The finish is notably smooth, minimizing texture without flashback, so skin looks luminous in photos and IRL. And it’s a carry-on must-have for trips to hot climates, thanks to its sweat- and humidity-resistant formula. For those with drier skin who still want long-lasting hold, the brand also offers the Grip Trip Hydrating Primer, which delivers similar wear with added moisture.
“Primer and my oily T-zone go together like peanut butter and jelly. I like this one from Fenty because it has that slippery silicone texture that layers so well underneath makeup. I also notice that, true to its name, this primer makes my skin look instantly more matte after I apply it—my pores seem smaller, too. While I wouldn’t say it’s the most mattifying primer I’ve ever tried (I do usually need to touch up with a blotting paper towards the end of the day), it does make my makeup last hours longer than on no-primer days.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
- Key ingredients: maple sap extract, chia seed extract
- Formula: cream
Best Drugstore: Versed Smooth Skin Face Primer
Versed
Smooth Skin Face Primer
Why it’s worth it: With its soft radiance and pore-minimizing payoff, Versed’s Smooth Skin Face Primer pulls double duty for drier skin types that want a smoother canvas without sacrificing glow. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid for hydration and niacinamide to help even tone, so skin looks better the moment makeup goes on, and long after.
It even holds up on the red carpet: For Kristen Bell’s Nobody Wants This season two premiere, Los Angeles–based makeup artist Simone Almekias-Siegl reached for the radiance-boosting formula, focusing the formula on Bell’s T-zone to smooth and blur without tipping her complexion into overly matte territory. The result: blurred skin that still looks fresh and luminous. The best part? All of that glow-boosting, smoothing goodness comes in at under $20.
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
- Formula: cream
Best Lightweight: Laura Mercier Blurring Primer
Laura Mercier
Blurring Primer
Why it’s worth it: For New York–based makeup artist Lisa Aharon, a lightweight primer like Laura Mercier’s Blurring Primer is key for helping makeup go on smoothly and stay put. “It softens the look of pores and texture, keeps shine in check, and gives makeup something to hold onto,” she says. It’s her pick when you want near-instant results without feeling like you’ve piled on product.
The formula relies on practical, no-frills ingredients: a Skin Perfecting Complex, which features rose extracts that work to moisturize, protect, and smooth skin; Silica beads that blur and smooth; and red clover flower extract that works to manage oil and minimize the look of pores with continued use. The result is a clean, even base that wears all the way through the day.
- Key ingredients: silica beads, red clover flower extract, skin perfecting complex
- Formula: gel-cream
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients should you look for in the best blurring primers?
According to Aharon, silicones, soft focus powders and oil absorbing polymers are the most important ingredients to have in a blurring primer. “Think of silicones as that silky slip that smooths everything out, blurring little imperfections and giving you the perfect base to work on.” she says. The soft focus powders bounce light around so skin looks more even, helping pores, texture and fine lines appear less noticeable, she adds. “Then, oil-absorbing polymers step in to keep shine under control, so makeup stays put and looks fresh instead of sliding around.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best blurring primers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Your not-so basic base routine, hand-selected by our editors:
