The 10 Best Drugstore Makeup Primers

    Sarah
    5/24/2023

    Raise your hand if you're already spending $30 or more on your foundation. Now put your hand down if you'd like every single drop of that luxe foundation to last. For that, you need a primer. Any decent makeup primer will prep skin, smooth pores, and create a long-lasting glow, but it's nice to save money where you can in your beauty routine—and primer is one place where the budget-friendly options are just as good. Below, the best drugstore makeup primers (most under $15!) for a flawless complexion and a very happy wallet.

    NYX Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Primer

    $13 AT NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

    Studio Perfect Primer

    Seeing how smooth and flawless your skin looks after one layer of this soft, flexible primer will have you buying back-ups so you never run out. Get it in clear, or color-correcting green and purple. 

    Revolution Glass Skin Primer

    $12 AT REVOLUTIONBEAUTY.COM

    Glass Skin Primer

    Dewy primers amplify your hard-won glass skin instead of covering up the bouncy shine with a matte finish, and we love that this one's only $12. You can wear it on top of your skincare for extra glow, or as a traditional foundation primer. 

    Pacifica Cherry Matte Multi-Mineral Primer

    Now 15% Off

    $11 AT TARGET

    Cherry Matte Multi-Mineral Primer

    Skincare meets primer with Pacifica's oil-controlling formula, which features bentonite clay, wild cherry extract, and vitamin E. As you can probably guess, this one's for the oily and combination skin types—use it around your T-zone to keep makeup from sliding away. 

    e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Putty Primer

    $8 AT ELF COSMETICS

    Poreless Putty Primer

    At just $8 a pop, this accessible putty primer fills in any texture, pores, or marks anywhere on your face, making you look, well, totally poreless.  

    The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer

    $7 AT SEPHORA

    Yup, The Ordinary makes makeup products too, and they're good. Don't let the silicone in the title scare you off, either—that's the ingredient that makes your skin look Photoshop-level smooth. 

    Honest Beauty Everything Primer - Matte

    $23 AT TARGET

    This silicone and oil- free primer uses micronized bamboo powder to blur imperfections and leave skin looking matte all day. With no added dyes or fragrances, it's great for sensitive skin, too.

    L'Oréal Paris Magic Perfecting Base
    $13 AT L'OREAL

    Just like magic, L'Oréal's primer covers pores and any fine lines with a matte, smooth-as-silk finish. You only need a little bit, too, before you start seeing a blurred-out look. 

    CoverGirl TruBlend Base Business Skin Primer

    Now 59% Off

    $3 AT AMAZON

    There's a CoverGirl TruBlend primer for any skin type or issue, trust us: green for color-neutralizing, peach for illuminating, a basic clear for skin-smoothing—y

    wet n wild Photo Focus Primer Water

    $6 AT WETNWILDBEAUTY.COM

    Pro tip: Lighter-weight primers are fantastic for dry, flaky skin and oily types. You're able to smooth a feather-light base for foundation all over, then target areas where you need extra coverage. 

    Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer

    Now 40% Off

    $4 AT AMAZON

    This classic has managed to score 4.4-star rating from more than 15,000 thousand reviews on Amazon. Combine that with its price tag and it's well worth a try if you're after a matte, poreless finish. 

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