There’s nothing more frustrating than taking the time to apply your make-up in the morning, only to find by lunchtime that it’s turned patchy, faded away or left your T-zone gleaming with shine. That’s where the right primer can transform your beauty routine.
Some primers deliver a mattifying, blurring effect that softens the look of enlarged pores and fine lines while helping to control excess oil throughout the day. Others are designed to create a luminous finish, adding radiance and brightness, or to deeply hydrate and nourish dry patches.
Ultimately, choosing a primer comes down to the finish you’re after, but make-up artist and owner of Sculpted By Aimee, Aimee Connolly, says: “The key is knowing your skin type and understanding the benefits promised from the primer. If your skin’s on the dry side, you’ll want to look for a primer with hydrating and moisturising benefits, whereas if your skin is oily, you may need something that has built-in oil control that mattifies the skin.”
Armed with this knowledge, I went on the hunt to find the best primers for all skin types. If you go for a glowy, luminous look, I found Saie’s glowy super gel (£24, Cultbeauty.co.uk) to really deliver on radiance, so much so, it doubles up as a highlighter. For something more matte, Milk Make-up’s hydro grip (£35, Boots.com) is my go-to when it comes to oil control, so it’s definitely one to consider. Curious to see what else I tested? Keep reading to see my full review.
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The best primers for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Milk Make-up pore eclipse mattifying primer: £35, Boots.com
- Best budget buy – 17 vitamin enriched primer: £5, Boots.com
- Best glowy primer – Saie glowy super gel: £24, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best hydrating primer – Vieve super skin nova: £39, Vievebeauty.com
How I tested
Over the course of six weeks, I put dozens of primers to the test to find the best. I wore them under my make-up to see if they could make a difference in staying power, putting each one against the other. My full testing criteria can be found at the end of this guide.
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