My Makeup Never Lasted Until I Added This One Product to My Routine

I have a confession to make. I used to really, really dislike makeup primers. I'm all for optimising the longevity of my makeup, but honestly? So many makeup primers I've tried over the years have been a flop. In my experience, they often feel heavy on the skin, and whilst some of the thicker ones give flawless results, the trade-off is that they clog my skin for days on end. And at best? Some primers don't do anything at all for me. Before beginning my career as a beauty journalist, I felt a bit clueless about which makeup primers were best for oily skin like mine, or which radiance-boosting primers were really worth the money.

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(Image credit: @eleanorvousden for Who What Wear UK)

Beauty editor Eleanor Vousden swears by E.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

Thankfully, primer formulas have come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and I've since been converted. So much so that I now can't imagine doing my makeup without one. Primers are akin to prepping a canvas or a wall for paint. Depending on the formula, they can smooth over pores and fine lines, hydrate parched complexions or add a touch of radiance underneath your foundation for a lit-from-within kind of glow. They also work to "grip" makeup, helping it last longer and more flawlessly throughout the day.

So, now that I can confidently recommend my favourites, scroll ahead to find out which ones made it onto my list. I'm seriously fussy, so I can guarantee these really are worth trying. 

The 22 Best Makeup Primers

1. E.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer

2. Temple Spa Life Defence SPF 50

3. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

4. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

5. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

6. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base

7. Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer

8. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

9. Embroylisse Lait-Cremè Concentré

10. Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Drops

12. Dior Backstage Face & Body Primer

13. Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Velvet Finish Primer

14. Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Illuminating

15. Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops

16. Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Primer

17. Refy Face Primer, Glow and Sculpt

18. E.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer

19. bareMinerals Prime Time Original Pore-Minimising Primer

20. Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer

21. NYX Professional Makeup Smoothing Marshmallow Root Infused Super Face Primer

22. Saie Glowy Super Gel

Next Up: I'm a Beauty Editor—This Is My Ultimate List of the Best Foundations

Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor, Who What Wear UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.