A good primer is a lifeline you need if you have an oily complexion. Find the right one, and it’ll stop your foundation from slipping, thus keeping your base smooth and flawless for longer. Not only will good mattifying primer tackle areas of high shine, but it’ll reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores too, resulting in a flawless-looking complexion that doesn’t feel tight or become patchy. This is the selection of the very best primers for oily skin.
Contents
- Best Primers For Oily Skin
- Fenty Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer – $34
- Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Mattifier – $42
- REN Perfect Canvas Clean Primer – $48
- It Matters Mattifying Primer Stick – $6.47
- The Silk Canvas Protective Primer – $54
- Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – $56
- Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer – $32.75
- Bareminerals Blemish Rescue Anti-Redness Mattifying Primer – $34.95
- Honest Beauty Everything Primer Matte – $17.95
- Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring – $21 & $42
- Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer – $32
Best Primers For Oily Skin
Fenty Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer – $34
If you hate the shine that comes from having oilier skin but don’t want your complexion ending up on the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ll love Rihanna’s targeted primer. You also don’t have to apply it all over your face if you prefer not to: it works brilliantly as a targeted product for tackling excess oil around the T-zone, nose, and chin.
Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Mattifier – $42
If you prefer a semi-matte finish that doesn’t dull your complexion or have skin that has a combination of dry and oily patches, Bobbi Brown’s formula is a great choice. It works well with liquid, stick, and powder foundations.
REN Perfect Canvas Clean Primer – $48
If you are looking for a silicone-free primer that has true skincare benefits, Ren’s version is for you. It is enriched with alpha-glucans, probiotics, and blue agave extract to give your skin not only a smoother look but to also make it stronger and healthier over time, which is the real ticket to better-looking make-up.
It Matters Mattifying Primer Stick – $6.47
Neutrogena’s primer stick is the easiest way to nix shine on the go. To use, swivel up and swipe the non-greasy formula over the skin to instantly mattify and blur. “I always have issues with applying a primer on my skin,” says one reviewer. “I have very shiny oily skin. This stick helped me to reduce pores and made my skin more mattified.” Extra credit: It’s TSA-friendly.
The Silk Canvas Protective Primer – $54
This primer comes in a balm form, so it’s easy to swipe on. “It is practically the only primer I have tried that doesn’t make my makeup run,” says Danusia Wnek, a chemist at the GH Institute Beauty Lab. “It keeps foundation locked, minimizes the look of pores, and keeps me matte all day long. There is a learning curve with this one: Less is more and I tap it (not rub) into the T-zone area of the skin. I can absolutely notice a difference when I use it and when I don’t with product application, look, and longevity.”
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – $56
What can’t this primer do? Not only does it help keep skin matte and oil-free, but it also color-corrects by concealing redness, makes pores look invisible, and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles before makeup. “This is a beautiful product and makes my make-up look so smooth,” says one reviewer. “It makes my face feel smooth and very soft to the touch.”
Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer – $32.75
If minimizing large pores is your main concern, try Smashbox’s formula to help smooth skin to a soft, velvety texture, making makeup look more uniform longer. “I have tried many primers that promise a matte look and they are either too drying and cause my skin to flake or they don’t take away the shine enough and I’m constantly reapplying,” explains one reviewer. “This one is a perfect balance and fairly long-lasting.”
Bareminerals Blemish Rescue Anti-Redness Mattifying Primer – $34.95
Anyone with oily skin that’s also acne-prone will love this mattifying primer from Bareminerals. It’s non-comedogenic (meaning it’s tested to not clog pores or cause acne) and uses chamomile extract to soothe inflammation, antibacterial minerals to prevent breakouts, and has a green tint to neutralize any breakout-induced redness.
Honest Beauty Everything Primer Matte – $17.95
Not only does this primer keep your oily skin looking shine-free and your makeup intact all day long, but the formula is made without questionable ingredients like parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, or dyes. It’s pretty much as clean as primers come.
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Blurring – $21 & $42
Not a huge fan of using skincare and makeup products that contain silicone? Go with this primer for oily skin from Laura Mercier. The water-based formula is made without silicones, but still mattifies skin and minimizes marks and uneven texture thanks to blurring powders and conditioning microalgae.
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Face Primer – $32
Like a bottled Instagram filter, Benefit’s primer is slightly thicker than the ones you might have used before, so it’s best suited for those who don’t mind wearing a lot of makeup. Once on, it was as though I’d put a plug in each one of my pores. And it didn’t just keep my foundation in place all day-it also lasted through my evening run. Impressive, right?
Read more: 10 Best Eye Makeup Remover Every Girl Must Try
