7 Primers That Actually Work
All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.
For Lasting Hydration
Great Skin Moisturizer, £40 | Merit
Merit can’t put a foot wrong and its latest addition is another winner. Full of collagen-boosting peptides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, this primer will make your skin appear bouncier and more refreshed. Silky and lightweight, the texture blurs the boundaries between primer and moisturiser – so you don’t have to double up.
Available at MERITBEAUTY.COM
For Blurring Effect
Anti-Pollution Primer, £33 | Grown Alchemist
If you’re keen to reduce the appearance of large pores and make your skin look more even, try this by Australian plant-based brand Grown Alchemist. Its main job is to blur texture, which it does without the use of silicones, so you’re less likely to experience pilling. The skin-friendly ingredient list features reishi mushroom and ashwagandha to fight oxidative stress and support barrier function.
Available at GROWNALCHEMIST.COM
For Minimising Shine
Vanish™ Airbrush Primer, £57 | Hourglass
If you want your skin to look fresh but not flat, this primer works wonders. Housed in elegant packaging, it comes out of the bottle translucent, smoothing over any texture to create a flawless canvas upon which to layer your make-up. Using microspherical powders to control shine and blur imperfections, it ensures foundation both lasts and looks better.
Available at SPACENK.COM
For A Lit-From-Within Glow
Skin Nova, £31 | VIEVE
Brainchild of make-up artist Jamie Genevieve, Skin Nova has amassed a cult following. With a focus on radiance, it uses light-reflecting pigments to breathe life back into the face. It has a slightly tacky feel to set your base in place. You could wear this alone on the weekends, but if you’re after something equally glowy with buildable coverage, go for Vieve’s new Complexion Balm – essentially Skin Nova in foundation form.
Available at SPACENK.COM
For Added Sun Protection
Beauty Base Protect, £23 | Sculpted By Aimee
One of Sculpted By Aimee’s bestsellers, Beauty Base Protect is a great all-rounder. It contains hyaluronic acid and peptides to give the skin a plump, dewy quality – it’s especially well-suited to those with dehydrated skin who want an extra layer of nourishment. With SPF50 built into the formula, it also delivers a welcome top-up of protection against sun damage.
Available at SCULPTEDBYAIMEE.CO.UK
For Reduced Puffiness
Blur & Hydrate Primer, £24 | REFY
This new launch by cool-girl label REFY has us hooked. For those prone to shine but who also want make-up to stay put, this weightless, quick-absorbing primer ticks all the boxes. The finish stops just short of matte territory, so your skin still has a bouncy quality to it. Meanwhile, the genius metal applicator helps to minimise puffiness – essential for early starts.
Available at REFYBEAUTY.COM
For A Soft-Focus Veil
Hollywood Flawless Filter, £39 | Charlotte Tilbury
Make-up junkies will likely be well acquainted with Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter. Creating a glowy, airbrushed effect, this hardworking multitasker is in a league of its own. Thanks to polymers and porcelain flower extract, it smooths and illuminates – just like a real-life filter. We love it layered under foundation to get that supermodel skin look.
Available at CHARLOTTETILBURY.COM
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