go to is the POREfessional by Benefit paired with the MAC Studio Fix All Over Face Pen."
#16
Laura Mercier
5.0
(3)
"A primer that's never talked about but I love for Bridal is the classic Laura mercier primer."
"I use Laura Mercier pure canvas primer and Estée Lauder double wear foundation."
"I would also suggest checking out the Laura Mercier Blurring primer."
#17
Fenty
4.7
(3)
"I love the fenty beauty one."
"Fenty eye primer is the best for oily eye lids!"
"I do like the Fenty one."
#18
Too Faced
4.7
(3)
"Too Faced hangover primer or Fenty Beauty hydrating primer are really good ones that feel like skincare."
"I also use Nars Soft Matte concealer and Too Faced Hangover RX primer."
"I also use Too Faced Hangover RX primer."
#19
Wet n Wild
4.3
(3)
"Wet n wild impossible primer!"
"Another one I like is the Wet n Wild purple "primefocus" serum.. good luck finding one that works well for you!"
"Wet n Wild Impossible Primer?"
#20
Badger
4.3
(3)
"For airbrush I like to use the Badger primer."
"I like the badger because I can spray it, and it’s nice and thin."
"Badger makes an airbrush primer that I use regularly and like."
#21
Maybelline
4.3
(3)
"This has been the only primer that makes me look not dry, patchy or textured and lasts."
"You can try maybelline baby skin. It helps with pores."
"Maybelline baby skin is one of the best."
#22
YSL
4.3
(3)
"YSL TOUCHE ECLAT!!! I’ve repurchased it multiple times."
"YSL Nu is pretty good, not perfect."
"I’m currently using YSL Blur. It’s really nice and luxurious."
#23
Vallejo
3.7
(3)
"The cheapest option i have found out there are the 200ml Vallejo bottles."
"I've had really good luck with Vallejo primer on resin."
"I do not recommend Vallejo primer."
#24
Armani
5.0
(2)
"Armani luminous silk primer! I like to use it under the foundation."
"I like the Armani luminous silk primer as well as the Make Up For Ever hydrating primer."
#25
NARS
5.0
(2)
"I switched to Nars smudge proof eyeshadow base in translucent."
"I’m super oily and use Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, mine doesn’t budge."
#26
Ulta
5.0
(2)
"Ulta brand is fantastic, good price too."
"One of the best eye primers for under $10."
#27
Laura Geller
5.0
(2)
"**Laura Geller Spackle Primer** is the **BOMB!!!**"
"Laura Geller Spackle Primer"
#28
Danessa Myricks
5.0
(2)
"The Danessa Myricka blurring balm or whatever it’s called."
"The danessa myricks blurring balm in combination with elf’s power grip has been game changing for me!"
#29
SuperGoop
5.0
(2)
"I like the unseen sunscreen by supergoop."
"SuperGoop Unseen Sunscreen (or the Trader Joe's dupe) are fantastic to use as primers."
#30
GW
3.0
(3)
"I use this on all my miniatures for board games."
"As another said, Wraithbone. Then you just need a little skeleton horde."
"Honestly, i find the GW Wraithbone primer to be a waste of money."
#31
E.L.F
4.5
(2)
"E.L.F Power Grip Primer always keeps my makeup intact all day."
"I had good luck with the Elf hydrogrip primer."
#32
Lancome
4.5
(2)
"You guys should give Lancome’s 'La Base Pro' a try."
"Lancome la base pro is really nice too."
#33
Tarte
4.5
(2)
"I like the tarte timeless smoothing primer! Blurs my acne scars and fills in ice pick scars."
"I have used the Tarte Timeless smoothing primer and did like that."
#34
NYX
4.5
(2)
"NYX plump right back primer"
"NYX plump right back primer."
#35
Colourforge
4.0
(2)
"I'd definitely recommend Colourforge then."
"Colourforge are great, though I don't know if you consider that as a big name brand."
#36
Rust-Oleum
3.0
(2)
"May need two coats but preserves more detail."
"Rust-Oleum is fine."
#37
Milk Makeup
5.0
(1)
"I like Milk Makeuo primer. Have been through 4 bottles of it so far."
#38
Shiseido
5.0
(1)
"Shiseido Synchro Skin Soft Bluring Primer - it keeps the foundation in place."
#39
Spatch Skin
5.0
(1)
"Spatch Skin has a great primer."
#40
Revolution
5.0
(1)
"Revolution pore blur. It's my holy grail for a completely smooth, silky canvas."
#41
Iconic London
5.0
(1)
"I’m loving this one. It helps that it’s a primer and setting spray in one!!"
#42
Canmake
5.0
(1)
"I use the green Canmake mermaid tint and love it."
#43
CoverFX
5.0
(1)
"Coverfx Stress Remedy Primer"
#44
Victoria Beckham
5.0
(1)
"The ones that work wonderful for me are: Victoria Beckham and Tatcha primers"
#45
Clinique
5.0
(1)
"Ik clinique gave you a flare... but I emailed them and they suggested a different one (even better clinical, it’s cone shaped) and it worked well for me."
#46
Titan
4.0
(1)
"I recommend Titan Buff."
#47
Stila
4.0
(1)
"I really like it."
#48
Glidden
4.0
(1)
"It has a better recoat time and is better price than Kilz PVA."
#49
Tamiya
4.0
(1)
"Tamiya was good when I tried a few rattle cans."
#50
Erborian
4.0
(1)
"I really like erborian pink primer with their super BB cream."
#51
Essence
4.0
(1)
"I've been favoring lately is the essence hello good stuff glow serum primer."
#52
LA Girl
4.0
(1)
"It’s a smoothing, lightweight, silicone gel and it doesn’t dry me out."
#53
Stix
4.0
(1)
"Unless your painting raw wood use stixs primer and SW emerald urethane."
#54
Glossier
4.0
(1)
"Glossier Priming Moisturizer (Rich) for my dry skin."
#55
Army Painter
4.0
(1)
"Stick to primers specifically meant for plastic model miniatures."
#56
Colour Forge
4.0
(1)
"I use Colour Forge’s Wightbone which is functionally the same as Wraithbone."
#57
Haus Labs
4.0
(1)
"Haus labs is also supposed to be good for sensitive skin but haven’t tried it out."
#58
Almay
4.0
(1)
"...almay is also another I’ve tried and tower 28 also felt pretty nice."
#59
Mac
4.0
(1)
"Mac prep and prime 24 hour eye shadow base has been a game changer."
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