Best Primers for Acne-Prone Skin
One of the problems of having oil skin is that you’re more prone to acne breakouts. It’s even more frustrating when your makeup seems to make your problemsworse. Instead of helping you to disguise your blemishes, some beauty products cause more acne. That’s why it’s important to use products that can best address your skin type. One of them is a primer for acne-prone skin.
The purpose of a primer is to keep your makeup in place and make the colors more vibrant. However, not all of them are created equal. For oily skin, you need a mattifying product so that your face won’t look shiny andyour pores more pronounced. Furthermore, you should look for ingredients that will prevent your skin from breaking out in the first place.
The 9 Best Acne-Fighting Primers for Oily Skin
Thankfully, many makeup brands are now incorporating ingredients that used to be under the purview of skincare. You can now wear a full face of makeup without worrying about inviting pimples to set up camp. Here are nine primers that will enhance your look even if you have acne-prone skin.
| Product | Sizes | Key Ingredients | Fragrance | Price | ||
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Tatcha The Silk Canvas Filter Finish Protective Primer | Full size 20 g (0.7 oz), and travel size 7 g (0.24 oz) compact case | Hadasei-3, Squalane, Silk | Scented | $52.00 for 20 g | Buy on Amazon |
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Neutrogena Shine Control Matte Primer + Serum | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) bottle with dropper | Rice Seed Protein, Glycerin, Panthenol | Fragrance-free and essential oil-free | $10.48 | Buy on Amazon |
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Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube | Witch Hazel, Salicylic Acid, Zinc | Fragrance-free | $39.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Cover FX Mattifying Primer + Acne Treatment | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube | Salicylic Acid, Natural Fruit AHA Complex, Ancient African Tree Bark | Fragrance-free | $38.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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e.l.f. Blemish Control Face Primer | Large 30 mL (1.01 fl oz), 14 mL (0.47 fl oz) small pump bottle | Salicylic Acid, Vitamin E, Tea Tree Oil | Fragrance-free | $9.93 for 30 mL | Buy on Amazon |
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Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Mattifying + Pore ReducingMakeup and Skincare Primer | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) pump bottle | Artichoke Extract, Salicylic Acid, AHA | Fragrance-free | $9.97 | Buy on Amazon |
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tarte Poreless MattifyingPrimer | 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube | Avocado, t5 Super Fruit Complex, Safflower Seed | Fragrance-free | $41.83 | Buy on Amazon |
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Lauda Botanicals Oily Skin Control Moisturizer | 60 mL (2.0 fl oz) pump bottle | Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Aloe Vera | No added fragrance | $16.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Thank Me Later Matte Face Primer by Elizabeth Mott | 30 g (1.0 oz) tube | Vitamin E, Pearl Powder | Fragrance-free | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Tatcha The Silk Canvas Filter Finish Protective Primer
- Retail Price: $52.00 for 20 g (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Sizes: Full size 20 g (0.7 oz), and travel size 7 g (0.24 oz) compact case
- Key Ingredients: Hadasei-3, Squalane, Silk
- Fragrance: Scented
J-beauty cult brand Tatcha uses their exclusive Hadasei-3 superfoods blend in all their products to keep your skin looking young and feeling healthy. One of the three components of this formula is rice ferment filtrate (a.k.a. sake) that can soothe acne inflammation. It forms a protective barrier that helps to minimize clogged pores that lead to breakouts. The Silk Canvas Protective Primer also contains hydrolyzed silk and silk powder to ensure that your makeup goes on smoothly and lasts longer. Pink and gold pearls disguise redness to even out your skin tone.
2. Neutrogena Shine Control Matte Primer + Serum
- Retail Price: $10.48 (Click here to save up to 30%)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) bottle with dropper
- Key Ingredients: Rice Seed Protein, Glycerin, Panthenol
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free and essential oil-free
If you want to reap the skin benefits of rice, but at a cheaper price, you can rely on Neutrogena. Their Shine Control Matte Primer + Serum is a hybrid product that can tame oiliness in two ways. Mix a few drops with your moisturizer to create a matte canvas before applying your makeup. Or, you can use it as a serum on bare skin. Your skin will be perfectly moisturized with non-greasy glycerin, and any inflammation will be calmed with panthenol (pro-vitamin B5). Plus, it doesn’t contain any fragrances that could irritate sensitive skin.
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer
- Retail Price: $39.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube
- Key Ingredients: Witch Hazel, Salicylic Acid, Zinc
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Ask any makeup artist about their favorite makeup primer, and Smash Box is sure to be in her top three. Out of the dozen primers they offer, Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer is the best at dealing with acne-prone skin. The texture starts as a gel out of the tube and dries on the skin as a powdery finish. It contains a trio of pimple-fighting ingredients that put it on par with the most potent oily skin treatment products. Salicylic acid dissolves pore-clogging debris and encourages your skin to shed its dead cells. Witch hazel relieves inflammation, while zinc helps to heal and rejuvenate.
4. Cover FX Mattifying Primer + Acne Treatment
- Retail Price: $38.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Natural Fruit AHA Complex, Ancient African Tree Bark
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Speaking of salicylic acid, here’s another primer that uses it to prevent acne breakouts. Cover FX Mattifying Primer is specially formulated to improve your skin the more you use it. Besides salicylic acid, it has alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) from sugar maple, bilberry, lemon, sugar cane, and orange to gently exfoliate your skin and reveal a fresh, new complexion. To diminish the appearance of large pores and tighten up your skin, it contains extracts from the bark of the Enantia Chlorantha tree. This ingredient can also reduce shine by regulating oil production.
5. e.l.f. Blemish Control Face Primer
- Retail Price: $9.93 for 30 mL (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Sizes: Large 30 mL (1.01 fl oz), 14 mL (0.47 fl oz) small pump bottle
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Vitamin E, Tea Tree Oil
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Tea tree oil is a substance that has a long history of use as a natural remedy for various skin ailments. This ingredient is found in e.l.f. Blemish Control Face Primer because of its potential to combat acne-causing microbes. Its astringent qualities cut oiliness as it relieves itchiness and inflammation. This silky makeup base mattifies your skin for smooth application. It’s one of the most effective yet affordable oily skin primers in the market today.
6. Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Mattifying + Pore ReducingMakeup and Skincare Primer
- Retail Price: $9.97 (Click here to save up to 29%)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) pump bottle
- Key Ingredients:Artichoke Extract, Salicylic Acid, AHA
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Mattifying + Pore Reducing Primercombines skincare and makeup in this lightweight product. Not only does it decrease oil and pore size, but it can also blur the appearance of fine lines. This formula contains tiny spherical beads that reflect light and give the skin a soft-focus effect. You’ll never be caught off guard in an impromptu photoshoot. It’s made with salicylic acid and AHAs to exfoliate your skin and reveal a fresh radiance. Artichoke extract enhances skin cell activity for a healthy, youthful bounciness.
7. tarte Poreless MattifyingPrimer
- Retail Price: $41.83 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 30 mL (1.0 fl oz) tube
- Key Ingredients:Avocado, t5 Super Fruit Complex, Safflower Seed
- Fragrance: Fragrance-free
Ideal for oily or combination skin, tarte Poreless Mattifying Primer creates a shine-free canvas for your makeup to last up to 12 hours. This satin-like gel disappears into the skin, leaving a waterproof barrier that guarantees your foundation and eyeshadow won’t smear. It has vitamin-rich avocado oil, as well as antioxidants to delay the signs of aging. One of them is safflower oil—an ingredient that has omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids which are crucial for your skin’s overall function.
8. Lauda Botanicals Oily Skin Control Moisturizer
- Retail Price: $16.95 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size: 60 mL (2.0 fl oz) pump bottle
- Key Ingredients:Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Aloe Vera
- Fragrance: No added fragrance
Lauda Botanicals Oily Skin Control Moisturizer is an all-natural product that provides optimal hydration while controlling sebum production. With the exfoliating powers of both salicylic acid and lactic acid, it decongests clogged pores that are the root of blackheads and whiteheads. Your skin will be blemish-free without getting overly dry. Use it on its own after cleansing and before applying sunscreen. You could also wear it under your makeup as a mattifying primer.
9. Thank Me Later Matte Face Primer by Elizabeth Mott
- Retail Price: $15.00 (Click here to check the latest promotion)
- Size:30 g (1.0 oz) tube
- Key Ingredients:Vitamin E, Pearl Powder
- Fragrance:Fragrance-free
If your skin feels greasy and looks dull, Thank Me Later Matte Face Primerby Elizabeth Mott will save you. It’s formulated with sebum-controlling powder that will keep you looking fresh all day. For an extra brightening effect, it also contains tone-balancing pearls. It’s sweat-proof and waterproof, ensuring that your makeup stays put for 12 to 16 hours. Online reviews say that it outperforms the top brands at a fraction of the price.
Avoid Acne with the Right Makeup Primer
The primers on this list have ingredients that have been proven to prevent and treat acne breakouts. They’ll keep your skin blemish- and shine-free no matter what. Allyou’ll get is a perfect canvas that will help your makeup last longer. One last tip: To complement your primer, make sure that you use other beauty products that are also designed for acne-prone skin.
